Rods For Stillwater Fishing (3 of 12)
Video Transcript:
Let me take a moment to talk to you about the fly rod choices available to
you when fly fishing lakes. Stillwater rod preferences differ slightly than
those for rivers and streams. Depending upon the size of the fish, wind,
line choice, and angler preference, four to seven weight rods are ideal. I
recommend a six weight rod, nine and a half to ten feet long. If you are
planning on casting faster sink weight lines, a shorter nine to nine and a
half foot rod would suffice.
Longer, progressive action, or midflex rods are popular with many still water fly fishers. Long rods work well with floating and slow sinking lines. They allow greater working distance between an indicator and fly, improve roll casts, help form open loops necessary when casting long leaders or indicators, steer and control fish during the fight, and fishing the hang.
The hang is a presentation technique at the end of the retrieve where the rod is raised and paused, prior to recasting, to induce any fish following the fly to take. Shorter, faster, tipflex rods are well-suited to casting heavy, fast sinking lines.
This fish is strong. It's dictating the fight to me right now. This is the beauty of long rods too, that we use in stillwaters, is we can steer the fish. I can hold this fish out, away from the boat. Keep it clear of anchor ropes and other things that may follow and get in the way. Oh, yeah. This is a nice prowl.
We're keeping the rod sideways to get the bend of the rod to defeat the fish. Tip high for running fish, sideways pressure, left and right, alternate opposite to the direction the fish is pulling, so we keep the fish off balance and tire it quickly.
Longer, progressive action, or midflex rods are popular with many still water fly fishers. Long rods work well with floating and slow sinking lines. They allow greater working distance between an indicator and fly, improve roll casts, help form open loops necessary when casting long leaders or indicators, steer and control fish during the fight, and fishing the hang.
The hang is a presentation technique at the end of the retrieve where the rod is raised and paused, prior to recasting, to induce any fish following the fly to take. Shorter, faster, tipflex rods are well-suited to casting heavy, fast sinking lines.
This fish is strong. It's dictating the fight to me right now. This is the beauty of long rods too, that we use in stillwaters, is we can steer the fish. I can hold this fish out, away from the boat. Keep it clear of anchor ropes and other things that may follow and get in the way. Oh, yeah. This is a nice prowl.
We're keeping the rod sideways to get the bend of the rod to defeat the fish. Tip high for running fish, sideways pressure, left and right, alternate opposite to the direction the fish is pulling, so we keep the fish off balance and tire it quickly.
Equipment For This Chapter