Newbie fly guy looking for first rod/reel setup

I'm thinking of learning the fly fishing game, and have been looking for a rod/reel setup to get started with.  I figure I'll take my time and find a good deal, rather than go off half-cocked like I usually do.  I figured I'd start with around a 5 wt for trout, and after I learn to also get something heavier for striper etc.  I picked up the curtis creek manifesto, and a hatch guide, and am doing my homework before I take the plunge.

I went to Western Sports in San Rafael, and looked @ a few setups.  I really liked the Sage launch, and almost as much, the Echo classic.  I tried these with a Redington SV2 reel.  Either of these would be a blast.

But, they are both expensive, at least for me.  I could get into the reel and echo rod for about $250.00, or the sage for another $50.00.  Anybody use the cheaper options?  There are almost as many cheaper rigs online as there are folks saying that a cheaper outfit is going to suck.

Any ideas?  Anyone?

Thanks,

Rick

Cheaper outfits do suck... but only after you've figured everything out and love it. When I first started out I wanted some kick ass gear but wasn't sure how much I'd be fly fishing. I went w/ a Crosswater setup by Redington that ran about $40 and learned the ropes. After I felt comfortable w/ it and liked FF I demo'd a few higher end setups from the local flyshop. I could tell the difference but to be honest the crosswater is pretty nice. I did do the upgrade and it rocks but the gear is pretty pricey so slow and steady was the road I took.

I now keep the crosswater stashed in my yak when on freshwater. It keeps a flyrod always on the ready and I don't have to worry too much about beating it up.

Z

For the least amount of brainwork and pretty cheap is a Cabela Traditional rod combo that includes an ok reel and line and backing for around $130. I would get a 4 piece to be easy to store. Later you can udgrade and use this as a loaner or backup. I have 2 Sages and a lot of other fly rods and I still like using the Traditional and I don't have to worry about scratching it or theft as much.

Sierra Trading has some low cost options

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/d/1398_Fly-Rods-and-Fishing-Rods-and-Cases.html

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/d/2249_Fly-Reels-and-Fly-Line-and-Reels.html

Hey Rick,
The rods you've checked out are the way to go, depending of course on your budget.
I've been teaching fishing for a while and there's nothing more discouraging than learning on a cheap rod. A good quality 6 wt is a good all around rod to go with. I can also recommend  a good book. First lesson...do not bend your wrist.

I have been throwing flies for a long, long time- though i still SUCK...so take this with a grain of salt

Sounds like a gimmicky little thing-- but the "Fly-O" -- which is basically a 2 foot rod with a long piece of fluffy yarn on it does wonders for your casting skills.

I've fished all over the place for all kinds of fish with these two trusty old set-ups:

5wt sage, cheap a** reel for trout and little bass
8wt sage, bauer reel for stripers, etc

Sadly, i'm too darn lazy to toss flies more than a few times a year now....

I've been flyfishing for over 30 years, started with crap equipment and barely stayed with the sport. Only thing that saved me was picking up a Sage rod when they first came out. I still have that rod, and is one of my favorites. Back then, flyrods were either great or crap, not much in between. Now there are several rod companies in the middle to lower/mid price range that make great equipment. Redington, TFO, Rogue,... all make great rods and stand behind them.

My suggestion  for a first rod, buy a 2 piece, 9 foot, 5 weight rod for trout, reels for trout don't really matter. Either buy the rod or the reel from a pro shop like Western.  ( I recommend the reel, and have them put the line on for you). Check out Ebay, Craigslist, etc for a deal on a rod, make sure you buy a premium floating line (it does most of the work) and spend a few bucks and get a private casting lesson. That should be no more than $100, probably $50. After that you will be addicted. 2 piece rods are cheaper, and you will probably end up selling that rod down the road for a premium rod. Then get a four piece 9' 4 wt. for trout. Most of us on the west coast get even numbered weight rods, 2,4,6, 8, &10, with 4,6,and 8 weight being the favorites. For some reason the east coast guys use the odd numbered rods more, and have fewer rods.

The flyfishing industry changes out its last year items in August/September, that will be the only time you will see rods/reels on sale. That is the time to shop for premium stuff. You can't go wrong buying Sage Rods. I have over 20 of them, sold or traded to upgrade many more than that.


I would start with one of these:

http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/rods/signature.html#T

they're only $100, a good rod with a lifetime warranty. TFO rods don't suck. They just don't have all the fancy, higher priced reel seats, guides, cork... It doesn't matter, you probably won't own this first rod more than a year. But avoid the Uglystick/ Shakspeare/ berkeley range of gear.


Reels are more important the bigger the fish are. You can find $250- $300  used Abel or Tibor reels on ithe internet, with 30 years more service life in them.

If you can find one, a Sage 490-4 SP is my favorite trout rod, and their 7100-4 SP is my favorite Steelhead/Striper/bass rod. Smoothest, easliest to cast rod I have ever owned. Occasionally you will find them for sale on ebay or flyfishing BB for sale sections.

Of all the things, the private, casting lesson is the most important. tell your instructor you want to learn to cast sitting down, on a kayak/ float tube also. There are a few tricks he will teach you.

A 5 wt will pummel the trout and sunfish/ crappie, be a little on the light end for LMB but ok for Russian River smallmouth and some shad.

You can see there is a lot of choices as to how much you spend. If you submit your tax forms to us, we can taylor the advice  for your financial situation. My fishing buddy uses a $5 outfit for trout that he got at salvation army and he never badmouths it. He just spent $10,000 going to Seychelles for a week for bonefish so it's not that he can't afford it. Cheap rods and reels can be awesome.

Rick
Don't let anybody tell you that an inexpensive outfit is going to "Suck" . They don't know what they are talking about. An inexpensive outfit is more than adequate for trout or bass. I flyfish the planet for all sort of species including Sailfish, Tuna(Bonito to Yellowfin and everything in between, Dorado, Yellowtail, Stripers, Tarpon, Bonefish, trout etc. I have plenty of high dollar rods and reels.   Some of the rods I own and use, Sage RPLXI in 12, 10 and 8wt with Abels and Billy Pate Tarpon and Bonefisher reels, Sage Rpl 6wt with Ross Gunnison. Sage Light Line with Ross Gunnison and some inexpensive St Croix and Scientific Anglers combo's.
I have inexpensive rod reel combo's for floating rivers in my pontoon. If I flip I am out $50 for a Scientific anglers combo. If I flip and lose 2 Sages and Gunnisons I am out big bucks>>>> $2000.
My buddy turned me on to the Scientific Anglers combos. They cost $50 at Walmart. They come with rod, reel and a floating weight forward line. I will cast this rod further than the peeps with high dollar rods who can't cast and say that you need a high dollar outfit.....you don't. This rod casts GREAT. I can double haul and throw 100ft+ with this rod. The reel is fine. I strip fish out of weed beds as I can strip in line faster than reeling to keep trout out of weed beds. Same for LG bass. You strip them in. The reel has a good drag and smooth enough function for 5x or stronger tippet if you want to put the fish on the reel or the fish takes you to the reel. Cabela's also makes very nice flyrod and reel combo for cheap. The Scientific Angler fly combo is a great outfit for a whooping $50 or so. I can catch just as many fish on this rod as my Sages. It is a good starter setup and you can give it to a kid when you are done with it or let the girl friend play with it.
A $1000 for a $600+ flyrod and $300+ for a top end Ross or Galvan reel and Spending Big $$$ is not going to make anyone a better fisherman or catch more fish. Spend what you are comfortable with. $50 to $250 is plenty. If you have a grand to blow than do it. But you really don't need to especially for trout/bass.
Good Luck
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6538103
Looks like it is $69 now. I paid $49 from Cabela's when they used to carry them years ago. They stopped carrying them but I believe they started carrying them again recently. I am not sure what they would sell them for.

.........one other thing. You see a few decades ago the quality of fly rod you would have had to spend $500+ for is now available for a fraction of the cost. You can get a former generation of graphite rod construction for very cheap. The quality of rod construction for cheaper rods is very good (what we used to pay $500+ for) and many cast just as good as ANY HIGH dollar rod from Orvis, Sage, Scott, Loomis, Winston, Powell etc........that is if you know how to cast.

amen to 1flyfisher.
Also, there is no necessity to pay for a casting lesson. That's why there are DVD's etc. Traditionally most flyfishers have a friend show them how to cast, at least most of the guys and gals I know. There are also clubs where free lessons are given out like Saturdays at the Oakland casting ponds to anyone from the Oakland Casting Club. Grizzly Peak Flyfishers in Kensington arranges free lessons and so does Diablo Valley Fly Fishermen in Walnut Creek. Google these if you are interested.

also you are in SF and want to learn to cast. Go to the Golden Gate casting Club. They are in Golden Gate park. They have casting ponds. I went to grad school in the bay area. I have been there. Nice people and they will help you. If you were here at Tahoe I would teach you to double haul in minutes. Another option. Go to a flyshop and RENT a copy of Mel Krieger casting lessons (DOUBLE HAUL) or Billy Pate (double haul) casting tape. Learn to double haul right from the get go. It will put you light years ahead and single hauling leads to poor-er mechanics. Mel teach newbies who never held a flyrod to double haul in 15 minutes. I believe in teaching people to double haul from the get go also. It consists of 4 motions that you can practice in your living room with half a rod and no line to teach you the muscle memory by doing the motion correctly(Using your shoulder not elbow). Once someone gets you all screwed up single hauling half a$$ and bending your elbow...then learning to cast correctly and double hauling becomes more difficult because you have conditioned your muscle memory incorrectly and then learning to dh is like patting your head and rubbing your tummy simultaneously. If you want to fish lakes and the ocean you need a double haul. If you are just going to be high stick nymphing then you can get away with being a lousy caster.

They have a $50 click pawl reel perfect for trout, and the Tempest reel is perfect for Stripers, even salt water.



http://www.sealevelflyfish.com/reels_AlbrightTackle.html

Thanks Guys!  Got something to work on now.  I'll let you know what I end up getting.

Lots of info to digest.  I am planning on going to the golden gate park club, and seeing about casting lessons.  Also, I have a client/friend who has offered to take me there for some pointers.  I intend to take him up on that, as soon as I get a rig.

Rick

Albright is having a big sale from the distributor right now.  It has a 10 day trial, so if I didn't like it I could return it.  The price is sure right!

http://www.albrighttackle.com/reels-bugati.html

http://www.albrighttackle.com/fly-rods.htm

Rick

Thanks Guys!  Got something to work on now.  I'll let you know what I end up getting.

Lots of info to digest.  I am planning on going to the golden gate park club, and seeing about casting lessons.  Also, I have a client/friend who has offered to take me there for some pointers.  I intend to take him up on that, as soon as I get a rig.

Rick

I've heard more than just a few times that that club has some of the best casters in the country. Please share your progress with us.