Where's the love for 6wt rods?

[VO2Max]

To anyone that can help me out with this quandry,

I just picked up a great 6wt 9" rod and after buying it as a great packable rod (4 pieces) I started to think about what species fish this may be best for. It seems that the 6wt is a "tweener" rod that few on this forum utilize. Can someone enlighten me as to the reason? I can only assume that it is too stiff for redsides and too light for their bigger brother steelhead?

THanks in advance, ERIK

[D3smartie]

i love my 6wt. I have an Xi2 that i use all the time. Summer steelhead, sea-run cuts, silvers, pinks, atlantic salmon... its a great rod for me. It all boils down to what 6wt it is... very soft ones would be great for trout, while the very stiff ones are good summer steelhead rods.

[VO2Max]

I guess it is all about opinion and the quality of the rod each has. I picked up a Martin at SierraTradingpost.com and after taking a look at it in person I have to admit that i think this rod will be a great overall rod. Now, I have to admit that i am NOT a pro by any means and have only been fly fishing for about 12months but have loved it, caught alot of fish already on my 7wt and 9wt but both are two piece rods and are not very packable. I guess I just need to get out there with it and see what happens! Thanks for the reply. ERIK

[VO2Max]

Hey D3Smartie,
I am moving up to Kirkland as of April first, any thoughts on where I should be fishing in and around your area? I am moving from Portland and would love to hit the Skagit, Nooksack and Snoqualmie rivers. if you have any ideas PM me. THanks in advance. ERIK

[D3smartie]

I dont know much about those rivers.
I mainly fish the westside out of Forks and i fish the salt a lot.

[tangled]

I too use a 6 weight as my go to rod in big water (trout, bass, etc.) and for summer steelies and coastal fishing.

[D3smartie]

When i was working in the fly shop up here i would advocate 6wts for people that wanted to try to do as much as possible with one rod. We also have more big water up here with the salt... If it were me trying to get a backpacking rod for trout i would go with a 5 or 4wt, maybe even a 3.
I think you dont see the love for 6wts in OR because most people would rather use a 5 and not really need the extra power provided by a 6.


let me know when you get up here and i'll be happy to show you around or answer any questions.

[VO2Max]

Thanks for the info/opinion and for the offer! I will take you up on it for sure. I look forward to checking out the Peninsula and the rivers off the Sound. Thanks again... I gotta get to tying some more flies for an outing tomorrow! ERIK

[gimmeumpqua]

Frankly, I find 6 weights boring and overkill for trout, unless nymphing in current for 20 plus inchers. They are a fantastic light steelhead rod. For trout, I think a 5 weight is more versatile. Of course, a lot of this depends on the water, whether windy or not, heavy flies or not, and less about the fish. I see people using 7 and 8 weights for Bass....I can't understand that....

The only six I use anymore is a 10 footer for summer steelies when I'm not in spey water, and a 9 footer for bonefish(the smaller ones in Belize)

Kurt

[garyk]

Yes, 6-weights are kinda like 16gauge shotguns....they just don't quite fit, at least for trout fishing. One exception would be lake fishing in a float tube, I do like a quick 6-wt there for picking up a bunch of line, often submerged.

[leadeyedbugger]

I use a 6wt quite a bit...i don't own a 5wt. I mainly use my 6wt on the cascades lakes casting sink tip or full sink lines with large streamers for browns.......a 5wt jsut can't quite do it and the fish are often pretty big. It comes in pretty handy also when the wind is blowing 20mph.

[Chas]

I use my Scott G series and Sage RPL 6 wt on redsides and summer steel. Great on windy days and for those long and short casts that require finesse. I love the versatility it affords but seldom use it with sink tips or for larger steelhead. It is without a doubt the best nymphing wt. rod I have in my arsenal.

___________________
It is all about the hunt

Chas

[Slow and Low]

I use a 6 weight and a 5 weight. 6 weight for nymphing and 5 weight for dries. A six weight in not overkill on the Deschutes in fact I damn near got spooled one time. I suggest nothing lighter than a 7 weight for steelhead, a 6 weight is for killing them.

As far as Puget Sound area. I spent two years up there and found the Yakima to de a decent trout stream, although it is a ditch compared to the rivers we have in Oregon. I spent 30 days a year there. I also spent some time on the Sky, Snoqualmie, Green, Skagit, Hoh, Queets. Our rivers are much better fisheries IMO.

[Wild Chrome]

Originally Posted by Slow and Low

I suggest nothing lighter than a 7 weight for steelhead, a 6 weight is for killing them.

I do not share your opinion. Having caught steelhead on my 5 and 6 weight, I believe technique is a much bigger factor in killing steelhead than rod strength. You can kill them with a ten weight if you fight them from upstream on the Deschutes in 65 degree water. Add the landing problems of a solo spey fisherman to the mix and you stack the odds further against the fish. A six weight is plenty strong enough in most situations if you get perpendicular to the fish and use the power of the rod to move the fish's head toward you. I believe the main limiting factor with a 6 weight for steelhead is big flies, weighted lines and wind.

I use an Orvis Silver Label 10 foot 6 weight for nymphing, trout fishing in the wind, steelheading under calm summer/fall conditions and chasing big browns and rainbows in the Cascades. You cannot throw a big streamer very well, especially in the wind, with a 5 weight.

A six weight might be a bit big for mountain trout unless its windy or the trout are big.

[Slow and Low]

[quote=Wild Chrome;1428298]I do not share your opinion. Having caught steelhead on my 5 and 6 weight, I believe technique is a much bigger factor in killing steelhead than rod strength. quote]

OK. I have caught lot's of steelhead on 3,5,6,7 weight rods on the deschutes. I know you can do it. I'm pretty sure my technique is up to snuff. I am no expert but the differnce in fish control is substantial. God bless the guys fighting fish on trout rods, it's legal so it's cool. I won't do it, and why bother since the decent redsides will rip line on heavier sticks. My opinion, I respect yours but if you are targeting steelhead use the right stick for the job.

Absolutely no offense intended.

Tight lines.

[AndyK]

Originally Posted by Slow and Low

I use a 6 weight and a 5 weight. 6 weight for nymphing and 5 weight for dries. A six weight in not overkill on the Deschutes..

I don't fish for baby trout much anymore (only one trout trip in 2006), just steelhead. Some of the new six-weight rods are too stiff for a light tippet and will break off your fish. My six-weight is a Loomis GL-3 which is "softer" and works great with lighter tippets.

It is also great in lakes where the trout get a little bigger.

[Stonedfish]

VO2,
I love my 6wt's, all three of them. I think it is the one of the most versatile weights in fly rods. It has enough backbone to land a fairly large fish, yet can be good for tossing small dries if you need it to be. Excellent in the Eastern parts of Washington when the wind makes it difficult to fish a 4 or 5wt. It is also my favorite Puget Sound beach salmon and cutt rod.
I've caught lots of different types of trout, bull trout, searun cutts, summer runs, silvers, LM & SM bass, carp and even a few small bonefish on a 6 wt.
My largest fish was a 15 lb king caught of the beach, a bit to much fish for the rod but a heck of a fight.
Enjoy your new rod. It will have lots of applications for you.
Brian

[VO2Max]

Thanks to everyone for their opinions and input. Spent about 7hrs on Saturday trying to find just one steelhead but to no avail. Water was rather high and a bit too fast for my skills. Anyway, from the sound of things, it may be one heck of an adventure to hook into a 15+ lbs fish with the 6wt! I will be careful as to where I do this and make sure that if I do fish for larger fish that I can take the fish with me to fill the freezer instead of wasting a great resource in a non-retention stream/river.
Thanks again to all. ERIK

[stillwater97]

Depends on what you do.

I fish stillwaters pretty much from March through November & the 6wt is the go to rod for a couple of reasons.

1. You want something with backbone to get 70ft casts in a wind.
2. you want a rod that can handle a wide range of lines from floating to type VI.
3. you want a rod that could handle steelhead-sized fish as they are there.


5wts just don't have enough backbone for a lot of tips & a 7wt is not a rod I want to cast all day.

my .02 pesos

[santiamflyguy]

I fish a 9'9" 6/7 weight rod year round for summer and winter steelies (6wt longbelly floater in the summer, 7wt tips line in the winter), and have a couple more that come out on occasion too. I think I actually have more 6wts than 5wts. The 5wt is the 'odd rod out' for me as I do the majority of my trout fishing with 4wt or lighter...go figure.

[Abalone]

Once agian ! It's not about the size of the fish, it's about what weight line you need for the conditions such as wind, river current etc...

[santiamflyguy]

Yes and no, Abalone.

I fish a lot of little streams for steel that I could easily cover with a 4wt, indicator, and single egg. For obvious fish-size reasons, I don't...

[john montana]

i used to use a 9 ft 9 inch 6wt as my primary carp rod, but switched to a 7 wt. the 6 wt still has a definate place for me though.

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by VO2Max

Thanks to everyone for their opinions and input. Spent about 7hrs on Saturday trying to find just one steelhead but to no avail. Water was rather high and a bit too fast for my skills. Anyway, from the sound of things, it may be one heck of an adventure to hook into a 15+ lbs fish with the 6wt! I will be careful as to where I do this and make sure that if I do fish for larger fish that I can take the fish with me to fill the freezer instead of wasting a great resource in a non-retention stream/river.
Thanks again to all. ERIK

Have your track shoes on. After today I am puting my 7 weight away for my 10' 8wt.

Abalone, you are a trout guy? If so I agree with you.

[FrozenFish]

One thing thats obvious here is we all have far too many rods!!! My first fly rod was a six weight and I never sat home from one trip for lack of the "right" equipment. I think there is too mush emphasis put on the gear by alot of people. That old broomstick of a #6 has taken tons of different fish over 14 years. Shes a little funny looking with mismatched guides from various repair jobs, and the cork has seen better days. Oh yeah the reel seat doesnt cinch down worth a fuzz and will actually get loose enough to drop your reel off if you are not paying attention. By some of the respondents logic you would never be able to catch a fish on a rod like that and if you did there would be no joy in it. In spite of these aasumptions old blacky comes in with a coupleof saves every year. In fact I was just thinking about giving that to my boy when he reaches the age where durability and function trump action and finesse.
More than my anybody got change for a nickle?? -FF

[shad15]

i use my 6wt for summers