just getting into fly fishing, need input as to gear to get.........help a bro out!

[VooDuuChild]

Alright, eventually I will be targeting steelies in the rivers, but I'm going to start in creeks, rivers and beaver ponds targeting cutts and bows. I'd like to buy something that comes as a combo, but if there aren't any combos that are really worthy of getting, I guess I'll buy seperately. Price is definitely a consideration, but not to the point that I comprimise quality......boy, that's asking a lot for sure. I'm totally new to this, so any "tech" talk as far as lengths and weights are going to be totally beyond my obviously limited experience, so some details might be helpful too. This is basically the only place in fishing I have yet to go, and believe it's going to be one of the most fulfilling I find......I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm very much into the reverence of the sport and think that this is definitely something I need to explore........


HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[zen leecher aka Bill W]

If you see the Sage beginner combos in a 6 wt you can't go wrong with them.

[Marc Martyn]

For the money and what you want to do, this is a pretty good combo at Cabela's:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... tcat20431-
cat20433-cat20457&id=0011165318078a&navCount=42&podId=0011165&parentId=cat20457&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20457&hasJS=

I would go with a 9' rod in a 7 weight. If you are going for Steelhead, you would be better off with a 7wt.

The combo includes rod, reel, backing, line, leader and a case. The guys in the Cabela's fly shops are very helpful. Run on into the store, tell them what you want to fish for and the price range and they will find you a good combo.

Sage does have a good combo, but you are getting up into the $250-350 range. If that fits your budget, Cabela's them also.

Good Luck!

[VooDuuChild]

Well, that Cabela's deal seems pretty freakin sweet......but I think I'm gonna just go for a setup that I can use in small streams, beaver ponds and such for small fish before I actually decide that I need to try for steelies. What length/weight should I get for that purpose? I'll just end up buying another pole later for steelies, so something for panfish/bass/trout will do for now. I'll be using it in a canoe and my 12 foot aluminum cruise liner (hahaha) mostly.

grassy-ass
I mean gracias

[Drewp]

I got my fly set-up at the Avid Angler in Lake Forest Park. I got a Temple Fork 6wt with a Reddington reel, line, backing hard case, for just under 200. They were really knowledgeable, and even have a spot out back where you can test out rods to see which ones you can cast better with. They even let me go pick out a half dozen flys for free, and gave me a free Avid Angler hat. If you're like me and like to feel and touch before buying (rather than ordering online), that's a good way to go. I guess you could drive to Cabela's now, but.....

I'm sure any other fly-fishing shop would probably be the same, they were just the closest place to me at the time.

[Marc Martyn]

Well, that Cabela's deal seems pretty freakin sweet......but I think I'm gonna just go for a setup that I can use in small streams, beaver ponds and such for small fish before I actually decide that I need to try for steelies. What length/weight should I get for that purpose? I'll just end up buying another pole later for steelies, so something for panfish/bass/trout will do for now. I'll be using it in a canoe and my 12 foot aluminum cruise liner (hahaha) mostly.

grassy-ass
I mean gracias

Even leaving steelies out of the equation, you still have to decide if you want it for bass or stream/creek trout.

If you want it for bass and trout in lakes, go with a 9' 5wt rod.
If you want to fish the mountain streams and beaver ponds only, go with a 7' 3 or 4 wt. rod.

Too heavy of a line in a beaver pond will spook the fish. Brookies are very skittish. The lighter the line and leader, the lighter the presentation. Rod length is also important if fishing mountain creeks. You want a shorter rod because of all the low limbs over and along the creek.

[VooDuuChild]

Yeah, it's going to be a tough decision as I'm not made of money and can't get all three set-ups that I want. I think I'm going to have to buy a book too, or do it the cheap way which I'm good at and just search the internet for info.....fly fishing is pretty complicated when you're just starting out, all those new knots, lines, flies, leaders and the list just keeps going. I can't wait to get started, but I'm going to have to do some more research so I don't waste what little surplus income I do have....thanks for the tips and welcome any more for sure...and this all started while I was reading some thirty'ish year old book my woman's mom gave to me as she knows how much I like fishing. Good read, but didn't realize how much a free book could end up costing, hahaha.

[zen leecher aka Bill W]

I think if it was me I'd bite the bullet and go to Avid Anglers in LFP. You might pay a little more for your outfit...but the advice you'd get picking that outfit out would make it cheaper in the long run. Yould get the right one the first time out.

I'd lean towards a 6 wt (or 5 wt) as you'll fish trout lots more than you do steelhead. You'll also hook more trout than you do steelhead. A 5 wt would be a little undergunned for a steelhead, a 6 wt less so. But... you won't be tossing a club around after trout all the time unless you "troll" for them out of a boat. Most of the modern 7 wts I've handled these days are clubs.

Bill