• From: Shreveport, LoUiSiAna
  • Registered: 2009-07-07
  • Posts: 36

Topic: WTB 6 wt fly rod and reel

Looking for a 6wt. 9 foot rod. I prefer a reverse half wells grip. Also looking for a 6 wt. reel to go with it. Anyone have anything collecting dust at the house that you might want to get rid of? I recently began fly fishing again with a fiberglass rod and reel from the 70s. Its been that long. Got myself hooked again fishing in Northern Arkansas with some buddies. I'm in Shreveport and am new to this forum.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs084.snc1/5028_1192500614763_1295820432_573812_7123506_n.jpg
Rainbow trout tastes good!

Last edited by curtis bias (2009-07-07 14:52:41)

  • Registered: 2008-12-07
  • Posts: 856

Re: WTB 6 wt fly rod and reel

Curtis, welcome back to the fold!  emot_toast

I'm curious as to why a 9-ft, 6-wt? Reason I ask is that a lot of fishing around S'port, including the trout tailwaters at Mt. Fork and Little Missouri, is done with a 8 or 8 1/2 ft, 5-wt.  So you might have better luck finding a used - or as you requested "seldom used" - outfit of that length/weight. 

Also, Bass Pro in Bossier City currently has SciAngler fly rods for sale for $19.99. They're all 5-weight models in stock, and are 9-foot long. I've not had a chance to check them in person at either store, Bossier or Denham, yet.  But if they're anything like an SA rod I owned for a short while, it's a very decent beginners rod. Also check out the Temple Fork Signature IM6 graphite rods.  They're $99 but they cast very well for the money and come in all lengths and weights and have a breakage warranty.  Go to www.templeforkflyrods.com and check them out.  Either option, you'll have much more fun casting it than that fiberglass.

I do have an Okuma rod I'd give you except it sucks. I use it in presentations as an example of what NOT to buy!  Won it in a CCA raffle... it came with a reel and I was trying to win the reel.  The rod has 5 guides for a 9-foot length.  Golden Rule is 1 guide per foot of rod length (ideally, 1 guide per foot + 1 extra).  The line sags so much between the guides that birds can fly thru the hanging loops!  Just beware that a decent fly rod will have good guides, the right number of guides, a cork grip, and not be very tip heavy.  Unless you're fishing saltwater, the reel just needs to hold line.  Just about any reel will do, but avoid automatic reels!

Good luck with your quest!

  • From: Shreveport, LoUiSiAna
  • Registered: 2009-07-07
  • Posts: 36

Re: WTB 6 wt fly rod and reel

I'll get around to a 5 wt. soon enough, don't you worry. I'm hunting a 9 foot 6 weight because that is what I found comfortable when I went fishing on the White River and surrounding areas in Northern Arkansas. I am from Shreveport, but take trips up into Arkansas and Missouri to fish with my friends. So, primarily, I'll be fishing in those waters. I may also run around area lakes here and fish for bass or crappie. I figured a 6 wt. would work well for a variety of fish. I enjoy bream fishing and will likely pick up a 5 wt rod and reel for that application. Might even go smaller to tell you the truth. Definately a shorter rod length. I've spotted some St. Croix rods and found a used 5 wt. reel locally. The St. Croix rods are fairly inexpensive at Dick's Sporting Goods in Shreveport. Too bad that they only had 3 fly rods in stock.

As for the Scientific Anglers rods, I saw those at Bass Pro just two days ago. They are green 5 wt. rods.. I wasn't really happy with the rod seat on those particular rods. Of course, it wouldn't be too difficult to pull the rod seat and replace it. I don't know anything about the rod itself. It looked like a decent rod except for the butt end. I found some inexpensive rod seats on E-Bay and from rod building suppliers that catch my attention. A little heat, a little epoxy, and I would be in business with one of those cheapo rods. I may just have to pick one up just to see how they perform with an upgrade. I've got a full shop at my disposal and could easily modify the cork handle with a little time on the lathe.

So, I am excited about fly fishing and was surprised to find folks in the area were doing it as well. I'm not spotting anything on Craigslist or the usual classifieds related to fly fishing in any way. I have run into a local guy that fly fishes. To tell you the truth, the only person i have ever run into in Louisiana with a fly rod was my brother. He has moved off to Alaska and is having a blast there. He is catching some monster fish there.

  • From: Baton Rouge
  • Registered: 2008-12-11
  • Posts: 162

Re: WTB 6 wt fly rod and reel

You need to be introduced to Sierra Trading Post my friend, www.sierratradingpost.com, sign up for their Deal Flyer and wait until you get a 25-30% off coupon. You won't find better deals anywhere. I got a Lamson Radius for under $100 from them - nice reel.

  • Registered: 2008-12-07
  • Posts: 856

Re: WTB 6 wt fly rod and reel

S'port is home to the North LA Fly Fishers, one of the oldest clubs in the state. If you're interested in checking them out, they do a fly tying session every other Saturday at Bass Pro from 2pm to 4pm. They'll be there this Saturday. My daughter goes to Centenary and she meets folks all the time who fly fish who aren't club members (most don't know a club exists).  So fly fishing is pretty big there, you just don't run into too many flyrodders at Dickson Lake or Cross Lake. I did run into someone fishing near the docks on the Red River. It's real good water when it's low and clear. Most of the flyfishers I've met up with have been at Bistineau, Caddo and Cypress Lake. Of course, the trout waters of Broken Bow and Little Mo are just over 2 1/2 hours away... a lot closer than Missouri!

  • From: Shreveport, LoUiSiAna
  • Registered: 2009-07-07
  • Posts: 36

Re: WTB 6 wt fly rod and reel

Thanks for the information guys. I'll have to head to Bass Pro to catch the fly tying demos.

Fishtaco- I used to buy shoes from STP. I checked out the site. You are right. They have some good deals on fly fishing gear. I'll be sure to browse the site from time to time.

Last edited by curtis bias (2009-07-08 00:23:16)

  • From: Denham Springs, LA
  • Registered: 2008-12-11
  • Posts: 107

Re: WTB 6 wt fly rod and reel

Take a look at the deals at Cabelas...

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ … hasJS=true

Larry Offner's Website

  • From: Shreveport, LoUiSiAna
  • Registered: 2009-07-07
  • Posts: 36

Re: WTB 6 wt fly rod and reel

Still looking for something used.
Iwent up to Bass Pro and bought one of the 20 bucks specials from Scientic Anglers. Pulled off the plastic reel seat already. I've got a Redington reel seat ready to install. Its a start. If anyone is interested, I can post pics of the procedure and mistakes I made along the way. It doesn't feel like a half bad rod to tell you the truth. Medium flex and nice guides. 4 sections. Graphite.

  • From: Shreveport, LoUiSiAna
  • Registered: 2009-07-07
  • Posts: 36

Re: WTB 6 wt fly rod and reel

Just looking for a 5 or 6 wt reel at this point. Would be nice if someone has one used with line.
Just trying to get a fly on the water.

  • From: Shreveport, LoUiSiAna
  • Registered: 2009-07-07
  • Posts: 36

Re: WTB 6 wt fly rod and reel

Found a 5 wt. fly fishing combo at a local store that was running a sale. They said they were liquidating their fly fishing inventory. I decided to help them out. St. Croix. Not bad for $78  bucks.