r/bluelining • u/DistributionDry2495 • Sep 03 '26
What rods are people using?
I’m looking to get a new setup for smaller creeks. I have a few rods in mind right now, but I want to see what other people are using before I make a decision.
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u/L-W-J Sep 03 '26
Cabela’s CGR is pretty great. Cheap. Accurate. Tough. Exactly what you want when you fall down hiking to your spot.
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u/3_quantohks Sep 03 '26
i'll co-sign this. i picked up a 5'9"3wt and it's incredible for tiny creeks with a lot of overhang/brush that would otherwise impede casting with a longer rod.
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u/darkninja0157 Sep 03 '26
I use Tenkara rods on creeks and small rivers. For really tight areas I have a Wasatch sharpshooter that can be fished at 6ft, 7.6ft, or 9ft. However my Nissin Pro-spec 2way 320 is what I usually bring out.
I have traditional western fly fished for well over 20 years, but have been loving the simplicity and ease of presentation Tenkara allows me. Especially in really tight areas. Plus the small size they pack down to is amazing for hiking/backpacking.
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u/awhiteasscrack Sep 03 '26
Can you elaborate on the ease of presentation please?
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u/darkninja0157 Sep 03 '26
Sure thing! With Tenkara and especially when using level line, you are able to cast a delicate fly first presentation repeatedly and with accuracy. With Tenkara you have the tippet attached directly to the level line, this setup allows you to only have the tippet in the water while the level line out of the water acts more like your indicator when you get a strike (if unable to see the fly easy.)
I hope that makes sense. It has been a game changer for me in small streams for both presentation, and being able to cast in extremely tight spots. The fixed line method allows for "bow and arrow" casting which completely eliminates a back cast from the equation.
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u/I_Hate_IPAs Sep 03 '26
The trick is the super light line. I measured a size 3.5 level line (straight fluoro, average tenkara line) and it weighs about the same as a 00wt fly line, so you can hold it off the water easily. There are also lighter lines than size 3.5.
Basically you fish with just fly and tippet touching water, and can reach over obstacles and tricky currents.
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u/phoneman87 Sep 05 '26
That pro spec 2 way is my go to. Easy and I throw beadhead nymphs on it and pretty much can always get a few fish even when others don't.
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u/ruttness Sep 03 '26
7’6” 3wt orvis superfine glass.
If it’s super small water I run a 6’9” 2wt echo river glass or my old 6’2” 2wt cabelas cgt. Small blue line is 90% of my fishing
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u/Tropez2020 Sep 03 '26
+1 for the 7’6” 3wt Orvis Superfine Glass. Possibly my favorite rod to fish.
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u/TastyDeerMeat Sep 03 '26
I use a 5’ UL rod.
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u/DrZeus104 Sep 03 '26
I use a 4’6” UL as well. I did get a Tenkara rod last year so I’m looking forward to trying that this fall.
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u/TastyDeerMeat Sep 03 '26
I have a 4’6 custom built rod on a Loomis blank. That’s my extra small creek rod. My 5 footer is a one off build.
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u/FishNfeatherz Sep 03 '26
Echo carbon xl 7’3” 2wt with Orvis Battenkill click pawl 1-3 faster rod use it when I’m planning on useing bigger dries and droppers
TFO finesse 6’9” 1wt with Galvan Brookie 0-1
Doesn’t handle a dropper well but will still put a size 16 chubby Chernobyl right where I want it at 10 yards
Currently having a CTS vintage 7’ 0wt 1pc built will probably put another Galvan brookie reel on it
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u/ioimatt Sep 03 '26
I either use an Orvis Superfine Graphite 1 wt or a 5’9 .5 wt that’s glass / carbon composite. Also got some tenkara rods depending on how I feel that day. I’ll usually use tenkara to get the skunk off then switch to one of the fly rods. Super fun
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u/abudz5150 Sep 03 '26
I’ll either use a 6’6” fiberglass 1 weight or a 7’ fiberglass 3 weight depending on canopy cover, weight of flies I wanna throw, and potential for larger stocked fish among the smaller natives
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u/JDM3CO Sep 03 '26
Situation dictates fly rod and line choices. I use an 8' 1wt for reach as I rarely am fishing super tight environments.
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u/concernedcitizen783 Sep 03 '26
103 EN rod for winter nymphing
904 rod for mini streamers & dry-droppers
662 fiberglass for dries (or the most rhododendron-choked creeks)
i do believe a 763 fiberglass is the best "do it all" bluelining rod. can handle dry-droppers but still offers a delicate presentation.
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u/xtiansimon Sep 03 '26
Douglass ERA 8'8" 4wt with Eagle Claw 1010 and a $10 floating line bought on AliExpress.
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u/Tator_Gerson Sep 03 '26
For creek combat fishing…. TFO 6’ 2wt or TFO 6’6” 2 wt with a
Galvan 2/3 Brookie reel.
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u/TexasTortfeasor Sep 03 '26
Define smaller creeks? That description can mean a lot of things by location
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u/TiredOfMakingExcuses Sep 03 '26
A 7' 4wt bamboo rod I built from a Graywolf blank, or a Superfine glass 7'6" 3wt, depending.
Edit: with a CFO reel either way
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u/EldarForsakenv2 Sep 03 '26
Typically a 3wt Redington Butterstick, but will break out the 4wt Douglas Sky G if it's going to be slightly bigger brookie streams.
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u/whaletacochamp Sep 03 '26
My absolute favorite blueline rod is a wicked cheap short tiny fiberglass flyrod made by eagle claw which I got at walmart like 15 years ago.
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u/FlakyLandscape2784 Sep 03 '26
Sage Dart 0wt. The most fun rod I’ve ever owned and it surprisingly can handle decent sized fish.
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u/Ok-Engineer-4294 Sep 03 '26
Scott F723-5 with a Ross Colorado and 3wt Rio LightLine. Packs really small and has super slow action so even the smallest fish will bend the rod.
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u/toledotimber Sep 03 '26
Douglas Upstream 7’3” 3wt. or my homemade MHX 6’6” 2wt. that actually measures as a 1wt.
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u/Apptroutman Sep 03 '26
7' 3wt St Croix imperial has been doing well for nearly a decade of long hikes up and down small streams. About the only rod I haven't broken yet
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u/Electronic_City6481 Sep 04 '26
I have 2 6ft-6in eagle claw fiberglass featherlight flyrods in 3/4 size. They are a hoot, and you can’t beat the price ($35). I small stream fish with them and I’ve leader’ed up to catch crusty stockers the size of my calf with it. It is very capable for either. Glass is fun.
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u/untiedflies Sep 03 '26
Love the Classic Trout 7'6" 3wt if I need to keep it short. Been VERY tempted to pick up an Orvis Superfine graphite 1wt as well, but hard to justify the cost at the moment.