Cane and Silk fiberglass rod. This one is a 6' 2-3wt. 3pc. It's size is great for some what larger streams. It casts well, not to soft or to stiff.
This is also a Cane and Silk fiberglass rod. This one is 5' 2-3wt. 2pc. The blank is an amber finish. I've had this rod for several years and have fished it hundreds of times. It does everything a small stream rod should do.
Cabela's CGR fiberglass rod. It's a 5'9" 3wt. 3pc. These rods are an incredible functional rod for the price. I have two of these and value them. They have had extensive time on the stream without a single issue. One I purchased for 79.00 and the other 59.00.
And my newest piece in my small stream arsenal. A bamboo rod gifted to me by Mike Katner, Cane and Silk. It's 5'1" 2-3wt 2pc. I have fished this rod a mere 6 months and have fallen in love with it. Those small stream wild brookies feel like champions on this rod. The rod and brookie were made for each other.
Reels I use. The TFO BVK, light weight, and simple. Click and Pawl, with a slightly large arbor. The Orvis Battenkill I. Another reel of simple design, click and pawl with a smooth sound. An Orvis Battenkill 5/6. This English made disc drag is the reel I use when I fish the bigger rivers.
And the terminal stuff. Pretty simple. Furled leader, and 5x fluro tippet. I use this 99% of the time on small streams.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I never tried a furled leader. What do you like about them? Do you used them for just dry flies or everything?
JJ
Beaverdam
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Joe I use them for every type of fly. I like them because they are much more flexible than mono leaders. They last an unbelievable amount of time. They a pleasure to lift off the water. Before using the furled leaders I used Orvis Braided leaders.
What happened to the white glass Cane&Silk you had?
ReplyDeleteI was just about to shoot you an email about the furled leaders you use so you've answered that ;)
Getting a knee replacement in March so I'll have to get my fishing in beforehand. Reduced to tying and reading.
billp
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I still have the white one, I did not post it because it's the same as the amber one. My neighbor just had one, he came through it just fine. I hope your surgery gos well.
Tying and reading is what I'm doing today, and cooking too.
I always talk to the guys fishing by me about what they use for a leader. You like Fluorocarbon for your leader. I use Fluorocarbon for my leader when soaking Power Bait. A lot of times, it's the reason I catch fish and others don't. I try to always share my secrets and Fluorocarbon leader is a big one.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark I think the stuff is invisible. 5x is pretty heavy for those small clear streams and the fish just don't see it. The price of the flurocarbon is steep compared to monofilament but worth it. Sharing is good.
Alan
ReplyDeleteThe Bamboo Fly Rod yells brook trout; paired with the Battenkill I would be an awesome combo. The 6" Cane and Silk is another one of my favorites, fantastic selection of small stream fly rods and reels. Great post, thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill I have never fished bamboo in my life, but after fishing that rod I realize I miss a great deal. I forgot to mention a reel that I once owned that is worthy of the small stream. The reel is the Reddington Drift.
It looks like the perfect arsenal, Alan. The Reddington Drift is a wonderful small stream reel; affordable and dependable. Love that bamboo.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike I'm sorry I sold my Drift. I never knew how much pleasure a bamboo rod offers.
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteA bamboo rod is on my bucket list for the feisty little brownies and grayling on my local small stream..........
I haven't gone down the furled leader route (yet!), I was given a few Orvis braided leader kits with bimini tippets several seasons ago so I stick with those. My small stream leader is made up of the braid then a 5X super strong bimini tippet into about 24" of 6X Fluorocarbon (and even down to 12" of 7X if the fish are really spooky). The braid and bimini float on the water and the fluorocarbon sinks below the surface (after a good degrease!). I am with you and Mark on the fluorocarbon - a wonderful invention.
Thanks
Alistair
Alistair
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Be careful, bamboo can get into your blood and pocket book from what I'm told.
The Orvis braided leader is what I started with. I don't know what made me try furled, but I'm happy. When does your trout season open?
Hi Alan
DeleteOur trout season opens on the 22nd of March here in Yorkshire. The grayling season closes on the 14th of March.
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Alistair
Alan, with regard to the furled leader, how do you go about attaching the tippet to it, surgeon's knot or do you use a tippet ring and tie the tippet on to that?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sam
Sam
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Sam the furled leader has a tippet ring built in. The ring is very small and doesn't effect the cast. The other end has a loop that connects to the fly line. Try one you'll like it.
Oh I see that now after looking at the photo again. Small streams are calling my name this year.
DeleteHi Alan and friends,
ReplyDeleteBamboo doesn't have to be expensive. Five years ago I returned to the bamboo rod of my youth. I fixed up an older Orvis 7.5 X 5 just like the kit rod I assembled in 1960 when I was 14. Total cost: $250. Three years ago I bought a new copy of the Thomas and Thomas Caenis 7.5 X 3. Cost: $425. This is my go-to small stream rod - great for roll-casting. And, last year I bought and fixed up a rod for big-water and landlock salmon fishing, a Granger 8642 8.5 X 5. It's a cannon that handles wind and distance, yet is still delicate enough to handle big fish on small flies. Why bamboo? It's totally subjective, but I find that its slower, more deliberate casting stroke slows me down and makes me fish slower and more deliberately. Somehow it helps to "keep me in the moment." Plus, bamboo is dead beautiful to look at. I still use and enjoy my graphite rods in very cold weather or for striper fishing. Different strokes, as they say.
John
John Strucker
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John to refurbish a bamboo rod you made when 14 and fish it now is quite an achievement. I to describe bamboo as slow, but it's something more. The feeling you get at the handle is hard to describe. Simply it's something else and until you experience it you'll never know. They are pretty as you say. The rod I have is an absolute perfect small stream brookie rod. I can't wait until warmer weather arrives.
so many rods, so little time...............
ReplyDeletenice selection of graphite,glass and cane.
that reminds me- I need another rod----- NOT. LOL
Thanks for sharing.
John Pavao
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John "you always need a new rod"..it's in the blood.
Sometimes just taking a rod you have in your rack you have not fished in some time gives you the feeling of a new rod.
indeed, your post inspired me to review my inventory.
Deleteouch,,,, 10 flyrods, ranging from 3 to 9 weight, both glass and graphite plus 16 spin rods of various sizes etc. you are right - many of my rods have not been fished in a while and deserve to get wet again. thanks for your great blog.
Alan, it's great to see so many 2wt & 3wt specialty rods in one sitting. Ours is a niche market that most anglers don't understand. I take great pleasure in out-fishing others with a 6 foot fly rod. Hehe.
ReplyDeleteMatt Harding
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Matt many years ago I fished for steelhead..they told me 8-10' 8wt rods are needed. So I fished what I had a 7' 5wt and it handled the chrome screamers just fine.
Reading this warms my heart.
DeleteThe new FenGlass 6 1/2 3wt is a sweet Brookie rod
ReplyDeleteWith a Martin #62 "tuna can reel" and line the outfit is less than 6oz
I've been using the Orvis Braided butt for over 25years
Unknown
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I've seen some good reports on that rod. The Martin reels are a classic in their own way. Those Orvis braided leaders have been around a long time.