What weight fly rod for Largemouth Bass?

Question

I'm thinking 6 or 7. I will also be fishing for bream. Thanks

Thanks. Pheasant tail, your assumptions are correct although I will try to flish off of my bass boat some. I will be getting a Redington RS3 rod but would you recommend a g.loomis venture reel or the pflueger trion? Mac

Answer 1

This is not an easy question, I'm going to be basing my response by what I gleaned from your question:
1) your handle is bassmaster
2) you mentioned bream, not bluegill
I could be wrong, but I'll say you're from the South
and you'll be shore fishing or wading, this is what I'm
going to predicate my answer on.

I'd reccomend a fast action 6wt rod, 9ft in legnth.
To turn over large bass bugs,poppers,big streamers/wooly buggers and the like a fast action rod is to be preferred.
Fast action rods "flex" in the top 1/4 of the blank and have a stiffer mid and butt section, they are a good choice for times when you need to put pressure on a fish.

Another thing to take into consideration is that you CAN cast
smaller flies with a heavier weight fly rod, but you CANNOT
cast (at least well) bigger flies with a lighter weight fly rod.
Without getting technical, it's just a matter of simple physics.

A 6wt rod is a good compromise and is what I use when fishing for smallmouths in rivers and even steelhead in
smaller (20-30 ft wide) streams. I have no problems tossing
the dreaded clouser minnow, big wooly buggers, large weighted nymphs or large bulky dries (stimulators).

Depending on how much you want to spend, here are some choices based on price:

+$500 - in aphabetical order
Loomis Streamdance GLX HLS
Orvis Zero Gravity tip flex
Sage TCR (may be the fastest, but is $750)
Sage Z Axis

$200-$400 in alphabetical order
Cabela's FT - I like this rod alot, built several for customers
Loomis Metolius HLS
Orvis Power Matrix tip flex
Redington CPS
Sage FLi - great value
Sage VT2
St. Croix Legend Ultra
TFO TiCr - chintzy components

$200 and under
Echo Classic
Fenwick HMG
Redington RS3

IMHO the Sage FLi is the best value for a fast action rod,
and if you want to build the rod yourself I'd choose the Cabela's FT. Under $200 hands down is the Redington RS3

Make your decision on how much you want to spend, and if at all possible, test cast the rod before purchasing it to make sure it suits your casting style and ability.

Now that you've done that, make sure you have a good reel that balances with the rod. Fishing for Largemouth bass you will need a reel with a smooth and substansial drag. Without breaking the bank, the Orvis Mid-Arbor is tough to beat for about $125. If you want to spend under $100 the Pflueger Summit is a great value for $80.

When fishing for largemouths with big surface flies/bugs/poppers use a 9ft leader tapered to 3x
so you'll be able to turn your flies "over". Anything less
and the leader will "collapse" when casting .

Smaller flies for bluegill can be used with a 9ft leader tapered to 5x

If your pursuit is for really large bass, consider a 7wt

Tight Lines !

I'd go w/ the Trion because it is a large arbor design

Answer 2

Since your fishing for bream and bass I would say a 5 maybe a 6 if your primary target is bass. I use a 5 wt. and It catches trout, bass bream, and Crappie just fine, What you should of told us is what size flies you'll be using. With my 5 wt. I can cast any Where from a size 22 nymph to a large bass popper even though I usually only fish size 20 to 10. If your going to be casting large bass poppers and streamers all the time I would suggest a 6 or 7 wt.

I think as long as long as your casting reasonable sized poppers and streamers and not targeting huge Florida largemouth I think a 6 wt. would be great for both bass bream trout and crappie ect.

Check out this websit it should help http://www.flyfishinggear.info/buyers_guide/fly_rods_weight.shtm

I've only been fly fishing for a little less than 2 years so if you want some real expert advice then wait for sagefisher to answer you question.

Eric

Answer 3

Bass Fly Rod

Answer 4

If your in FLA/GA/TX/LA/AL/Cali a good weight for Bass would be a "fast action" 8 .

If you live in a Northern state a 6/7 would work well.

If you live near coastal water's you CAN use your 8 weight Bass Rig for "inshore fishing" the swamps & flats. Just remember that an all-aluminum reel-seat is a + when buying a Fly-Rod set-up to "switch-hit" in Salt & Freshwater.

Also, if you plan to use your Fly-rig in Salt get a decent reel: Lamson, Penn International, G. Loomis "Adventure" reel, Scientific Angler's System 2 reels, Etc.

Catching "Red" Bass on a fly-rod is just as much fun as catching Freshwater Bass!

Hope this info helps ya? Good fishing!

PS: You should wait to hear what Pheasant Tail & Sagefisher will add.

Answer 5

I use a 7 for bass and a 5 for panfish. I think if your looking to start out and want to only buy one rod the 6 is going to cost you a lot of larger bass but thats a guess. I've never even tried one. The 7 is pretty lame if you go after panfish with it. The 5 is a good trout rod too.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What weight fly rod for Largemouth Bass?
I'm thinking 6 or 7. I will also be fishing for bream. Thanks

Answer 7

I use a 8 feet for large bass and a 6 for pan-fish both 8.5 feet long also mine are all graphite, so really you could go with a 7 at least 8 foot long. If you are near a Bass Pro shops or a Cabelas they have great fly fishing departments.

Answer 8

A 5 or 6 weight is fine for bass this is what I have used for many years with good luck.

Answer 9

Yes I agree with what's been answered

Answer 10

Finally, that's what I was looking for! Thanks op of this question.