Fly fishing the yough

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kill3ducks1deer
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2012/04/09 17:46:33 (permalink)

Fly fishing the yough

So I might possibly be planning a trip to the yough this year to fly fish, but I dont know if I really have the gear necessary. I have a 8 foot 4 weight and a 9 foot 6 inch 7 weight, now I think the four weight is probably to small and the 7 weight to big. What would be the ideal weight and length for the yough and other large rivers like it? I was thinking a 5 weight that's 9 or 10 foot long, and is that 1 foot that big of a difference? Also what do you normally fish a river like that with? I normally fish creeks and I am at a complete loss of knowledge when it comes to the yough. If you could shoot me a pm with some help that would be awesome, also I will be searching the forum for older posts about the yough, thanks in advance too.

"Fishermen are born honest, but they get over it." Ed Zern
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    Cold
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    RE: Fly fishing the yough 2012/04/09 18:46:44 (permalink)
    I'd imagine you'd be fine with either rod. Personally, I'd use the 4wt until I was sure I was going to be catching fish that would be too much for it. An 8' 4wt should be able to handle fish up to 18-20" without issues.
    #2
    GilliganJR
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    RE: Fly fishing the yough 2012/04/09 19:20:56 (permalink)
    rod size is relevant to what you are casting...  if tossing adams/dropper the 4 is perfect.  if throwing meat, bring the 7.
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    pwk5017
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    RE: Fly fishing the yough 2012/04/11 21:38:37 (permalink)
    The yough isnt an overly large river if you are fishing the outflow or below confluence. I am thinking your standard 9' 5 wt is a perfect all-around rod. This will serve you well for dries, small-medium streamers and for nymphing. I have had some windy days where that 8' 4wt would suck. 7wt is total overkill unless you are planning on chucking 1/0 streamers for that trophy brown.

    I looked back on this and totally assumed we were talking trout fishing. We are talking trout and not smallmouth, right?
    #4
    PeteM
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    RE: Fly fishing the yough 2012/04/11 22:02:03 (permalink)
    If/when you hook into a nice smallie and it runs into the riffles, a 4 wt. will offer very little control for getting it back out and bringing it to hand.

    There is often a pretty strong wind blowing down the river too, and if you don't have a wicked tight and powerful loop to cut through it, a 4wt. line may collapse part way through.

    For those reasons I would err on the side of caution and use a 6 or 7 wt.

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    kill3ducks1deer
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    RE: Fly fishing the yough 2012/04/11 23:33:29 (permalink)
    Yes I am talking about trout, guess I should have mentioned that. My only concern is that the 7 weight is total over kill, but I am also worried the 4 weight might be to light if I get a nice sized fish in fast currents

    "Fishermen are born honest, but they get over it." Ed Zern
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    HardCore Fisher
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    RE: Fly fishing the yough 2012/04/12 08:02:12 (permalink)
    I use my 7ft 6 4wt on the yough, it handles the average fish ok but anything bigger an it gets a lil tricky and interesting, 2 occasions last year i hooked nice fish where the bottom release is and i couldnt get them outta the current there resulting in a break off, i'm thinking of getting a 6wt when i have money.

    Ronnie
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    casts_by_fly
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    RE: Fly fishing the yough 2012/04/12 09:44:32 (permalink)
    depends what you're casting and what part of the river you're in. Some parts of the river I'd bring my 11'9" 7 wt for trout and not think twice. There are 10 lb trout in that river and there are stretches where I'd fish it like a light steelhead river. If you want to throw meat flies, then the 7 wt will be the ticket.

    if you want to fish the slower sections, concentrate on pockets, or fish the hatches, then the 4 wt will get you by just fine. The river is plenty wide and open enough that a 15' rod wouldn't be unwieldy, so length is no concern. It is also big enough that you'll never have enough length to mend with. A shorter rod puts you at a slight disadvantage, but you can fish it just fine.

    thanks
    rick
    #8
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