Originally posted through the Lost Coast Outfitters e-mail list.
Summer time is in full swing and the fishing is only going to heat up in the coming months. To make things even more exciting, the small stream action of the high Sierra is a blast this time of year. Small stream fishing is one of my favorite ways to pursue trout. Whether it's local streams or high mountain destinations, there's something special about seeing wild, native fish come up for a dry fly.
If you follow my Instagram feed (@baetisandstones) you know I'm a bit of a gear junkie. Over the years, I've amassed a good number of small stream rods in the 2wt - 4wt range. Today, most of them sit in my closet collecting dust. The culprit for all the dust collection is Redington's Butter Stick. Any time I reach for a small stream rod, the yellow fiberglass stands above them all. The Butter Stick is a slow action, fiberglass rod that comes in 2wt through 5wt. When casting, the rod loads well at short distances and can punch into the wind with surprising accuracy when you're on bigger water.
Over the last 18 months, I've used the Butter Stick in just about every possible situation. It's performed well during small stream dry fly action in the Sierra, throwing dry dropper rigs in Montana, and even launching small streamers in Yellowstone Park. The Butter Stick finds its way into my hands more than I ever thought it would. Every time a friend asks what rod they should get for small streams or which rod they should get to build out their quiver, the Butter Stick gets the nod. It's an absolute blast to cast and will bend in 1/2 when you're fighting fish. Coming in at only $249 with Redington's life time warranty it's a no-brainer.
If you're going to pick one of these bad boys up, I'd suggest getting a model one size smaller than you were planning on. The 3wt I've been using is extremely versatile and comfortably handles fish up to the 16-inch range. A 2wt would be perfect for smaller fish on creeks you can jump across where the 5wt could be a really fun rod to play around with on the Pit River or McCloud.
The Butter Stick also doubles as a great rod to teach with. Recently I've started teaching my girlfriend how to fly fish and the slow action of this rod is perfect for beginners. Fiberglass is also super durable, so if you're teaching your kids or your fumbling husband how to throw darts with a fly rod, this is the perfect stick!
This probably isn't going to be the rod you throw articulated streamers with or heavy Lower Sac nymph rigs with, but that's not why you're buying this rod anyways. Dry flies, dry-droppers, smaller streamers, and lighter nymph rigs can all be used with ease. My only real gripe is that I didn't get one of these sooner!
If you have any questions about the Butter Stick don't hesitate to reach out to the guys at Lost Coast Outfitters or shoot me a message on Instagram (@baetisandstones)!
