I have a freind that wants a 6' 3wt fly rod. He cast a 6' St. Croix SCIII that I built for another freind and says that he would like one with a bit faster action (stiffer is the word he used). Whats out their that might fit the bill.

Thanks Jim

Action is flex profile, "stiffer" is power. The two are not the same. So what he wants is likely a 4 weight, which is exactly what a "stiffer" 3 weight would be!

There may be a few 6' 4-weight fly blanks around, but you may have to move to a spinning or casting blank rated for about 1/8th to 1/4 ounces and use that. I have done this on occasion and it will work fine.

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Assuming that it is designed around the criteria that makes a rod a 3 weight then a stiffer 3 weight would indeed be a 4 wgt. rod! I get it!

I have also used spinning blanks to make short fly rods. They work fine and don't cost nearly as much as most fly blanks in the same length. I'd get the 16th to 1/8 rating for a 3 wgt. if it was me though. I would guess they guy is using it on very small streams with short casts so the lighter weight range might load easier for him. Then again just let him feel a couple and pick out what he wants.

Tom, I'm not so sure I can agree with the assumption that by asking for a stiffer 3wt, the fella really wants a 4wt. I don't think a person who asks for a "stiffer" rod is necessarily asking for anything other than a different flex profile, just using terminology that makes sense. In my hands at least, rods don't feel "fast" or "slow", they feel "stiff" or "soft". A fast action rod feels stiff. A slow action rod feels soft. Garbled terminology? Maybe, but I believe that's how most anglers who aren't rodbuilders think about things.

If someone came to me and said "I have a Winston IM6 5wt, but I'd like to swap it for something stiffer. What do you suggest?", I don't think suggesting the same model rod in a 6wt would be the right answer. They would probably rather have a "stiffer" 5wt, like a Sage XP or some other fast action rod.

Anyway, terminology such as this is an inexact science at best. I just don't know if suggesting to Jim that he build a 6' 4wt for his buddy is the right solution in this case, especially if he plans to use a 3wt line.

Bob

If your customer is truly asking for a stiffer rod, then he's asking for a stiffer rod, which in this case would be a 4 weight. In the original post the fellow mentioned that while he used the term action, he really meant stiffness. That's what I was going on.

But I certainly agree that stiffness is sometimes judged by feel and one with a different action might "feel" stiffer to the user, even if it was technically the same. Example would be two 3 weight rods, one graphite and one bamboo. They feel different due to the different masses involved and the rate of recovery, but the stiffness is the same.

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The message I'm getting is that I better find out just exactly what the fellow wants. If he wants a faster action than the St. Croix any Ideas?
If he really wants a 4wt. any Ideas. If I used an Ultra-Light spinning blank rated for 1-4 lbs. line and 1/32 -1/4 oz. lures, what wt. line would that translate to? I'm asking about the UL just to give me a reference point.

Thanks

That blank wil translate roughly into a 3 or 4 weight. It could be what you are after. Obviously, this fellow is going by how the blank/rod feels. So you are probably going to be better off letting him flail a few around.

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Tom the reason I asked is that I have quite a few UL blanks and could make one up and let him try it? I will take your advise.

I think that's going to be your best bet. But instead of actually putting it together, permanently, why not affix the seat and a grip on some snug tape bushings and tape the guides on. That way you won't be stuck if he doesn't like a particular one. He can still cast it and feel it, but you're not locked in.

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I just finished a 3wt and a 4wt in 5' from Rainshadow. In both cases I must move up one line size when casting on a small tight creek. Also dt and wf line makes a difference. There are so many variables that should be taken into account that without the fellow casting different rodswith different lines, it would be hard to pick a blank.
I watch people case fly rods in the yard and then on the stream, the set up will not work.

Yes you should have to move up as they are designed to cast about 30 feet of the rated line, so if you are not keeping that much past the tip you have to move up a line size to get the necessary amount of weight out there on a shorter line.