I enjoy fishing 4 wt rods. I would eventually like to own both a 7' & 7.5' 4 wt. I am curious however about 7'3" 4 wt rods. What
7'3" 4wt rods do you enjoy fishing & why? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim
Thanks,
Jim
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7' 3" 4 wt ?'s
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 jtmr |
7' 3" 4 wt ?'s |
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Posts: 130 10/30/2008 15:32 |
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seattlesetters |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 418 10/30/2008 16:04 |
I've had a couple on the water and loved both. The first was a 7'3" 4wt hollow-built quad by Bill Taylor. The rod is as
light as a 7' 3wt in hand, but could punch out a 50' cast in stiff wind. It is also accurate, accurate, accurate! It seemed so light and lively and was
just a joy to fish. I could totally see this rod replacing both a 7' 4wt and a 7'6" 4wt. Playing fish on this thing is a blast, too!
The other is a 7'3" 4wt penta by Sweetgrass. This thing is a little rocket, and it is very nice for fishing a shorter rod on bigger streams or when wind is an issue. This rod could bang out 60' casts like a lazer beam and still land a fly as delicately as you could ever need. It is extremely accurate and quick, and would be a dream for putting flies in tight spots under overhaning brush as well as for bigger water. Super versatile, if a guy was torn between a faster-actioned 7' 4wt and a perhaps a lighter 7'6" 5wt, this rod might cover 90% of what both rods could do. |
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bobbeegee |
7' 0 1/2F Heddon | #2 | ||
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Posts: 2028 10/30/2008 18:56 |
Can't speak to a 7'3" rod, but seattlesetters suggestions would seem spot on.
When you are considering a 7' for 4 weight, as you stated you would like to own and fish, please give the 0 1/2 F Heddon taper a look-see. I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised with the performance of this rod on small to medium streams. Delicate dry fly presentations with ease, point and shoot capability, and enough backbone for those 40' reaches.Will toss small nymphs adequately within a short range. Just a suggestion. Good luck in your quest for 4 weight rods. Bob Go Heels!!! |
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tapermaker |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 636 10/30/2008 19:49 |
ive developed a 7ft 3inch 3/4 wt. that has a med fast action that will put a fly out to 50ft easily as well as cast just out of the tip also.see my website
stonerodco.com
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gbflytyer |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 103 10/30/2008 22:41 |
i agree on the sweetgrass. i love my 7'3 4w penta. it has quickly became my favorite rod.
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David Dornblaser |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 193 10/31/2008 09:34 |
I haven't tried the Sweetgrass rod but I loved its precursor, the 7'3" Winston. I wonder if Jerry tweaked the rod since then ...........
- David www.UpperMidwestFlyFishing.com - fly fishing in the Upper Midwest. Spring Creeks to Smallies to Steelhead. |
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driftless |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 58 10/31/2008 09:51 |
I make a 7'2" 4 wt. rod based on Paul Young's Driggs River taper. It has no trouble reaching out to 45-50 feet, and it is a roll-casting marvel.
It is a terrific rod for Southwest Wisconsin where narrow conditions and lack of backcasting room happen often. And it has no touble pulling those big spotted
dace out of cover
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Paul |
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cwood |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 448 10/31/2008 10:05 |
Wagner's model in 7'3" 4/5 is a really nice caster; light tips for in close and a para punch for some distance. I've cast several other
Driggsy tapers and this has been my favorite.
CWood |
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uniphasian |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 1886 10/31/2008 11:08 Moderator |
David Dornblaser wrote:David: Although I've never fished the Winston version I understand that it is an outstanding taper, and based on comments from those who have used the rod fairly extensively I asked Glenn to build a hex Sweetgrass using that taper. The taper we decided on is for a #3-4 line and it feels just right with a #4 Phoenix. I believe they can build almost any taper you want - whether it's a proven well-known taper or one that is tweaked to your liking. This rod has a very delicate taper that is light feeling and fun to fish, but it somehow has surprising power if you need it. It's one of those rods that has you scratching your head, wondering where the power comes from in such a light feeling rod. I've only had an opportunity to use it once so far, but I'm sure I'll be fishing it much more in days to come. I plan to try a #3 plastic line during the winter to see how it behaves with that load. 
I only use a couple of 7'3" rods, and to me they don't have as much of a unique "in-between" feel as 7'9" rods. To me, the 7'3"s feel and fish more like 7-1/2 footers than they do 7 footers. 7'9" rods on the other hand seem to me to have a unique feel of their own - neither 7 footers or 8 footers. I think the 7'9" is the best all-around length for trout; at home on just about any size water.
- Uni
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seattlesetters |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 422 10/31/2008 11:18 |
Uni - I really like the 7'3" 4wt penta from Sweetgrass...and have been kicking around the idea of having Jerry lighten one up for me a bit to a 3/4.
It's good to see you're happy with your hex version...although I'd expect nothing less from the Boo Boys.
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poudre1 |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 180 10/31/2008 11:28 |
I have a Sweetgrass Hex 7'3" 4wt 2/2 also. Jerry said that this taper is a little brisker action than the Winston version, designed for western
waters. In fact, he said that they modified all the tapers a little from the existing Winston tapers.
Is it more usefull that a 7' or 7 1/2' rod, I don't know? Dave |
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David Dornblaser |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 194 10/31/2008 11:34 |
After casting the Winston 7'3" Jerry made me a 7'6" 4/5 penta while still at Winston. I use that rod a lot. Jerry is finishing up a
7'9' 4 wt penta for me now. I really do like those 7'9" rods.
- David www.UpperMidwestFlyFishing.com - fly fishing in the Upper Midwest. Spring Creeks to Smallies to Steelhead. |
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