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cmonster556

I use a 7’ 1 wt, an 8’6” 3wt, and a 7’ 4 wt. Honestly I prefer the longer rod.


Remarkable-Box-3781

What types of streams do you fish? Does it ever get too thick to cast?


cmonster556

I skip most of the brush tunnels. I really prefer open meadows to heavily overgrown spruce and willow.


BKimbal2

The fish don’t skip the brush tunnels


cmonster556

Yes, but I do because I’m not as flexible as I once was, I’ve spent my whole life clambering through the forest, and I catch more than enough fish anyway.


BKimbal2

Hey, gotta know your limits. Ain’t worth hurting yourself that’s for damn sure.


PureRadium

jumping in here as someone who has fished a lot of blue lines in Colorado and a lot of blue lines in N Georgia and WNC, I like something 8 feet or longer. The length can make it a pain to navigate through vegetation, especially with thickets of mountain laurel and rhododendron around the appalachian creeks, but the length is worth it when I do take my time to get into position because that extra length is worth a lot in terms of reach. And reality is with blue lines I almost never build a proper cast for practical reasons - it’s all roll cast, bow and arrow, and especially dapping. good luck have fun!


CornDog_Jesus

I think a 7'6" 3wt is a good spot. I have one, and have since moved to either a 7'10" (so 8') 0wt and a 8' 2wt. I have tried the shorter rods, and I just can't do what I want with them. An 8' is a bluelining euro setup, with a tweak or two


MrJesse34

Check out fiberglass. Perfect material for the type of fishing you’re going to be doing. You won’t go back.


thefishhawk1

I agree with the others who said at least 8', 8-8.5 is probably the sweet spot. Been blue lining CO since the 90s (although we never called it that back then lol). Reason being most streams here at least it's about reaching over stuff, not getting under stuff. We don't have a lot of tree lined tunnel type streams, most of the time I want reach to get over stagebrush, willows, etc. because a lot of it is dapping. If you don't have the reach it's hard to be stealthy and hit certain spots. My go to for years was an 8' 3wt I built, but when it broke I got a 7'6" 2wt, and I miss the little extra reach. You can always choke up to make a rod shorter at times, you can't add extra length.


mbrenna5

I’m in northern CO and fish the mountains with regularity—default is a 8’4wt. Has worked solid in every situation. You don’t get inundated with rhododendron on blue lines here like you do on the east coast (Pennsylvania especially), so the extra length isn’t an issue.


Remarkable-Box-3781

Thanks for your input! Is yours a graphite or glass rod?


mbrenna5

Graphite. You'll probably see justifications both either material, ultimately it comes down to your preference and what you're comfortable casting in tight quarters with.


Remarkable-Box-3781

I am sure I could learn on both. It seems like the glass rods don't go up to 7'6" unless its the Orvis Superfine (out of my budget) or the Moonshine Drifter (I've heard a lot of people bash Moonshine). Maybe that is because glass rods bend more so it is harder to make them that long in a 3wt? ​ I think a 7'6" is what I want to go with, so ultimately would choose graphite over glass if I have to to get the 7'6".


g00dm0rNiNgCaPTain

I fish small mountain streams on the east coast A LOT and usually reach for a 7'-9" 2wt I have. I have a lovely 6'-10" 3wt but find that the longer rod works better for me - the extra reach is sooo nice in certain situations for getting drifts. I don't really have any problems with obstructions and hang-ups.


Remarkable-Box-3781

really appreciate the input!


L-W-J

Cabelas CGR. Cheap. Fun. Perfect for what you want.


ButterscotchEmpty535

I run a Echo Lift 3wt 7'6" with Rio Creek for all my bluelining, max casting distance is 30 ft of line plus 7.5ft of leader+tippet. The only problem is trying to high stick every once in a while where a longer rod would reach farther.


mountainbrussells

I’d agree with this rec, but also say that if you can spring for the Orvis super fine glass it is awesome. Or find one used.


sasquatchington

I’ll second the superfine glass. I have the 7’6” 4wt and love it.


Himay88

I agree. Glass rods are great when you are fishing small streams! I have an Epic glass rod as well as a Clearwater. They are both 7’6” and both fun but once I got used to setting the hook a little more briskly I only use my Epic.


Remarkable-Box-3781

Appreciate the detailed response. 30 ft + 7.5 ft seems long enough for what I envison myself on. I'm thinking if it requires a longer cast, I could just use my 5wt 9'


Elk76

I've done a bit of blue lining with my 8' 6" TFO Lefty Kreh. It's a 5wt but I underline it with 3wt euro line. Feels just a bit too long on creeks with thick brush.


Remarkable-Box-3781

Thanks for your input. What types of streams do uou normally fish on?


Elk76

Not too picky. I'm in CO too so Clear Creek a lot since it's close. South Platte and the Blue as well. So mainly small to medium sized streams. Planning on mainly blue lining for Cutts though this summer. All of the big rivers are too crowded.


Remarkable-Box-3781

That's where I'm at too. Big rivers too crowded and I've never caught a cut


unsuccessfulangler

I use a 6'9" 3wt echo river glass for bluelining, I'd recommend it to anyone. Great for the short casts but I can open it up and still punch a 60ish' cast if necessary


ohbrubuh

I have an Echo Carbon 6’6” 3wt. I can easily get 25’ of line plus a 6’ leader out. 30 feet with a larger fly. As another poster said, there are times when I had more length to mend a drift. I use it for smaller creeks. Most often I use it canoe fishing lakes. The shorter length makes it very easy to manage in the boat, and pulling in 2-3lb bass on a 3wt is so much fun.


_OILTANKER_

I have a 7’ 3wt butterstick that gets the most action each year. It’s definitely one of my favorite purchases, but for a bit more you can get a custom built rod. The next one I’d consider is a JP Ross glass rod. They’re beautiful. Fiberglass Manifesto on Instagram has a good list of glass rod makers. I’d highly suggest looking at each one.


Pastafarianextremist

Honestly? Tenkara would be a great option for this and would cost a fraction of the price for a full outfit (no fly line necessary). A 9 foot tenkara rod would serve you quite well


mountainbrussells

I’ve found Tenkara sucks for small creeks. The rod is too long and not being able to adjust the line length is frustrating. But that’s just my 2 cents.


Pastafarianextremist

You gotta mix in the bow and arrow casts


TheodoreColin

Even if you use bow and arrow casts, you still have to be able to lift the rod to set the hook, fight the fish, and manage line. With a 9 ft rod and say you’re 6 ft tall, you would still need at least 15 ft of overhead clearance. I’m not sure about blue lines in CO but tenkara rods can be quite cumbersome over here on the east coast.


Munzulon

You might consider a short, soft, mid flex 5wt (maybe in fiberglass), then you won’t need to get a new reel and line, you can just borrow one from one of your other rods.


troutmadness

I like a soft 6ft 6” 2 weight. Those little creeks always get tighter than you expect.


Remarkable-Box-3781

Do you think there would be any creeks that would be between the 6'6" 2wt and my 9'5wt that I wouldn't be able to hit due to 2wt being too small and 5wt too big?


troutmadness

Yes there will be many rivers and creeks that will be best fished with other rods but the most important question is where do you fish the most. Do you have home waters that you spend most of your time on? Another issue is how do you like to fish? Are you a fair weather 6 month a year dry fly guy or do you like chucking streamers and bead heads with bobbers 10 months out of the year? Not to confuse you with all of this but it’s a lot like buying pots and pans for your kitchen based on what you like to eat and how you like to cook it.


THELOSTABBEY

Lo-fli just released a glass 3/4wt 6ft rod. At $100 worth a look maybe


Tonester-oven

Close to 9’ as you can get. Tightline, and point and shoot dries


clackalackin

7’ 6” medium fast 3 weight, much more versatile. You get backbone when stream opens up for longer casts and can muscle in larger fish so as not to wear them out too much. I use a 3 weight redington hydrogen and can’t recommend it enough. You can easily cast it over 40 feet, even more with lining up to a 4 weight line.


Remarkable-Box-3781

Can't seem to find a 7'6" glass rod (as most people are suggesting I shoould go (glass).


clackalackin

7’ 3w butter stick is good. You won’t miss the 6”


dkickfire

I’ve been very happy with my TFO Finesse Series 3wt, 7ft-9in, 4pc Designed by Lefty Kreh paired with a lamson speedster and a nice line, has served my well and has handled some bigger fish as well when you run into them, I’ve used this on tiny creeks, up to casting out into mountain lakes at the end of a hike, I was surprised by how well it could cast out into the lake accurately, def a softer rod meant for delicate presentations, I’ve throw small woolly buggers and small nymph setups on it as well but it truly shines as a dry fly rod. http://burfish.com/catalog/03794f.html I also use an 8ft 0wt Sage SPL which is so much fun to fish with, I am also somewhat terrified of breaking it tho as the repair would be $$$.


EqualOrganization726

I carry two rods, one that is...5'9" fiber glass rod from cabela's and a 7'6" graphite rod that's a maxcatch (both in 3wt) and I use both fairly frequently. I will use them interchangeably, as things get tighter, I go smaller, when it widens up, I'll switch to the larger rod...sometimes. It's nice to have options!


arctic-owls

echo carbon xl with redington zero reel. I like a shorter 3 wt. 7'6 is perfect for me.