I tend to fish either glass or bamboo for small streams. Think of it this way, manufacturers have been in a race to produce Graphite rods that have only one purpose, speed, using not only fast stiff rods but many lines tare actually heavier than standard rating (example: 5wit lines that are actually closer to 6). Distance, the race for "newer and better" has been for fast rods that will overreach. These do some undesirable things. They don't load at short distances, are less accurate plus their inherent stiffness are much tougher on both tippets and fighting fish. Softer rods with a slower stroke will lay out a dry fly lightly without slapping water and give you much more accuracy and save your finer tippet's on large fish in my experience.