** NOTE ** Video and Audio Podcasts appear below
What’s your favorite fly rod? This most frequently asked question now has its answer in the Troutbitten Riverside Video Series. Riverside is a place for sharing and presenting stories and articles from the Troutbitten website. And one of the most popular articles here at Troutbitten has been about the qualities to look for in a rod well suited for the Mono Rig.
This past winter, I wrote the manuscript for my upcoming book, Fly Fishing the Mono Rig. And I adapted the fly rod article into a full chapter for the book. And as I was finishing that chapter, I knew I wanted to present this as a Riverside video.
Here it is . . .
(Please select 4K or 2K for high resolution.)
And here’s the audio podcast . . .
Remember, all the links to my current favorite rods are in the main article.
Fish hard, friends.
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Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com
I know you’re not talking specifics here, but…
I fished a 10′ 3″ Hardy Zephrus for the first 4 years I was learning contact nymphing, and it was great. Then I bought a 10′ 9″ Contact II. I’m not someone who buys or wants lots of rods, and I’m not a fan of gear fetishism (in fishing or music!). In fact I funded the purchase by a months-long musical equipment sell-off through ebay and craigslist, including a nice American Stratocaster which I no longer was playing. The first time I fished the Contact II, I noticed how the lighter flies felt heavier. I love it.
And it’s durable. Like a complete and utter moron, I left it on top of my car one day after fishing, nestled between the roof rack and the cargo box. It flew off as I was going 45 mph on a state highway. Heart dropped. The Galvan GEN reel suffered a slight surface smudge, not even a scratch that you can feel with your fingers, and the rod suffered nothing. I’ve used it enough since then and had it flexed with big trout in heavy current, and it’s fine. I got lucky.
Loovly purchases, both. It’s as specialized as I’d go, because I share your love for versatility, and I’m pretty much a 1-rod person. Now my wife and two daughters use the Zephrus when we’re together streamside.
Thanks for the video. I’ve never hired a guide (too expensive, and I’m too DIY-stubborn), but if I did I would love to hire one of the TB crew. But not on your PA waters. I think it would be so cool to hear your perspectives on the places I already know really well, small streams in the Western mountains where I don’t really see many others. That would be so enlightening, so enjoyable. Just something I was thinking last week as I was fishing.
If your tight lining the rod is somewhat important. If your using a BOBER u can use a 2 by 4.
I think the rod style matters quite a bit in both cases. Biggest thing for me, is that with any suspender in the mix, I don’t want a rod that flexes too much.
Really wish you would make an audio version of the book. You were born to read aloud.