Rod Weight

[Smileylover]

Well hello gentlemen i'm glad to find some fellow BCer's i can seek help from. My name is Clayton and i am 16.I am an avid fisherman and a saltwater guide out of Port Renfrew all summer. However, my fly fishing knowledge is nothing. My buddies and i want to hike up and stay a weekend at an alpine lake around chilliwack here in the spring. On the trusty old rod rack i found my dad's old fly rod. It is an 8 weight rod. Which he probably used for steelhead on the vedder or coho on the swiftsure bank. Now my question is will that rod be alright for catching a few trout or will i just struggle with it? another thing is what kind of fly would you guys recommend for trout in the spring on a small lake?

thanks alot, Clay

[Smileylover]

if it helps the rod is a 100% graphite Kunnam and the reel is a diawa

[flyfisher3000]

Troll a leach, Thats how most get started. good luck,good fishing and conserve catch.

[phearless]

Hey Smileylover.
Welcome aboard first of all.
It sounds like that rod will be a little overkill for the trout you will be going after. Not that it wouldn't work, it just wouldn't be much fun. A 12 inch trout would barely bend yor rod.
Something along the lines of a 4 or 5 weight would be more like what I would recommend.
As for flies in the spring, you can't go wrong with chironomids.
If you are going alpine, those fish don't see a whole lot of food year round and some impressionistic nymphs and small streamers such as the ever popular wooly bugger in smaller sizes would work as well.
Good luck and keep us informed as to how you make out.

[angus mitchell]

hello Clay, the 8 wt. rod is a wee bit heavy for the higher lakes , a lot will depend on what kind of action the rod has and how big the average fish are ?If you have the basic casting skills and have no problem chucking 50 plus ft. of line out I would not see you having a struggle , it would also be pretty special to use your dads old rod. When the time comes to purchase your first rod a 6wt. would be an all around wt. to go with for most of your lakes in BC. as you progress with the sport you will discover lighter weights and a selection of actions for different applications. Spring is a good time for mini leeches and chrominids and blood worms in the lakes around the thompson shuswap and north okanagan the high alpine lakes will still have ice on until late april or early may this year I would think . Clay you might want to research which lake you want to fish and try to not only find out what type and colour of flys to use but also how best to present them.

[SalaR]

Hi Clayton;
As Phearless said welcome aboard...we have some very sensable and practical fly fishers here. If you really want to know about that rod ...well,it will do the deed alright...a good comparison would be to landing a Black Bass on a 7' Halibut rod...The 8 wt rod your dad has is good...especially around Swift Sure...but don't let it stop you from going to the lakes...
We are here for you younger fly fishers
C

[Smileylover]

Wow, thanks soo much fellas for the instant replies!
all the help was, well, very helpful
Thanks for the comparison SalaR
it really puts it into perspective!
i'll ask some buds and see if anyone has a lighter rod i can borrow.
and if not, i'll just have to catch a real big 'ol trout to bend that rod over!:beerchug:

Cheers gentlemen and thanks again
-Clay

[w3stc0ast_0n7heFly]

hey clay, im only two years older then u. lol. neways, what i find great for trout fishing on lakes being from kamloops that is, is a 10 foot 6 weight rod, because it can pick line off the water nicely and u feel those small fish and its good enough for them big fish. Good luck out there!