Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Fly-Fishing Discussion

View Poll Results: 3wt or 4wt for southern Alberta Cutthroat
3wt 27 28.13%
4wt 69 71.88%
Voters: 96. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-11-2019, 10:32 PM
cohod cohod is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 780
Default 3wt or 4wt for Southern Alberta/BC Cutthroat?

I have a few trips planned for Southern Alberta/BC Livingston, Oldman Crowsnest , Elk etc.
I want to get as new rod and can’t decide between a 3wt or 4wt what would you buy?
__________________
A Facebook group dedicated to the Canadian upland hunter.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanadianUplandHunting/
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-12-2019, 02:52 AM
scel scel is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 521
Default

The 3wt is super fun. Cutties are not the biggest fighters, so backbone is not really critical.

But the wind. Oh sweet penelope, the wind can be insane. There has been a couple of times that I have put my 4wt away and used a 6wt. I know some people who can struggle through a 3wt, but it is funny seeing people double haul with a 3wt rod.

But if you already have a 5wt, a 3wt is a good way to round out your quiver. Personally, I am a 4-6-8wt kinda guy. For those windy days, you can just pull out a 5wt.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-12-2019, 06:29 AM
flyguyd's Avatar
flyguyd flyguyd is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 3,659
Default

I usually take both the 3 and the 5wt just in case its real windy. The 3 is my goto tho for cutties , its only downfall is that its only 6'6" so the wind can really be a factor especially on bigger water or the more open stretches. I adore it tho ,wouldnt want to fish cutties without it
__________________
Dont sweat the petty stuff, and dont pet the sweaty stuff
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-12-2019, 08:56 AM
Chief16's Avatar
Chief16 Chief16 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Saskatoon
Posts: 680
Default

I would go for a 3wt but if possible, get a longer one. I have a 7' 6" 3wt that is great but as mentioned before, the wind can pick up and the little extra leverage from a longer rod would help out at times.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-12-2019, 09:45 AM
MrDave MrDave is offline
Suspended User
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Innisfail
Posts: 1,073
Default

4 weight with 6 weight line to power though the wind. Change spools if its a still day.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-12-2019, 04:56 PM
haggis57 haggis57 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 86
Default

I have a 8 ft - 4 wt that I am reasonably happy with although, because of the wind, I would get an 8ft - 6in if I had to buy another. I am also going to try MrDave's approach of over-lining it with a 5 or 6 wt line this year. The 4 wt does handle the bigger Cuts but, primarily because of the wind, by the middle of Sept , I switch to my 5 wt for Oldman, Livingstone and Crowsnest.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-12-2019, 05:12 PM
Bhflyfisher Bhflyfisher is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Prince George, BC
Posts: 1,190
Default

Sage made the One in a 9' 3wt, and it was likely the nicest cutthroat/small stream rod I've ever had. Wish i hadn't sold it
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-12-2019, 09:51 PM
theoutdoorsman theoutdoorsman is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 6
Default

I'm living back in BC (cranbrook at the moment) and have only used a 2/3wt rods for cutties going on four years now (lakes and rivers). I would only think of pulling the 4wt out if I was on a large river system with no boat. Nothing beats mountain streams and a 7-8ft 3wt.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-13-2019, 11:29 AM
Jayhad Jayhad is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,049
Default

A 3 wt 9' will have the back bone to toss bullet head streamers and cut through the wind with smaller flies.
I use a 490 almost exclusively for troots but I'm chucking streamers most of the time
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-15-2019, 11:06 AM
Ronbill Ronbill is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Sherwood Park
Posts: 199
Default

A shorter (7'6" - 8") 3wt is great in the Race Horse Creek, Livingstone R. and the upper Oldman River (upstream of the Fire base). But as others have said, there's often too much wind below, especially near the confluence with Race Horse Cr. and just below at 'The Gap'. Would a longer 3wt make a difference? I'm not so sure - fish are much larger at and below the Gap and reach 20+ inches. IMO 3wt takes too long to land a 19"+ cutt. I would say 4wt minimum and preferably 5wt lower down in the Oldman R.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-15-2019, 12:32 PM
wildbill wildbill is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Gods Country
Posts: 1,706
Default

One word for down here.....WIND!
Definately four, if not heavier, plus you may latch on to a bull inadvertently..........
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-17-2019, 01:06 PM
Don Andersen Don Andersen is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 1,793
Default Its all about throw weight.

What weight of flies or wind resistance of flies do you intend to cast.
Increasing both requires heavier lines.
Five or perhaps 6 weight maybe needed.

Don
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-18-2019, 06:01 AM
Riverview Riverview is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 21
Default

https://www.ginkandgasoline.com/blog/
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-18-2019, 11:04 AM
upstream upstream is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 120
Default

If you will be bringing only one rod to the streams, I would bring a good 4 wt rod that will do dry, nymph, and streamers.
I have nice brand new set up for sale at good deal that I have never used.
It was just a part of my collection.
Sage Accel 4wt 8' 6" 4pc with Sage 2200 Series real with AirFlo lines on it.
Pm me if you are interested.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-10-2019, 08:50 AM
West O'5 West O'5 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: W5
Posts: 1,093
Default

Imho a 4wt is slightly more versatile for various conditions(wind/bigger water/larger flies/weighted flies etc) and plenty sporting feel for pan size trout thru to 20”ers......heck when I started flyfishing 35+ years ago I had ONE flyrod,a 7wt 8’6” Fenwick Eagle that I used for everything from Atlantic Salmon to Great Lakes Steelhead to pan size brookies to trolling streamers for ice out Lakers and landlocked Atlantics....yes I was overgunned for the brookies but had a blast regardless.
That said,I can’t think of any legit reason to buy a 3wt over a 4wt unless you just want to witness 8” trout put a deep bend in’er?
Also agree with previous suggestions of overlining the rod by a line weight or 2...not just for wind,but for tiny streams it helps load the rod when you are fishing a short line wether false casting or roll casting...wutever...ie;your 4wt rod is designed to load with 30’ of 4wt line beyond the tip.
Fishing short on small streams it’s rare that you will ever have more then 20’ of flyline beyond the tip...overlining compensates for this.
Also imho there is zero benefit to buying relatively short flyrods;ie;6’6”-7’6” 3wts etc.
Granted,yes they are marketed as small stream/brush choked/Creek rods.....I’ve fallen for the marketing hype as well in years past....but it’s been my experience that I much prefer 8’ minimum and even 9 footers on the tiniest of creeks.Ive found on these tiny creeks I’m rarely ever actually casting anyhow other then a short roll cast,and often as not I’m merely “reaching” to swing a bugger/streamer/flymph,or dapping a dry etc.The longer rod I’ve found gives me much better reach to manipulate presentation and mending.The only advantage I’ve e er found to sub 8’ flyrods is a bit easier bushwhacking without takking the rod down/zero advantage and actually a hinderance when it comes to actual fishing and presentation imho.....I no longer own any flyrods <8’.
__________________
The toughest thing about waiting for the zombie apocalypse is pretending that I'm not excited.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 04-25-2019, 01:30 PM
ADIDAFish's Avatar
ADIDAFish ADIDAFish is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Calgary
Posts: 160
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by West O'5 View Post
Imho a 4wt is slightly more versatile for various conditions(wind/bigger water/larger flies/weighted flies etc) and plenty sporting feel for pan size trout thru to 20”ers......heck when I started flyfishing 35+ years ago I had ONE flyrod,a 7wt 8’6” Fenwick Eagle that I used for everything from Atlantic Salmon to Great Lakes Steelhead to pan size brookies to trolling streamers for ice out Lakers and landlocked Atlantics....yes I was overgunned for the brookies but had a blast regardless.
That said,I can’t think of any legit reason to buy a 3wt over a 4wt unless you just want to witness 8” trout put a deep bend in’er?
Also agree with previous suggestions of overlining the rod by a line weight or 2...not just for wind,but for tiny streams it helps load the rod when you are fishing a short line wether false casting or roll casting...wutever...ie;your 4wt rod is designed to load with 30’ of 4wt line beyond the tip.
Fishing short on small streams it’s rare that you will ever have more then 20’ of flyline beyond the tip...overlining compensates for this.
Also imho there is zero benefit to buying relatively short flyrods;ie;6’6”-7’6” 3wts etc.
Granted,yes they are marketed as small stream/brush choked/Creek rods.....I’ve fallen for the marketing hype as well in years past....but it’s been my experience that I much prefer 8’ minimum and even 9 footers on the tiniest of creeks.Ive found on these tiny creeks I’m rarely ever actually casting anyhow other then a short roll cast,and often as not I’m merely “reaching” to swing a bugger/streamer/flymph,or dapping a dry etc.The longer rod I’ve found gives me much better reach to manipulate presentation and mending.The only advantage I’ve e er found to sub 8’ flyrods is a bit easier bushwhacking without takking the rod down/zero advantage and actually a hinderance when it comes to actual fishing and presentation imho.....I no longer own any flyrods <8’.
I absolutely agree with going with the longer rods. I got a 3 wt 6'6" rod and thought it would be great for all of the small tight little creeks I fish from time to time and it would allow me to make some cool casts it tight spaces at times but it was so rare that it was an advantage, I ended up selling it. The disadvantages are too many with a short rod and I only own 8' + rods now.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 05-01-2019, 11:47 AM
Carbine Carbine is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Calgary
Posts: 16
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by upstream View Post
If you will be bringing only one rod to the streams, I would bring a good 4 wt rod that will do dry, nymph, and streamers.
I have nice brand new set up for sale at good deal that I have never used.
It was just a part of my collection.
Sage Accel 4wt 8' 6" 4pc with Sage 2200 Series real with AirFlo lines on it.
Pm me if you are interested.
I have this exact rod, love it, and the Sage Accel series are all great casting tools. Sadly discontinued by Sage a couple years ago. This would be a all round great choice for the streams the OP mentioned.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 05-01-2019, 11:56 AM
Hep Hep is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 15
Default Accel 486

Quote:
Originally Posted by cohod View Post
I have a few trips planned for Southern Alberta/BC Livingston, Oldman Crowsnest , Elk etc.
I want to get as new rod and can’t decide between a 3wt or 4wt what would you buy?
I have one to sell, if interested. Still in great shape. It’s a great rod for the rivers your talking about.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 05-01-2019, 07:57 PM
cohod cohod is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 780
Default

Thanks for the response everyone, I went with an 8’6’” 4wt… looking forward to those reckless cutthroat takes!
__________________
A Facebook group dedicated to the Canadian upland hunter.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanadianUplandHunting/
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:52 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.