So it's been a while since I used my fly rod.... Somewhere in the range of ...well I am gonna guess and say 30 years. Still got my 2 piece sage and the ole eagle claw 5 piece stick!

I have been thinking about taking my 2 piece up and use it next Sept when I go. I plan to put all new line, tippet, leader etc.. on it. I am thinking I want to target the little "flatfish" species ( bluegill,red ear,sunfish..you get the idea ) whatever kind of flatfish there is....

I have a "Sage graphite 690 DS", #6 line, 9'.0" 3 1/2 oz. This is what is written on rod itself and I have long forgotten what any of it means. I can figure out the 9'0" though!

I am just looking to have some fun and enjoy the moment...no trophy fishing or anything like that. Just use the rod, perhaps nab a few now and then and cook em up for dinner!

What kind of line should I be looking to get to make it work best while up there? I have read the floating line and sinking line and the line that gets caught in the branches vs your clothing. Just an all around general set up that should work ( in your opinion ) while a guy is up there trying to reintroduce himself to fly-fishing again.

Also...there a few of you who have offered to put up some flys for a minimal price...a grab bag of assorted go to flys. Are any of you interested in helping me out this way? I am sure my flys are way old and brittle ( but nostalgic to look at )!

I would appreciate the feedback and any help! : )

I would use a #6 weight forward floating line.

I would consider a 6 wt the lightest, especially if you do not cast far and are fishing while sitting on the water's surface in a canoe. It is no fun either if one guy is a good caster with an 8 wt in the front and you are a week caster in the back with a 6 wt.

In the end though, take whatever you have if you don't want to buy new.

For line, you want an aggressive bass taper (no double taper line) such as Rio Clouser, Bass, or Smallmouth lines. It is worth paying for the good lines.

I should have mentioned, you are likely to have much more fun targeting smallmouth (or even walleye) than panfish. I know they are there, but I have never caught a panfish in BWCA or Quetico.

Well...it looks as if smallmouth may be the way to go then! Actually I will be happy just to nab anything and have a good fight!

I have half a dozen Sage rods, a couple close to 30 years old, the others not so old. My experience has been, with one exception, they fish much better, FOR ME, with one one line wieght heavier than the line they are designated for. That's probably because I had 30+ years fishing with glass and cane before I got into graphit.

Bill

You'll survive with the 6wt for sure. I use an intermediate sink tip line up there, using it to cast at the shores, jig, and troll with no issues. Cast in the shores with bright woolly buggers, and you'll catch bass and pike. If you could get an 8wt you would be better off. I just use a 10lb bass leader and tie steel leaders on for pike and works out great, or you could buy a fancy pike leader. If your looking for flies I would be willing to sell you a bunch of flies I use up there.

A 6wt over-lined with a 7wt "standard" WF line is considered by many a solid SM Bass fly rod. Or do as jeroldharter said and put a more aggressive line on there. The most "bass" lines in a 6wt are closer to the weight of a "standard" 7wt line with a better taper to it.

For bass I'd stick with a floating line. Throw some sinking flies in your box and you'll catch a few bass in any conditions.

Throw some smaller bass flies on there and on certain lakes you'd certainly pick up the odd Crappie as well. Sunfish species are fairly limited, if you end up on a lake that has good numbers they can be quite bit but many lakes don't have them at all

As a bonus you could catch walleye or pike on bass flies but with a 6wt I'd avoid anything bulky or heavy enough to seriously target those species.

As an aside, my friend and I were catching quite a few walleyes on Sturgeon Lake in Quetico right off our island campsite. I was using a T8 (very fast sinking) shooting head with a leech pattern on an 8-wt setup. The larger walleyes put up a good fight, but I would much rather watch a smallmouth.

quote Fisheggs: " You'll survive with the 6wt for sure. I use an intermediate sink tip line up there, using it to cast at the shores, jig, and troll with no issues. Cast in the shores with bright woolly buggers, and you'll catch bass and pike. If you could get an 8wt you would be better off. I just use a 10lb bass leader and tie steel leaders on for pike and works out great, or you could buy a fancy pike leader. If your looking for flies I would be willing to sell you a bunch of flies I use up there."

Give me a holler about them flies you have!