Rod for indicator fishing?

Tinker

Tinker

Smolt
Now that I've solved my steelhead issue, I have a new question.

What's the action in your favorite non-Euro rod for fishing nymphs with dry-droppers, hopper-droppers, yarn indicators, or a bobber-like things?

This would be a new technique for me and all I've been able to find is information about rigging indicators of all sorts, but nothing about what kind of rod works best in say, 3-5 MPH current. That would seem to be important information for idiot beginners like me...
 
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You’ll probably get lots of opinions, but personally I like a 10’ rod for better mending. I bought a 10 5wt Scott Flex from Pat (@Buzzy) a couple years ago and that’s become my go to indicator nymphing rod. It’s not a super fast action but it lobs a double nymph rig nicely.
 
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Merle said:
You’ll probably get lots of opinions, but personally I like a 10’ rod for better mending. I bought a 10 5wt Scott Flex from Pat (@Buzzy) a couple years ago and that’s become my go to indicator nymphing rod. It’s not a super fast action but it lobs a double nymph rig nicely.
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This is nice to read and I'm glad it works for you!!
 
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I have an Echo 10' 3wt Euronymph rod that is pretty versatile. It casts dry flies or dry droppers nicely and I currently have it rigged with a slip bobber for chironomid fishing. Price is agreeable, too.

But for just nymphing under a bobber/indicator in a river, I think whatever rod you are using for dry flies etc would work fine. I use my 8'6" Sage LL 4wt for nymphing in rivers all the time.

Carbon XL Euro Nymph | Echo Fly Fishing

echoflyfishing.com echoflyfishing.com
 
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Zak said:
I have an Echo 10' 3wt Euronymph rod that is pretty versatile. It casts dry flies or dry droppers nicely and I currently have it rigged with a slip bobber for chironomid fishing. Price is agreeable, too.

But for just nymphing under a bobber/indicator in a river, I think whatever rod you are using for dry flies etc would work fine. I use my 8'6" Sage LL 4wt for nymphing in rivers all the time.

Carbon XL Euro Nymph | Echo Fly Fishing

echoflyfishing.com echoflyfishing.com
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My Redington 10'6" 3wt is in that same ultra versatile vein. Fantastic indi rod, then again so is my 8' 5/6wt Steffen.

Bottom line, I think if one is relatively competent at roll casting, any rod will do.
 
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Merle said:
You’ll probably get lots of opinions, but personally I like a 10’ rod for better mending. I bought a 10 5wt Scott Flex from Pat (@Buzzy) a couple years ago and that’s become my go to indicator nymphing rod. It’s not a super fast action but it lobs a double nymph rig nicely.
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Thanks, Merle. I'll check to see how Scott rates the action on the Flex.

Wetswinger said:
For trout on a medium sized stream, I just used your standard 9ft, 6# single hand rod. I like med/fast flex..
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Okay, medium fast. That helps.

Zak said:
I have an Echo 10' 3wt Euronymph rod that is pretty versatile. It casts dry flies or dry droppers nicely and I currently have it rigged with a slip bobber for chironomid fishing. Price is agreeable, too.

But for just nymphing under a bobber/indicator in a river, I think whatever rod you are using for dry flies etc would work fine. I use my 8'6" Sage LL 4wt for nymphing in rivers all the time.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the link. What line are you happiest with using on the Carbon?

My dry fly rod is an 8'6" Winston BiiT. Probably not the best choice - and if I don't stop wanting to do New! and Exciting! things with fly rods, I'll probably need to sell it to finance my latest interest. I can roll cast it, but the thought of smacking it with a nymph on one of my less coordinated days gives me the shivers.

I can see another new rod in my future...

clarkman said:
My Redington 10'6" 3wt is in that same ultra versatile vein. Fantastic indi rod, then again so is my 8' 5/6wt Steffen.

Bottom line, I think if one is relatively competent at roll casting, any rod will do.
Click to expand...

Is your Redington listed as a rod for Euro nymphing? Just curious.

Thank you for the second part. I believe I learned to roll cast before I had a grip on any other casting style, so there;s hope I wn;t need to add a cluster of new gear while learning how to do float-to-nymph fishing.

WHEW!
 
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10' 5wt, medium-fast, nothing too fast or slow. Some 10' 5wts are more like 6wts, for those I would go down to a 10' 4wt. I wouldn't do a 3wt if it is going to primarily be an indicator rod but with lighter rigs/yarn indicators I could see it being perfect. What makes a good euro rod and a good indicator rod are contradictory, so I wouldn't go looking for something that does both.
 
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Tinker said:
Now that I've solved my steelhead issue, I have a new question.

What is your favorite non-Euro rod action for fishing nymphs with dry-droppers, hopper-droppers, yarn indicators, or a bobber-like things?

This would be a new technique for me and all I've been able to find is information about rigging indicators of all sorts, but nothing about what kind of rod works best in say, 3-5 MPH current. That would seem to be important information for idiot beginners like me...
Click to expand...
Why not a Euro nymph rod, isn't a "sighter" in the leader a strike indicator? I bumped into @James St. Clair one day and watched him expertly fish his Euro rod and catch fish. It sure seemed like a superb fishing tool (the rod) to me.
 
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Brute said:
If not euro nymphing, I have a 10’ opst 5wt that is my go to bobber pole with an SA wff line…I use this from a boat or my pontoon…
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Missed you last time! Thank you. I'll see what I can find out about OPST rods.

wmelton said:
10' 5wt, medium-fast, nothing too fast or slow. Some 10' 5wts are more like 6wts, for those I would go down to a 10' 4wt. I wouldn't do a 3wt if it is going to primarily be an indicator rod but with lighter rigs/yarn indicators I could see it being perfect. What makes a good euro rod and a good indicator rod are contradictory, so I wouldn't go looking for something that does both.
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How are they contradictory? I'm naive (i.e. ignorant) about Euro rods because Euro nymphing never caught my fancy.

DanielOcean said:
The 10 ft 4wt I have for sale on the classifieds.
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Why didn't you post a picture of it?

Buzzy said:
Why not a Euro nymph rod, isn't a "sighter" in the leader a strike indicator? I bumped into @James St. Clair one day and watched him expertly fish his Euro rod and catch fish. It sure seemed like a superb fishing tool (the rod) to me.
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Good question. I owned one of the original Echo Shadow rods and it didn't fit me at all, so being me, I just decided all Euro rods were the same and... well, that's my excuse, anyway - but I'm more inclined to consider them after asking this question.
 
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Tinker said:
Thanks, Merle. I'll check to see how Scott rates the action on the Flex.



Okay, medium fast. That helps.



Thank you for the link. What line are you happiest with using on the Carbon?

My dry fly rod is an 8'6" Winston BiiT. Probably not the best choice - and if I don't stop wanting to do New! and Exciting! things with fly rods, I'll probably need to sell it to finance my latest interest. I can roll cast it, but the thought of smacking it with a nymph on one of my less coordinated days gives me the shivers.

I can see another new rod in my future...



Is your Redington listed as a rod for Euro nymphing? Just curious.

Thank you for the second part. I believe I learned to roll cast before I had a grip on any other casting style, so there;s hope I wn;t need to add a cluster of new gear while learning how to do float-to-nymph fishing.

WHEW!
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On my 10' 3wt Echo Carbon XL Eurorod, I have a Rio 4wt Versitip (with the interchangeable floating, intermediate, and sink tips). It's kind of a swiss army knife rod!
 
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I like to keep things simple.
I have a 9' 5wt Redington Vice rod I use for all things that swim in fresh water, that are under 10 lbs.
I have two 10' 7wt salt water rods for the big fish.
I have a wff line on one reel and a full sinking on another. I haven't used the sinking line for years. For the 5wt rods.
I have two 7.5' 3wt rods for the small blue lines with wff lines.
Life used to be so simple
 
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dirty dog said:
I like to keep things simple.
I have a 9' 5wt Redington Vice rod I use for all things that swim in fresh water, that are under 10 lbs.
I have two 10' 7wt salt water rods for the big fish.
I have a wff line on one reel and a full sinking on another. I haven't used the sinking line for years. For the 5wt rods.
I have two 7.5' 3wt rods for the small blue lines with wff lines.
Life used to be so simple
Click to expand...

Yes!
 
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