Looking For That Ultra Light Fly Reel

  I have been on the look out for a smaller fly reel for my 3 Wt. I am trying to go as light as I can with my fly rods and reels. The older I get the less I like to fishall day with a weighted combo. I can get a much better feel for the fish I am pursuing with a light combo as opposed to heavier setup. I recently purchased a 4wt. to give me some balance between by 3 an 5wt. rods. I was using a G-Lomis reel on my 3 wt rod at the time when I purchase my 4wt. I never really got the balance I was looking for with the 3wt rod and G-Lommis reel. So this brings me back to the smaller and lighter reel to balance out the 3 wt. I have been looking on the net and came across some nice reels with some nice prices, but just can’t bring myself to spend the high dollars for such a reel. White River from BassPro has an ultra light reel with the following info.----

This is a fully machined, fully featured fly reel . Prototypes were extensively tested on Wyoming's Green River. In heavy current, with most of the fly line gone, and 6x tippet, they performed like a champ. Those fish measured in pounds, not inches. The all-steel, one-way bearing, polished steel drag stack, and the meticulous attention to detail in every step of manufacture make the Classic Fly Reel one of the finest reels you'll ever own at any price. The 2-1/2" ultralight model is perfect for short, small-stream rods and has a click-and-pawl drag. Check out this link at BassPro Ultralight Fly Reel for a view of the reel and additional specs. I just got a comment from Chris Barclay about an ultralight reel in the Redington Brand.  Got a comment today on Ross Fly Reels from Bigerrfish. I will continue to weight all recommedations.  If anyone else has another reel in mind just give me a comment.

The Temple Fork Signature Series Fly Rod

 I just added another fly rod to my arsenal. I have been thinking about what a 4 Wt. 8 ½ ft. would give me since catching some of the smaller bows on the Caney. I was using my 5 Wt at the time and discovered that I was getting too much overkill, especially when you are culling 9 and 10” stocker trout. Most of the time I could just pluck the fish out of the water with little effort. I know in the summer with the warmer water you can overplay the fish. I was looking for that rod that would give me the best of both situations, a little enjoyment in landing the fish, and at the same time let the fish swim away healthy.
 I have the rod in Temple Forks 4 Wt. Signature Series. This rod for me is the perfect fit for the fish I am pursuing. It has the backbone to land a larger fish if the occasion arises and yet it has the finesses to play the fish and let it live to fight another day. With its fast taper, it is effortless for me to layout line distance if there is a need to reach that certain faraway spot. I like the two-piece version over the 4-piece because I just think I can get a little better feel with a two-piece as opposed to the four. Maybe that is just me and I know some swear by the 4-piece, but that is my own personal opinion. With this rod addition I have managed to keep all of them in sequence starting with my 3 Wt TP 7 ½ ft. then the new addition 4 Wt. 8 ½ ft. TF and last my retirement gift the 4 pc. Redington 8 ½ ft. ---so I am counting at 3, 4 and 5---and you never say never but could there be a 2 Wt or 6 Wt, in the future????

2 Piece Versus 4 Piece Fly Rods

I have a question for all you bloggers out there today. I would like your opinion as to the strengths and weaknesses of having a 2 piece fly rod versus a 4 piece design, all other things equal. Improved pack ability is definitely a plus in a 4 piece design. A 9 ft. rod that only breaks down into two pieces means the tube will be 4.5 ft. long. So do fishermen find improved performance in a 2 piece rod as opposed to a 4 piece? Or do fly rod companies only make the 2 piece, rods because they are slightly cheaper to manufacture?

What Fly Rod & Reel do You Use in Relationship to Fish Size?

You hear the words “matching the hatch” in the fly world all the time. Anyone into trout fishing knows how important that slogan is. When one hits their favorite stream that is the first thing you are going to do, match the hatch. Usually, you never know what the fish are going to be taking at a particular time of day. So this is the reason we have so many flies in our fly boxes. Still, with all the flies in your box, it may not be the one that the fish are hitting that day. So I guess that is why a lot of us hit zero on some trips. The hatch factor holds true for warm water fishing as well. So this is the scenario an individual may encounter with just the fly/lure aspect of fishing.
  What about the equipment aspect such as the rod and reel? This is another decision you make before or after you get out on the water. I personally feel that a good quality fly rod and matching reel is essential for the angler to get the ultimate experience of landing a fish. I use a Temple Fork 3 Wt. with a G-Loomis free spool fast retrieve reel for the Elk and Sipsey tailraces. Both streams are stocked with rainbow, brookies, and browns. The 3 Wt is perfect for catching the 9” to 11” stockers. Occasionally you will land a trout in the 12” to 14” range, which is a plus with this combo. For me, the 3 Wt is the perfect “match the rod” with the size fish. If I am going to the Caney Fork in Tennessee I would differently opt to my 5 Wt. 8 ½ ft. Redington 4 pc. 5 Wt with the Battenkill Orvis reel. With this setup, I have the power to land a fish in the 16” and up range. This combo was actually given to me for my retirement a couple of years ago. It will always be a special rod and reel to me. Do any of you out there have a special rod and reel? For me, the most important aspect of fishing is matching the rod, reel, flies, nymphs, and line to whatever species of fish you are pursuing. I really enjoy rigging my equipment and getting my flies or lures ready for the next days' fishing trips. This is just another fun thing about this great sport we as fishermen love.