Fly Rod

[chris kowaleski]

So where I live now there are excellent looking places for fly fishing and so I need to get a fly rod. I don't have much to spare so i'm probably gonna get a fly rod and reel combo, and I was wondering which kinds any of you have had experience with.  I live near a Cabelas and was looking at this one but the reviews don't seem very good for the reel.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Rod-Reel-Combos/Fly-Fishing-...

I've also looked at a couple of Eagle Claw kits and combos on the sportsmans guide but i'm still unsure.

Should I be looking for a graphite or a fiberglass rod and what length?

I was also wondering if I could buy some BBG community handmade flies from some of you fly tiers out there!

[chris kowaleski]

you bet i am! can't wait to get back at it. I will definately check out those videos too. yeah i definately need a hat and should get some glasses, but i just have a hardtime concentrating on what i'm trying to look at while wearing them. But it beats a hook in the eye for sure, i've already got a slight hook to the face haha.  I sent you an email!

[Allen Morgan]

I read on another site that a gent will use his front yard for casting practice.  He'll collect a few empty pop or beer cans, and drop some pennies into them to weigh them down just a bit.  He then ties on a beat, thread-bare wooly bugger, or some other fly with a good-sized bead head of lead wraps.  He then stands in different places, and will "plink" the cans with the fly.  He neighbors think he's loony, but supposedly is a really accurate caster.

I used to use just a straight, plain piece of mono for a leader, back when I was a kid.  That's what I was going to do when I got my fly rod a couple months ago, but a buddy of mine gave me a furled leader he had.  I've been using it ever since.  Only problem I have with it is that it sinks to soak up water and sink, even though it's made from mono.

[Allen Morgan]

Some floatant helps.

Honestly, yes, mine does sink, but...usually slowly stripping in a popper or a foam hopper keeps it on top.  Most of the areas I fish, the bite is so quick that it doesn't matter if the leader sinks a bit.

A medium size deer hair bug shouldn't sink, even with a sinking leader.

Did you make your leader, or have a buddy make one for you?  If so, try getting one made with 2 lbs test mono.  Mine is made from 2 lbs test.

[jamie franklin]

All I do is fly fish have for the last 5 yrs. breabass, trout,saltwater, I do it all , but bream are my favcorite, have been tying for 4 yrs, i have my own flyfishing club, plus a master tyer with the north louisiana fly fishers, if you are serious about fly fishing , the cheap combos are a good to start with but a good rod and line will help your casting 100%, and do not go to heavy if you plan to bass fish also a 5 wt, is the best choice but for bream only i like a 3 wt, plus there are some good lines on the market, if you go with the cheap combo later upgrade your line first, then rod, the reel will be fine all it does is hold unused line, my personal bream rod is a TFO pro, SA headstart line , with a white river reel, as far as flies ,that is endless, but small poppers and spiders are a good start, plus you will also catch them on most trout flies, i will be happy to help anyone wanting to learn to fly fish, or with any questions

[dick tabbert]

Good stuff Jamie

[Allen Morgan]

Jamie, I've been thinking about upgrading my line for a few weeks now.  Since my rod has a faster action, I was thinking about going to a WF6F line.  Money being what it is, I haven't done it yet.  I have been making steady improvements as far as distance, and am now debating if I should go with a cheaper, WF6F line, a higher-quality WF5F line, or, if I should just wait until tax time, when I plan on buying a 8wt outfit.

I've tangled with a few small Striped Bass on my 5wt, and am  thinking about chasing some of the bigger ones with that.  Not sure if I want to or not; I'd hate to bust a good sunfish/LMB rig.  Of course, I might have to get myself a 2- or 3wt slower-action stick for the sunnies.  That would be a hoot.

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

Chris, dont be afraid to put a porcupine quill on that leader, not only will it add a new dimention to fishing with live bait, but it also make you get a little closer to the fish  because you end up in picking out spots in the brush or structure,because you can't cast as far. Your cast will become accurate and soft, you will learn the backhanded technique, almost a flip,horizional casting, this helps getting under tree limbs and under boat docks, and using the wind to help casting and presentation, all of this is like a wax on wax off situation so that when you do take the quill off the line you will be a blackbelt in the world of flycasting.       LOFR

[chris kowaleski]

Yes i've been meaning to ask you about this! How big of quill do you use for it? And what type of leader as well? Any more technical info on how to run a quill on a fly rod would be appreciated!

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

Chris, I prefer a quill thats between 7 to 9 inches long, with the leader going through the o-ring, and the o-ring slid over the quill about 2 and a half inches down , then through the eyelet at the bottom of the quill. The extra weight at the end of the line will be a plus, remember that if the quill is laying on it's side your bait is on the bottom, this makes a cheap depth finder.Also if you know the length of your quill you can measure your fish aginst it and know if it's longer or shorter than your length of quill. As for leader I use 5 or 6 ft of 10 lb flouricarbon with a #8 wire hook, if you hang up just pull straight on your line and bend the hook free, then bend the hook back to shape. As for weight i use just enought split shot 5 to 6 inches above the hook to float the quill straight up in the water. Another technique is use a smaller quill with no split shot so its only the weight of the bait that makes it go vertical, this slows down the rate of fall of the bait but I like getting my bait to my chosen depth quicker. Remember fish dont have to take the quill under to know their playing with it, watch for suttle twiches at the top of the quill.You will lose distance throwing live bait without throwing it off so you will have to get a little closer to the fish and be more careful with your presentation but it's the best way I know to put fish in the boat short of a net, and finally after you have had some experience with this technique and want to use your fly rod in the traditional manner fly flapping you will be a pro at it and might even surprise yourself at the skill level you have achieved with what you can do with just a fly on your leader instead of the quill but you will always have the quill to fall back on when you have to put fish in the boat. You can master quill casting. LOFR

[chris kowaleski]

Thank you sir! I'm no stranger to quill fishin on my spinning gear because it's been  my go  to set up for many months, but i was just curious on how it worked with a fly rod, but it seems pretty much about the same minus the leader. I was curious about the leader because i've used some small line before and the quill would slide up and downfrom casting because the line is so thin, but 10lb should be alright.  I will definately give this a shot!

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

If you are having problems with the quill sliding on the leader go to the hardware store  to their sprayer dept, they will have different size o-rings and get several sizes of the smaller oness their cheap, and make sure they fit tight on the quill, this should stop any quill slippage.    LOFR

 

[chris kowaleski]

yessir! mine seem to start slightly dry rotting rather quickly.