Do you prefer a 3-weight or a 4-weight fly rod?

The reason why it is hard to find a 9 foot 3 weight is because these rods are usually used in small streams where a longer rod would probably not be the right choice from the long length making it hard to fish the small streams.

I saw some 4 piece fly rods that were 3 wt offered in 8 foot long, or 8 foot 6 inches long, 8 foot 9 inches long and a few that were 9 foot long. If you don't like 4 piece rods from having the age old belief that multi-piece rods are weak...I can tell you that the new multi-piece rods these days feel like a 2 piece in your hands and are not weak like the old first productions of multi-piece rods.

A 4 wt is a good rod, but if the fish you're after are tiny then a 3 wt would be better.

4 Weight Fly Rod

3 Weight Fly Rod

I only own a 4 and 6 weight rod. The 6 weight gets more use by far as the trout here average about 5lbs, and it's not possible to gain control of fish that size with a light weight rod. As well as that, it is usually windy so a 6 weight makes casting possible when the wind gets up a lot. I also usually fish heavy tungsten nymphs which the 6 weight also handles better.

I only really use the 4 weight for dry fly action on medium to small rivers, as long as there's not much wind. Even then if I get a fish over 3-4 pounds I find it takes too long to bring them in which isn't good for the fish.

Unless the fish are small and rivers are small I think fishing with really light tackle is impractical (in my country at least) and more just an ego massage. A 5 weight is probably the best for all round performance. Strong enough to fight big fish and cast alright in wind, yet still delicate enough for casting small dry's etc.

For my uses I would much rather have a 5 wt.

Why?-Well where I fly fish I can hook into a .5 lb fall fish or 20 lb carp on the same fly. All sorts of other species in between to. A 3 weight on a carp will just not be as ideal. But between the two I would pick a 4 wt. It just has more uses.

I use a 9' 5/6 weight rod and normally fish it with the 5 weight for bluegill and other panfish.....when I fish for the big boys Salmon and Steelhead and Bass and Pike I use the 6 weight line....makes throwing the bugs and streamers a bit easier....3 and 4wt rods are normally used for smaller creeks and streams were finesse fishing is a must so you don't scare the fish.....for example wild trout streams.