Fly fishing gear
10-07-2002, 01:45 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Gunnison CO USA
Posts: 197
RE: Fly fishing gear
Big Man: A good 7 1/2 to 8 ft. 5 or 6 weight rod is a good way to start. Pair it with a decent quality reel with a smooth disc drag, then load it with the best line you can afford. Whatever you do, stay away from Wal-Mart and K-Mart fly gear. It's crap. Period. Conversely, you don't have to pay $500.00 for your rod and $300.00 for your reel. I don't know where these people come from that actually pay that much for fly gear, but they are wasting their money if they think it will make them a better flyfisherman (or woman) I wish I had a dollar for every dandy I've seen around my Gunnison,CO fishing haunts that possessed a thousand bucks worth of gear and 7 cents worth of skill. I could buy a bunch of cheap beer. If price is a consideration, check out the Redstart package by Redington. Excellent performance for the price, and you won't be able to blame your gear if it gets rough. Cabelas also has a couple of packages worth looking into.
"Friend of Men, Lover of Women, Purveyor of the Brutal Truth"
"Friend of Men, Lover of Women, Purveyor of the Brutal Truth"
10-07-2002, 04:46 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: egypt
Posts: 1,994
RE: Fly fishing gear
I'll second those packages, but beware on some of them. Some of the package from "big names" are just as much junk as some rods from Wallys and Kmart.
Conversly I have seen and used (not purchased) A sweet little 4 weight from the local Fred Meyers. for 90 bucks it stands near my Sage LL series and G Loomis rods. NO it doesnt have the warrenty, but it casted very nicly.
For trout, depending on size I would actually say a little longer, 8 1/2 - 9ft 5-6 wt. But trout is a broad spectrum. You need to ask yourself are you chasing brook trout in a 2 ft wide creek, or speckles off the coast of the Carolina's. Both will need big time different set ups. For regular old trout fishing a good 5 or 6wt is hard to beat. I prefer a 9, or in some situations a 10ft rod. And yes I have more then a few rods that are worth 500 bucks. Its not the fishing ability, its the quality of rod. Now if your smart, you'll tie flys in trade for these rods and not spend a dime on them <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>! The loomis GL2's and GL 3's, not to mention there discovery series are pretty nice rods for a very moderate price! A lot better then you'd think considering how little you are paying!
As for reels, unless you are fishing for fish that can go hell bent for south america, you dont need a big fancy reel, disc drag, and all the bells and whisltes either. I do recommend in whatever reel you get, buying one that you are able to Palm. Where the rim of the spool goes all the way out to the outside of the reel. Unlike a Pluger Medalist where it pops in and has a sationary rim. You are able to use the reel and the palm of your hand to palm in a big fish when the situation warrents it. I think most people screw up buy using those heavy big ole disc drags, btw which I own a few of, and set them way to tight right at the beggining and at the end of the battles consitently breaking off fish! Thats only afer a few years of taking people out for king salmon and some of the other smaller salmonoids that I base that on. If you have the potential for big fish, be it trout or other species, then I would recommend a disc drag also. A Scientific Anglers System 2L is a sweet reel for minimal costs. I own two and use them for salmon up to 20 pounds and have landed a king salmon (by accident) at the 40lb mark on it! For 90 bucks, its one heckuva reel!!! I think the cost is a little higher now, the 110 range wouldnt suprise me, watch ebay there are some great buys on there for them once in ahwile.
http://www.geocities.com/tradbow007/...dventures.html
Conversly I have seen and used (not purchased) A sweet little 4 weight from the local Fred Meyers. for 90 bucks it stands near my Sage LL series and G Loomis rods. NO it doesnt have the warrenty, but it casted very nicly.
For trout, depending on size I would actually say a little longer, 8 1/2 - 9ft 5-6 wt. But trout is a broad spectrum. You need to ask yourself are you chasing brook trout in a 2 ft wide creek, or speckles off the coast of the Carolina's. Both will need big time different set ups. For regular old trout fishing a good 5 or 6wt is hard to beat. I prefer a 9, or in some situations a 10ft rod. And yes I have more then a few rods that are worth 500 bucks. Its not the fishing ability, its the quality of rod. Now if your smart, you'll tie flys in trade for these rods and not spend a dime on them <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>! The loomis GL2's and GL 3's, not to mention there discovery series are pretty nice rods for a very moderate price! A lot better then you'd think considering how little you are paying!
As for reels, unless you are fishing for fish that can go hell bent for south america, you dont need a big fancy reel, disc drag, and all the bells and whisltes either. I do recommend in whatever reel you get, buying one that you are able to Palm. Where the rim of the spool goes all the way out to the outside of the reel. Unlike a Pluger Medalist where it pops in and has a sationary rim. You are able to use the reel and the palm of your hand to palm in a big fish when the situation warrents it. I think most people screw up buy using those heavy big ole disc drags, btw which I own a few of, and set them way to tight right at the beggining and at the end of the battles consitently breaking off fish! Thats only afer a few years of taking people out for king salmon and some of the other smaller salmonoids that I base that on. If you have the potential for big fish, be it trout or other species, then I would recommend a disc drag also. A Scientific Anglers System 2L is a sweet reel for minimal costs. I own two and use them for salmon up to 20 pounds and have landed a king salmon (by accident) at the 40lb mark on it! For 90 bucks, its one heckuva reel!!! I think the cost is a little higher now, the 110 range wouldnt suprise me, watch ebay there are some great buys on there for them once in ahwile.
http://www.geocities.com/tradbow007/...dventures.html
