What weight rod do you recommend to beginners in the PNW? (2024 version)

I think a beginner has to know something about when, where and for what they intent to fish.
If they don't know that then they are not ready to purchase anything.
Assuming that they intend to fish for trout in streams and lakes then an 8'6"- 10 foot 5wt is as good as it gets. Small creeks get the shorter rod lakes get the longer rod both gets the 9 footer.
If a salmon or steelhead is possible by-catch i might sell them a 6 instead of a 5
Everything else is getting into specialized equipment and that needs to be determined on an individual basis. 5wts are still awesome and relevant.
 
Brute said:
This thread is getting me to think of if you could only fish one rod the rest of your life, what would it be…

Maybe a new thread…
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I wouldn't want to think about that....


ok ok, my Epic Bandit....
 
Brute said:
This thread is getting me to think of if you could only fish one rod the rest of your life, what would it be…

Maybe a new thread…
Click to expand...
Need 2, but yes, could if forced just one.
Echo 9’ 4 wt
Expandable Tenkara.
If just one, the Echo
 
Josh said:
Just figured this would be an interesting check-in to hear some opinions.

For decades, the 9ft 5wt was the bog standard "first rod". I suspect that most of us started out with one. But I've long thought that even first rods should take into consideration what the beginner is going to be fishing for. Sure, a 5wt CAN do most everything. But there's a lot of fishing that it doesn't do nearly as well as a lighter or heavier rod. Even for someone who is just starting out. Honestly, I use a 5wt less than just about any other rod. But that's gonna depend a lot on what you fish for and where you do it.

So what do you recommend? Feel free to make different suggestions for different fishing types or PNW locations.
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In my experience, a 9-foot, 5-weight, 4-piece fly rod with a medium-fast action blank is the best option for anyone new to fly fishing. My top seller is the 5-weight rod, and many customers have shared positive feedback, noting how much it improved their initial fly fishing experience.
 
Stonedfish said:
You could cover a lot of fishing opportunities with a 9’ 6wt.
SF
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In the PNW, not sure how you recommend anything other than this. Especially if the buyer is not sure what their target species is going to be. Covers lakes. Covers streams. Covers salt. Overkill in some situations, sure but I’ve caught bluegill to, to stocker bows, to very nice SMB and LMB, to SRC, to salty adult coho and king salmon on a 9 foot 6 weight in 2024 and was happy as a clam with each encounter.
 
At the beginning of my fly-fishing career (mid/late 1950s) to the early 1970s a 8 1/2-foot 7 weight was considered the go to fly rod. As mentioned as rod technology improved in the 1970s the standard became a graphite 8 1/2-foot 6 weight. By the late 1980s/1990s it was a 9-foot 5weight. Today it might be a 9-to-10-foot 4 weight.

I still recommend to some just getting into the fly-fishing game that a 9-foot 5 weight would be a good place to start. My thinking is that a beginning angler will likely start with mid-range priced rod which would serve for most fisheries. If they stick with the game, they eventually want to expand their arsenal to match their current fishing interests. That rod will likely be some sort of up-grade with length and line weight more appropriate for that fishery and the old 5 weight will still serve as an adequate backup and tool for other fisheries.

I have a 2-rod endorsement so a single rod will not work!!
 
jasmillo said:
In the PNW, not sure how you recommend anything other than this. Especially if the buyer is not sure what their target species is going to be. Covers lakes. Covers streams. Covers salt. Overkill in some situations, sure but I’ve caught bluegill to, to stocker bows, to very nice SMB and LMB, to SRC, to salty adult coho and king salmon on a 9 foot 6 weight in 2024 and was happy as a clam with each encounter.
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I'm new to fly fishing albacore. I'm sure @Josh wasn't really thinking about "new anglers" and "tuna" when he started this thread. I have a nice 9 foot 12 weight but I'd sure like to find a shorter rod. Those fish are STRONG.

Now: back to your regularly scheduled "perfect rod" debate.
 
Buzzy said:
I'm new to fly fishing albacore. I'm sure @Josh wasn't really thinking about "new anglers" and "tuna" when he started this thread. I have a nice 9 foot 12 weight but I'd sure like to find a shorter rod. Those fish are STRONG.

Now: back to your regularly scheduled "perfect rod" debate.
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I admit, I would have no idea what to say to someone who said "I want to learn to flyfish and I'm fishing for tuna".

Probably just point them to @Evan B
 
Josh said:
I admit, I would have no idea what to say to someone who said "I want to learn to flyfish and I'm fishing for tuna".

Probably just point them to @Evan B
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I encounter this question daily and, like many....anxiously await the answer.
 
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Go to Costco...
 
12 Wt… it will ensure they give up quickly and don’t add to the stream crowding👍…. All joking aside, either a 486 or a 690 for a first stick for adults, for kids a 476-486.
 
If I had to choose only one rod it would be a Loomis IM6 moderate action 905 fly rod. I have 3 of them.

Works fine for small fish, smaller and larger streams,/creeks, lakes, and a variety of fish. Whether 3" or 30" fish, bass, trout, catfish, it has been fine. Under-gunned sometimes ---> yup! That is where the moderate action and skills from years of experience come in play. After 40 years using it, I may have figured out how to best cast and fight fish.

Works for me!

What I am getting at: learn the capabilities and limitations of your rod. Fishing within those, will lead to more success...
 
I cannot imagine trying to competently fish a pmd hatch with a 906. The precision and delicacy i get from my 483-4... no two ways about it trout fishing requires more than one rod.
 
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In the late 70’s I went with the recommended 9’ 5 wt, but I fished the east side of the state mainly. I then realized in, the last 15 years, that since I mainly fish stillwater on the west side for trout, I prefer a 9 1/2’ 4 wt.
Selection for a beginner would be a 9 1/2’ 4 piece 5wt.
 
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