Fly Fishing Kit Recommendations???

[Ethan]

Hello Folks,

Been looking around to find a good value fly fishing combo (rod & reel). Problem is, there's a lot of manufacturers out there and I have no clue as to the rep of any of them. Looking for a 8 to 8.5' , graphite 2-piece, 6 or 7 wt,. med-fast action rod with a single action reel.

Ideally, I'd like to spend <$200, but.......

Recommendations?

Thanks in advance, Ethan

[Paul Pless]

Check the Orvis website. Look for their species/multi species specific combos. They should have something close to what you want at that budget level. And it'll be a quality product too.

Your options would be much much broader if you'd increase your budget 50% or so, its a hard game to get into inexpensively...

[Paul Girouard]

Scientific anglers also , cheaper gear than Orvis but it might let you know if you'll enjoy it / get hooked :D for less $$. Balanced outfits for different species of fish:)

[Paul Girouard]

Of course you'll need that nice lil flyfishing wooden boat , what was it Blue Dun , something like that . Used to be in WBmag or FWW in the back. They're out of Business IIRC :(

You remember the name/ boat Paul P. ?

[Paul Pless]

There was a pretty nifty trout fishing boat on the cover of WoodenBoat issue 64. Other than that specific one there's been alot of driftboat style boats advertised in both mags for years.

[Ethan]

Damn Paul...that Orvis gear isn't cheap, is it?

L.L. Bean has a starter kit for ~$200, but it's sold out until November:(

[Tar Devil]

I find White River Fly Shop Dogwood Canyon outfits are quality starting outfits. Less than $100.00. Get 'em from BassPro shops.

http://image.basspro.com/images/images2/71500/71705.jpg

Later,

Phil

[merlinron]

white river does seem to be a decent blend of quality and price. i bought one of thier reels a while back and am entirely satisfied with it.
one thing to consider is that most of the combos you see are built around 6-8 size line and 8 to 8'-6" ft. rod, considered the easiest size to learn casting with with( enough line weight there to really feel the rod load up in a cast). maybe so, but usually too big for what most people will end up needing once they start fishing. if you can, try to get a set up for 4-6 size line with a 7 to 7'-6" rod, a little delicate to learn with( sometimes hard to feel the rod loading up and the novice ends up over powering the cast), but it can be done and you will be happier in a small stream and it's still big enough to go after bass and use on a bigger river. i find i use my 5 and 6 size lines the most for everything from big ( 19-22" smallies to blue gills and browns in small streams) and a 6"- 4 size in small local trout streams. i really think a 5-6 size line and 7'to 7'-6" rod is the most versitile. the bigger stuff is just too heavy for anything but open rivers and lake fishing.
also, be wary of medium to fast action rods when you're just getting started,they don't tell you what is going on during the back cast, and you end up watching the line all the time, instead of where you want the cast to go. a slower rod will be much easier( forgiving) to learn with and will still be able to power through the wind decently with a weight forward line.

[Mrleft8]

If I was you, I'd PM our own celebrity fly fisherman, Roger Stouff. I'd bet he could point you in the right direction.

[garland reese]

Look at the combos from Bass Pro Shops and Cabellas. You can get a good bit of value per dollar with either one of them. I bought a pretty nice 5 weight St Croix outfit for a good bit less than 200 dollars at Bass Pro. Both of the above mentioned store's house brands are pretty good.

[Brian Palmer]

I've got a White River Rod that is very user friendly (5 wt, 7 1/2 ft) and a pfleuger reel. Total kit was less than $100. I use that one for trout and pan fish on small streams.

For bass and pike, I have an 8 wt, 9 ft rod. I bought the rod used for $80 and the reel for $40.

$200 is a good starter price for a rod, reel, and weight forward line. You won't need to spend much more in my opinion. A medium action rod will help you feel when the rod is loaded with the line's weight on the back cast.

You will do well at Bass Pro Shops or Cabelas for $200. Check out your local fly shop too and see if they will put together a package for you.

A 9 ft rod is a good choice if you are not fishing small streams. It will help you keep the line above the bushes behind you on the back cast better than an 8 ft rod. 8 to 8 1/2 feet seems like too much rod on small trout steams.

Whatever you buy, get out whenever you can to practice casting, and see if you can take some casting lessons. That will make more difference than the rod you buy. Left Kreh, one of the masters of fly fishing, can cast a whole fly line (100 ft) using just the rod tip, based just on technique.

Have fun!

-- Brian

[Ethan]

Thanks to all who've taken the time to reply - lots of good suggestions. Looks like with Scientific Anglers and Cabelas, I can get a rod, reel, backing/line/leader, and tying kit for ~$300. Obviously, starter level gear, but that's the point, eh?

Thanks again, Ethan

[Evan Showell]

Ethan -- Here's the best piece of advice you'll get from anyone. Spend $20 on "The Orvis Guide to Flyfishing" by Tom Rosenbauer. Read it cover to cover. It goes over a lot of gear selection considerations. I'll go out on a limb an suggest that for medium sized trout streams an 8' to 8.5' for 5/6 weight rod would be a good all around choice. If you have not done much fly fishing find a buddy or hire a guide and go out a few times with hired/borrowed gear.

I'll also suggest the Orvis Battenkill line of reels -- A disc drag Battenkill 3/4 will run you about $85.00 ( a spring and pawl drag model might be even cheaper). You'll pass it down to your grandchildren and avoid the cursing when a cheaper reel falls apart on you after a few season's use.

It is possible you'd find a used Battenkill reel on ebay. I've never looked.

Good luck, but whatever you do, get and read the Rosenbauer book.

Full disclosure -- I do not own shares in Orvis (which I think is closely held). I do not have any affiliation with Orvis. I have used their products and been quite pleased with them from a price/quality perspective -- although I am sure you can pick up perfectly good quality gear for less money than the orvis stuff. You will also do better price-wise on a rod/reel combo package.

Enjoy.

[Paul Pless]

Ethan, what type of fishing are you planning on doing anyway?

I'm guessing largemouth and spotted bass, maybe some panfish, and perhaps a few trips to the coast for speckled and white trout.

[Ethan]

Yeah, Paul, you about hit the nail on the head. You flyfish?

[Paul Pless]

Ethan,

I've played with it on and off, but I tend to rely on baitcasting gear and spinning gear the majority of the time. I've been concentrating on striped bass and redfish lately and my flytackle isn't heavy enough for these fish. I think I will be committing more time and resources to flyfishing in the future though. I've recently had an old bamboo rod refurbished and I look forward to seeing what its like.

Paul

[Wayne Jeffers]

If you want to assemble your own “starter kit,” I would suggest getting the best rod you can afford. Make it a standard taper (or whatever they call it these days); avoid “fast action” and other gimmicky tapers.

The line is the next most important.

The reel is least important. Unless you’re fishing for big salmon on light tackle, etc., it is only used for storing the line while you’re not using it.

Wayne