'Time to gear up for my semiannual sojourn in the Smokies! I want to build something new and would appreciate suggestions from folks familiar with small stream gear. My store-bought full-flex Orvis 8'6" 4wt is a tad too much for the type (as in size) trout I'm able to fool; my ST Croix SCIV 7'6" 3wt is too fast (even with the 4wt Sage quiet taper line) for the length of casts I'm able to muster. It's not much help trying to highstick the pocket water, either. Any suggestion for the "just right" setup? I'm allergic to people when I vacation, so most of my fishing will be way upstream in the mountain laurel.

Lonnie,
It has been awhile since I've fished the Smokies (near Gatlinburg), but my main recollection is that I occasionally snagged my backcast in overhanging trees. Regarding fly rod length, I'd go with 7' or no more than 7-1/2'. A 3-weight or 4-weight should be fine.
I hired a guide, and the first fly he tied on my leader was a version of the “Yallerhammer.” The rainbows, yes, were very small. In fact, a 7" fish is a “keeper” for those so inclined.
My guide, born and raised in the area, also fished. He used backing for his fly line and cast it well.
In my opinion, your St. Croix 3 wt. ought to work OK.
Clyde Dent

Look at the Lamiglas fiberglas pack rods. 7' 3 wt 5 pc I think.
Slower action so you can get some control, light line rating and the fact it breaks down nice and small for packing in. I think Clemens have some blems on sale if not check with all the usual suppliers for the stock one. I built th e8' 5 wt 6 pc. It's done trout in Michigan and Calgary and smallies in Ohio. I just jam it in the briefcase when I have to go on the road.

I am from Asheville, NC and my go to rod is a 6ft6in Lamiglass 3wt. it will throw a 2wt to a 4wt line. If i am in a very small stream, I may go to a 3wt 5ft graphite I got from Rainshadow. Again if I am fishing a close stream, I will use a 4wt line. I do not back cast the rod, I let the line lay in the water down stream and then whip it forward and shoot the line up stream. By the way I built the 3wt with oversize guides so I would not restrict the line flow.
Bob at Custom Tackle supplied me with the above blanks. He has the fiberglass in 4 piece blems, that I have yet to have a problem with after building over 15 of them. He also has the 6ft6in 3wt in a 9 piece rod that I am currently building.
If you are going to be in my area, I have about 8 rods in the catagory that you are looking for and you are welcome to try them.
E-mail me at drurytom@aol.com if I can help you.

tom

I second Tom D's recommendation of the Lami fiberglass 3 wts, I use the 6'6" often. My home water here is pretty tiny too, 4 to 8 ft wide, and I feel I get great control with this rod at these close ranges. Yes, it responds to a variety of casting techniques including some not in any book! they're sweet, simple little blanks for little money.

Good comments, all...which is to be expected on this board! The fiberglass sounds like a good route to take...I'll let you know how it goes.

I live in the Smokies and use (most of the time) a 7 1/2 ft. Orvis One Weight. Great on these streams for drys. 3 Wt is plenty for weighted nymphs. Try using the circle cast to avoid the tree behind. It works great. Hope you have good luck on your trip. By the way, try a yellow palmer and a parachute adams. Caddis flies work well at higher elevations.

Lonnie, I have to tell you that I keep one of the fiberglass "FL783-9" and "FL904-10" with me always. These little rods not only handle small water but can do a good sized stream also. I was on the Deschutes river yesterday fishing Bow's and when the fish began to get old hat on my 9' #4 I got out the 6'6" #3. With that rod (and I have a little 2" reel on it) a 14" Rainbow is like a Steelhead.

Todd

I've got a 6'6" 2 wt built on a pac-bay blank. I built it to fish small creeks in Rocky Mountain National Park. some are so small you can touch both sides. anyway,I absolutely love this rod for small streams, you could cast it in a closet, but it still has power enuff to throw a size 12 royal wulf with a bead head dropper in a little wind. If I have the choice, and it is somewhere I won't have to mend too much, I will pick up this rod before my 8 1/2 ft Loomis GL3 4wt!