Chuck,
Welcome to the Fiberglass Flyrodders! I have never heard of a St. Croix Bliss or a model 195, but that doesn't mean much. There are many great rods out there. I think a 6'6" to 7 foot rod is a nice rod for small trout streams. Hopefully Corlay will add his opinion here as he fishes some of those very New York streams.
One of the speed bumps in learning to fly fish is the "Myth of the Matching Fly Line". The myth goes that every fly rod label is imprinted with the exactly correct, Matching Fly Line* and that is the ONLY fly line that can be used with the rod. The myth continues that calamities will plague the fisherman who varies from the exactly correct, Matching Fly Line - warranties will be voided, the rod will cast poorly, movie starlets will shun him, and enormous trout will always escape his grasp. Furthermore, if the rod and the exactly correct, Matching Fly Line do not perform well together, it is the fisherman's fault! Of course this can only be remedied by spending more and more money on leaders, tippets, perfectly proportioned flies, casting lessons, guiding fees, expensive trips to exotic locations, and, of course, the exact correct, Matching Fly Reel.
Phooey. It just ain't true. The gear should match the fisherman, not the other way around. Everyone casts differently depending on their experience and style. The correct line for your fly rod is the one that matches how you cast your rod. It might not be the same fly line I would like or Lefty Kreh would like.
Choosing a fly line is extraordinarily easy - you choose the line by casting the rod. String the rod up with a line (say a 5 weight on your St. Croix) and cast it for a few minutes. If the rod bends nicely and delivers the fly the way you want, then it is probably the right line. If the rod feels soggy and hard to control (almost like someone stepped on the line behind you), then the fly line is too heavy. If the rod hardly bends, the line is too light. Try heavier and lighter lines - you may find one is better than the line you started with. Once you have a line you like, take it fishing. If you are still casting it well after some time on the water, then it is a good match.
A good local fly shop should have a selection of fly lines for you to try. If the shop insists you should buy a different fly rod, or they don't have test gear, or they spout the Myth of the Matching Fly Line, then find another shop. You want a shop with great service. A shop with low prices is easy, a shop with great service is priceless.
Tom
* Of course, the myth further implies that fly rods labels without the exactly correct, Matching Fly Line are hopelessly antique, heavy, egalitarian, and will irreparably damage your ability to fly fish with rock stars and supermodels. All such rods should be discarded at once. Er, um, I can arrange safe and responsible disposal ...
|