Any recommendations for best rod for smaller streams and blue lines?

Seems like everyone enjoys the new smaller glass rods that are coming out. I’d get one of those. You won’t regret it. It’s not good on big water at all though but you have a 9 for that.
 
Maybe part of your trip could be visiting some shops and trying out rods along the way, I bet you'll know the right one for you as soon as you hold it.
 
I recently spent 12 out of 15 days fishing a small creek in the mountains. Nine of those days I used the Redington CT 8.5' 3wt. It was just superb landing many rainbows, cutthroats, brook and brown trout up to 17''. Ninety percent dry fly fishing and one day swinging yellow soft hackles in the film. I tried a 10' 3wt one day and used a 7.5' 2wt on two days but the CT 3wt was the Goldilocks solution in almost every instance. Not only a huge bang for the buck but more importantly a smooth and accurate rod that was a joy to cast.

Like you Don, at 84 I can afford most any rod I want but shopping value is what got me here so I stick to it. There are few rods that combine performance and value better than the CT's. I have 5 of them now and there isn't a clunker in the bunch.
 
Since it is your birthday and you deserve to treat yourself - stop at Tom Morgan Rodsmiths in Bozeman:

tommorganrodsmiths.com

Tom Morgan Rodsmiths In-Stock Fly Rods

Based in Bozeman, Montana, Tom Morgan Rodsmiths is pleased to offer the finest handmade custom graphite fly rods availabe. All Tom Morgan Rodmsiths graphite fly rods are built by anglers who know your name.
tommorganrodsmiths.com tommorganrodsmiths.com
 
flyfisherdon said:
Yes, or fly shops near the Yak (1st stop) or Dillon, MT (second stop).
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If by the Yak (instead of the Yaak) you mean in Washington State, check out Red’s Fly Shop in the Yakima River canyon. They have done a few recent posts on small stream fishing and I’m sure you could talk with them and they can get the setup to you before you leave on your trip. Our son was deployed overseas several years ago with the Navy at a place where they had access to the ocean. He ordered a rod online and it got to him in 6 days. That means they had to travel to the post office and fill out paperwork to ship it to his APO address. Great company service and they know about fishing the thin blue lines in Washington State. Otherwise, pick a fly shop along your route close to the destination and pre-order a rod and reel to pick up when you get there. I inherited my dad’s Orvis 3 weight and I love catching brook trout with it, which was his passion.
 
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Since you have a 9' 5wt, which will pretty much do everything, a nice next size down in glass might be an 8' 4/5 or 3/4. My 8' 5/6 gets fished a lot in small streams now, every once in while I'm happy for the extra and even small fish are fun. I have a graphite 7' 3wt, I might fish once a year, just not a efficient fishing tool for me. I live in an area prone to wind, and tend to fish multi-fly setups and size 8 flies regularly so I prefer a tad heavier rod than most folks I think. Preferred fly size may influence the decision?
 
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flyfisherdon said:
Hi,

I have a 9' Sage X 5 wt and a 10' ESN. I am looking for a lighter and smaller rod for smaller waters on an upcoming cross-country road trip including both western and eastern waters. I am thinking a 3 wt would compliment this set nicely. Maybe 7'6? I wonder if you might share any thoughts on this decision and recommendations for the rod to get? I need this in the next 2 weeks, since we depart on Sept. 3. The treasurer in our family says I should get whatever I want since this may be our final trip across the country (I am 75) and I am due a birthday present. (How great is that!!??). Thanks for sharing any thoughts you may have. I find this group to be very knowledgeable, wise, and thoughtful.

Cheers,

Don
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If you do not think it's too long I highly recommend the cf burkheimer 483-4 dal.

Nothing comes in a close second.
 
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I'm guessing this will be an unpopular thought but one of the benefits of getting older is that I really don't care. :)

My fishing buddy that owns at least 30 rods turned me on to this 7' 6" 2 weight and I've had it out a few times now and LOVE it. I've fished Sage and Redington CT's and really don't see anything this rod won't do well on small creeks. Not built in 'Merica, but then hey, neither is this keyboard or monitor, my truck, most of my clothes, etc. etc. etc.

Certainly not a special birthday present to one's self but you could buy it and spend the $500 you saved on something nice.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078LY2424?ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_asin_title&th=1
 
A nice 3wt is a joy to fish. I have a 386 CT that I absolutely love, but if I had money burning a hole in my pocket I’d be looking at a Winston in a similar configuration. If the fish are super small I use a 2wt but a 3wt will definitely do more and still be soft and delicate enough to enjoy the smaller trout. The joys of small water IMHO is making the often tough cast, getting the drift and being rewarded with a take. It’s not about some epic battle, although occasionally that can happen in an unlikely place. So find a rod you enjoy casting and fits your casting style and everything else will fall into place. You can never have enough rods.
 
I fished smaller waters for several years with either a TFO Finesse 7'9" graphite 3 weight (with what TFO called a traditional action), or a 7' bamboo 4 weight with a Garrison 201 taper that I like best with a DTF3. While I can cast those rods cast accurately to 25' or more, I couldn't effectively mend to keep a tight line and drag-free drift in complex currents or get consistent hooksets beyond 20'. For slightly larger streams a 9' medium-fast action 4 weight worked well.
Over the last few years trips to smaller waters have me picking up a Tenkara rod. I have found they cast accurately (I practice with a 3" jar lid in a 10" pie pan), are noticeably more efficient and effective to hook *and land* fish in smaller streams, and much less expensive.
Rods that I find work well:
for fish (so far) to 13" and to cast 9' to 19' ($145 +$20 for a spool of level line)
dragontailtenkara.com

MUTANT zx380 Zoom Tenkara Rod

The Ultimate 3-Length Full-Flex Action ZOOM Tenkara Rod 380cm (12.5ft), 350cm (11.5ft), and 315cm (10.3ft) Covering 3 of the most popular lengths in one Tenkara Rod. Zoom sections lock to give you 3 adjustable lengths in one rod so you can use the same rod for all the different conditions you...
dragontailtenkara.com dragontailtenkara.com
For fish to 12" in smaller streams to cast 8' to 14' ($165 + the level line)
dragontailtenkara.com

FoxFIRE zx280 Zoom Fiberglass-Hybrid Tenkara Rod

A lot of people have mentioned they would love to see a good tenkara rod in fiberglass material. We have found that the best place for fiberglass in tenkara rods is the Short Rods that need to flex more than traditional carbon fiber tenkara rods to get a smooth cast with the short light lines...
dragontailtenkara.com dragontailtenkara.com
For larger fish (to 18"?) in small streams to cast from 12' to 16' ($145 + the level line)
dragontailtenkara.com

Mizuchi zx340 Zoom Tenkara Rod

An excellent 3 length small Tenkara rod developed through a collaboration with Tom Davis of Teton Tenkara blog (The master of small overgrown streams). 3-Tenkara-Rods-In-One For Tight Spots and Open Water.
dragontailtenkara.com dragontailtenkara.com
For fish (so far) to 16" with casts from 17' to 21' (my first and my most versatile T-rod - $125 +the level line)
dragontailtenkara.com

HYDRA zx390 Tenkara Rod

This rod is a 6:4 soft action rod can be fished at either 13′ or 11.5′, it easily zooms between the 2 lengths. The HYDRA zx390 zoom Tenkara rod is a great choice for fishing small streams and rivers as well. Great for targeting trout in the 4″ to 20″ range. Great for beginner or experienced...
dragontailtenkara.com dragontailtenkara.com

DRAGONtail Tenkara near Boise ID has good rods, good prices, 3-4 days max shipping to my door in the South Puget Sound area, and terrific Customer Service.
 
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Creatch’r said:
A nice 3wt is a joy to fish. I have a 386 CT that I absolutely love, but if I had money burning a hole in my pocket I’d be looking at a Winston in a similar configuration. If the fish are super small I use a 2wt but a 3wt will definitely do more and still be soft and delicate enough to enjoy the smaller trout. The joys of small water IMHO is making the often tough cast, getting the drift and being rewarded with a take. It’s not about some epic battle, although occasionally that can happen in an unlikely place. So find a rod you enjoy casting and fits your casting style and everything else will fall into place. You can never have enough rods.
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I agree with the Winston take. They seem to really get trout fishing and make great light rods. I also love their Spey rods. I think Winston is my favorite fly rod company.
 
HauntedByWaters said:
I agree with the Winston take. They seem to really get trout fishing and make great light rods. I also love their Spey rods. I think Winston is my favorite fly rod company.
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Winston is really winning me over as far as trout rods go. I’ve been really happy with the ones I’ve been able to cast, new and old. Plus they are just flat out beautiful IMO.
 
Being 73 and can afford any rod I want, I have many rods from inexpensive to very expensive. They all have their purpose though most are never fished wall hangers. I have the CT but have never fished it so I can't recommend it. For a small stream rod in glass, I fish a 7'6" Blue Halo 4wt and its a great little rod, I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned before, otherwise I fish a Cabela's 3pc, 3wt Three Forks rod. It has brought my largest trout yet to hand. Good luck on your search.
 
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