FNF Rod

[busman1]

Looking to buy a good FNF rod. Any suggestions
Thanks

[Don Smith]

Check out Bass Pro Shops FNF Rods, they are very nice, and well worth the 50 bucks I paid. Right now they are on sale online, for 29 bucks, I ordered a spare!

You can find a Silstar 10 footer on ebay for 29, and Lake Cumberland outdoors, Backwaters, and Lake Country keep them in stock with several models to choose from.


Hope this helps!

Don

[smljaw]

I just bought the $30 BPS FnF rod mentioned. I have not made the first cast with it. It feel nice and seems like it's well worth $30, that's for sure.

[Grumpy]

OK, so I may buy one also and get into the latest craze. What is a good reel to go with the FnF rod? AND, I don't want to spend $189 for the Stratic that Jim Dicken touts in his FnF article!! My real (reel) questions are: Do I need a high or low speed reel? What type drag is best? And, what size should it be?

Thanks,
Grumpy

[DJD]

Yep bought mine last week (8ft) and fished it over the weekend and i loved it. Caught a smallie and a largemouth with it. I might order me a ten footer for a trip to Dale this winter.....:-)

[Chubminnow]

Grumpy...I'm not home to look it up so I don't know what the gear ratio is, but I have a Shimano Sedona spiinning reel that I intend to attach to a 9' or 10' rod...I don't have the rod yet but have a couple in mind that Elwood has mentioned in the past, which I think was either AllStar or AllPro (information is at home)...I may even check out Shimano and see if they make an FNF rod.

[elnutsmalljaws]

All Pro is the rod that I have now. I started with a Silstar that is a very good rod for the money and I would still have it if I had not stepped on it and broke it. I do love my All Pro and it is better than the Silstar but so was the price. I also reccommend getting a 9'6" or 10', for the farther away from your intended target to cast the better and the longer rod will get you that extra 5-10 feet you need sometime. It also helps in fighting the fish and I find myself at times going to a 4lb test leader, when the fishing gets tough knowing the 10' rod will do all the fighting.

[redneckshadrap]

Grumpy,

I suggestion I might make is make sure the reel fits the rod. These long 9-10fters are okay to fish all day if balanced.
Some of these smaller reels just don't balane the longer rods.

IMHO
Billy Elkins

www.thecreekbank.com
It's easier to let the cat out of the bag than put it back in

[MrSplitshot]

I agree.

The 10' rods feel better to me with a 4000 series Shimano or the like on them.

My 8'6 rod has got a 2500 series Shimano and it feels fine to me, but I don't use it much on the lakes.

[Grumpy]

Billy (and Brian) Thanks for the suggestion. One of the things about getting the Bass Pro Shops FnF rod is that you can order the balance weights that attach to the butt. I use them on my BPS Flippin Stick and love it. They really do work well and make it much easier on the wrist, etc. Anyhow, with them I should be able to use a lighter reel. I have plenty of rewards points on my BPS credit card, I may as well use them for something.

Grumpy

[UpaCrick]

Grumpy- Another consideration beside reel weight/balance, is the spool size. The larger the spool diameter, the better casting distance you'll get. Also, compare the actual sizes of the spool, not just the numbers. A Diawa Regal 3500 I use starts @ 210 yards of 12# line and goes up to 14#, while the Sedona 4000 starts @ 8# and ends at @ 160 yards of 12# line. There is no comparison in the extra distance I get from the bigger Diawa.

Another advantage of using the "swivel" method is that once you load up the main line on the spool, you are done. Each depth adjustment of the fly does require a re-tie of leader, but you aren't using up your main line and losing valuable casting distance in the process. And sometimes when Mr. Frustration comes along with the long rods, the "down time" re-tying can be a much needed time out and refresher.

Good Luck with your search.

UpaCrick