Suggestions for 7'6" 4wt outfit

Hi all! Can anyone suggest a decent 4wt outfit for fishing some small creeks in Western PA? I currently use a 9ft 5wt but I'd like something a little smaller for fishing in tighter quarters. Got about $200 to spend. Thanks.

personally i love the st. croix imperial series. they are fairly cheap and all but cast just as well as high end rods in my opinion
 
Nick

why not make a more dreastic switch
your lossing a 1'6" but only 1 line wt...
i'm all for a shorter rod... but loose wt with the shorter length
 
i have a 7'9 2wt that gets the nod over my 9' 5wt
 

I've got a 7'-9" 3 wt st croix avid...everyone's tastes are different, but that rod speaks my language. If you like more moderate rods, check those out, if you're looking for something faster, look for closeout deals on last year's redington cps line. IIRC, they have a 7'6" 4 wt.

Lighter rod, lighter flies.

My two main rods for trout that got the most use are a 9,-5wt and a 7'9"-4wt.
I broke the 4wt and settled on an 8 footer as a factory replacement.
The 9'-5 is my rod for large streams where you can't always get close to your target.
The 7'9"-4 was for everything else, including a backup to the 9 footer in case anything ever happened to it.
The reason I chose the 4wt is because it is capable of throwing nearly everything in my flybox.
I considered a 3wt but I didn't think it would have enough oomph to rollcast a weighted #8 bugger or hopper 30ft to the opposite bank.
The rest of the rods I own either fill a narrow niche of are just "for fun" rods.
I think if you are choosing a second trout rod, get one that is going to cover a wide range of situations. After that, you can get something fun to use.

I considered a 3wt but I didn't think it would have enough oomph to rollcast a weighted #8 bugger or hopper 30ft to the opposite bank.

It can be done, but whether its my lack of skill or the rod's lack of 'oomph', it aint pretty.

Take the weight out of the bugger, or drop to a #10 or 12...and it's a whole different story...

i have fished with both and i prefer the imperial because it casts much smoother....now that is my casting style and my opinion but for smaller streams the avid feels too stiff to me...not for steelies i use the avid because it handles the fish better i think
 
Nick

now that is my casting style and my opinion but for smaller streams the avid feels too stiff to me...

Really?! Action wise, to me, the Avid feels much smoother and slower than the Reign or Imperial.

Just goes to show that everyone truly is different.

ORIGINAL: doubletaper

ORIGINAL: dano

My two main rods for trout that got the most use are a 9,-5wt and a 7'9"-4wt.
I broke the 4wt and settled on an 8 footer as a factory replacement.
The 9'-5 is my rod for large streams where you can't always get close to your target.
The 7'9"-4 was for everything else, including a backup to the 9 footer in case anything ever happened to it.
The reason I chose the 4wt is because it is capable of throwing nearly everything in my flybox.
I considered a 3wt but I didn't think it would have enough oomph to rollcast a weighted #8 bugger or hopper 30ft to the opposite bank.
The rest of the rods I own either fill a narrow niche of are just "for fun" rods.
I think if you are choosing a second trout rod, get one that is going to cover a wide range of situations. After that, you can get something fun to use.

my main trout rod is  8'6" 5WT. though i have other specialty rods i like my 7'6" 4wt. for smaller streams but if i had too i could put a FWF line on and get plenty of distance to cover most med. size streams and cast some big buggers.  

 
I really miss that 7'9" rod but they didn't carry that length anymore. I had to choose either an 8 or 7 1/2 as the replacement.
It was pretty much a coin toss.
 

ORIGINAL: trifly

Yeah, 2 or 3wt might just be the ticket. Don't have much experience with anything but a 5wt so I'm not sure exactly what I'd gain or lose. Can someone run down the pros and cons?

The gains will be a rod & reel that is light in hand, which will reduce the possibility of arm and shoulder fatigue from casting.

Will make even small fish seem more powerful.

Will deliver flies with less disturbance. A big plus when fishing in skinny or clear water over spooky fish.



The loses will be a rod that will have a more limited casting range.

Won't be able to handle bigger or heavier flies as well.

Will not handle windy situations as well.

ORIGINAL: trifly

Yeah, 2 or 3wt might just be the ticket. Don't have much experience with anything but a 5wt so I'm not sure exactly what I'd gain or lose. Can someone run down the pros and cons?

 
A 2 or 3 weight 7 - 7'6" is good for small streams for a couple reasons... The first being they are easy to load for short casts. Most small stream situations call for casts of 40 ft or less, and short backcasts in order to avoid the brush/trees that are behind you. The average 2 or 3 weight does this well.
 
The second reason is the 7' - 7'6" rod will be more manuverable in the tight spots...which is pretty self-explanitory.
 
As far as flies go, for the most part, you can cast the same flies on a 3 weight as you can a 5 weight....you just wont be able to cast them quite as far, which is fine, because afterall you are fishing a small creek.
 
If I could only have 2 trout rods, i'd choose a 8'6" 5wt, and a 7' 3wt. I feel I can fish any trout water in PA effectively with one of those 2.
 
My favorite small stream rod is a diamondback diamonglass 7' 3wt, however, there are too many good small stream rods out there to for me to say any one particular rod is the best. I suggest you go to a locally owned fly shop, and cast a few. Just be sure to cast the rod as if you were in a small stream situation... meaning you try to load the rod with short casts, etc...
 
Hope this helps.

Found a gently used Avid 3wt on ebay. Think I'll go with that unless the bidding goes crazy.

the AVID 3 weight is fun to fish with........and is not a toy.........
 
I live in Southeastern PA and almost never use my 9 foot 5 wt......it is OVERKILL and then some.......I rarely use my 8.5 foot 4 wt...........my stick of choice is a G-Loomis GL3 6 foot 6 inch 3 weight---IT IS AN AWESOME ROD....I fished French Creek in  Chester county about a week after they stocked--2 years ago......I caught upwards of 20 fish.....and most of them ranged from 17 - 24 inches........TALK ABOUT FUN..........and nobody else was there !!!!  The rod had plenty of backbone to handle them........
 
I recently picked up a Loomis GLX whisper creek 8 foot 2 wt........Oh so much fun......and I assure you, this rod was purchased at almost half price.......what a steal of a deal

ORIGINAL: Deadbolt401

ORIGINAL: 2Bonthewater

the AVID 3 weight is fun to fish with........and is not a toy.........

I live in Southeastern PA and almost never use my 9 foot 5 wt......it is OVERKILL and then some.......I rarely use my 8.5 foot 4 wt...........my stick of choice is a G-Loomis GL3 6 foot 6 inch 3 weight---IT IS AN AWESOME ROD....I fished French Creek in  Chester county about a week after they stocked--2 years ago......I caught upwards of 20 fish.....and most of them ranged from 17 - 24 inches........TALK ABOUT FUN..........and nobody else was there !!!!  The rod had plenty of backbone to handle them........

I recently picked up a Loomis GLX whisper creek 8 foot 2 wt........Oh so much fun......and I assure you, this rod was purchased at almost half price.......what a steal of a deal

buuuuurrrrrrnnnnn

 
huh???