Whats Your Back country Fly Rig
- Thread starter BKHunter
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Beartooth83
Member
I use a 9' 4 piece 5wt St. Croix Triumph for pack fishing. I believe the Triumph line has been discontinued, but the Rio Santo would be a similar St Croix rod in the $130 range.
That's the 30-06 of the fly fishing world. A good 4 piece 5 wt gets you everything you could ask for in the back country, and 80% of the front country as it relates to trout.
St Croix makes good rods.
Ben Long
Well-known member
I had a ton of fun this summer with a Temple Forks Outfitter tenkara rod, the 8 1/2 foot Cuttthroat. The entire kit (rod, line and flies) weighs 4 ounces and telescopes down to 12 inches. I found it plenty good for trout up to 16 inches. It's like a Ronco Pocket Fisherman designed by a samurai.
RobG
Well-known member
The St. Croix setup would work fine. Most anything 4-6 wt will work but if you can only scrape up a two piece here's what is going to happen. You'll strap the rod tube to your pack and forget the tip is sticking a foot above your pack. Then, when you are jumping rock-to-rock trying to cross a creek, on the very last jump when you are aiming for the bank the tube will bump into an overhanging branch and knock you off balance and you'll fall into the stream much to the enjoyment of your partners. Seen it more than once. 
I use a Sage 3 piece 9' 3 piece 4wt, but that is just because I use that for about everything.
I use a Sage 3 piece 9' 3 piece 4wt, but that is just because I use that for about everything.
406LIFE
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If we are just talking rods, I think a 3wt is perfect for backcountry stuff. Most of it is small (some lakes are not) and the fish are small too. I have a 2WT Cabelas CLR that goes on sale for $60 a few times a year.
If you are talking other gear, and depending on how far you are going (day trip vs multi) I take a fishpond Double Haul. Plenty of room to carry waders, boots, 2 rods rain gear and lunch. I use it all the time.
If you are talking other gear, and depending on how far you are going (day trip vs multi) I take a fishpond Double Haul. Plenty of room to carry waders, boots, 2 rods rain gear and lunch. I use it all the time.
whiskeydog
Active member
I've been using a St Croix 4-piece 5wt for as long as I can remember. works great in mountain streams/lakes and easy to pack.
LuketheDog
Well-known member
I take a 7'6" 4wt Redington Butter Stick or a Tenkara setup
VAspeedgoat
Well-known member
I agree with the st croix rio santo. Thats a good rod for the money. I do have to say if you are not a great caster, the avid may be better with it medium action. I prefer it on small streams.
Sapper.dawg
New member
Best description of a Tenkara rod I have ever read.
idnative1948
Well-known member
I ended up with dad's old Sila-Flex-5W, but only use it 1-2 times year.
CATAHOULA12
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8'6" TFO Professional 5wt in a 4 piece with a Lamson Konic reel. I use this for everything... rivers large and small, streams, and mountain lakes. Perfect size broke down and lightweight... I keep an extra rod identical to above mentioned in my truck in case of any kind of breakage. TFO has good replacement warranty if rod breaks....
Southern Elk
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.280 Remington
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I would get a 9' 4 or 5wt rod that breaks down into 4 pieces. You could go 8'6" if you want, but no shorter.
Lots of guys will tell you to get a 2 or 3 weight or a shorter rod. For all-around use, they are wrong. For example, at backcountry lakes you will often be fishing from shore and need to cast some distance. Also, the wind almost always blows on alpine lakes in July and August. For rivers/streams, shorter rods don't really give you an "advantage" of any kind. Mending and roll casting is easier with a 9' rod.
Believe me, I've owned about all configurations. I worked as a guide for several years and got "pro deals" on equipment. At one point, I owned about 40 top-end fly rods. They've slowly migrated to eBay and out of my closet. The ones that remain and get used the most are the 9' 4, 5, and 6 weight rods.
Personally, my backcountry rods are a pair of 4 and 5 weight 8'9" 5 piece Winston LT's. But you'll have a hard time finding them because Winston discontinued the line several years ago.
Lots of guys will tell you to get a 2 or 3 weight or a shorter rod. For all-around use, they are wrong. For example, at backcountry lakes you will often be fishing from shore and need to cast some distance. Also, the wind almost always blows on alpine lakes in July and August. For rivers/streams, shorter rods don't really give you an "advantage" of any kind. Mending and roll casting is easier with a 9' rod.
Believe me, I've owned about all configurations. I worked as a guide for several years and got "pro deals" on equipment. At one point, I owned about 40 top-end fly rods. They've slowly migrated to eBay and out of my closet. The ones that remain and get used the most are the 9' 4, 5, and 6 weight rods.
Personally, my backcountry rods are a pair of 4 and 5 weight 8'9" 5 piece Winston LT's. But you'll have a hard time finding them because Winston discontinued the line several years ago.
dcopas78
Well-known member
This. I have two different tenkara outfits. I have a Tenkara USA Rhodo that telescopes from 8'10" to 10'6" and weighs 2.1 ounces and closes to 21" for smaller streams. My bigger fish outfit is a Tenkara Rod Co. Teton that is 12' open, closes to 20 inches and is 3.4 ounces. I have caught 16-18" brown trout on it with no problem at all and I have saw videos with people handling way bigger fish with it.
TheDudeAbides
Well-known member
I have a
2wt Echo Carbon XL 4 piece (3.7 oz) [More weight with case, but still the lightest rod w/ case I own]
Redington Zero 2/3 Black (2.7 oz)
I carry two spools - One with OPST 150 grain shooting head with Rio Grip Shooter Running Line and the other with Rio Intouch Trout LT DT3.
I use the OPST for distance casting in lakes and the Intouch LT for beaver ponds when I need to be careful about presentation.
2wt Echo Carbon XL 4 piece (3.7 oz) [More weight with case, but still the lightest rod w/ case I own]
Redington Zero 2/3 Black (2.7 oz)
I carry two spools - One with OPST 150 grain shooting head with Rio Grip Shooter Running Line and the other with Rio Intouch Trout LT DT3.
I use the OPST for distance casting in lakes and the Intouch LT for beaver ponds when I need to be careful about presentation.
ssssnake529
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I fish with various rods in the backcountry; from Tenkara pocket rods, to 2-piece bamboo rods.
Where I find that I can really save weight and bulk, however, is not with the rod, but rather with the other gear. I take a very minimalistic fly fishing kit with me when I'm in the backcountry.
Here's a description of my backcountry fishing kit: http://larsonweb.com/blog/?p=487
There's more backcountry fly fishing information here: http://www.larsonweb.com/flyfishing/
Where I find that I can really save weight and bulk, however, is not with the rod, but rather with the other gear. I take a very minimalistic fly fishing kit with me when I'm in the backcountry.
Here's a description of my backcountry fishing kit: http://larsonweb.com/blog/?p=487
There's more backcountry fly fishing information here: http://www.larsonweb.com/flyfishing/
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