Is a nine foot rod long enough for fishing the surf?

[Duckwump]

Greetings. I recently built a nine foot nine weight off a rainshadow xcel blank. I like the rod and have fished the sound side of Hatteras with it. I am still pretty inexperienced with salt water fly casting. My question to the group is whether the rod I built is too short for fishing the surf side of hatteras (they tend to have pretty heavy surf there.)

I have two 10 foot nine weight blanks (RX 7 cascade industry closeouts) and if there is a significant advantage in fishing a 10 foot rod, I could build one on off of those blanks this winter as a way to keep from going stir crazy.

Another possibility would be to build a rod off the rainshadow switch rod blanks (10'8") but I think the highest line weight they offer is an 8 weight.

Also if a nine weight is too light, I could consider other possibilities, like maybe a Dan Craft Fast Taper 10' Ten Weight.

I am pretty new to all of this and if any of you, think I should just stay with the nine foot nine weight that I have, I am open to the advice as well.

Best regards, Tom

[albacized]

Although there are a few that use two handed rods out there, I think most people use 9 ft in the surf...that's what I use. I think one of the tricks is that if there's surf (not even 'heavy surf', but just not calm), a sinking line or shooting head is in order. Floating and intermediate lines get washed around pretty easy in the surf.

[albacized]

Btw, since you mentioned already having 10' blanks, I can't see that there would be anything wrong with that. My previous point is that people have been making due with 9' rods and I don't hear a lot of complaints despite there being other options.

[crunch]

Originally Posted by Duckwump

Another possibility would be to build a rod off the rainshadow switch rod blanks (10'8") but I think the highest line weight they offer is an 8 weight.

Also if a nine weight is too light, I could consider other possibilities, like maybe a Dan Craft Fast Taper 10' Ten Weight.

This Switch rod 8 weight might be stronger than single hand 8wt if it is rated using AFFTA standard. But most likely it is impossible to cast it all day long with only one hand.

Same thing can be warned that 10' 10wt might become tiring wrist buster, definitely if it is fast too.

For SH salt fishing I use 7'6'' with 12wt line. It casts tight loops and is unbelievable light to use.

[2bigsteve]

In 1956 St. Croix started making telescoping fly rods that went as long as 20'. I guess they did OK with it since they were being made until 1993. I don't know if it was for fresh or salt or both but 20' may be a bit long for one-handed use. I've heard of other fly rods made out to 14' and 18' so I don't see a reason why a 10' or longer rod would be a problem. Might be a good idea to keep the longer rods light, unless you are built like me, to keep your wrist and forearm from tiring.

It's been years since I've done any fly fishing.

-2bigsteve

[Skip S]

A 9' rod is plenty for the surf.My go-to rod for the surf and jetty is 8'8" and it gets the job done.A rod longer than 9' isnt going to give you any real distance benefit until you get to a TH rod of 14' or so.Considering how rough the surf at Hattaras can be,you will probably be fishing the wash most of the time anyway.You will also find that longer SH rods are more tiring to use.

[Mike Oliver]

Tom, 9 foot will not be wrong. Most of us use 9 foot no 9wt or no 10wt. I would suggest 9wt as being a good place to start.

10 Foot rods I have cast in the surf. Now they did not cast any further but the extra one foot does cause leverage problems on my wrist. Ok Bob Pop likes 10 foot. but me I go with the 9. You have to decide for yourself.

Swich rods are not ideal for the surf. They fall between two stools. To get the best out of Two Handed rods in my opinion the minimum length is 13 feet. You want an overhead type DH that can cast 1000g. If it can't do that it's too slow and soft. Some surfs are just too big to fish with a fly rod so don't attempt the impossible and blame yourself for being no good. As you get better you will fish bigger and more lively surfs. Sinking lines like S3 and up are good. I agree with Albazied here.

Also you learn to accept that in big surfs you only get a short drift before having to recast before the surf dumps your line at your feet. If fish are in the surf line no probs but it's hard work when blind casting.

I would suggest you try slightly calmer water to start. Most Fly Guys I see to be honest struggle in any thing like what I call a surf. I do myself. But I have learned to accept the bad cast, the line tangles the weed getting everywhere as part of the game.

Surf flyfishing is just about as hard as it gets but great fun and can be very rewarding. But when I say surf I do mean surf and not a flat calm surf beach.

Stick at it and you will do fine.

Mike

[RJ]

I have a 10 foot rod for some surf applications, but usually go with a 10 wt. 2 pece 9 foot rod.

Mike Oliver,

I'm back in the northeast and staying with my daughter for Grand Pa duty til spring.

after settling in I wandered into the local Orvis store and lo and behold their is a trophy trout designated river within 5 miles of the house.

The Lackawana River holds brown trout to 25 inches or more and the average caught on dry flys and nymphs are 18 inchers.

Oh Joy! The Lakawana River averages 50 feet across and looks like the river that flows to the sea in Donagal Town, Erie.

The environment is a mix of rural, industrial and Urban. I saw a guy take an 19' brown with a 22 midge within 50 yards of a major Interstate highway and within an industrial area. He caught the fish next to a water treatment plant of all places. Strictly catch and release, and considering the area that is a good thing.

Cold mountain streams are the norm in the NE corner of Pennsylvania. I'll wait until May to wade in them, but I will use the time to explore the region for other spots.

The Orvis crew pointed me towards the creeks that flow near a local small college for the perfect evening hatch senerio.

I hope you and yours are doing well. Take care!

[Duckwump]

What I am hearing is that I am probably fine staying with my current rod the nine foot nine weight. I very much appreciate everybody's insight. I suspected that I might be trying to justify building another rod. Thanks. Tom

[AL617]

i have a ten foot ten weight and it mostly just sits around while the nine footers get to have all the fun. im 26 and in good shape, but that thing does a number on me if i fish more than a few hours with it. but it def does have its place in my arsenal.

[Halcyon]

When I just want to fly cast my brains out and the conditions are light that's when I take my 10' 7wt. out. I have a few 9 ft. conventional and spinning rods. But for me 10' is minimum length for surf fishing. I want easier line pick up fly fishing and the power, speed and wave clearance for conventional work. Even my ultralight surf spinning rod is 10' 6".

Tight Lines, Rich

[Frank Mihalic]

I too, like most other writers in this thread have a 10 foot 10 wt, and 9 foot models as well.
One of the benefits of the 10 foot long model of a one hander is to help keep your back cast high and out of the sand. This is not a problem, except when fishing a deep water beach, where the sand behind you rises steeply and causes problems if you make a long back cast. This will have you thinking under cover of the night.
This problem compounds when fishing around low tide, of course.

The cons of the 10 footer, as said earlier....is the wrist and shoulder fatigue.

[John P]

Serious surf conditions are tough for any fly rod ,especially with a good blow in your face. I use my 2 handed 12x12 TFO for those conditions. You get 3 more ft of height and a powerful overhead 2hander to deliver the fly over the waves. As long as the beach isn't too steep you should be able to get well over 100ft on an average cast. I would use my 9ft 10wt for sound or off shore wind conditions in the ocean side. To be honest if the conditions are high waves and wind,I go for my 10ft conventionals to deal with it. JP

[Duckwump]

Thanks again for the advice. I think I am going to stay with what I have for now. Once the surf gets too big, out come the conventional reels and rods. Tom

[Frank Mihalic]

Oh yea..... I LUV to fly fish, especially the surf. But sometimes it simply means you will watch others catch..
Bring your Lami and your VS...a few swimmers and go catch some fish!
I fish as the conditions dictate.