The best fly rod and reel combo for Kenai River trout fishing isn’t easy to find, but after years of trial, error, and luck, one setup finally stood out.
Blog and photos by Nick Ohlrich
The Kenai version of shadow casting. The right rod and line combo makes life much easier and visually appealing.
Choosing the right trout fly rod and fly line combo can be tricky. We live in a world with many options and no shortage of data. No matter the amount of research you do, the choice boils down to personal preference, which is an opinion.
So, here’s my opinion. My current, and favorite setup thus far, mixes concepts from past, present, and dumb luck. The G. Loomis NRX+ 10-foot 7-weight is a fast-action rod, which is not what I like for the type of flyfishing we do on the Kenai. Fast-action rods are nice for throwing lots of line, and/or moving heavy flies. While we do throw some big patterns on occasion, mashing 60-foot casts is not part of the program.
I also need a setup that both advanced and beginner anglers can use well. Using a 7-weight fly line (even an indicator line) is not enough to get this rod to load easily with an egg pattern and 20 feet of fly line. An advanced angler can make it happen; beginners have trouble loading and feeling the rod load.
Many moons ago, before indicator lines, the trick to getting a fly rod to bend at your will was over-lining it, i.e. putting an 8-weight fly line on a 7-weight rod. I must admit, I got lucky pairing the 7-weight NRX+ with an 8-weight Airflo SuperFlo Nymph Indicator line (I had several reels already spooled with it). Airflo is my fly line of choice because it lasts a long time. I don’t care how cool a line is or how great it casts, if it starts cracking after a season, I have no use for it.
Best Fly Rod and Reel Combo for the Kenai River
Before my acquisition of the NRX+, I was using the medium-fast-action 8-weight Loomis Native Run series with the Airflo 8-weight SuperFlo Nymph Indicator line. This setup was a banger. It checked most all the boxes: easy to cast for beginners and advanced anglers; enough backbone to handle Kenai River pigs; but with a heavy fly the rod became a touch mushy with casts over 30 feet. I fished this setup for years until one broke mid-season. Fortunately, the customer service at G. Loomis is amazing.
Unfortunately, I did not do my homework when I had a new rod of the new series expedited to me. The new rod was an NRX+ fast-action, 10-foot, 8-weight. I pared it with an 8-weight Airflo SuperFlo Nymph Indicator line and was not stoked. This rod is a beast, too much backbone for big ‘bows. The indicator line did not load the rod at all, unless a heavy fly and long casts were used. Advanced anglers did not like the work required to make the rod function and beginners had a very hard time. I could have experimented with various 9-weight fly lines, but the rod and line size was just too much for my clients and trout.
Humans enjoy the beauty of a fly cast; trout do not. Effectively getting the bobber into the drift is the foundation of pig hunting.
I know there are a ton of great rod manufactures out there, but quality and customer service are most important for me. G. Loomis provides both, and that’s the reason why all my fly- and conventional rods are G. Loomis. I am not a rep for G. Loomis. Before the Native Run series, I was a devout Sage guy and loved the 99s and XP series, which is arguably one of the greatest fly rods ever made. But G. Loomis customer service is hard to beat.
Spending time with the ‘bow of your dreams is more fun than spending time casting to the ‘bow of your dreams.
Loomis NRX+ with Airflo
I was hoping that dropping down to a 7-weight NRX+ with an 8-weight SuperFlo Nymph Indicator line would play. Taking a risk, instead of buying one to see, I bought five. This rod/line paring is incredible! The rod has the perfect backbone to put the boot to pigs, and the 8-weight indicator line allows the angler to load the rod as they please (think of manual transmission). Advanced anglers can punch a 30-foot roll cast as the heavier line allows for slow and easy loading, while the stiffness of the fast-action 7-weight transfers energy smoothly to the heavier line. Large flies and long casts don’t become mushy and short casts with an egg pattern are effortless.
I want to stress the luck part of this pairing. When looking for a rod/line combo many factors can come into play. The marriage is like finding the right ammo for your rifle or arrow-and-bow combo. Just like bullets and arrows, fly lines are about grains. Pay attention to head weight and length. Fortunately, there is no shortage of info for comparing lines and rods. Fly lines are averaging $100, making experimentation and change expensive. Common themes I discover when casting client setups is a too-heavy line with a medium-action/soft rod or too light a line with a fast-action/stiff rod.
Matching the line and rod for the type and style of fishing will make casting easier and less fatiguing, ultimately leading to more productive days on the water. When you find the perfect marriage, you will instantly know. Right now, for my Kenai trout fishing the G. Loomis NRX+ 7100 with an Airflo SuperFlo Nymph Indicator 8-weight line is it.
The stoke is high when your setup works for you versus you for it.
Nick Ohlrich is co-owner/guide of Alaska Drift Away Fishing. For more info check out our website at guidekenairiver.com or give us a call at 907-529-8776.
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