Hi guys,

Recently finished my first rod build on a 7ft 12-20lb mhx spinning blank and I am very happy with the results. I have been looking for a lighter fly rod for a while, and now that I have caught the building bug I have decided to try build one.

I am very happy with the quality and price of the MHX blank I built the spinning rod on, so I have decided to try their fly blanks. I intend to use the rod mainly from a kayak or a boat in smaller creeks for australian bass and some estuary species like bream in around the snags. I am currently living in Townsville so I was thinking I could also use the rod in some tight waters for jungle perch, tarpon (oxeye herring) and some sooties. Flies will be quite small, mainly small foam style cicadas or hoppers, to small bead chain clousers and woolly buggers on say #6 hooks for sub-surface fishing.

Does anybody here have any experience with the 7'6 MHX 4wt and the 8' MHX 4wt? I was planning on using a shorter rod for more accuracy when casting to snags and mangrove edges, and also to keep it light. I notice the 7'6 is a mod-fast action whereas the 8' is a fast action, do you think the 8ft would be better when using the slightly larger bead chain flies given it is fast? I dont plan on casting big distances, mainly in the range of 30ft, sometimes possibly 40ft.

Any personal experience and opinions with either of these blanks would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Brent

I should also add that I am not totally closed off to the idea of a 5wt as a bit more of an all rounder which can handle some larger flies, I am just one of those blokes who likes to fish as light as can be justified...

I haven't built or fished either one of these rods, however, I do like the MHX line. I do fly fish from a kayak most of the time, so I would suggest the 8' model. One of the issues fly casting from a sitting position in a kayak is keeping the line off the water. That is easier with an 8' rod. I also roll cast a lot in tight places, and it is easier with a longer rod.

IF any one has built on this blank they should be able to give you an idea if a 4 wt line or even a 5 wt line works better on the blank You should try them both and see how you like them

Bill - willierods.com

Brent,
Based on the size fly you might consider a heavier line to turn over the offering.
A size #6 weighted clouser would be easier to cast with an 8 weight.
The extra line weight would help propel the line into the wind with only a small increase in effort if you keep the rod length to 8'.
My 4 weights are well suited for weighted nymphs up to a size #10. As the fly gets much larger more velocity has to be added to the fly line..
A 4 weight does a very nice job on flys down to #24 and up to #16 provided there's little wind to interfere.
The 8 weight will also provide a lot more options for fly line taper.
The fly size and wind resistance should dictate the line weight for easier casting.

Thanks for the responses guys. Eugene, I already have an 8wt and a 10wt which I use for throwing heavier weighted clousers and saltwater flies, and I hope to add a 6wt to the arsenal in the future to fill the gap. So the 4wt will be mainly for throwing smallish foam terrestrials and light sub surface flies like unweighted #10 and smaller woolly buggers or at most bead head woolly buggers. The eyes on the #6 clouser would be very small bead chain and they are tied sparse, but really that wont be the main purpose of the rod given that I will be getting a 6wt down the track.

Bill, that could be an idea, a 5wt line on the faster action 8ft blank could be good for throwing the slightly larger flies the short distances I need to cast.

Cheers again

Actually, with a heavier fly, you can often use a lighter rod. The weight of the fly becomes a casting aid and will move through the air easier than a lighter fly once it builds momentum.

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

The F804-4-MHX take a #4 line not a #5 line.
Thé 8' is faster (greater AA) than the 7'6".
Hope this help.

Another option out there is a XMG 50 fly rod blank at Anglers Workshop on sale. 3 piece. 8 ft 5 wt.

Seems to me you are after fish that are in the 1-5 kg range, known to be fiesty, and hang around rough cover. Personally, I would feel undergunned with most 4 weights. I'd build that 5/6 weight now an add something lighter later on if you still feel the need. Consider the quickline blanks too as they are getting rave reviews.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.