Do you love big bluegill?

Does anyone have one of these?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fly-Fishing/Fly-Fishing-Rod-...|/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/105571980/Cabelas-TQRPrestige-Plus-Fly-Combo/711628.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-fly-fishing-fly-fishing-rod-reel-combos%2F_%2FN-1102570%2FNs-MIN_SALE_PRICE%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMM%253Bcat104721480%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3BMM%3Bcat104721480%3Bcat105571980

Might get one of these in a 2wt. Does anyone have any thoughts on the cork reel seat?

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Permalink Reply by Leo Nguyen on April 30, 2013 at 9:45am

Don't listen to those who cry wolves too much. If you're visiting the Fishingnetwork.net site, there are a few, especially one person, who cried out that eating from that lake will be the end of you. Sorry to say, but from 2005 to 2011 fish tissue sampling, metals results were so low, it made the other lakes look bad. However, bacteria and pathogens studies were not done. So, I can say, cook the fish well, and eat up to 5 tilapia per day without you dying. Just don't eat 5 a day, for the next 5 months, and you'll be fine.

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Permalink Reply by Leo Nguyen on April 29, 2013 at 12:47pm

I have yet to venture into the 2wt, still in the 4wt category to get used to thing, but based on a few other comments in the other forums, I have a very mixed bag feeling.

You may want just to be safe and save up a bit, and slurge on the Sage, Fenwick, Orvis, or Loomis. You don't have a family yet, so, be patient, and enjoy your youth as you save up a bit for the top notch gears. Those who have family, well, we're stuck at a max budget, which is pretty much a poor man's budget.

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Permalink Reply by chris kowaleski on April 29, 2013 at 1:41pm

Yeah, we'll see. I'll probably end up getting a TFO rod or something. I just wish there was a TFO combo.

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Permalink Reply by Leo Nguyen on April 29, 2013 at 1:54pm

It's better to purchase them separately. Buy what you can for its best optimal functionality. But always keep in mind that the more expensive something else, it doesn't necessarily means it's better. I'm happy with just my Okuma's SLV reels, combined with Tooty's Wonderods, White River, and a few other fly rods half past dead due to past abuses from my learning days. I'm surprised that Okuma's reels and handle my level of abuses and still work as smooth as butter, of course, with well care and maintenance after each usage.

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Permalink Reply by JBplusThuy on April 29, 2013 at 4:07pm

I have a Sage Flight 590-4 that I got a while back basically because my buddy had one :p - and LL Bean had combos at a great price at the time (2008, I think it was; not later than '09). After I got a little more experience and some skilled instruction, I came to realize the Flight is way too fast for my current proficiency. I tried a guy's TFO Lefty Kreh Professional and liked it so much I ordered one that very day. The Sage has been on the shelf ever since. I suppose I'll eventually sell it :p

TFO has replaced the Lefty Kreh Pro with the Lefty Kreh Pro II, which means the Pro I mode3 ls can commonly be had on eBay for 1/3 off list. Not all include a tube at the best price, though, just a sock; so the TFO is currently riding around in my Sage tube :-)

I've heard good things about the Okuma reels Leo mentions. Another nice one that I got not long ago myself is a Cortland Cassette 1 reel. It's a nice reel, good drag, and cassettes (get them while you can, because I think the model is discontinued) are only about $10 each, IIRC. Sure beats buying spare spools.

Line is also worth paying attention to. I recently replaced the generic 5WF line that came on my Sage outfit with a Rio Gold WF5F and it definitely works better for me. I'm also using that on my 4-weight. I have a Rio Trout LT WF2F on my 2-weight, have yet to try it out on water, though.

All that said, you can get a TFO NXT comb if you really want one:

http://www.basspro.com/Temple-Fork-Outfitters-NXT-Fly-Fishing-Rod-a...

TFO Bug Launcher combos are also pretty nice. I bought one for my 10-year old, but she lost interest and it's going to my 9-year old. If she loses interest, I'll either have to save it for the 4-year old or just steal it for myself, it really casts nicely. It's a 7-foot 4/5 weight and the only downside I see is the grips are thin because they are designed for kids and tweens. My hands aren't big by any means, but I'd prefer a fatter grip if I were using a Bug Launcher for myself, I think. Still, it's a sweet rod.

Jonathan