3wt and big fish?

Airborne · 10-30-2003, 04:08 PM

I have a 3wt that was just given to me yep thats what I said FREE... just wondered what kind of punishment it can take. It's a little guy only 6'6" but man is it nice, it should be awesome on the crooked or fall river. How big is too big for it? thanks as always for the comments...

Grantspastor · 10-30-2003, 04:10 PM

Trout...even the largest...but I'd avoid bigger fish like Steelhead. I fish a 5 wt on the Rogue and manage large fish o.k....but I think a 3 wt would be pushing it. The other consideration is how far you need to cast. You won't be able to achieve the distance needed for larger rivers and/or larger flies.

Airborne · 10-30-2003, 04:15 PM

I think for the most part it will be a small stream rod or maybe some warm water fish bass/panfish. I know a great little lake in North Idaho that has a load of big bluegill around the 10" mark as well as some big crappie that put up a great fight on my 6wt but on a 3wt even better.

BrokeItOff · 10-30-2003, 04:23 PM

Smallmouth will be very fun on that rod.

I have an orvis very close to those specs. The Crooked is great with a short light rod though high-sticking is difficult with such a short rod. I have fished the Deschutes with this rod and casting is a challenge, but I have caught fish to 18" on it.

It is quite fun, enjoy.

lilnorthfork · 10-30-2003, 06:38 PM

My 7'9" 3wt. is my favorite rod. So much fun on small streams but has done great on the Crooked, Fall and Metolius... even with the Kokanee. Last week I was exploring the Upper Tualatin with it and a sh hit my fly. I'm glad he missed, especially since the river is closed to sh, but thinking about the possibility is enough to get my heart racing. :smile:

10-30-2003, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lilnorthfork:
My 7'9" 3wt. is my favorite rod. So much fun on small streams but has done great on the Crooked, Fall and Metolius... even with the Kokanee. Last week I was exploring the Upper Tualatin with it and a sh hit my fly. I'm glad he missed, especially since the river is closed to sh, but thinking about the possibility is enough to get my heart racing. :smile:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">It was probably a sucker cousin

[ 10-30-2003, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: Stew ]

dimwit · 10-31-2003, 07:36 AM

My 3wt is my favorite rod, but its 9ft so I have good line control and I can cast it in a moderate wind. I've caught fish of varying species up to a few pounds. In a lake or pond with no current, you can handle larger fish. In a stream with fast current it takes a few more tricks to bring the fish in without totally exhausting it, and (assuming you're going to release it) if you aren't comfortable with that you should use a heavier rod. If the winds blowing, forget it, for that amount of frustration you might as well be playing golf.

FallRiverGuy · 10-31-2003, 07:56 AM

I have a 7'6" 4wt that has landed 19" trout with little trouble. Just not much backbone to turn a big fish. But a hoot to fish with none the less. I the use the rod on the Crooked, but at times it is a lot of work to make longer casts even employing the double haul.

PTS · 10-31-2003, 08:05 AM

My Sage 389 LL is my favorite rod. That is one reason I love to spend time on the Crooked. However, I am also on the Deschutes every week, and I have never even considered using it there. It would definitely take too long to land a D redside, causing too much stress on the fish. I use a GLX 10 ft 6 wt for nymphing and can get my butt kicked by the D redsides with that rod.

greenbuttskunk · 10-31-2003, 08:47 AM

a three wt. is great for just about any trout here in oregon, the limit comes with casting it, especially on wide open water. You just don't have the power and punch. They can land some very hefty trout. I'd stop at steelies though, except of 1/2 pounders, they'd be a blast on a 3wt.
I love to use mine on small creeks, and especially on the crooked. I have a NxNW IM6 7' 3 wt. LOVE IT!
GBS

ZaQ · 11-01-2003, 09:40 AM

I have got to the point where I use a 2 wt for my dry fly fishing on the Deschutes. I have never had so much fun catching trout as I do now that I switched over to the unltra light rod. A 15 inch fish feels like a ******* nook!!!!!! It is great.

Oh yeah, I can cast it about 35 feet or so, in the spots I fish over there, that is all that is needed.

topcd098 · 11-03-2003, 08:45 AM

I believe that it depends on the type of fishing you are doing. I have a 3/4 fly logic. I have landed 10lb trout on it, but that is not what I use it for. Certain situations that require 8-6x tippet require a light rod (i.e. soft to medium action) to handle big fish. I do not recomend using it for steelhead. You risk losing it, and would have to tire it to a point where it may not be revivable. Here is a trout I landed using my 3/4 with 6x tippet. This fish was revived and released. It took me in the neighborhood of 10 minutes to catch. The trick was not enticing it to fight by not applying a great deal of presure to it. I gently persuaded it in. After it took a couple of nice leaping runs on me.

11-03-2003, 09:21 AM

One thing here:
If you are doing catch and release fishing it's better, for the fish, to use the proper weight gear. Bring the fish to shallow water and release it quickly. Lactic acid buildup will kill a fish if it is fought too long.

My 8-1/2' 3wt works great for the streams in eastern Klamath and western Lake Counties.

Steelie28 · 11-04-2003, 10:22 AM

I agree with PTS. I would not use a 3wt for steelhead or for trout on the Deschutes. Smaller creeks/rivers like the Fall, Metolious, Crooked, etc. I've caught a few bows on the McKenzie with my 389LL and probably won't fish that rod on a large river again. I like using it in lakes, especially when there is some action on top. That 389LL is a dry fly gem.

Steelie28

Airborne · 11-04-2003, 07:44 PM

Lots of great advice given from all, now all I have to do is find a time to hit the Crooked R. How is it in Dec.??? As I have only fished it during the warmer months.