Time to get a fly rod...looking for some help picking out some equipment please.

[Craig DuShane]

Hey BBGers,

I'm looking to get an actual fly rod now instead of using a fly tied behind a float. I've never used one before and don't really know what I should be looking for. I'd appreciate any and all advice concerning which equipment to get and how to get it set up/use properly.

1. Rod (I read somewhere a 5-6wt 8-9ft was good to start with?)

2. Reel

3. Line

   3a. Backing line?

   3b. Actual fly line?

   3c. Leader/Tippet line? I'm not sure what the difference here is (or if there is one).

4. Flies

5. Instructional videos/books/sites

6. What knots to tie

7. Anything else I'm missing or need to consider?

As always looking for the best value...the MOST/BEST equipment for the LEAST $$$ I can get away with spending. I not looking to spend 75% more on cost to get only 10% more functionality...please consider diminishing returns when making your suggestions.

Thanks,

-CD

[Craig DuShane]

What do you guys think about these rods from Cabela's for $39.99? If you approve, what model do you suggest and why?

Cabela's Cahill Fly Rod and Reel Outfit

Also, what knots do you use when you tie your flies on?

Allen, you went over a lot of stuff, but I really don't know what a lot of it means. It's like you're speaking a different language atm. I need to do a little research before I can even ask you about any of that, lol. Don't take that wrong, I do appreciate all the info...just no clue what I'm doing yet.

[Ronnie M.]

Craig, that looks like a good combo to start out with. I would pick either the 905 or 906. Also order a " Tie-Fast Knot Tying tool" and you will be able the tie all the lines, leaders, tippets and flies on with no problem. Instructions comes with the tool.

[Craig DuShane]

Well, F!

It looks like whatever deal that was I missed it. That combo is back up to $59.99. :(

[Craig DuShane]

Hey guys,

Do any of you see anything bad wrong with this combo for this price from Amazon?

Crystal River Fly Fishing Combo Kit for $24.54

The only thing I notice is that the handle on the reel appears to be set up for a left handed person (the right hand reeling while the left holding the pole). Is that how most fly rods are set up? Can it be switched?

[Allen Morgan]

That's how my fly rod is set up, and I believe, how most reels are set up.  If the reel is a click-and-pawl type drag, you can just take the reel off the rod, flip it around, and put it back on the rod, then string it.  However, many of the better reels out there are designed with freespool in the direction you reel in, and drag when the reel is turned the other way.  This makes setting up the other way difficult if not impossible.

[JBplusThuy]

The reviewers pretty much all say the reel is garbage, and at that price, I'm sure they're right. They seem to be OK with the rod, though. It's not a bad price, especially considering that it comes with a fly line.

My opinion (as still more or less a noob, despite having had a fly rod for quite a well lol) is you can get a decent rod for a beginner at a pretty good price and get years of service out of it. A few years ago, LL Bean was selling Sage Fiight outfits (rod, LL Bean reel, line backing, Sage reel-on-rod case) in the low-ish 300s. My first fly rod was kind of falling apart and a co-worker of mine had a Flight, so I got one of those.

If I were doing it over again, armed with what I know know and spending the same amount of money, I would have spent no more (and probably less) than $100 on the rod and have gotten a slower and more beginner-friendly rod than the very fast Flight, and spent the balance on a good reel and a spare spool.

Not that you need to spend that much on a reel, and a cheaper one will do just fine for panfish, but it can't hurt to have a really good reel in case you hook into a much larger fish than you're expecting.

Or to put it another way, for under $100 you can buy a fly rod that you might fish with for the rest of your life or until you hand it down to the next generation. You might even get such a rod in a whole outfit that only costs $100. You probably won't get such a reel in an outfit at that price point.

But, that's only if you plan to spend as much as I did on that Sage outfit. If you plan to spend a lot less, you sure don't need a pricey reel for now.  The Sage outfit's price was mostly the rod. The reel it came with is an LL Bean Streamlight 2 and it's been very reliable despite having been dunked into the water countless times. I think they sold for about $50 individually at the time. There are a number of other good reels in that same price range.

[dick tabbert]

I would be interested in the knots. I'm having trouble tying them myself.

[Leo Nguyen]

Truly the knots are the killer. Dexterity is critical when it comes to tying knots. The more the complex the knot, like the nail knot, the stronger the knot strength, including the minimal on the snag of the lines in the spool as well as the guides. However, we're not hunting for sharks here. Basic surgeon knot will to the trick. Even the improved clinch knot more than sufficient.

[JBplusThuy]

They are indeed the killer. Ask me how much I hate nail knots and blood knots, esp. with arthritis lol

[JBplusThuy]

In addition to what Allen said, LL bean also has some decent outfits under $100. For a little more ($150) you can get a TFO bug launcher outfit. They are said to be quite good good for any beginners, not just kids, although if you have large hands the grips might be a bit small. Best to try one first if possible.

At some casting lessons in the spring, I used a Reddington one day and really like it. They sell some reasonably priced rods, and I think it was one of their less expensive models. Besides its casting, I really liked the alignment dots for putting it together. No sighting down the rod to see if the guides are aligned, just match the white dots :-) Every rod maker should do that, but at least in my experience, it's very rare.

[Craig DuShane]

So what I'm hearing/interpreting is that the $24.54 combo will probably not make me happy?

I kind of want to pull the trigger on something...over $100 is an absolute no...around $50-$75ish is seeming like it might have to do...and $25-$40ish would be ideal.

Links to go with suggestions would be awesome!

[Ronnie M.]

Get the best you can for the money you have to spend on a fly rod combo. For $25 -$40 you will find one that will get you into fly fishing. If you have never fished with a fly rod before you have to start somewhere to see if you like fly fishing. Buy the outfit you can afford and start enjoying fly fishing.