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Post 04 Jan 2015, 14:01 • #1 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/03/14
Posts: 945
Location: central AR
Since Steffen rods are dual line rated, which line do most people use, the lighter or heavier? I'm thinking of ordering one and want to make the best choice, probably between a 4/5 and a 5/6.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 14:03 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 07/05/10
Posts: 5229
Location: Mid Hudson Valley of New York
I have two steffens; a 7'9" 3/4 and an 8' 5/6. I like both with the heavier lines.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 14:18 • #3 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/20/11
Posts: 1880
Location: US-MD
Heavier definitely.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 14:29 • #4 
Sport
Joined: 12/23/12
Posts: 46
Location: SE Tennessee
I have the 8' 3pc 4/5. I actually like it better with a Rio Gold 4wt line.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 14:32 • #5 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/08/05
Posts: 3570
Location: Western PA
I have the 7'9" 3/4 and 7'6" 2/3. I honestly have little/no preference. I fish the 7'9" with a DT3 and WF4. Both lines fish really good. I prefer my DT2 line on the 7'6" 2/3 by just a hair.
I know a couple guys that own the 8'0" 3/4 and one fishes it with a DT4.The other guy uses a delta taper 4/5. They're versatile rods.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 14:34 • #6 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/22/07
Posts: 871
Location: Out West
I have several Steffens, and like some others who replied I fish all of them with the heavier rated line weight.

They all cast the lighter rated lines just fine as well, in my opinion, but seem to fish more naturally in my hands with the heavier rated lines.

* Note: I do not use any ultra modern space age wonder taper lines or over weighted lines with mine. Just tried and true weight DT lines like Cortland 444 peach, SA Supra and Rio Classic (discontinued) lines (DT not WF). Many others like a variety of other lines, and the Steffen tapers are well-designed and are really not that line picky in my opinion,.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 14:39 • #7 
Guide
Joined: 11/04/13
Posts: 196
Location: US-MT
7'9" 3/4 4 piece, i fish a wf4f on it with thread furled leaders.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 15:47 • #8 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/27/09
Posts: 573
Location: US-SD
I like a double tapered 5 weight line on my 5/6 8 footer for dry fly fishing or a weight forward 6 weight for general use. I think it would be good with a DT 6 also but haven't tried it out.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 17:26 • #9 
Master Guide
Joined: 01/08/08
Posts: 695
Location: US-MA
Heavier


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 18:16 • #10 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/10/09
Posts: 1651
Location: US-OH
In my experience with a bunch of Steffens, I think it depends on which specific rod you're talking about. All can be fished with either and some are better with the higher wt. line but for others it's less clear cut. What length/wt are you thinking about? And do you prefer a slower, deeper loading action or a more mediium fast action?


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 18:51 • #11 
Sport
Joined: 12/25/11
Posts: 86
Location: Arkansas
I prefer the heavier line weight on the Steffen rods.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 19:17 • #12 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/16/05
Posts: 2537
Location: Georgia
My sense of looking at a lot of threads over time is that a clear majority favors the higher. I do on my 8' 3/4, but that's essentially because of what I consider normal fishing distance. If I was looking to cast further than I could mend (or set well), I might favor a 3, so maybe your application would matter. FYI, I almost always favor the heavier line when a rod presents a choice.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 20:12 • #13 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/03/14
Posts: 945
Location: central AR
It does seem that most prefer the heavier line. Tiptop, I'm thinking about the 8 or 81/2 ft and debating between the 4/5 or5/6 as better for our tailwaters in Arkansas. I have plenty of time before I can save money to pull the trigger.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 20:33 • #14 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/18/12
Posts: 1712
Location: Bozeman, MT
I seem to go against the grain here. But I have two Steffens. An 8' 3/4wt. and a 7'6" 4/5wt. I like them both better with the lighter line in DT. The 8'er with a DT3F and the 7'6"er with a DT4F. I really don't care for them with the heavier line weights. I REALLY don't like them with a WF line of either weight. But that said I cannot stand WF lines to begin with. My 2 cents.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 20:43 • #15 
Sport
Joined: 12/25/11
Posts: 86
Location: Arkansas
The 8' 5/6 and the 8'3" 5/6 are both great rods for tailwater fishing. I own a few Steffen rods and the 8'6" 5/6 is my least favorite.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 20:57 • #16 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/03/14
Posts: 945
Location: central AR
AMurray wrote:
The 8' 5/6 and the 8'3" 5/6 are both great rods for tailwater fishing. I own a few Steffen rods and the 8'6" 5/6 is my least favorite.

Since you have such an enviable collection of new glass,which length would you use on the Little Red river? And how do they compare to the Orvis Superfine Glass rods?


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 21:20 • #17 
Master Guide
Joined: 10/07/11
Posts: 692
Location: SE MA
I have a 2-piece 8' 3/4, which works excellent with either weight; but as I understand it, this is more usual with Steffen's 2 piece rods.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 21:22 • #18 
Sport
Joined: 12/25/11
Posts: 86
Location: Arkansas
The Orvis 805 is a nice rod for minimum flow on the White or Norfork. If I could only have one rod for fishing an Arkansas tailwater, I would go with a Steffen 8' 5/6 or 8'3" 5/6. The Steffen does a better job of handling tandem flies, weight and big fish when fishing high water.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 21:51 • #19 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/10/09
Posts: 1651
Location: US-OH
I've fished the White and the Norfork and I would definitely recommend a 5/6 for those waters. Sure, in some conditions a 3/4 would be fine but for the most part, the 5/6 will be better suited. I own and fish the 8' 5/6 and like it with a 6wt line but it will do long distance with a 5wt line too. I also have an 8'6" 5/6 and prefer it with a 5wt line unless I'm fishing a short distance with it. I have an 8' 4/5 and an 8' 3/4 and to me these rods are pretty similar, the 4/5 being perhaps a half line weight heavier than the 3/4 -- the 3/4 seems to be a solid 4wt to me and the 4/5 equally good with a 4 or 5wt.


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Post 04 Jan 2015, 21:57 • #20 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/03/14
Posts: 945
Location: central AR
So the concensus is the 5/6, probably the 8'3" is the way I'm leaning for now, thanks guys for your input.


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Post 05 Jan 2015, 08:40 • #21 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/09/09
Posts: 2796
Location: US-NM
I have a 7'6" 5pc. 3/4 and because the 5 pcs. I went to a rio gold 4.
I also have a 6' 2/3 3 pc. wich will handle a wf 2 or a dt 3 equally well.....aurelio
I got to cast a 8'3" 5/6 5pc. And really liked it with a dt. 6


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Post 05 Jan 2015, 11:05 • #22 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/06/09
Posts: 620
Location: US-WA
Am I lost, it use to be when you got a rod. It was rated 4/5 or 5/6, the lower rating was for a DT line and the higher rating was for the WF line. Am I missing something. I know there are a lot of lines out there with different tapers and half weights. That just makes more of a problem with new fisherman that are learning. But it use to be easy, DT or WF.


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Post 05 Jan 2015, 11:19 • #23 
Master Guide
Joined: 10/07/11
Posts: 692
Location: SE MA
JOHN WALLACE wrote:
the lower rating was for a DT line and the higher rating was for the WF line.


Not always. As an example, Fenwick used to describe their rating: the lower rating was for a sinking line; while the higher rating was for a floating line.


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Post 05 Jan 2015, 13:12 • #24 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/06/09
Posts: 620
Location: US-WA
I didn't know that, I used a Fenwick 6wt for about 7years and used a 6wt floating on it. Thanks for the info. I think it has got to mixed up with all the line choise out there.


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Post 05 Jan 2015, 20:10 • #25 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/21/06
Posts: 3080
Location: Orygun
I like both of my Steffens with the heavier of the two ratings (for me, DT, WF, doesn't matter...always the heavier).


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