The max size of fish would be say 2lb trout.
I know little about fly fishing - after size/make of rod/what number line and what reel.
I do know the dace are buggers to hook when I did it when young.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
So sorry Nigel, but with every respect to your fly-fishing experience and expertise, I could not disagree more with you first sentence; in fact, I find myself in total agreement with the above following post by Liphook; just cannot see the reasoning behind trying to use a rod which would be constantly whacking overhead foliage and therefore most unwieldy in a confined space. I would have thought that in small streams, something like a 7' or 7 1/2' of #4 is about right, possibly #5 if by definition, short casting is the norm, to get the rod working quicker.Nigel Rainton wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 11:23 am Don't believe anyone who tells you that you need a short rod.
Don't buy a cheap kit, there are plenty of good quality rods and reels on ebay.
Trout up to two pounds from a small overgrown stream sounds fun, just like my 'home' river. I use a 10' #4 rod, a 3" reel and a #4 floating line.
I think that we will have to agree to differ on the best outfit for a beginner Nigel; but perhaps we might meet one day on the river next season and I might learn some new casting skills from you..?Nigel Rainton wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 11:18 am Watermole+
I fish the crystal clear rivers and streams on the western edge of Dartmoor, the Walkham, Plym, Meavy, Tavy etc. which are well known to you.
A few parts of some of them, but by no means all. You are a well-seasoned and highly experienced, regular trout fisher/fly tyer on a great many waters of high quality. Burrator of course, is a wide open 140 acre reservoir. You can use any length of rod that you like there; in fact, a long rod would give a great advantage, especially from a boat.
I always use a long rod, usually 10'. I'd use 11' if I could find a nice one. ....
....It's about dibbling a fly, dapping, roll casting and bow-and-arrow casts. I don't wade, the water is too deep and dangerous.
In his initial post, Mark99 says that he is an inexperienced novice and looking for a (I have assumed..) fairly inexpensive outfit to start out with. Casting techniques such as you have listed with a rod that the average trout fisher would struggle with on wooded streams would be beyond the skills of many-and that probably includes myself. I feel it would be grossly unfair to expect a comparative beginner to know such advanced casting skills.
My thoughts are that it is important that anyone learning a new fishing technique should derive pleasure from it from the outset. Learning even the basic timing of the overhead cast doesn't come naturally to many!
On more open Beats the long rod enables me to reach over bankside cover, the Itchen has 3-4' wide, waist high, marginal cover. The streamer weed on the Rother often extends from the margins for 3-4' and fish need to be held in mid-stream ready for a landing net with a 9' telescopic handle.
The ability to use a net with a 9' handle whilst handling a lively fish on a 10' rod in a densely wooded jungle puts you in the advanced class, way beyond my own abilities, let alone a novice..
I get tangles and occasionally bash the rod on a branch. Mainly in the open stretches where I'm casting overhead !
I'm with you there! I took the top eye clean off of my 8' Rudge 'boys rod' once, when fishing near Shaugh bridge!