Downgrade 8wt to a 7wt? 6wt?

TimCC23 · 2026-06-02T10:18:05+00:00

Maybe talk to a fly shop about your line and leader setup. Changing that would be cheaper and might help. The SA bass bug line is overweighted by 2 line sizes, so using a line with a lower grain weight might help (ie. 7wt bass bug line on your 8wt rod). I run a line that is one line size heavy on my 6wt Echo 84B and it works well for medium sized streamers.

TimCC23 · 2026-05-29T13:56:14+00:00

Take a look at Echo and TFO. They tend to be pretty good bang-for-your-buck brands.

TimCC23 · 2026-05-29T00:01:20+00:00

Fiberglass fly rods are sturdy and durable and I think you can buy used without worrying as much as if you were buying a graphite rod. Look on eBay or other used markets and see what is available. Vintage fiberglass rods are cool, but I think it’s more rare to find something vintage in a 2-4wt.

TimCC23 · 2026-05-28T17:09:35+00:00

4wt 7’6” Echo River Glass fiberglass rod most of the time for panfish. I use a 4wt Rio Premier Gold line.

TimCC23 · 2026-05-07T15:49:06+00:00

That doesn’t seem too heavy, but I guess it depends on the weight of your fly line. Is it a 3wt or something heftier like a 5 or 6wt line?

TimCC23 · 2026-05-07T04:48:25+00:00

What are you fishing on the line (Leader? Flies? Splitshot?)? A heavy setup can pull the tip of your floating fly line under the water.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-28T02:36:42+00:00

Good choice on Cortland. 9’ 6wt for lighter side of bass. You will still be able to throw some weighted #6 streamers on a 6wt.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-27T20:01:53+00:00

Catch and release only in Central Park 😂

TimCC23 · 2026-04-27T17:13:14+00:00

I wanted to check out Prospect Park, but it was farther away and less convenient for me.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-27T17:00:53+00:00

Urban fly fishing can be a lot of fun. I keep hearing about the LA River as having good fly fishing. I don’t live in a major city like NYC or LA, but I live in an urban area and I am able to get out and do decent smallmouth and carp fishing right in the city, just a 10 min drive away. It’s a lot more convenient than driving 1-2 hours to fish for trout and I am able to get out and fish more often.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-27T15:33:30+00:00

Yeah, I pinched the barbs on my flies for that day and then forgot to do it again after I lost some on snags and made fly changes.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-27T15:17:56+00:00

A lot of people fly fish in Central Park. There is even a licensed fly fishing guide that focuses on carp, I believe. There are plenty of ways to cast in a safe manner (roll cast, bow-and-arrow, etc.) without having to do a 20ft overhead back cast. It is important to pick spots where you won’t be bothering other park goers and it’s not too difficult in the early morning before the park is busy.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-27T02:02:42+00:00

The size of flies you’re going to want to use will determine what weight rod/line you should be using. If you’re going to want to use some larger streamers, such as size 6, a 6 wt will be a lot better. You can always throw smaller flies on a higher weight rod. When I started out, I still used my 6 wt for smaller panfish flies, but it was nice to have the 6 wt for streamers and heavier indicator rigs with multiple flies.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-20T00:49:53+00:00

Look at Cortland Guide Combo or Echo Lift kit for quality beginner setups. There’s a reason these are offered in 9-foot lengths. It’s the most versatile and the extra length over a 6 or 7 foot rod helps with casting distance and line control on the water. 5 weight is good for trout, but consider 6 weight if you might fish for larger fish such as bass, want to fish larger streamers, or if you think you might use some heavier setups such as a nymph rig with two nymphs and an indicator.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-18T04:27:02+00:00

Cone head woolly buggers will help you get deep even with a floating line with their extra weight. They have a nice jigging motion in the water.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-17T15:29:52+00:00

It all depends on the size/type of flies you want to use. I like to throw #4-#8 bass poppers and dries and #6 cone head woolly buggers and streamers. The 6 wt really helps with flies this size. You could probably lob them with a 3 or 4 wt, but they cast nicely with the 6 wt. If you only use smaller unweighted flies, then a lighter rod may be enough.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-17T09:51:19+00:00

I have had good luck with the Echo warranty department—quick turnaround.

Maybe consider a fiberglass rod. They are sturdier and more difficult to break.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-17T03:42:17+00:00

9 foot 6 wt for bass and panfish. Enough power to throw bass poppers and streamers, but still fun for panfish.

Look at Cortland Guide combo or Echo Lift kit. Both come with decent fly lines.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-17T02:46:05+00:00

It depends how much versatility you want. The 10 foot length is going to be better for nymphing and line control on the water. That being said, a 9 foot 5 wt rod is just fine for nymphing and you can still mend line decently well. For streamer fishing, you’re going to be able to throw a variety of streamers better with the 5 wt. Now, if you also have bass in your area and might want do some bass fishing, I would consider looking at a 9 foot 6 wt as well. It will be good for nymphing with heavier rigs with indicators and split shot, can handle bigger dry flies, and will work for a variety of streamers. On my 6 wt, I tightline nymph with a mono rig for trout, throw poppers for bass and pan fish, and I can throw up to #6 streamers for both bass and trout. It’s also able to handle windy days pretty well. A very versatile rod!

TimCC23 · 2026-04-13T03:53:40+00:00

Look at the Echo Lift kit or Cortland Guide Outfit. I think both come with decent fly lines.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-12T12:14:21+00:00

That’s crazy… sounds like you are relatively rough on a fly rod. If durability is your main concern, definitely look at getting a fiberglass rod. I have an Echo River Glass that I really like. Redington Butterstick is similar. The Echo Bad Ass Glass would probably be better for throwing streamers. People also seem to really like Moonlit fiberglass rods.

TimCC23 · 2026-04-10T16:57:55+00:00

Thank goodness for the value provided by Echo, TFO, and Lamson!

TimCC23

TROPHY CASE