I'm looking for a small stream glass rod. I currently have a 6'6" 2# cane rod but would like to get hold of a glass rod of about 5'6" in length in either a 1# or a 2#. I have the opportunity to fish a very small overgrown stream which holds mainly small wbt but has had one or two 18" fish caught over the years. I have found a rod builder who produces a 5'7" zero # rod but with the potential of hooking into a decent trout don't want to over-stress the fish playing it with a zero weight.

I also like the idea of glass being more robust when fishing in such a tight space as this.

Could anyone suggest a maker who produces such a rod or put me onto a website to review options?

Thanks,

Paul

Welcome. I too fish small, close trout streams a bunch, and I too have settled on 3-4 weights for my fishing. I’ve fished 2 wt. a good deal, but only limited time with 1 and 0 weights, and honestly, I wouldn’t expect any significant difference in fish stress based on the rod weight alone in those weights; tippet choice and fish fighting skill will pretty much determine that.

I have some Barclay rods in 3-4 wt, 6’4” to 7’2”, although none of those models are made any more. I have cast most of his current offerings, and cannot recommend his rods highly enough. I haven’t fished any of the the current Scott offerings but their older F2 653 is a favorite.

I’m not sure if the other current rod makers whose work I have fished make anything in that range; seems J Green does, and I enjoy a longer, heavier blank of his.

Some other makers who are active here might have something in the range you asked about, and I’m sure advice about their rods will be forthcoming.

The best extreme "shorty" I've found to date is a Tiemco Bushmaster 5'9" #3 3pc.

Blue Heron Japan Glass Geek model. I think one of the builders on this forum has built on these blanks too.

Definitely take a look at Chris Barclay's tapers......they shine in small water!

Was going to say the Shane Gray rod could fit your requirements. I haven't fished bamboo but I really have got in to glass for small streams and wouldn't buy a carbon rod for fishing them now.
I fished my 370 epic last year one day and decided to change to a carbon rod in the same figuration at the end of the day, a decent rod built on a Harrison blank and couldn't believe how much less feeling there was in the rod, It just didn't load properly and felt light yet dead at the same time.
I just bought a Cane and Silk 4'10'' 2/3wt which I'm planning on using on really tight streams up here this year, it feels nice when test casting and they are very reasonably priced new, there is a 5' 2/3wt and 6' 2/3wt option too.

Fenwick made a vintage FF-535 (5'3", 2 pc, 5 wt), and reissued it as an FF-535 Fenglass (different grip and uplocking reel seat) some years ago. They are 5 wts and they show up now and again for sale. I have one and pretty much consider it to be a toy because it has such a short casting stroke. A far superior casting rod is the FF-605, 6 ft, 5 wt, 2 pc, which is a nice rod for tight spaces, roll casts pretty well, and still throws a line in the wind. But, I don't fish lines under a 4 wt, primarily due the the risk of facing a decent wind in the west where I live. Since you are looking for a lighter line, YMMV. Good luck!

forgot to mention, there's a 5'5'' black Scott 2wt on the vintage tackle site in the UK, could be ideal. I thought about buying it but spent all my money on other rods!

I’ve looked at that a few times and have been tempted to buy. But I don’t really need it, I just want it!

The best 5'6" 1wt I have used was a 7ft 3wt.

If you are not shy to a little DIY, and you have an older 8.5' rod that isn't worth much, you can cut down the butt half, slide on a cork handle and reel seat and have something to test out. I built one and caught some trout with it using a 4wt line. It is a little fast but still has the benefit of being better at shock absorption and durability.

You can test cast candidate rods just by holding it roughly where you would cut it and cast a bit to see if it works for the line you want.

I only suggest this as it sounds like you know the line weight you like, the only question is will the rod length be helpful, this way you can test it.

The rods I reach for most frequently for small stream fishing are my Barclay 68 and Steffen 6ft 2/3 2pc. They cover all my needs for small streams. Of course, one does not stop at what “one needs”. I could easily reach for one of my other short, lightweight rods, including my Lamiglas 6’6” 3wt 3pc; Lamiglas 7’ 3wt 3pc; Lamiglas 7’3” 4wt 4pc; Scott F2 6’ 2wt 2pc; Riffle 7’3” 3/4 3pc; JP Ross (McFarland) 6’11” 3wt 3pc; Paddock 6’10” 3wt 3pc; or several others I can’t recall at the moment.

For the budget minded the Olde English Fly Shoppe has a great blank that is a sub 3 wt. For short I like my Ijuin 5' and change rod.