I'd have to agree with all above. The reason you can't find a long 4wt (usually in the 6-7' range) is because it's designed to throw delicate presentations. It's not designed to cast a long line. It's for throwing very small dry's. I have a travel 4 piece 4wt that is IMPOSSIBLE to throw anything bigger then any size 6 hook, add any weight or bead eyes to hook and FORGET IT. You want at least a 5 wt. I'd even suggest a 6 or 7 wt. You can easily find it in a 9ft length and Sage has an outfit in Discovery series for roughly $260. The reason I say a 6-7wt is that you can throw beefy bigger size 2 hoppers and salmonflies and all the way down to the size 28 dries, but you can't throw big flies effectively with a small wt rod. If you've never thrown a fly rod, I'd suggest you try one from a friend, try out a few. Everyone who throws a flyrod has their own "niche". You may need a faster action, you may need a slower action to get an effective cast. I wouldn't buy just any outfit for price alone. Plus, you may hate it, may drive you nuts, you went out and paid good money for a rod you won't use again. When are you going to Montana? How soon do you need the rod? If you are going to buy a rod without throwing/feeling rod get a cabela's flyfishing catalog. There are alot of combo's for good prices there.

Jerry

Hey dc, send me an email, I need to talk with you....

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you haven't lived til you've rowed a cataraft. Friends don't let friends run Outcasts.

[This message has been edited by Steelheader69 (edited 01-21-2001).]