I will be fishing in Ontario, throwing big bugs for Northerns and Muskies as well as throwing poppers for Smallmouth. Can anyone recommend a blank as well as an intermediate line, 7-8 weight? Ontario = cold fresh water.

I am considering an RX7+, Dan Craft FT, and St. Croix Legend Ultra.

Thanks,

Tony

the dan craft FT is an absolute cannon. i built a 9' 4wt and was throwing 6wt shooting heads 70ft in my front yard with no practice on the rod. a good caster could do much better i'm sure. these rods will get it done. as for the line you would use someone else may have a better idea on that.
i just happened to have a reel with a six wt fast sinking shooting head laying around when i tested the rod. maybe you should look at a 6wt FT. check out the ccs data.

Larger streamers for Northern and Muskie often are most easily handled by an 8 or 9 weight rod. Most "experts" will claim the 9 wt. is an ideal rod. For smallies, you can get by with a much lighter rod, say a 7 wt. which is an all around nice rod for throwing those large poppers and such. Just remember that a heavier rod can throw something light but a lighter weight rod can not throw those heavier water logged socks.

Scientific Anglers Pike line is a really great line for big bugs.

7-8 is very good Bass range. I'd pick 7 for Smallies and 8 for greenies.

9 is a very good Pike weight. I prefer 10 for Muskie.

If I had to pick a rod for both Smallie and Pike, it would be an 8.

Can't advise on the blanks. I've got a couple of Loomis GL4's that I've been very happy with and haven't really tried anything else. I did cast an 8 weight LU when I was at St. Croix in their test pond. I really enjoyed that blank.



Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Tony... My son and I go up to Ontario each year to fly fish for the Northerns and smallmouth. Talk about a hoot. We tend to fish lighter rods than others might recommend. We take two rods apiece: one 8'6" or 9' five or six weight, and a 9' seven or eight weight. We're getting ready to go right now (leave next weekend). This year I'll take a 9 ft 8 wt built on a 4 piece Forecast blank w/ an A10 seat and fixed fighting butt . The other rod will be a 5 wt built on a 9' 4 piece Rainshadow RX7 blank. I'll probably up-line to a 6 wt WF line. The RX7 blanks are a nice compromise between quality and cost. We tie poppers, bunny leeches, and deceivers for these fish. We also tie a few "widow makers" for the pike, but they take the bunny leeches just like the smallies. My son is a talented hair bug tier, but we usually don't take hair bug patterns... they're no match for the Canadian smallies (destroyed in no time). Hope this helps. Best, Vance

I use the St. Croix 4f968 for both salmon/steelhead and bass. Throws big bugs and poppers very very well. Very easy to cast a long ways with great accuracy. I am nothing like an expert fly caster, but this rod makes me look like one. It will even cast well a 450 grain sink tip. That's like a 12 weight line. Amazing power, and firm enough for quick hook sets on hit and run fish like bass and trout.

You didn't say what size the poppers you'll be usin are, but for smalies, they're generally nothin tooo crazy big.
The CTS Affinity Plus 7wt. or 8wt. would serve you very well.


Andy Dear
Lamar Fishing

I would reply to each of you individually, but there are so many of you. Thanks to all who replied.

Vance Corbett, I was thinking about bunny leeches! What colors work well for you?

I've always had good luck with chartreuse, white and black. The Dahlberg Mega Divers are also a good pike/musky fly. Cabelas used to carry them, haven't looked lately.

Tony,

I would use a stout 8 weight.........make sure you have plenty of backing and a reel with a good drag. You can get by from my experience with a good WF floating line. Even with the intermediate you still can't get that deep so you mostly end up fishing weed cover and brush/trees....which you can do with the Floating line. I would bring some heavy braided line for a tippett...wire is not very castable IMO. Bring a good pair of long handled pliers for removing hooks. A good tailing glove is nice Pike & Muskies have a heavy layer of slim and can be a handful if you catch a big one. Use big flies for Musky...large muskies feed on adult walleye commonly...if that gives you a hint.

Keep your fingers out of their mouth an big musky can break a 10 inch wooden bait in half...I have seen it.

Muskiies canada has a good website if you are interested..have fun.

The Dan Craft 8' FT is a great blank, I use it for Steelhead fishing mostly and some bass/pike fishing. It's nice for pike flies but a little overkill for bass popers. Anyhow, I set up with two lines - an 8wt floating line, and a shooting line (terminiating with mono) for chuck and duck. I've obtained some shooting heads (2 sink, 1 float) and it shoots like a rocket - much fun.

Tony... Spencer's advice is on the money based on our experience... Olive or olive and black leeches are also producers. Like Joe, we don't use wire or coated wire for tippet. We end the leader with a 10-inch piece of "shock tippet" (20 or 24 pound test Maxima)... and five bucks for jaw spreaders is five bucks well spent. Jaw spreaders will help you get your fly out in a hurry -- lessening the potential to harm these beautiful fish. Best, Vance

Once again, great info.. Thanks guys.