Streamer outfit

[rckrego]

Hey guys- Wondering what kind of outfit people prefer for streamer fishing? What weight preference on the rod? What length preference? I've heard everything from 5 wt. to 7 wt. and 8'6" to 10'. I'm assuming fast action is the way to go as well. Thanks for the advice.

Regan

[FK]

My favorite is a Sage 7100-4 XP, the 10ft length is better for mending and line control and the 7wt will cast larger weighted flys with ease.

Regards,
FK

[alanb_ct]

I agree that a longer rod is great for mending, but I think you might find this tiring when fishing streamers. Streamer fishing can involve a lot of quick draw casting, a quick cast, three strips, another quick cast and so on. Large trout feeding on streamers will usually let you know on the first or second cast.

I recommend an excellent value, the TFO 06 90 4 T by Temple Fork. I don't own this one, but I've seen it in action. It's a 9 foot 6 weight, with an uplocking reel seat and fighting butt. An outstanding value at a street price of $200 or so. This rod can cast a big fly with authority. Wish I had this one, or maybe the Sage, but my current "streamer rod" is an el-cheapo 6/7 IM6 Redington. The hardware is cheap, but it lets me fish streamers as I wish.

By the way, these rods all make nice summertime smallmouth rods too, whether fishing dry (poppers/divers) or wet (buggers).

Hope this is helpful.

[Nymphmeister]

The all around streamer rod for our neck of the woods is a med-fast to fast 9' #6- that's what almost all of us in the TPO "Crew" are using. Unless you are using a 300 grain line, you probably don't need to go heavier than this, and I think a longer rod will be more tiring over the course of hundreds of casts. For a 300 grain line, you would want to bump up to a #7 or even an 8. In Tenessee on the South Holston River, when the water was up we needed at least a 300 grain line to get down, and some pools were more like 400 grain spots- you would want a 8 weight for that. But overall, a 6 weight will do you just fine most places in the Northeast, and most other places too. For lines, have a floater, a 130 or 150 grain line, and a 200 grain line. And if you are fishing some really deep & fast spots, a 300 grain line. I like to have some sinking leaders too, in a couple different sink rates & lengths- both Rio and Airflo make some nice ones, and they are inexpensive (under $10), esp. when compared to a sink-tip line ($50-60 usually, plus the cost of an extra spool & backing).

[Nymphmeister]

Here's a little more:

If you want a really good rod at a really good price, I agree, the Temple Fork TiCr in the 9' #6 is tough to beat at $199.95. If you want the best, then get a Sage Z-Axis at $650, or maybe even a Sage TCR if you want a super-fast streamer rod that will throw a mile (and if you don't mind a price tag well over $700...). I currently have a Sage XP for a 9' #6, and I also have a 7 weight Temple Fork TiCr that is tough to beat for $210 (I think that's still the price- it's actually one of the nicest 7 weights I've ever cast. And don't forget to ask Aaron about the 6 weight Temple Fork TiCr and Waterworks ULA reel waiting for you somewhere in Tenessee....

[AaronJasper]

yeah i wonder who is using my rod and reel. it WAS a nice setup.

[rckrego]

Thanks guys! now i just need to put some scratch together... :

[Troutbum from Griswold]

Agree with nymphmeister. I love my G. Loomis Streamdance Metolius 9ft 6 wt. SWEET ROD. With the Rio DC 24 ft sink tip 200 grain line, CAN'T BEAT IT. My Sage SLT 5wt can throw streamers with the best of them as well but 6wt is where it's at. Personally, a 9.5 footer would do the trick as well. Would help a little better with mending. I personally don't think it would be tiring unless you were throwing a heavier weighted rod and throwing a 7wt and up at the same time.

[rckrego]

Yeah I was eyeing the Scott S3 9'6" 6 wt., but I won't have the money for a while, so for now its like the white fender stratocaster from Wayne's World.

[Night Angler]

I like to use a 9' 6" redington 8wt...

It flexable enough to go from lite flies nymphs and wets... to getting deep with adding a sink tip for sculpins...

The backbone in this is great... it really picks up the strike fast... and the hook set is right there...