I have a couple of friends who want flyrods for a very specific application. Here in the Ozarks, we do quite a bit of small creek fishing for fat smallmouth. Frequently the creeks resemble those in western Colorado - lots of back brush and overhanging limbs. What would I need to make a 5.5 - 6 ft 6 wt rod? What type of action would it need to cast streamers on such a short rod? I'm thinking extremely slow action since it likely involves cutting a blank and the short rod would need to load more slowly than usual. Of course, I may be way off base here and an extra extra fast rod might be the way to go...this is just my thinking. Anyone have any suggestions?

I'd use a fast action rod - using the proper line will load the rod, no matter what action it has. The faster tip helps shoot casts a little tighter in those places where you need a very narrow or closed loop.

You may not have to cut the blank. Take a 6'6" spinning rod rated for about 5/16th ounce and put a 6 or 7 weight line on it. That will load it at those shorter distances.

.............

Hi Kyle,
You may want to look at the E-Glass SPG blanks, or the faster action SB Graphite blanks.
Here is a link, the SPG series has been popular for small streams in many places.
[www.schneidersrods.com]
We are in Mtn Home, AR if you want to come by and look, we keep them all in stock.

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

You may want to look at the Sage website, I beleive they are now making 2 models specifically noted as bass rods, short and I believe 6 or 7 wts, may give you some ideas.
Eric

I am working on almost this exact project right now, and have 2 stories to share…

I am from PA, fish a lot of small mountain streams for brookies, and recently built a dorbeR F542/3 blank (2-3wt, 4.5 ft.) for small fish and brushy streams. It is a very slow action, I like it a lot for this application but it does throw a lot of sin-wave so you have to lengthen your casting stroke. But, it can throw about 40 ft. with a 3wt Cortland sylk weight- forward floating line. They have a 4/5 wt blank in a similar length which I have not had the chance to handle, but might be what you are looking for.

The 2nd story, I have been wanting a short, 6-or-so wt. Fly rod for brushy farm ponds and southern PA small-stream smallmouth fishing for some time. I was planning to buy the above mentioned blank until the following happened… Last fall I picked up an old, about 5.5 ft., solid fiberglass kids closed-face, plastic trigger grip rod set up with the old-style foul-proof wire guides. All I wanted was the guides, and it was only $2, so I bought it and figured the rest of the rod would be spare parts. Last week I pulled it out to strip off the guides, but first out of pure curiosity taped a fly reel to the junk handle and tried casting 8wt and 10wt lines. It did remarkably well, my new close-quarters bass rod! So, I tore everything apart, cut off the junk handle with a file, and extended the blank to restore the original length. Part of my concept for this rod is that it would be suitable for spinning as well as fly, so it will be a compromise build. I am planning to use a full-wells handle, a PacBay channel lock fly reel seat which also holds my spinning reel well, an oversized fighting but for a finger and palm rest when spinning, and casting guides instead of snakes. Since it is so short weight is not a problem, though sensitivity will be less than a modern blank, and it will be as close to indestructible as it comes. A total experiment, but I am anxious to see how it turns out.

I just present this as a story more than advice, maybe it will give somebody an idea, maby not. I hope it is interesting, or at least amusing :-)
If anybody has done anything similar, I would be interested in hearing how it turned out!

Adam

I agree with Tom.
Fast action for quick accurate casts without a lot of rod stroke.
Look for a 6 foot IM7 spinning blank with a .270 butt and a 4.5 tip.
Probably rated at fast action light.
This should cast 6 weight with a flick of the wrist.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2009 08:03PM by Eugene Moore.

St Croix makes a really good short fly blank that may fit the bill. It is the 3-pce Avid (SCIII), 6'6" and rated for 4 wt. It has a med/fast action and loves to be overlined at close quarters. I've used one for years with a 6 wt line on very tight streams. It casts beautifully, packs small, has plenty of backbone and has proven to be as tough as nails when dragged through bushes etc. I built mine with oversize black snakes for stealth and strength and it is a great rod for those tight bushy streams. I'm sure there are lots of other options out there such as some of the short Tiger Eye blanks, but I know this one works well with a heavy line. Jim