For me it’s a toss between the Orvis Clearwater and the Moonshine Drifter. I don’t cast well enough to tell the difference a Helios might make, and a 4 wt will likely only be fished 3 or 4 times a year.
The closest trout stream is more than a 12 hour drive from here, but first class flats fishing is only 1.5, either Gulf or Atlantic, and the Keys aren’t a bad drive, either.
IF you go with the “Buy once... Cry once” theory then I recommend an Orvis Helios 3
That's what my favorite 4 weight is. Pro hint. Fly up to KVSF and run over to the Orvis outlet in Manchester. You can pick them up for 1/2 price (sans the forever breakage warranty). Fly rods and vintage rifles and shotguns are certainly one of those other interests of mine. (sure, you can call the outlet store for the deal but any excuse to fly!)
We're 2 1/2 years from retirement in NH where chasing trout and partridge will occupy a good part of my life.
I was a Tarpon addict before I moved out west.
Nice! Where did you fish for tarpon?
I lived in Palm Beach Gardens and had a Hells Bay 17.8 Whipray, so I chased them anywhere from Key Largo to west of Key West depending on time of the year and conditions.
Amazing how many common interests...
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-building using fly rods...
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I fish an 8 wt in the salt. I have a 6 I use for small bass and bluegills, but I’ve been thinking about getting a 4 for occasional trips to the Georgia mountains for trout, and for local gill fishing. I like what I’ve read about the Moonshine rods and might pick one up soon.
I got in to flyfishing in the early '00s and would fish the NGA mountains with a 7.5' 3-wt. I went with a Temple Forks Outfitters rod, designed by Lefty Kreh. It's still a great rod for smaller tribs smaller spring creeks in SW Montana. I built a big fat 6' with a fighting butt to fish for largemouth and to use as a lighter-weight redfish rod off of the barrier islands of GA. It's still my go-to rod for fishing the larger rivers out here.
Wow, 6' is a short fly rod. How well does it cast?
Oops. 6wt. 9'. Fast fingers this AM thanks to my coffee.
Cars, guns, and traveling