Streamer Rod

[MorrisGarage52]

I have a 8'6" 5wt Helios that I love for dry fishing and a 9' 5wt TLS for nymphing but I recently realized that neither one is good a chucking a decent streamer. So now I am on the hunt for a good streamer rod. I know there are a few guys here that will throw a streamer every day and maybe I can get some input that may save me some money in the long haul

Bob

[human cannonball]

What size streamer?

[FLYFISHGEEK]

What is the target species? A 6wt would crumble with some of my flies and for some waters a 6wt is plenty of rod.

[Flyfishnfool]

-What species?
-River or Lake?

John G.

[Oyey]

What budget?

[slowdown]

Figure a 7wt or 8wt would handle most of the streamers for Colorado.  Im using a 9wt because it is a dream to cast all day with streamers, and heavy flies.  Its overkill, but I dont hear fish complaining about it, so thats what Ill stay with. 

I would like a 7wt or 8wt switch rod, but that is a ways off.

[wacokid54]

For Colorado trout fishing with streamers, I like to use 7 weights.  I like a streamer rod to have a full flex, so I use an old Fenwick early graphite that flexes evenly all the way down the rod.  I also use an Elkhorn 10 ft 7 W that has a full flex.  This is a good rod for big rivers like the Colorado, and for lakes.  I like the full flex rods to help keep from breaking off big fish on the strikes that come on a tight line while the streamer is swinging cross current.  Last but not least, for fun I sometimes use an old fiberglass St. Croix rod.  Fishing vintage gear lends some fun to the day for me.  Of course, sometimes if all I have is a 9ft, 5 w, and conditions are right for streamer fishing, then the 5w is the perfect streamer rod because it is the one I have!

the waco kid

[720fly]

tid-bit -- I tie some very heavy streamers, don't like lead on the leader
My favorite rod for streamer has been the GLoomis GL3 #5 I payed $275 for it and find it awesome in the wind to. It is a nine foot rod with alot of backbone
ding ding
must say my new favorite is a Hardy Marksman -- it's been throwing dries,& streamers like a champ

[Oyey]

I use a 6wt Sage RPL.... I love it for streamers.  I throw some of the heaviest trout streamers with this rod.  I use an 8wt TFO for the huge stuff, but that is for non-trout species. 

The RPL is medium fast, but has a ton of backbone...when it loads with heavy stuff, you really feel the weight deep in the rod.  The rod is a cannon and can be picked up under 200 bucks on Ebay.

[driftinbugz]

It depends on what and where I'am fishing, a good stiff 5 wt. all the way up to an 8wt. I tend to use the 7 wt. the most.

[Fisher-man]

Like Oyey, I use a 6 wt Sage RPL. Not sure what it is, but that rod can toss a two inch bugger as far as I can cast and handle any fish in these waters. The rod is almost 20 years old and still one of my favorites.

I also own a 5 wt RPL. I snapped the tip last summer on a fish. Sent it in to Sage with the required $50 for warranty work, replacement. They sent me a brand new 5 wt RPL. They must still have the blanks around. If you can find one on e-bay, it is the best streamer Rod I've ever used. And I've tossed with bunch, from the $700 Winstons, down to a $150 Cortland. The Winstons belonged to a guide and I thought they were stiff and hard to cast. The less expensive rods just didn't seem to have the backbone for tossing weighted streamers.

Good luck.

[TeamDeadDrift]

When I throw the big stuff around I use a 7wt Rouge Rod. We set up next to them at a sport show in Sacramento. After casting it around I had to have one. I have used this rod from Grey Reef to The Trinity for steelhead and alot of local water to. Love it.

[Slavetotheflyrod]

7wt TFO CLouser series.  Best bang for the buck!

[ptaft]

If you have the bucks go with either a Sage Z axis 7wt., or a Winston B2mx  7wt.  They are about as good as it gets.

[Oyey]

If you have the bucks go with either a Sage Z axis 7wt., or a Winston B2mx  7wt.  They are about as good as it gets.

Not trying to be contrary, but I have found that the lighter rods like the ones mentioned above do not cast streamers as well.  I agree with Fisher-Man when he says the cheaper rods chuck streamers better.  I think it is because of the actual weight of the rod.  I also think a little slower action is beeter than the super fast action.  Just my opinion, but I have tossed both of the rods you mentioned, and neither handle the big stuff as well as my RPL.