Newbie equipment upgrade part 2

[fpedroza]

So, I posted last week about my search for an equipment upgrade. After thinking about it and talking with a few people, I think I may have made a decision. I think I want to get a 9' 3 wt. something or other. My question to the forum is what are your thoughts on that for fishing the Provo and the Weber? (my most common destinations) My basic concern is that with the smaller 3 wt. catching small fish will be more fun, but what if I hook into a 20 in. brown. Do I need to take that into consideration or will I be ok with the lighter rod?

[Graycliff]

Talk to Reggie, AKA, steeliesonafly about hooking into big fish on a 3wt.

[Doug S.]

3 wt. maybe a little light :)

[Curtis Fry]

IMO, the concern for me wouldn't be the size of the fish but rather the backbone on the rod given various casting conditions. I personally think a medium to fast action 4 wt is ideal for our local rivers. I've used a 3 wt before for dry flies, but the 4 wt makes it so you can still nymph with the same rod and deal with any wind that comes up. Try nymphing a two fly setup with an indicator and split shot in the wind with your 3 wt. It's possible, but not the most fun.

Also, you need to come to grips that once you get into the sport and become a gear-whore, you'll want a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...wt rod anyway....

[cheech]

3 wt can be fun to fish, (even ethically landing big fish), but it can get tough in the wind. I think good all around rod is a 8'6" 4 wt. Still gives you the feel of a light rod, but it has the power to tug around big pigs, and cast into the wind.

Cheech

[Indylab]

I think the weight or rod a person gets should depend on the size of fly he will be throwing.

[chanceb]

If you're going to use it for your primary rod I would go at least to a 4wt min..
With wind and any kind of weighted flies a 3wt just isn't going to perform that well. Not that it couldn't be done, but a 4 or 5 wt would serve you better overall. My .02!

[Cary]

there are no 20" browns in the Provo.

[Curtis Fry]

there are no 20" browns in the Provo.

Well...with Cheech as my witness I caught a 19 incher on Saturday. It was rather snakey and eel-like, but hey man it was a true 19 inches. It fought like a wet sock and it looked like hell, but I caught it on a dry. And I have photographic evidence too.

But in general, you're right, those fish are way fewer and far between. Like you said, take a piece of paper and look at how big 15 inches is. I think most guys will pass a 15 incher off as 18 inches...

[Danny]

IMO a 3 wt. is not the right choice for your primary rod. If the wind kicks up, you're screwed. If you ever wanted to throw a weighted streamer, you're hosed. If you are only going to have 1 rod (which is the reality for most newer flyfisherman and some long time flyfisherman) I would not recommend anything other than a 9ft. 5 wt. There is a reason the 9 ft. 5wt. is usually the best selling rod in a manufacturer's lineup. VERSATILITY! You can go small if you must, but you can always go big too. A three wt. really limits the ability to go big!

[Mike]

If you can cast OK in the wind generally speaking, I think a 3wt is fine for rivers like the Provo and Weber. A 9 foot rod sounds a bit long to me however. I wouldn't go any longer than an 8.5 foot rod in a 3wt personally. A 7.5 foot might be cool for smaller, tighter streams and creeks, but you might find it a bit short if your primarily fishing the Weber of Provo. You can also cast moderately weighted smaller streamers with a 3wt. I do it all of the time. If you want to "huck the meat" just use your old rod.

[Cary]

I wouldn't go any longer than an 8.5 foot rod in a 3wt personally.

Ahem.

The finest flyrod ever made (OK, we're talikng plastic, not cane) was a 3 wt; and eight feet nine inches long, to be exact.

[Mike]

My apologies if I dissed a favorite rod! Any bigger than 8 feet 9 inches should be considered suspect.