Fiberglass Fly Rods

[chris kowaleski]

Can you guys share with me some knowledge on fiberglass fly rods please? Pros, cons, etc? 

[Ray Ditzenberger]

In deference to Shooter.....I use most graphite because they are lighter and it is much easier to find a modestly priced light wt  2, 3, or 4wt rod than it is to find a light glass rod. Eagle Claw Feather Weight  rods excepted.......Glass will take a lot more abuse but if one does not abuse his rods the Graphite will last. At least that has been my experience. I have never repaired any of my graphite rods or glass rods for that matter. ...NEVER high stick a graphite rod. They will snap. They do not bend as well as graphite so they like a lower angle when pressuring a fish. If you get any knicks in a graphite rod it will eventually break there. If you are going to beat your rod and throw it in a boat and run across a lake with the rod bouncing up and down. Buy glass. New glass rods are not modestly priced. Expect to pay in excess of $200 and in many cases 2 to 4X that price. Old glass is still reasonally priced in many cases. However the desireable models have become quite pricey. I like glass too. that is what I learned on.

[chris kowaleski]

Thanks for all of the responses guys! I was going to go with an Eagle Claw rod, but I've been given an opportunity I couldn't pass up so I'm gonna with it instead of the Eagle Claw.  I'm getting a 7ft 2pc 2wt fiberglass rod.

[Johnny]

What would be the ideal Wt rod for BGs & other pan fish ??

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

JUST MY OPINION HERE , BUT A 5 WEIGHT IN A 8' WOULD BE ABOUT IDEAL.....

[Ray Ditzenberger]

I prefer my 2wt for gills but anything up to a 5wt is great. I personally would not trade my 6' 2wt or 5wt for any of the $800 8 to 9 footers. It just depends where you fish. If you fish creeks with a tree canopy the long rods will keep you in the trees unless you like to roll cast all the time.

[Johnny]

Forgive me guys but to some extent I'm fly rod ignorant, have caught fish with them but am not polished nor educated in the art (but will be).

Question about the rod wt, if its a 5 wt rod/line (just for the sake of the question) is ther a certain size fly that it will cast better or will cast anything tied to the tippet (up to the size of a bass bug) as long as it has 5 wt line?? 

 

Or would it take a 7(or so) wt rod/line to cast something so big ?? but can the 7 wt cast smaller flys/bugs ??

 

If you can understand my thought, thanks in advance.

 

 

 

 

[Ray Ditzenberger]

Line wt does limit the size fly one can cast normal distances. If you are wanting to cast large streamers, poppers, or hair bugs you will need a 7, 8, or 9wt. These heavy rigs will cast small flies too but if you hook any small fish you will probably find yourself back casting them. You will also find the heavy rigs to be more work to cast for long hours where a light rig is hardly noticed even after a long day of casting. A 5wt is ,IMO, sort of a middle ground outfit and works quite well for BG and will also cast some medium size stuff for bass. I went carp hunting today with a 5wt but after seeing some of those pigs I felt under gunned. I am taking my 7wt tomorrow. The water was muddy and I missed at least one take and it would have been my first carp on the fly and it was one of the small ones luckily. It was also quite windy and the 7wt would have handled the wind better too.

 

If you are looking for a BG rod a 2 or 3wt would be my choice. Rod length is whole nother  subject.

[Johnny]

Gotcha, if I buy anther one it'll probably be a 5wt, most what I fish for is BG & bass, nothing of serious size.

Thanks again, now I know.

[shooter]

,if you have a glass rod and it is not casting right ,i bet you need a heaver line for that rod,to make the rod load properly.

 the weight  of the line can effect trout on a clear stream fishing a #16 nymph or a #22,the trout is like a high maintenance woman picky  the bluegill is like the honey badger he don't care he is gona eat.if you use a 6lb  fluorocarbon leader at least 3 feet long you will be ok.

   i use 10 and 11 WT DT F line on almost all of my rods,and i catch plenty of fish,most people  go buy a 40 dollar rod and reel combo with a glass rod and the line supplied is junk to lite for the rod level line with no taper.

 they take this rig out and work their selves to death trying to cast a spider,quickly loose intrest and the rod ends up in a closet,only to be found years later by their son or grand son.

 no it is not the rod it is about the proper line for the rod,you are casting the line ,the line weight must be right so the rod will load right. a 30 dollar fly rod is not a 200 dollar Orvis 3 wt and it will take in almost all cases a heaver line then is listed on the rod.

[shooter]

i use a lot of glass fly rods i have a few graphite or composite rods ,but most of my rods are glass new and old. i over line all my rods by that i mean if the rod says 5/6 line wt. and it is glass in almost all cases it will take at least a 8 wt to load the rod . most of my fly fishing is roll casting so i use a 10 and 11 wt DT F lines,although i have a bevy of cheep glass rods i use the best line i can get.

 i buy most of my line on eval bay  and have never paid more then 25 bucks for a roll,mostly Orvis wonder line,i make my own leaders,just as i tie my all my flies.

   to me the old glass rods do just fine, the right line can make the difference in working one's self to death on the water,it is about the right line for the rod.

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

HEY SHOOTER , WE AREN'T GEEZERS ANYMORE !!!! DICK TABBERT SAYS THE PROPER LABEL IS " VINTAGE" HHHHHHHHHHHHHHA HHHHHHHHHA......

[shooter]

DICK has a way with words sounds good kinda like a fine wine cool.

GATORS  EAT MY FISH.