Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: New rod/reel

I like throwing bigger flies for bigger smallmouth in the river and I like catching really big carp, so I throw a 6wt pretty much all year on the Potomac and Shenandoah.  I still throw my favorite rod, Sage’s XP.  Popper, Clawdads, CK Baitfish, Clousers, carp flies, and poppers are all handled well.  I use the same rod with a 200gr sinking line for shad, and can still throw big streamers for trout.

I think a 5wt is too small for the type of fishing I do on the river, and I occasionally jump up to a 7wt for really big articulated flies for big smallmouth in certain stretches of river, and an 8wt for largemouth and snakehead.

R

Richard Farino

Urban Angler VA | 108 N. Washington Street  2nd Floor | Alexandria, VA 22314 

(703) 527-2524 | fax: (703) 527-3313 | richard@urbanangler.com    

From: Marek Rich <mrich@ScheerPartners.com>
Reply-To: <tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 10:14 AM
To: "tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com" <tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: New rod/reel

As mentioned by Rob, I almost exclusively fish the Potomac with my 5wt. It has never caused any challenges to fly size or placing undue strain on larger fish. And while over the years I have splurged for larger, much more expensive rods, I find myself always reaching for my trusty Orvis starter rod. The thing is tough as nails and I don’t mind if it gets beat up. Just my two cents.

 

Marek

 

From: tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com [mailto:tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob Snowhite
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 9:59 AM
To: tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: New rod/reel

 

You can catch just about everything around here on a 5wt though an 8wt will have a better insurance built into the spine when  you need it. The fishing manager at Orvis Tysons back in the day fished nothing but an old Cortland 5wt. We didn't have snakeheads in the river back then. My preferred rod for the past several years during the shad run has been the Orvis Clearwater 5wt.The thing is you never know what you will pull in as Stankus mentioned so be prepared. And I've seen his multi piece rod land steelhead!

 

The question is whether it is ethical to play a large fish with a light rod if you hook into one. You may end up causing your fish to go belly up after releasing if you fight it too long with a rod that can't bring it in before the fish expires.

 

You will also be limited to the size of fly and the amount of wind you can throw said fly. Will you be able to fight a fish if it gets into the main current of the Potomac with a 5wt? Will you be able to pull a fish out of the weeds at Roaches with that rod? I once saw a guy fight and land a kind salmon in NY on a 4wt. It can be done but is it ethical to the fish?

 

Merrick landed a snakehead on his 5wt last year and a 30" striper in Oct 2010 at Gravelly on the same rod- it can be done.

 

Richie can hook you up with a TFO starter kit or Reddington. Dan has the Clearwaters. As long as your new rod has a warranty and the reel won't break if it smacks off tidal rocks around Chain Bridge you should be good to go.

 

The Potomac river really is like a box of chocolates.......

 

 

 

Rob Snowhite

 

 

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From: Bob Sivinski <bobsiv@gmail.com>
To: tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 9:33 AM
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: New rod/reel

 

 

My Potomac smallie rod is a 5 wt Bank Robber by St. Croix.  It's a little outside of your price range, but it throws heavy lines and flies well.  It's a very sturdy 5 wt and I don't feel like I end up fighting fish too long with it.  Before that I used a 6 wt Sage Fli with the same line (Rio Smallmouth 6 wt).  I catch so many sunfish and <12 inch smallies that I find using my 8 wt a little boring.

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