Whenever I'm packing for a trip, by far the most time consuming part is figuring out what fly rods, fly reels, fly lines, flies, and whatever other gear needs to go along. I usually start with a handwritten list a week or even two before leaving and then spend an evening or two getting fly rods from their tubes, choosing fly reels, and loading them up with clean fly lines. It's a process but I've learned my lesson on waiting until the last minute packing late at night before an early morning drive or flight. It's a recipe for going to bed in a frantic state wondering if I have everything.
Even though I spent the majority of my time with two 3-weights on this trip, I figured it would still be worthwhile to discuss all the fly rods (fly reels and fly lines, too) that made it into the Riffle Daily QR gear case.
My thought process going into this trip to the Driftless was to bring a couple each of 3-weights, 4-weights, and 5-weights. I have too many fly rods in all these line weights, and even though a trip like this deserves all of them a chance to go, I figured six fly rods in total was more than enough.
As I was working through picks, the determining criteria centered on wanting something a little different from each of the fly rods within the same line weight. One shorter. One longer. One slower. One faster. I didn't want to take two of essentially the same fly rod.
Did I think and overthink about all of this way too much? Of course. Do I regret it? No.
THE 3-WEIGHTS
My typical thought process on glass 3-weights is they should be short, slow, accurate, and full-flexing. I want something that makes me take a moment on my cast to let the line fully load the fly rod. I look for tapers that are just as comfortable roll casting a short leader and dry fly or airing out thirty feet of fly line. And, they should completely double over under the weight of a good fish. Can you think of anything more fun?
C. BARCLAY FLY ROD CO. BLUE RIDGE SPECIAL 68 - Over the years, I've owned several of Chris Barclay's creations and traded up for the Blue Ridge Special. At 6'8" and in four pieces, it's perfect for a backpack, gear case, or behind the seat. I don't use the word "love" often but I do with this fly rod. From how it casts to the build aesthetics, it's just damn perfect. The story on picking this fly rod up in North Carolina from a few years ago is a fun trip to re-read about HERE.
IJUIN-ROD 7' YOMOGI - Maybe four inches longer isn't much different between these two 3-weights and this Yomogi checks a lot of the same boxes. Not only is it wonderful to cast but Tomo's build work is perfection. It's hard to believe that this fly rod arrived as a gift from Tomo almost ten years ago and you can read my first thoughts with a stack of photographs HERE. It should also tell you something about the staying power of this fly rod blank that is still as sought after now as it was then.
As far as fly reels, two very special KINEYA Tackle Maker fly reels are only used on these two fly rods. They are inseparable and the fit is perfect. As far as fly lines, one reel was lined with the 406 Fly Lines 3DT and the other held the RIO Products Creek fly line.
HONORABLE MENTION - I have a few other 3-weights in my stash but going back a few generations in the Scott Fly Rod Company Fibertouch family to the black glass 703/3 was almost the choice. This was my second glass rod ever and the aquamarine ink script on the blank is a perfect match with a vintage green J.W. Young Condex in my fly reel collection. I need to take a photograph of that outfit and share. It's really something and is just wonderful to cast and fish.
THE 4-WEIGHTS
Where I think 3-weights should be full-flexing, I want my glass 4-weights to do a little of everything with ease. I typically like more progressive tapers with a priority on being perfect for floating dry flies but with the ability to swing soft hackles, handle a hopper, nymph with an indicator (if things get really desperate...), and even huck a small streamer if situation calls for it.
In this case, I went with two all-arounders with one shorter and one a little longer. Neither of these lack in the looks department either with one built by Leiderman Rods and the other by Tightloops Fly Rods.
KABUTO RODS 7643 - I am always impressed with Kab's fly rod tapers and this 4-weight continues to be a favorite. It just does everything so well and is a pleasure to cast. There's a reason why this taper is unchanged for over 15 years. It's just damn wonderful.
You can see this fly rod be built in a series of posts HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and finally HERE. All those posts were from 2011. Kind of crazy.
STEFFEN BROTHERS FLY RODS 8' 3/4 WEIGHT - If you were only going to have just one Steffen, I'd have a hard time not recommending the 8' 3/4 weight. It's iconic and for so many good reasons. Progressive in taper and some like it with a 3-weight and others with a 4-weight. Count me in the camp that likes Steffen Brothers fly rods in the upper of the two line ratings.
You can see this fly rod being built by George Minculete HERE, HERE, and HERE. And, before I get a bunch of emails, the T.F.M. Fly Rod Loan Program mentioned in the posts, it had to be ended. It was too much work, shipping costs were immense, fly rods were getting broken and others not returned. It was a logistical nightmare to keep up up with 50+ fly rods being shipped from person to person and all going different directions.
Want to read more about the Steffen Rods 3/4 weight? It was a favorite on last year's trip to Nelson's Spring Creek outside of Livingston, Montana and you can read about that trip HERE and HERE.
I went two different ways with fly reels with the latest generation of the Orvis C.F.O. and the tiny (but LOUD) Single Spey from The Spey Company. The Amplitude Smooth Creek Trout from Scientific Anglers and the 406 Fly Lines Double Taper were on the two fly reels. These are just great small stream fly lines that I enjoy quite a bit.
HONORABLE MENTION - When I first met Shane Gray of Graywolf Rods, we had a long telephone conversation on the state of fiberglass fly rods and ideas on what he could bring to the space as a fly rod builder. I think that might have been around 2010. Not too long after, a sweet 7'6" 4-weight yellow glass fly rod that was rolled by Mike McFarland and built by Shane arrived on my doorstep. I took it along on a weekend to Voelker's Pond in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. You can read about the trip HERE and then visit the Flickr album to see more images from that trip. I'll always cherish this E-Glass 4-weight for the special places that it's been with me and it also started a friendship with Shane that continues to today.
THE 5-WEIGHTS
I went two very different directions with these fly rods with one shorter in E-Glass and full flexing and one in S-Glass with power and pop. I didn't have a lot of confidence that I'd even need a 5-weight but still brought two to have some choices.
MCFARLAND FLY ROD COMPANY SPRUCE CREEK 705/3 - This fly rod arrived last year as a complete surprise from a longtime T.F.M. reader and I will always keep it in the collection. You can read about this gracious gift HERE. Short 5-weights are tough to come by and this is certainly one of the very best.
ORVIS SUPERFINE GLASS 805/4 - This was the only "off the rack" fly rod that I took but it was an easy choice as an all-around performer that could handle just about anything we might encounter on the trip. I often recommend the entire Superfine Glass lineup as they are just wonderful.
As far as fly reels, I went with two different sizes of the latest generation of the Orvis C.F.O. fly reels. These are now available in three sizes covering line weights from 1-weight to 7-weight. The Size III was a good fit on the McFarland and the Size IV was perfect for the SFG 805/4. Tough to beat this classic.
Fly lines were easy with two fly lines from Scientific Anglers with the Amplitude Smooth Creek Trout on the short 5-weight and the the Amplitude Smooth Trout Standard on the longer 5-weight.
HONORABLE MENTION - I'm going to give two that I went back and forth on to finish this off. First, I really like short 5-weights and the Thomas & Thomas Lotic 7'10" 5-weight is really a fun fly rod that doesn't get talked about enough here and elsewhere. I took a prototype to Wyoming a few years ago that you can read about HERE and this post is a good reminder that I need to fish this fly rod more than I do.
Then, even though it wasn't in the plans, the Epic 686 almost made the trip just in case we ended up on the Wisconsin River for smallmouth. I've said a lot over the years about this Epic fly rod and it's always tough to leave at home. This is most certainly the glass 6-weight that I judge all glass 6-weights by. It's a laser shooter that loves maybe dozens of fly lines. From true to line weight trout lines to heavy short heads for streamers to saltwater fly lines for bonefish to shooting heads and sinking lines, it does it all. One 6-weight to rule them all? This is it.
Last note, all six fly rods, fly reels, two pairs of sunglasses, and more, fit easily into the Riffle Daily QR gear case from Sea Run Cases. I have several of the Sea Run Cases and this is the one that I've traveled with most, especially on trout trips. It's pretty much bomb proof for gear protection but not too bulky or heavy for carrying around airports from plane to plane. With some careful packing, you can fit quite a bit into it and rest assured, nothing is going to get damaged even if it has to be gate checked.
Thanks for making it to the end of all of this. Hopefully you clicked a few of the links to follow those rabbit holes. Did I miss anything that you'd like to know about? Email to discuss further.
