'Universal' fly rod weight

I'm sure this has been beat to the ground, but I'm looking for some advice. I currently have two 5 wts that I mainly use for trout fishing on spring creeks. I've also used both on a river in my area to catch smallmouth and whatever else is around (even got a small walleye last summer), just fishing small streamers/jigs. It worked pretty well, but even getting in a 1-2 lb smallmouth was quite a task, especially with current. I'd like to go out on an area lake this year, where I wouldn't necessarily be targeting anything in particular, but want to be prepared in case I get a large fish on (northern, musky). I typically just use marabou/flash streamers from no bigger than size 8 hooks. What weight rod would be good for this? I've been told 8, but that may be too heavy for smallmouth, but a 6 or 7 might be too light in case a large northern comes around. This is more to make sure I get the fish in without wearing it out too much.

If I really feel desperate enough to catch smallmouth when they're hitting the top of the water, I've had success with skimming the streamer across the top of the water. I've also tied somewhat weightless woollys that will do just fine. And if I don't catch fish, that's quite all right as well.

"Here's a little fly fishing information I discovered by accident. I was fishing a large lake in Vilas County for Muskies and smallmouth during a cloudy drizzly period. The Mayflies were hatching during the day in this weather. I had not seen large smallmouth surface feeding during the day before. Bummed I did not go out prepared for it." I hit the same thing in early june in about the same conditions two years ago. I was actually fishing a leech streamer on a lake and saw the flies. I didn't have any mayfly patterns, but I had a skinny yellow popper. Needless to say it was epic! Almost a fish every cast and everyone taken on the same popper for the better part of an hour and a half, all the fish that were rising were 15" plus. My dad was fishing a real leech at the same time and they wouldn't touch it. Haven't hit it right like that again, but if you catch a hot spell in late May, the dragonfly hatch is good too!

Here's a little fly fishing information I discovered by accident. I was fishing a large lake in Vilas County for Muskies and smallmouth during a cloudy drizzly period. The Mayflies were hatching during the day in this weather. I had not seen large smallmouth surface feeding during the day before. Bummed I did not go out prepared for it.

Thanks for the advice! I found an 8 wt Clearwater from Orvis for $120 on sale. That will be perfect for no more detailed than I get. As mentioned earlier, I won't be targeting anything specific--anything that feels like hitting a marabou streamer with or without some flash; there's not a need for 5 fly rods. Thanks again!

6 for the river smallmouth, and 9 for muskies. The pike in your area will get near 40 once in a while but a large majority are 30-36. I would use a 7 for the pike in that area.imho The main reason I responded was to let you know I bought 7 and 9 weights at the St. Criox trying to save a little money because I don't use them very often. They have seconds in just about all models and weights and when I purchase mine I could not see the defects and they were not seconds or have broken tips. $300 list, I paid $100. Not bad! Fun tour as well. Good luck!

I Agee with Troy, very sound advise

I'd go with the 8.... Its a nice weight in that it CAN handle anything well. True it isn't maybe the ideal rod for smallies and so on (though I use an 8 for smallies but there are some big fish in my home waters and I use big flies fairly often for them). It will handle pike just fine though and will do with the odd musky. Plus its a nice size should you want to fish salmon or anything along those lines. Better to go a bit heavier in this case than too light in my opinion. I wouldn't go any lighter than a 7, the 6 will be awfully close to what you already have.