I purchased a 5 ft. 2pc. rod blank at the ICRBE this past Feb. Being green as I was, I thought about building this as a short fly rod for hiking back into the mountains and fishing for small mountain trout. However, I done the CCS this evening and come up with 50 dead Lincolns. ERN 6.35 AA 60. Not exactly enthused about building a 6 or 7 wt. 5ft. brook trout fly rod. Any ideas on what weight lure(mepps spinner?) this blank will throw as a spinning rod? Should have known when the butt section was considerably bigger than 6'6" 2 wt. I built.

Why not build the fly rod? Weight (ounces) really isn't a problem unless you are severely anemic and are going to hike 100 miles. Simply string it up with an AFTMA 8 or 10 line and it will feel like a bamboo rod.

Using an 8 or 10 wt line for mountain Brook Trout, would be like using a Tarpon Rod for Blue Gill !

Dean,
A 6.35 ERN translates to roughly a 3/8 ounce lure rating.

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO

Thanks George! Mind telling me where I can find a chart, ect?

Divide ERN by 16 to determine lure rating in ounces. I read it here on this site.

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO

No, that isn't it. It's rod rating numerator by 16 but even that isn't going to be accurate because the rod ratings aren't based on any type of standardized system. One company's 4-weight rod is the next company's 6-weight rod.

Get a copy of the Rosetta Stone (I may have it on the library page here) or read the URRS system chart.

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Put the line rating over -- 16 and that will get you at least in the Ball park

If you want a 2 wt fly -- 2 over 16 -- about -- 1/8 lure weight

But remember - nothing is written in stone

Bill - willierods.com

Put the line rating over -- 16 and that will get you at least in the Ball park

If you want a 2 wt fly -- 2 over 16 -- about -- 1/8 lure weight

But remember - nothing is written in stone

I wish it was -- it would make it easy to pick a blank

Bill - willierods.com

Phil Erickson Wrote:
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Using an 8 or 10 wt line for mountain Brook Trout, would be like using a Tarpon Rod for Blue Gill !
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I believe you exagerate a bit.
When fishing for mountain brook trout, the problem is not related to the weight (strength, ERN) of the rod, since one really doesn't fish for these little trout for the thrill of the fight they put up. The problem is getting the fly line out about 10 feet. Don't forget, the end of the fly line is some 8 or more feet from the fish and line splash is of little concern.
Of course if it is indeed the fight you seek, by all means get yourself a 00 wt.

On the other hand, simply build your blank as a spinning rod, and if you want to fly fish with it, put on the heavy flyline and go to it. A Rod is A Rod is A Rod. The only significant difference between an ERN=6 spinning rod and an ERN=6 fly rod is the former has a CCF of over 90 and the latter has a CCF of only about 80. That reduction can be easily accomplished by use of the heavier line.