FS Digest

Next summer I’m doing a backpacking trip in British Columbia in an area with a whole lot of alpine lakes that get basically no pressure at all because they’re pretty off the grid. I need a fly rod that I can pack around easily. Does anyone have any suggestions for packable rods?

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by vortist

FS Digest

Wouldn't a four-piece generally cover this? My Sage weighs less than my flask :)

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by TheEndIsTooFarAway

FS Digest

I was thinking more in terms of length rather than weight. I should have specified

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by vortist

FS Digest

I have a 3wt four piece(orvis?) that came with the little tube and it’s tiny.

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by terpcloudsurfer

FS Digest

The Cabelas Stowaway rods are great if they are available. I like the 8 1/2 ft 3 weight the best.

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by troutmadness

FS Digest

Thanks I’ll look into those I’ve heard good things about them

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by vortist

FS Digest

Yeah they are sweet. Sometimes they go on sale. That 8 1/2 ft 3 weight is super sweet. You can fish it with a four weight line. I like a double taper from Barrio Flylines (The Mallard series). They are very reasonably priced and come from Scotland with fairly quick shipping.

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by troutmadness

FS Digest

I do a lot of backpacking, and I find the standard 4-piece rod to be very manageable.

The hardest thing for me is finding a lightweight rod case. I've used a fluorescent light tube for a while, but I recently upgraded to long size of one of these: https://www.tenkarabum.com/rod-cases.html. Very happy with the upgrade. If you're gram obsessed, you can trim about 1 oz from it, bringing the weight to 3.4 oz on my scale.

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by GlacierRambler

FS Digest

To fish these lakes in the summer from shore, you will 100% want a long powerful casting rod. You will want something to cast a sinking line and/or a 10'+ indicator and leader. Personally, without a boat in the middle of summer, I would probably leave the fly rod at home and stick to a spin casting rod. 15-20m casts will be required.

I know there will be people will say, "...but I fish lake "x" from shore all the time." And....they would be 100% right....However, I have fished 15+ BC lakes in the past 2 months, but only 2 *could* be effectively fished from shore, but even then, only in a tight, specific window.

In spring and fall, there will be many options from shore, but still with relatively difficult conditions. Most lakes are generally unwadeable.

I know that I tend to be a negative nancy, but if you want to pack effective fly gear, you will want to thoroughly research your lakes and plan your trip accordingly. I actively pay attention to how I can fish BC lakes. I would love to leave my boat at home, but it has proven my difficult than I had expected.

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by DrSkunkzor

FS Digest

Try a reyrgear rod, this is what I use anytime I am traveling or backpacking. Love it because it still offers a real, and it is a 6wt!

https://reyrgear.com/products/first-cast-travel-fly-rod

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by BlackFish_1328

Windknots

I would look for at a decent 4 pc 9' 5wt. Furthe more really work on your roll cast....I'm an IFFF certified instructor, learned from the best in world, I rarely put a fly in the air anymore.On Alpine lakes food is on shoreline, you really don't need to cast more than 35 feet, with practice and instruction, you can learn to roll cast twice far, I learned from Tom White, of G loomis, he could roll cast an entire line(90') with a 5wt.With a good roll cast you can fish in any envoirment.

Windknots

I've had this concept rattling around my brain for awhile, never pull the trigger on it...First thought is, this has to be a of piece junk, but after reading the reviews and looking at rod, it appears to be well thought out and well made, this is not a Pocket Fisherman, and could be a solution for a lot of people...