anyone here tried...

[pechelman]

....an ultralight fly rod?

like a 3/0 through 2wt?

are they one trick ponies or what?

a few stream crossings on the mtn bike with some really small trout and bio-smears posting of that albright got me thinking about more gear i dont need. (though albright has nothing like this)

[fez]

i have a 6' 2wt tfo that i use for creek fishing.
the size is good for portability (though mine is a 2pc) and it's great for stunt casting on overgrown creeks. they cast ok, i tend to cut my leaders down, for some reason a 9' leader is a bitch to cast even if im casting 20 - 25ft. obviously not wind fighters or good for big streamers or distance, but for little dries and nymphs it's a fun little rod.

i live on bozeman creek in downtown bozeman and keep the 2wt strung up in the living room for the quick after work slayage of little bows and browns that live in my back yard. get's interesting when you hook into a 18" brown with a 2 wt and he heads for cover.

[schwerty]

2wt's are a blast for small creeks. Buy one if you have some extra cash.

[MakersTeleMark]

I think a 3wt is more versatile. You still have fun on the small stuff, but will become surprised on how much you take it out over your 5/6 over time.

[72Twenty]

I have often considered one of these, but where I live, it is ALWAYS windy.

Keep an eye on Sierra Trading Post for these types of rods - especially over the winter. They seem to get quite a few of them from time to time.

[72Twenty]

Also, I am the total opposite of this - for some reason I prefer to use a heavier rod than I actually need, rather than a lighter rod. I just like the feel. Right now my lightest rod is a 5wt.

[MakersTeleMark]

Also, I am the total opposite of this - for some reason I prefer to use a heavier rod than I actually need, rather than a lighter rod. I just like the feel. Right now my lightest rod is a 5wt.

I guaranty that will change over time.

[72Twenty]

I guaranty that will change over time.

I'm sure it will. But at the same time, I fish in heavy winds most of the time, and other than the local river, I am usually trying to cast a mile and a half on the lakes with my 6wt and 7wt.

I had a blast on the river last week on my 5wt though.

[fez]

I'm also a big fan of overkill.

thinking about picking up a 4 wt so i have the full even range, right now i have a 2, 6 and 8 wt.

the 6 is my go to rod for damn near anything except small creeks. i could see a 4 wt for smaller dries on calm days, but to be honest i dont fish small dries too often. excluding the backyard creek, i probably fish more days a year with a sinking line than floating.

[pechelman]

ive already got a sage vps-light 8'6 4wt that i really love. Its probably fine for what im thinking about, but probably somewhat overkill. Also, Im not sure theres a big enough difference to justify it with a 3wt

the idea here is that it would be a super packable\backpack friendly rod for tight spots where id normally be fishing with just upper sections of my sage, especially since the rod would be 1-1.5' shorter

[Kai]

I use a 3 weight more than any other rod. It's great for any smaller creeks or streams, which is the sort of water I enjoy fishing the most.

[Andy_B]

Get a cane if your going that light, they can flip slighty larger flies, but still retain the stupid light feeling.'

That said, I have a 3, 5, 6 and 9wt. The 3wt is my all time favorite to fish lakes and small creeks/rivers. A good size gill takes the tip to the water. The 5 has floating line , the 6 has a type V full sink and the 9wt has floating most of the time.

[72Twenty]

I think this discussion also depends heavily on our individual geography.

I fish in Wyoming. Bigger rivers, lakes, wind, nymphs, streamers, bushy dry flies, cow pastures, fast water, etc. I'm just not really a 3wt type.

[pechelman]

this is what i have in mind







for stuff no bigger than this


but maybe more like this from what ive seen

[72Twenty]

Awesome! Go for a 6ft 2wt...

My frame of reference is more like this:

[ak_powder_monkey]

I use a 4 wt for anywhere I don't think I'll catch a fish over 20 inches and on lakes. I love the 4 wt I love 3 weights, haven't tried a 2 weight yet..

Really I like my 5 wt and I like my 7 wt but the 4 wt. is just awesome, even when fishing streamers

[yonskion]

They will both change your life. I have been fishing a 6'6" 2wt 4 pc Forecast cheap'o blank for years. I fish big water on the Deschutes and catch Huge Fish in fast water. It will turn and average 8-10" fish into a great tug, and a 16" into a fight for life that will test your ability to land a fish. I broke a "forecast" last spring just up from the cork on a F-ing huge 20+ class cruzer in the same hole as photo below minutes after the fish in the picture...notice the big fast 15' deep water. The bottom line these inexpensive ultra light rods are amazing and will provide a new level fun kinda like big game fishing. It will cause more stress on the fish as the fight is longer...
I fish this rod 90% of the time when after Trout.

[72Twenty]

I guess it is pretty obvious that this is all personal preference. There really is no right or wrong rod to use in most cases. I know I really should be using lighter gear in some of the areas I fish, but I have always gone a bit on the heavy side because of the wind and that "just in case" mentality of the really big fish (wishful thinking). I also get most of my fishing influence from my dad who was of the old school and used a 6wt for everything. Now he mostly fishes salt water and when he comes back to Wyoming and we fish together, he uses heavier gear out of habit and uses more of a salt water approach. That is where I have learned most of my fishing skills.

Maybe I should get an ultra light set-up and try it out - maybe it will change my mind completely!

This is kinda like the fact that I bought K2 Pontoons and my local hill is only about 1,000 vert and not that steep.

[MakersTeleMark]

This is kinda like the fact that I bought K2 Pontoons and my local hill is only about 1,000 vert and not that steep.

At least you're consistent.

[72Twenty]

At least you're consistent.

I also drive a big American SUV and drink cheap American beer.

[MakersTeleMark]

I also drive a big American SUV and drink cheap American beer.

At least you're patriotic.