New to saltwater flyfishing...

[Matt_e]

Deal! But I will be building another rod soon, and I'm thinking 8 wt.

[atpjunkie]

Originally Posted by Matt_e

Deal! But I will be building another rod soon, and I'm thinking 8 wt.

8 is great, just like Chocolate cake. Beach, Bay, Light Offshore gets the most use (why I own 2) of the Salty Quiver. they see more time than any other rod

my salt ff quiver

2 Salty 6's with fighting butts and oversized salt guides. custom hand builts
( 1 Hardy, 1 SA System 2 w/ 3 spools and an Abel TR w/ 2 spools)

2 Salt 8's one 9'6" Sage (Ole Trusty), 1 9' Orvis PM 10 (Fin Nor 2, Orvis Mach V)

1 10 wt. St. Croix (it's my kelp/jetty rod) (SA System 2 10/11)

1 11 wt. Orvis PM 10 (Abel #4, 1 small scratch paid $250 on ebay)

1 12 wt. Echo #2 w/ Fin Nor #2

1 13 wt. Penn (cap on fighting butt is removable with a mount for a fighting belt) with a SA system 2 12/13 reel

have yet to hook anything with the 12 or 13 but I have tried

[sschung]

Matt,

I see you have the venerable PM 10. if you get a chance check out the new Helios. My 10wt. weighs in at a feather light 3.5 oz., and it casts like a cannon. Conway B. has been banging Makos with his 10wt.

Shane

[atpjunkie]

will do. I've had my PM10s for years. I'll try a helios when they die. I'm a budget guy sadly. You look at the amount of gear I have, most would be shocked at how little I paid. For example I put my 13 wt together, Rod, reel, backing, flyline for about $300.

those Helios look hot but are outside my price range

I was down in the East Cape and my guide was shocked I could throw a 10 and an 11 (my PM 10 11wt) for days straight and not lose form or distance. My casting technique looks wacky to some but it is very efficient.

[Matt_e]

I'm used to small still water trout fishing (lately). I'm fishing a Cabelas 3 Wt. 8' (I made it) with a Lamson 1.5, DT3 line. Too damn light for salt water in ANY capacity. I'm working on a 5 Wt. right now, then, hopefully, an 8 wt. (double for FW bass & stripers, and San Diego surf). I'm working out the bugs before the SW, but it WON'T be long!

[atpjunkie]

since I live in SD I changed my game
Now 6 is as small as I usually go. (and they have fighting butts and oversized guides)

8 is a great beach, bay rod. even good for light offshore.

you'll be amazed at how much harder some saltwater fish of equal size pull compared to trout.

[Matt_e]

Originally Posted by atpjunkie

you'll be amazed at how much harder some saltwater fish of equal size pull compared to trout.

Oh, I know! I lived in SD for most of my life and fished mostly in saltwater. I'm relegated to using the light stuff here because the trout ponds are all I have time for most of the time here. I work too much! I think I still fish in SW more, because on my time off, I come down to San Diego quite often.