In my introductory post, I said that this fall will start my first season on Putah, but I'm not new to fly fishing. A fishing buddy will be introducing me to this body of water. My wild thought is whether an 11 foot 6 weight "switch" rod might be overkill for Putah.
For the past two years, my "switch" rod has been my main stick on the Lower Yuba for local trout and Steelhead. The rod allows me to use two handed traditional Spey casts to fish long swings. All I need is 3 feet of room behind me to make a cast. It also allows me to fish in close like using a single handed rod. The extra length makes for better line control for high sticking.
The reason why I think the "switch" rod would be great is for high sticking. I'm not concerned about distance. I like the idea that the extra line control will allow me to keep the fly in the drift a bit longer before drag has an effect on it.
JT - do you find that your 3 wt ever stresses some of the bigger fish out? I ask because I have been wanting to build a 3wt rod, but I have been hesistant because i do not do much small stream fishing these days and I worry with some of the bigger fish on putah that it might stress them out.
4 weight seems to work for me for most circumstances on putah in the winter time. 6 weight=overkill in my opinion. Besides it will be a bit tough bushwackin with an 11 footer. But hey give it a try, maybe it'll work for ya.
Thanks Guys, I had a hankerin' that the "switch" rod would be overkill. I have a 9 foot 4 medium-fast and 9 foot 5 fast rods in my quiver. I've got the rods covered for Putah.
JT - do you find that your 3 wt ever stresses some of the bigger fish out? I ask because I have been wanting to build a 3wt rod, but I have been hesistant because i do not do much small stream fishing these days and I worry with some of the bigger fish on putah that it might stress them out.
With the lack of current a 3wt can be fine, but you can't be afraid to fight the fish. I wouldn't use the 3wt in the faster water during high water, though I have used it from a float tube in the slower sections. The 3wt is awesome because it protects your tippet in those situations where you have to horse the fish in. I've seen some people fight hatchery fish for 5 minutes with a 5wt. That is just far too long. Pull that fish in! I can land fish just as fast with my 3wt as I can with a 5wt. I've landed 23"ers in a couple of minutes. You just have to let the fish know who's boss.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
during the higher spring and summer flows you can use a switch rod in a few good spots...I have a good friend who swings flys and drifts areas I can not cast or roll cast too.I hate to say it ,but he kills it..never say never kids...
