Question for the Fly Fishing Experts

I have a 6wt blank looking at me and i want to build a nice cheap Perch / schoolie Striper rod.

My question is which line should i choose for this application?

I intend to fish docks and shore line structure in depths ranging from 3ft to 12ft. Since i'm on a budget would this line in 6wt work well for my intentions?

http://www.basspro.com/Cortland-Fair...ct/97728/64457


What type and what length of leader would you use for this type of fishing?

Could i get away with say a 6ft to 8ft section of straight 6lb fluorocarbon or do i need a tapered leader to help turn the fly over?


I'm planning to grab this little reel 5/6 wt from bass pro shops.

http://www.basspro.com/Hobbs-Creek-L...ct/44558/90104

I have the 3/4 wt version already and it does the job well enough for other pan fish duties.

What would you consider the go to perch patterns and colors in this neck of the woods?

What is the best method to attach the line to the leader?

I used the sleeved loops on my other rods and they work well. Is there a less bulky and less conspicuous method apart from using a nail knot to attach it directly to the line? Does the loop to loop connector spook fish?

What is the right sized fly (hook size, length, weight etc...) for a 6wt rod and line?

I have ran into issues in the past trying to cast either a fly that is to large and bulky or weighted to much on my 3/4 wt rod. The results were less than perfect. How can you tell if you are matching the proper sized fly to the rod and reel you are using? Is this a trial and error approach or are there rules?

As you see from the questions above i'm a rookie when it comes to fly fishing. I appreciate any help you can provide.

[ictalurus]

I can't answer most of your questions, but I will say that most fly lines come with loops built right in. I've caught trout in clear, shallow water with these systems, so I don't think they scare fish, especially with a 7-9ft leader. Now, my stumbling around the stream, putting the line over the pool I'm trying to fish, etc is another story... You can also make your own loops in a couple different ways. There are plenty of videos on Youtube. For my trout set ups, I tied a nail knot using a piece of line that had a loop at the end. It works OK, but it doesn't always clear the guides on short casts. I don't like the finger cuffs loops because I've had them pull off (mostly when snagged).

Since you're making the rod, I would make sure that the tip top and last 2 or 3 guides are big enough to accommodate the line loops. The guides on my trout rods aren't big enough for the loops, which is really irritating when making short casts. It's not like I'm using antique or home made rods, so you'd think the line and rod manufacturers would communicate to makes sure the lines and rods work together. The hang ups probably aren't as big a deal in saltwater fishing where you're casting longer distances.

As for flies, people use shrimp patterns, little weighted clousers, etc. Perch aren't too picky. There's a shrimp pattern in Popovic's Pop Fleyes book that's easy to tie, especially if you have a rotary vice. I can't remember the exact name, but it's an epoxy shrimp.

I haven't used my fly rod all year. I think I'll have to dig it out and catch some perch now...

[Memory Maker]

If you are only fishing 3-12 ft, I would go with a weight forward 6 or 7 wt floating line ........ you don't need a tapered leader, especially if you are using a weighted fly like a clouser or a weighted streamer or the silver minnow flies. THe flies should imitate shrimp or minnows ....... small. As far as weight of the fly ........ it's trial and error for me .........

I usually cut off the loop and use a nail knot .......... unless I get lazy and then loop to loop ............ hooks ....... 4 or 6 up to 1 for me ......

I'll send ya a couple of flies to try .......

[Redfish12]

Mike, I'm not the expert either but I can answer some of them...

Don't waste your money on a fancy reel for a 6 weight. I think the only fly reel that needs to be more than $50 dollars should be for bonefish or tarpon. I don't think you're going to need that for perch and rock. Are you making this for kayak fly fishing or shore fly fishing? If it's for kayak then I'd go with something a little shorter because pulling a fish in on a 9ft rod is hard in a kayak. Bill's tip about the bigger top guides makes sense, I always hated that when the knot would get hung up. I always used a piece of heavy mono nail knotted on with a loop on the other end. Then you can carry different weight leaders or spares and just loop them on. 6ft of 12lb mono should be plenty for rock. If you want a more versatile line then pick up an intermediate. You can also make a sink tip out of a piece of leadcore line, cheap and painless when you loose it. You probably won't be able to sling that much but it may help in current.

As far as fly weight that you can cast with a 6wt, you'll probably just have to test yours out. I have a 5 weight that is better at throwing bugs than the 6 weight I have which seems counter intuitive.