Speaking of rod tests....

While waiting for Memorial Weekend to end and send all the down country campers back home, I took a dozen rods down to the stream just for some practice casting. Included were several 4wts, 5wts and 6wts of various tapers, from various manufacturers. We have been getting lighter and lighter in line weights for trout fishing since I started this madness 25 years ago. The all around 6wt turned into a 5wt, and now many anglers are down to a fast taper 4wt for their go to trout rod. But the 5wt is considered the all around any place trout rod. I primarily fish a 3/4wt Steffen glass rod on streams around here. What I noticed in my casting was that for most flies and 30 foot casts a 4Wt is suitable but when greater distances and double hauls are required I can get more line out with much less effort with a 6wt than any of the 5wts I cast. In short, as my arm gets older, I think a heavier line weight with a slower casting stroke is preferable over trying to push the hell out of a 5wt to reach the same spots. Make sense?

rich

I haven't done much with a 6wt rod, so I can't really comment on the 5/6 thoughts.

But overall the whole thing makes sense. I think for older/weaker/beginner casters, a slower higher line weight rod will be a lot easier and a lot less tiring than a faster lighter rod. Spending a couple of hours trying to push a fast 5wt to the limits of my casting distance is really tiring for me.

I general I find most seasoned anglers reserve the faster sticks for specific applications where they lend some advantage, ultimately with some costs/trade offs. This spring I have found my 697 TCR in my hand A LOT, for two reasons: wind (line speed); and picking up and throwing full sink lake line (rod strength). Take the wind and line out of the equation, and you'll find me holding a 5 or 6wt SLT. I can fish all day with any of the above, but prefer the more relaxed interaction, and greater overall flexibility of use of the more moderate tapers. YMMV

In years past, there was trend toward catching the largest possible fish on the lightest possible tackle and tippet. With the growing acceptance of "Catch & Release", I think it is finally leading to using the best rod to throw the best fly most efficiently, allowing the fisher to land the fish quickly and efficiently. This avoids needlessly tiring and killing a fish just so that one can say he landed it on the lightest equipment.

In short, the weight is really the choice of the fisher. Hopefully, you will choose the rod that will best suit the size of the fly you will be casting for the size fish you reasonably expect to catch and land. It is the act of enticing a fish to take the fly you present, not playing the fish until it is dead that is the goal. IMHO, but others do feel differently.