[robodork]

After getting a suggestion in another post, I'm looking for more opinions. If you could pick one set up for fly fishing small mountain streams, what would it be? I'm talking about a single purpose rod for catching small brook trout on very small water. What rod, reel, line, etc would you use? I'm open to any suggestion as long as you can justify it. I'm currently looking at a Sage TXL in 2-3 weight, but I have no idea what sort of reel would go well with it. I'm very interested in lightweight bamboo, but only if it doesn't destroy my wallet. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as I am a complete n00b Thanks in advance.

[Scud]

From your other post, I see you have an 8 weight. I lean toward a 7 1/2 foot 4 wt for mountain streams. An 8 to 9 ft 5 wt would work also and give you a little more versatility if you should fish tailwaters and such. Orvis makes some decent reels in all price ranges. The BBS is a good choice. Some folks for reasons of line control, like a long rod even for the mountains, but I enjoy rods in the 7 to 7 1/2 foot length. Good fishing.

[cowboy]

Originally Posted by Scud

From your other post, I see you have an 8 weight. I lean toward a 7 1/2 foot 4 wt for mountain streams. An 8 to 9 ft 5 wt would work also and give you a little more versatility if you should fish tailwaters and such. Orvis makes some decent reels in all price ranges. The BBS is a good choice. Some folks for reasons of line control, like a long rod even for the mountains, but I enjoy rods in the 7 to 7 1/2 foot length. Good fishing.

What he said. Get you a 7 foot 4 weight and your good to go.
No need to go with a 1 or 2 weight, although it can be more fun.

[ColdOnTheShoulder]

I'd get a 3 or 4 over a 2 wt. I've owned several of each but a 3 wt is a lot more versatile. It has the finesse for low water in the park but has enough backbone to handle a pig out of one of the limestoners.

Bamboo can be pricey but if you are looking at TXL's, there are plenty of good bamboo rods to be found in that price range.

[Silvercreek]

I don't know about you guys but on my local streams, the rod I use depends a lot on the time of the year and the flies I am casting. In the spring when grass is low, the tag alders have not filled out, and the water is higher, I use a 8.5 ft 5 wt but as the stream gets narrowed by grass and filled out trees, and the streams gets lower, I go to an 8 ft 4 wt or a 7.5 ft 3 wt.

Point being that it is hard to tell someone what equipment is best when you don't know how spooky the fish will be, how narrow the stream will be and how far you need to cast.

Do you guys use one rod all year round for mountain streams?

[Scud]

You've got a point silvercreek. That being said I've got a couple of rods I just enjoy fishing in the mountains, so I pretty much do use the same rod for the same streams regardless of the time of the year. I've got other rods I like for bigger waters. From my persective, I was just trying to give some broad advice to a guy looking to get a start fishing for trout. Lord knows that if he is like most of us the rods will accumulate.

[FlyDoctor]

I own rods ranging from 6 1/2' to 9' and 1wt to 7 wt but I use the rods ranging from 6 1/2' to 7 1/2' on mtn streams. My goto rod among them for mtn streams and brookies is a 7' 4 wt (bamboo of course). I would think you could get a bamboo rod from a local maker for under $500 or look on Clark's List http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com/. With bamboo a Pfleuger Medalist looks good and is dirt cheap--I have a 3wt on mine. On small streams all you need the reel for is to hold the line--Larry

[phg]

Originally Posted by Silvercreek

...
Do you guys use one rod all year round for mountain streams?

Silver, for the most part, yes we could,... but no we don't. We generally don't have to deal much with grass and weeds. Most of our streams are in heavily wooded areas, and the casting conditions don't change much.

I do almost all my trout fishing with a 4wt, and generally with either a 7' or a 7'6" rod, although I own other lengths of 4wts from a 4'9" bamboo banty to a 9' Forecast. A 4wt is a good size for 6" to 16" trout, which covers just about everything I'm likely to catch.

When I was out west, fishing the Madison near $3 Bridge, I did have to use a longer rod, but there's nothing like that around here.

[rivergeezer]

Originally Posted by phg

When I was out west, fishing the Madison near $3 Bridge, I did have to use a longer rod, but there's nothing like that around here.

The current was so strong at the $3 Bridge that I stopped fishing, tied one end of a rope to the bridge and the other around my waist, and barefoot skied.

[mattnmtns]

I am curious why would would say the TXL or Bamboo. The TXL is a fast action rod, bamboo obviously is not. Just seems to be a bit of a contradiction. If anything I think the ZXL would be better. Admittedly my personal preference for slow action rods. Personally I think it is more fun to catch brookies and just about any trout on a mid or full flex rod. I also agree with the others that a 1 or 2 might be limiting even as a "specialty" brookie rod. A medium or slow action 3 or 4 wt in 7'6" to 8' would be perfect. I don't think there is one perfect rod, at least I keep telling myself that.

Do some research, try to cast before you buy and don't count out fiberglass rods.

Originally Posted by Silvercreek

Do you guys use one rod all year round for mountain streams?

Yes and no, I typically would or could use the same rod on the same stream all year because the rhododendron is pretty much an obstacle year round. The streams vary sop much though. There are some tight plunge pool streams that I'll use my 9' rod on. There are others I will use my 6'6" rid on. It usually has more to do with how much length I think I will need to effectively mend my line.