The Saltwater 6 Weight

A few of the reasons I use a 6 weight fly rod for saltwater fly fishing.

[@larryh9525]

Your comment about how to land a fish is excellent. I started doing this when trout fishing and it makes it much easier to deal with a somersaulting trout.

[@jimmyrocket02]

I love fishing my 6wt Scott Tidal for speckled trout and smaller slot reds up here in North Carolina, but you're absolutely right about those tight loops. The wind will humble you quickly if you get too fast and loose.

[@ranierrentas4818]

I've tried my Sage 6wt against almost every inshore fish in FL. Largemouth and peacocks also. Is lighter, better presentation and works wonders on tight quarters. Good info!

[@profpigeon5441]

ive been looking at a maverick 6 weight for inland bass in central texas and redfish on the coast

[@mikdin1]

Great info. I have 9'6 " 6 wt Clearwater I hope to get into speckled trout next month Cape Fear Wilmington. Hadn't thought enough about the landing part-- great point.

[@davidsimeroth640]

I've been using a 6wt fiberglass for Redfish for years and have landed fish to 27"

[@Raevenswood]

I love 6wt's also. I was in a shop the other day checking out the Helios 3D and I was talking to the shop guy about how I have had Helios 1 and 2 rods and I loved the helios 1 the most. Then he told me that the Recon is just a helios 1 rebranded as a recon. He said he heard this directly from the lips of the Orvis rep. This has me intrigued about the recon especially at the $598 price point.

[@richardbradley2059]

Thanks Louis- more saltwater knowledge especially the proper way to land fish.

[@GinkandGasoline]

Doing a good salt water version of that video is on my list! For now, take a look at this. The technique is the same except you leave 6 feet of fly line outside the tip top and grab the liter instead of netting the fish. I hope this helps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZiWq6CKd6mXjtk

[@richardbradley2059]

Landing a fish from the bow of a skiff (after the hook set) is something I’d love to see. A lot of moving parts.

[@davescheer5038]

Wow I just learned a a lot in under 5 min , 2 week’s ago I just got into using light weights for saltwater, with no sense of direction, bought a 4-5wt berkly cherrywood graphite 8’ rod and a Okuma 6 wt reel at a flea market , I figured it was a good deal at $21 bucks for both 😏the line that was on the reel was just a straight floating freshwater line , got home threw a leader on it and a fake fly , casted like S-- t ! , first thing the graphite rod wasn’t getting any action so went down to the local tackle store ,they got a fly guy there ,he suggested putting on a 6 wtf bone fish line. I was a bit apprehensive because I felt how stiff the action was and didn’t think it would be enough, I jumped up to a 7wt wtf tropical bonefish line , got it set up and took it out the next day , wouldn’t you know it it was 15-to - 18 mph wind I got out to try it , but was totally shocked how it went from night to day it casted 40- to 60’ easily it was a total different feeling rod & reel and now can’t wait to get out and try it on the flats, this is just more insensitive to buy a more expensive equipment 👊🏼👍

[@theoutdoordad7395]

Great review is that the Recon 2?

[@dutchflyfisher]

Hallo Louis, That is a great review about the rod. Can you tell Me is that a 9foot 6 line or a larger rod? tight lines and greetings from The Netherlands

[@GinkandGasoline]

It is a 9’ 6wt.

[@jiggly07]

Great tip! Question: What are your thoughts about using a 6wt saltwater line on an 8wt rod in windy conditions? Could you still have the same delicate presentations with the backbone / line speed to cut through the wind?

[@GinkandGasoline]

Underlining your rod reduces your ability to load the rod. Loading the rod is never more crucial than in the wind. I’m not sure exactly where to lay the blame for this kind of thinking. It could be the line manufactures or it could be the rod manufacturers but there is this pervasive idea that you fix your casting by changing the line. Nothing could be further from the truth.

[@markgreer3560]

Hey, Louis - so if I have a 7-weight Scott Tidal, should I use a larger reel - say something that is typically used for a 9 or 10-weight line?!?

[@GinkandGasoline]

Again, this is my preference. Not everyone will agree. I’d use something like a Nautilus NV-G 8/9.

[@Flyrodder68]

i personally think it is under gunned ...it stresses the fish unnecessarily..lets see you get that fish in if there are sharks around..unresponsible...ive fished 9 islands in the Bahamas and 11 countries for bonefish since 1998..bad idea ask B and TT.

[@davidboston5823]

If you fight the fish with the reel and the butt of the rod then there is not that much difference. A 6wt. can easily handle a 12lb. leader which is more or less standard. If I was fishing for large bonefish in windy conditions I may go up as high as a 9 wt. But for average bones in good conditions I have even used a 5 wt. My go to rod has been a 7 wt. for the last 30 years or so.