Fly rod recommendations

[w748]

Hey all ! Going to get back into fly fishing after almost 10 years away due to blown out shoulder. Most likely areas would be Deckers , maybe Fairplay and 11 mile canyon. All are reasonably close. I favor drys.
Not asking for brands , but would like suggestions on length , action, and line wt.
Thanks!!

[hatidua]

9' 5wt if just fishing CO in general, and a 4wt would be a close second (disclaimer: I primarily fish a 4 and 3 in CO but bump it up a notch in WY and MT). Action is entirely dependent on the angler: one likes a really fast rod, another prefers a more parabolic taper. Go to a shop that stocks a LOT of rods from various brands and cast every single rod you can get your hands on. This is NOT a situation in which the most costly brand is right for every person: your casting style might do better with a rod that costs half what the most expensive rod in the shop does.

Do not be swayed by brand prestige, pick the rod that casts best for you.

[Big Wall]

I love my 4 weight Sage. But definately cast every rod you consider before purchasing.

[newracer]

I use a 9' 4wt almost exclusively.

[smchop]

9' 5wt for me. Same areas as well

[TriggerHappy]

9' 5wt here too. Also have a 1wt and 4 pc 8wt. The 1 wt is awesome for smaller streams, I have used it all over the northwest, mostly in Alaska, since I grew up there...

[GilpinGuy]

9' 5wt here too.

[Tim K]

9' 4wt on a fast rod is plenty for even windy days. I've not tried a 3wt in the wind, but for a primarily dry fly rod that's the direction I'd lean. I'd probably run a double taper line for calm days and have another spool with a weight forward or rocket taper for wind.

[Trout Hunter]

Best weight if your sticking strictly to drys would be a 4 wt and go with 9'. Personally I would by a 5wt so when you decide to start nymphing more you're set up for it. Something to take into account is what line is going on it. A higher end line can make a lower end rod cast better than a high end rod with crap line. Favorite right now is Rio's Gold series. Didn't mention reel but if you're needing one a good bang for the buck is the okuma slv series. Large arbor with fairly good cork drags on them.

[Dryfli]

I would suggest going to BPS and talk to bill or Blaine both have 20+ years experience. Bill used to own alpine anglers and Blaine has been guiding for ever. Both are super nice and won't try and sell you things you don't need or up sale you and you can go out back and test cast on the "pond" out back.

[SA Friday]

Best weight if your sticking strictly to drys would be a 4 wt and go with 9'. Personally I would by a 5wt so when you decide to start nymphing more you're set up for it. Something to take into account is what line is going on it. A higher end line can make a lower end rod cast better than a high end rod with crap line. Favorite right now is Rio's Gold series. Didn't mention reel but if you're needing one a good bang for the buck is the okuma slv series. Large arbor with fairly good cork drags on them.
This. Good post, almost verbatim to what I was going to post, but I prefer Ross, Galvin, or Lamson reels.

[obawon]

Dittos to all recommendations! The 9 ft 5 wt is a universal soldier...besides, if you get a 4 wt, it is harder to justify buying a 3 wt down the road :-)

[obawon]

As far as where to spend the extra money on quality...for a trout rig, I would make the extra investment on a nicer rod and fly line and settle for a middle of the road mid to large arbor reel. My bonefish rig has a lamson reel and it that was well worth it for drag smoking bonefish, but trout, even big trout are not that hard on a fly reel.

[hatidua]

but trout, even big trout are not that hard on a fly reel.

For trout, no matter the size, the reel is for storing line, nothing more (even if the trout are over 30").

[d_striker]

As far as where to spend the extra money on quality...for a trout rig, I would make the extra investment on a nicer rod and fly line and settle for a middle of the road mid to large arbor reel. My bonefish rig has a lamson reel and it that was well worth it for drag smoking bonefish, but trout, even big trout are not that hard on a fly reel.

+1 regarding reels for trout. All of my freshwater reels were less than $40. My saltwater reels are a different story. Spend your money on the stick and line.

I fish with a fast 4wt most of the time. I have a fast 6wt with fighting butt that i use to chase freshwater hogs and as a light saltwater stick. It's good for throwing big streamers and punches through the wind.

I wouldn't even think about trying to throw big streamers/mice with my 4wt. I wouldn't even think about throwing small dry flies with 6x tippet using my 6wt.

[buckshotbarlow]

9' 5wt for me. Same areas as well

Sage is the only way, my 5wt came back in shattered pieces after hooking into a bada$$ sockeye in alaska. Sage replaced it with no questions asked. I've bought a lot of cheep stuff, and a lot of expensive stuff. Custy support, well, that justifies the expensive stuff.

[Rabid]

For drys on the Platte and most rivers in Colorado i use a 8'6"-9' 4wt. As for action thats a hard one, I prefer a medium action in my older rods but the new fast action rods are pretty amazing with the presentation you can get and you get the power to throw heavy streamers, hopper droppers and foam ants like an older 5wt. It is hard to beat a 5wt in Colorado for a do it all rod but if you are mainly throwing lighter nymphs and drys a 4wt fits the bill in my opinion and the only problems is casting into the wind with a medium action 4wt. Also something to think about is if your shoulder still gives you problems going to a 5wt medium or even a medium-slow action might be best, you really have to put some power behind the fast actions. At http://www.yellowstoneangler.com (http://www.yellowstoneangler.com/) there are some great reviews that explain where some rods shine and where some fall short in areas.

[shrapnel]

My go to rod for areas you mentioned are 9' 5 WT. I carry a 7' 3WT when backpacking along smaller streams. Want to try some tenkara this year. Unfortunately my shoulder issue only lets me get in a couple of hours per day. Sucks!

[hatidua]

Sage is the only way, my 5wt came back in shattered pieces after hooking into a bada$$ sockeye in alaska. Sage replaced it with no questions asked.

[facepalm]

Any, and all, of the main fly rod brands will do likewise. Sage is no more "the only way" than is Winston, Scott, Loomis, Orvis, or any number of other makers.

(disclaimer: I own quite a few Sage rods but let's not deify one brand over another, they are all graphite sticks)

[Rabid]

[facepalm]

Any, and all, of the main fly rod brands will do likewise. Sage is no more "the only way" than is Winston, Scott, Loomis, Orvis, or any number of other makers.

(disclaimer: I own quite a few Sage rods but let's not deify one brand over another, they are all graphite sticks)
Sage and Shimano (G Loomis) are the only ones i know that will repair or replace a rod for the cost of shipping when you admit you closed the tip in the car door [hammer]

Saying they are all graphite sticks is not fair, some are fiber glass and bamboo too.
Being brand loyal is fine but i am not. I buy what works for me best. when they came out i tried the Loomis IMX - loved it, tried the Winston IM6 - loved it, tried the Tom Morgan Favorite - loved it, and apparently most people agree because they make it on to the all time best fly rod lists in time. Some of the Hardy and Gatti rods will be on those lists soon too. The problem is some of the rods those same companys have made are just not enjoyable to cast or land a fish on.

[Trout Hunter]

For trout, no matter the size, the reel is for storing line, nothing more (even if the trout are over 30").

I would disagree with this big time. But then again my experience is coming from a lot bigger water than what I have seen so far here in colorado. Growing up fishing the Snake River and Henrys fork in Idaho I can tell you with big water with good current, 5 wt, and a 5lb+ bows on you're going to need that drag. Ive had 25"+ fish take me into my backing more than once and was glad I had spent the extra $ on something with a decent drag.