Salomone: Benefits of a 4-weight fly rod
Those in need of a more responsive and delicate dry-fly weapon should consider adding the 4-weight to their angling quiver

Michael Salomone/Courtesy photo
Familiarity with 5-weight fly rods is a common trait amongst fly anglers. The generic 9-foot 5-weight fly rod remains the starting point for most anglers embracing fly fishing. Anglers looking into expanding their quiver of fly rods would benefit greatly from the addition of a 4-weight. Softer on the casting stroke and with tippet-protecting subtlety, 4-weight fly rods connect anglers to fish with more intimacy.
4-weight rods are predominantly dry-fly weapons. Anglers can finesse nymph or swing small wet flies without feeling overburdened. But the real enjoyment for a 4-weight fly rod is in the casting, presentation and fish fighting. Casts are short, enhancing the intimate nature where 4-weight rods excel. Easy on the tip, 4-weight rods lay down dry flies like smooth stroking velvet. And when a trout comes to hook, a 4-weight rod lets the angler feel the connection to the fish while protecting thin tippets.

The signs of autumn have inundated our high country, but dry-fly anglers can still manage a surface bite. The bright sunshine reaps rewards for anglers who position themselves to exploit the warmth. Longer periods of sun in the afternoon keep the water productive after the sun starts to dip.
Picking off rising fish in the late afternoon needs increased focus to detect the subtle eats. Some may just eat emergers, giving little notice to their presence in busy water. Yes, they will eat in the middle of the river in moving water that creates a nervous appearance on the surface. Keeping track of a dry fly in water such as this is taxing.
Your eyes need to focus on irregularity. All of the busy water is irregular, but the currents that produce such nervousness are consistent. A swirl, push or drop where busy currents leave a consistency signifies a trout eating subsurface.

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Surface eaters give themselves away. A dorsal or tail fin or nose poking up are all distinct indicators of rising trout willing to eat a dry fly. The best way to deliver your cast is with a delicate wand and a 4-weight is the perfect dry-fly presentation tool.
One recent afternoon on the Eagle River behind my home, I focused on dry-fly trout or none at all. With the sun at my back, I could see the water well. I tied on a tandem of midge dry flies and watched for action. As if on cue, a trout swirled in the defined seam 12 feet in front of me. His dorsal quickly parting the surface and receding with as much speed indicated my target.
The trout were feeding on midges. The small bugs clustered in the afternoon sun. They slid around riverside boulders like mixed-couple ice skaters in the Olympics.
I always tie on two midge dry flies at the same time. The adults cluster together en masse to mate. As the day progresses, clouds of adults gather along the surface near the river bank. Hovering with an appearance of disconnection, midge clusters possess a speed that seems impossible at times. This is where the tandem nature of the two flies work in coordination. Like real adults, the motion between my two flies imitates the same speedy nature that midges possess. An old school Renegade, an Orange Asher and the well known Griffith’s Gnat worked together to gather a handful of bites in a relatively short time.

The range of rods in the 4-weight category is broad, from custom and pampered to provisional. The Montana Brothers 4-weight I use exclusively for dry flies is a custom Cadillac on the water. My Epic fiberglass is shorter and extremely well made. At 7-feet, 6-inches it is more fitting for nimble casting in tight angling conditions. The Echo E-3 4-weight is an affordable 4-weight that fishes way above its price point. Looking to grab a top-shelf offering? Emily Dmohowski, manager and guide at Vail Valley Anglers, suggests the fine Winston Air2.
Anglers feeling a desire to be more connected to their fish need a 4-weight fly rod. 4-weights are the tools for the job. Delicate on your line and more responsive during the casting stroke, 4-weights put a smile on your face. It’s time to expand your fly-fishing resume by adding a 4-weight to your rack. Life is too short to fish with broomsticks. You deserve a 4-weight.
