Rod weight advice

[buckeye hunter]

I was wondering if someone might give me some advice on a fly rod weights.   I am looking for an all-around rod to fish for stocked trout in smaller streams, panfish and a once a year trip to fish for stocked brooder (20 plus inches in length) trout in a larger fast flowing river.   I am strongly considering buying an 8'6" or 9 foot Orvis Streamline or Clearwater.  I am tetering between a 5 weight or 6 weight rod.   Any ideas?   

[jgalar]

I am not a fly fishing expert, but I'll give some input.
I have a #5 and it works well for small trout flies, but doesn't work very well with larger flies, streamers and poppers like you may use for panfish or larger fish.
I also have a #7, it will cast the larger more wind resistant flies much better than the #5. It will cast the smaller flies, but the presentation is not nearly as graceful as the #5.

[Hopalong7]

I just don't think I could get it done with one rod/line/reel out fit. Two..yes...one...naw.  To me there is a lot more difference between rod/line weights than more quality vs less quality outfits.  In other words, I would go with two lesser expensive outfits(a 5-6wt AND a 7-8wt) instead of one better(read more expensive) outfit.  My fly fishing might be more variable than yours though.
Walt 

[btmidwest]

When I was much younger I used a 6 wt for years on panfish and such and it work just fine.  I never have fished for trout yet.  I have a coworker who fishes for smaller trout on small streams in NE Indiana with a 5 wt. set up with no problems.   I now have a better quality (for me) 7wt set up I now use for bass and pan fish and want to some day make ago at NC Indiana steel head on the St Joe - I have a good reel and good backing but no experience with those long runs they take so I'm still assimilating info to keep my nonsense on the water to a minimum.  They simply have to be fished differently with lighter equipment when they are bigger.  If you go with a lighter set up I hope you have a good reel with a smooth drag and plenty of backing and patience to play them properly.  One other conflicting issue is that the longer you play out a fish the easier it is to kill them.  As stated earlier no one rod can do it all but you might be able to start with what you really want to fish for and see how far you can take it before it is inadequate for the job.  I am on the same journey you are and may find my self with a 5 wt set up someday.  regards,   Bill

[Ahab]

I just don't think I could get it done with one rod/line/reel out fit. Two..yes...one...naw.  To me there is a lot more difference between rod/line weights than more quality vs less quality outfits.  In other words, I would go with two lesser expensive outfits(a 5-6wt AND a 7-8wt) instead of one better(read more expensive) outfit.  My fly fishing might be more variable than yours though.
Walt 

Good advice, I second it.

[billynwtf]

A 5wt rod is considered a good all around trout rod. It can throw dries,nymphs and steamers. I use a 5wt here in Arkansas on the Little Red River and there are big trout both brown and rainbows. I have  rods ranging from 2wt-9wt and use them for different fishing. But if I had to go with one weight for trout all over the country it would be a 9ft 5wt.

[Win 1917]

A 5wt is plenty for what you're doing and would work great. A 6wt will give you a little more versatility for some light bass fishing (easier to cast bigger flies) or other stuff you may get into depending on where you live. Although if you end up branching out into other types of fishing you most likely will end up with a second rod too in 8wt or 9wt at some point so you don't necessarily need to go for the "all-rounder" at first.