Wanted 6wt rod for streamer fishing in Montana - resolved

[Cabezon]

My BIL is looking for a gently-used 6wt. that he can use to throw big streamers at Montana browns in the fall. If you have one that is collecting dust in your rod rack, let me know what condition it is in and what it would take to pry it from your grasp.
Thank you,
Steve

 

[Sageguy]

I have a G Loomis GLX High Speed Line 6100-4 in near new condition if you are interested. Rod in BC 604-798-3040

 

[Cabezon]

I have a G Loomis GLX High Speed Line 6100-4 in near new condition if you are interested. Rod in BC 604-798-3040

Thank you. I will past this information to him. What would you be asking for it?
Steve

 

[EB590]

Honestly for big streamers I'd want a 7 or 8. Sorry for the unsolicited advice...

 

[mcswny]

Honestly for big streamers I'd want a 7 or 8. Sorry for the unsolicited advice...

I’d agree.

 

[Rob Allen]

Honestly for big streamers I'd want a 7 or 8. Sorry for the unsolicited advice...

Very true...

 

[Bugmeister]

I have an Orvis H2 with saltwater butt in my stash somewhere. Includes tube, sock. Maybe…. $150?

 

[micktom]

I have a never fished Echo 1266-4 Spey rod with rod sock and tube 150$ bought as a backup rod

 

[Divad]

6wt: sure, get the right line
7wt: yup
8wt for MT browns: gun to knife fight

We used 7s for chucking big meaty flys for browns and bulls. 6 will throw big stuff if you line it correctly or cast medium streamers no problem.

Two cents.

 

[Dloy]

No dog in the fight, but if streamers are the focus a light 7 makes it fun. A stout 6 will do it but I find it’s more work as size or weight goes up. First time I threw a medium Clouser on a 7 was my wake up call. It just follows the line like a well trained puppy.
“But wait, there’s more…” I’d recommend to anyone to find a lively 7wt Fiberglass rod for the stable. Fine for medium dries through moderately heavy streamers, easy on tippets and even modest fish get to show off.

 

[Jake Watrous]

If the budget is $300 or can stretch to it, the Echo Eight Four 7wt is very much worth trying.

 

[CougarZeke]

Get a 7 weight if it's gonna be an all day deal. Throwing a heavy streamer all day with a 6 sucks.

 

[SurfnFish]

Spent a week swinging burly egg sucking leeches for migrating Hegben Lake Browns on the Madison with a 6 wt...by the end of the week I had wished it was a 7 wt.

 

[Mike Cline]

Heavily weighted streamers, floating line and long leaders — 6 or 7 —but tiring, especially in windy conditions
Unweighted streamers, long sink tips and short level leaders - 5 - not tiring and more effective for distance and accuracy

You don’t need a 6 or 7 to handle big fish, you need it to cast unwieldy, heavy flies
A five weight will and has (see below) handled a lot of big Montana trout with unweighted flies.

My two go to 5 weight rods for SW Montana streamer fishing are:
T&T NSII with a 200grain SONAR sink tip and Sage XP 905-2 with a 150grain SONAR sink tip.

27”+ Brown on XP with unweighted #10 bugger

Lower Beaverhead brown on T&T NSII 5 weight with #4 Pine Squirrel bugger

21”+ Brown from Gibbon Meadows - T&T NSII 5 weight and soft hackle streamer

YOU Don’t need big rods to handle big fish. IMHO

 

[up2nogood]

Heavily weighted streamers, floating line and long leaders — 6 or 7 —but tiring, especially in windy conditions
Unweighted streamers, long sink tips and short level leaders - 5 - not tiring and more effective for distance and accuracy

You don’t need a 6 or 7 to handle big fish, you need it to cast unwieldy, heavy flies
A five weight will and has (see below) handled a lot of big Montana trout with unweighted flies.

My two go to 5 weight rods for SW Montana streamer fishing are:
T&T NSII with a 200grain SONAR sink tip and Sage XP 905-2 with a 150grain SONAR sink tip.
View attachment 101609
27”+ Brown on XP with unweighted #10 bugger
View attachment 101610
Lower Beaverhead brown on T&T NSII 5 weight with #4 Pine Squirrel bugger
View attachment 101611
21”+ Brown from Gibbon Meadows - T&T NSII 5 weight and soft hackle streamer

YOU Don’t need big rods to handle big fish. IMHO

Very seldom fish anything more than a 5 weight in Montana , occasionally a 6 weight XP , although I don't streamer fish . Just the big bugs when the stone flies are on .

 

[Cabezon]

Thank you for all for your input. My BIL decided to purchase a used Scott G2 from a forum member.
Steve

 

[Divad]

Heavily weighted streamers, floating line and long leaders — 6 or 7 —but tiring, especially in windy conditions
Unweighted streamers, long sink tips and short level leaders - 5 - not tiring and more effective for distance and accuracy

You don’t need a 6 or 7 to handle big fish, you need it to cast unwieldy, heavy flies
A five weight will and has (see below) handled a lot of big Montana trout with unweighted flies.

My two go to 5 weight rods for SW Montana streamer fishing are:
T&T NSII with a 200grain SONAR sink tip and Sage XP 905-2 with a 150grain SONAR sink tip.
View attachment 101609
27”+ Brown on XP with unweighted #10 bugger
View attachment 101610
Lower Beaverhead brown on T&T NSII 5 weight with #4 Pine Squirrel bugger
View attachment 101611
21”+ Brown from Gibbon Meadows - T&T NSII 5 weight and soft hackle streamer

YOU Don’t need big rods to handle big fish. IMHO

Did you eat the brown in the second photo?

 

[Mike Cline]

Did you eat the brown in the second photo?

Might have smoked him. Don’t remember!

 

[up2nogood]

Might have smoked him. Don’t remember!

Can you even keep them out of the Beaverhead ?

 

[Mike Cline]

Can you even keep them out of the Beaverhead ?

Not now but a few years back Yes. This was the lower section just upstream from Twin Bridges, not the heavily fished upper section below Clarks reservoir that everyone associates with the Beaverhead.