Suggestions on Fly fishing weights

[LightGearMike]

Greetings and salutations Fisherladies and Fishergents,

I am finally breaking down and trying full time fly fishing but I need some advice. I've had some wonderful friends who gave me 2 rods and reels for my birthday that are 3wt 9' and 5wt 9.5' set ups. I know fishing our northern Jersey rivers may present a problem because of the rod lengths, but what do you guys think would be more fun to fish with? Mind you by my name here, i'd prefer the 3 wt or even less but I don't want to lose fish, and flies, if the rod cant handle it. Also, based on your collective wisdom, I will probably be looking for a 6'-7' version of the better wt rod for small streams.

Preemptively, thank you all!

[Adrenalinerush]

Your question can't really be answered without knowing what your fishing for. The three weight is fine for trout and panfish you will encounter in most lakes or streams in NJ. If your fishing for Bass, Pike and stuff like that, you will want the 5 weight, especially if you are throwing big bass bugs.

[Drossi]

The longer rods will give the fish more leverage so the fight might be different than what your accustomed to. The longer rod will help you keep more line off the water and get better drifts too. The downside is fishing tight quarters. The 3 weight will be a challenge casting larger flies, using weight, or if there is any wind (as if there's never any wind!). IMHO a 5 wt is the most versatile. I prefer a 7'9" or 8' but do have 9'6" rods too. Allows me to fish most anywhere and most size flies with weight if needed or sink tip line. I'd feel undergunned with a 3 wt unless it was a smaller stream like the upper SBR.

[LightGearMike]

Cool. I appreciate both of your inputs. I am going to target trout but I do fish NJ,NY, an PA. I assume that for bigger NY rivers I would need the 5 wt. I figure Jersey rivers are fairly smaller so I should be ok with the 3wt. Sometimes with my spinner, i've hooked into monsters in PA relative to river size. I think basically, I'm trying to figure out that if I hook into a 5 or 6 lb trout, will a 3 wt be too light to bring it in without beating it up. I do catch and release in rivers so I dont like when I hurt the fish and it cant go back safely.

[Finprof]

The trend lately has been to longer and longer rods as carbon fiber technology has become more advanced. My buddies out west are fishing 11 foot spey rods for trout. Line weights have become lighter over time as well.
A 9 foot 3 weight would be the standard "Catskill" rod and also useful for spring creeks out west. A 9 or 9.5 foot 5 weight would be the standard all-around rod for Montana or Idaho.
I bought an 8.5 foot 3 weight Winston specifically for Tulpehocken creek in PA but it is a good dry fly and nymph rod for PA and can handle a bit of lead. Your 9 foot 3 weight would do the same.
I still fish a lot of cane because I bought them back in the 70s when mortals could afford them. A 7 foot 4 weight cane rod would also be the standard "Catskill" rod now.

[EJS]

That's a broad inquiry! I use a 4wt 7'6" to dry fly and streamer fish. To nymph I use a 4wt 9'. The 5wt would be a good big water rod, main stem of the Raritan. The problem with NJ fly fishing is the overhang, backcasts cost money! If you need help of have questions feel free to PM me.

[LightGearMike]

Finprof: Definitely good info thanks

EJS: I really just wanted to make sure i wouldn't make the trout overstruggle to get in and hurt them. So many "experienced" fly guys on the river have been telling me that i'd never be able to play a good size trout on such light gear. mind you my spinning gear for trout is a 4.5' st croix with 2lb on a mitchell 308. I like a challenge but not at the fish's expense

[Ken Lyons]

First of all if you don’t know how to cast a 3 wt is not what I would choose to learn how. If the only issue is learning than an 8 wt is heavy enough for a beginner to feel the weight of the line on the back cast. That final tug after the line has completely unrolled gives you the timing for the forward cast. Find some one that gives lessons. This is a skill that no one learns in a day. A good instructor is worth every penny you pay him. The frustration otherwise could drive you nuts.
There are all kinds of theories and myths in this sport and matching the rod to the size of the fish is one of them. Now your not going to use a 3wt for Bluefish but generally speaking the rod should match the fly. I once caught an 8 pound “Albie” off the beach with an 8 wt while surrounded by a crowd of fishermen amazed that it could be done. Knowing how, thanks Lefty, makes very possible.
The fly was about the size of a bass bug. Don’t worry about that stuff now.

[Capt. Lou]

Most NJ and surrounding state waters a 7.6 or 8' #4 is all u would need with the exception of larger river Delaware or lower Raritan .
The longer rods u describe are easier to cast if thy are tapered correctly but downside is length in tight quarters .
Only ur level of proficiency with the rod will govern ur success in many waters .
As far as taper the 3 weight taper will resemble an standard trout rod taper in spinning rods so it's capable of landing trout upwards of 5#'s easily . The UL taper of the rod will allow up to pressure any big fish quite easily and allow u to C & R without issue .
All this depends on ur overall efficiency with the fly rod n expierance fighting bigger trout .
I would definitely put a DT line on that rod , which would allow it to load quicker in smaller areas , the longer rod length will permit u to roll cast thus avoiding many pitfalls of a standard fly cast .
Make sure ur leaders are consistent tent with this presentation and turn ur flies properly with minor cast strokes .
Many so called #3 weight rods are not , so if U don't know then find an individual that does and make sure the basics are all in order that'll make it easier to start
Good luck !