re: Tell Me About Fly Fishing

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Lots. It's a nice rod that comes in a nice tube with a cool logo but like most in that price range I don't find any of them to be all that much different from the others. It seems that Loomis, Scott, Hardy, etc have better reel seats than Orvis but even that's a subjective opinion.

I'm of the opinion that large majority of name brand fly rods are good. So good that it's hard for most to tell the difference. Once you get up over $400 they are all very good. Eventually it comes down to hardware and warranty. Unless you're a stickler for things like perfectly even wraps or nice printing.

Full disclosure my redfish rods are all over the place. H2's, RPL's, a Trident, and two cheap TFO's. The H2's I got as part of an upgrade program otherwise I would have been happy to keep the Orvis rods I traded in. There are time when the TFO rods don't have enough backbone to handle the conditions but at the same time people are just entering the game with these TFO rods aren't likely to be fishing in slop like some of the more dedicated fishermen who drop big money on rods to minimize that variable.

My advice is usually budget $250 for a rod but try to find one for less. It doesn't matter if it's a 12 year old RPL or a brand new BVK. Don't jump straight to a heavy front tapered line like ignitor or SA redfish. Learn to cast a grain appropriate line. The reel isn't important for reds but try to get something you won't have to replace immediately.

None of this matters if you don't practice.

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Yep, agree with all of that. There's a dude on Microskiff that sells brand new Hardy's for $450 which is the reason I was asking.

I'm all over the place as well. Sage Salt HD, GLoomis Crosscurent GLX/NRX, Hardy, Sage TCX, Scott Meridian, and a BVK or two.

I've been wanting to do this for quite a while now. We don't get many days in the marsh of SE Louisiana with no wind. How hard is it going to be to learn to cast a fly rod with the standard breeze we have in the marshes? I've been fly fishing for salmon in Alaska and trout in Tennessee, but neither cases did I have to cast very far.

I bought a beginner deal at Bass Pro. Great for bream! Takes a bit of practice especially in and around trees but go for it. My setup was about $150-$200. The reel is a White River HC III and the rod is a White River Hobbs Creek HC 865 8’6” #5 line E10.

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What kind of boat do you guys fish off of for reds in the marsh? Just a bay boat? flats boat with a casting platform? Aluminum flat boat with a big arse tower on the font? I have a Blackjack 256 with a T-top that I don't think would be ideal for this type of fishing. I've sort of been in the market for a second boat for getting into ponds and other shallower areas.

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Poling skiffs.

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I bought a setup a few years ago ($150ish) but I haven't figured it out although I live right next to a park pond where I try to practice with it quite often. I keep on getting that "whip" effect and literally popping the flies off the end of the tapered leaders. I've definitely lost more flies than successful casts I've made.

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Most likely, it isn't your rod, but your line that is handicapping you. "budget" fly lines that come with "kit" rods have notoriously bad tapers and can be significantly off on their grain weights. Try a half weight heavy line like the SA MPX and see what that does for you.

For bass and bows? What kind of waters, primarily, will you fish? For bass, are ya fishing big open ponds and lakes or cypress swamps? For trout, are you hitting big wide shoals with plenty of backcasting room or technical streams in the smokies? What kind of trout and what presentation: Weighted line, deep water streamer fishing for giant browns, or dry fly presentations to surfacing bows, etc.?

IMO, to suit most situations, assuming you're in LA or MS most of the time, get the best, highest quality rod you can afford in 5 weight with a medium or medium fast action. If you're fishing really tight places with less opportunities for distance casts, don't go over 8 feet long and get a slower action. Also, if fishing tight places or fishing big bass plugs with a 5 weight, maybe go up a line weight size. I like double taper because I have a 4 weight and with a +1 size DT line I can use bigger bass plugs on the rare occasion that I use them, because the line doesn't add even more weight, but I can also get distance casts when on the little red where I have room to backcast, while also feathering in a dry fly to stocker rainbows with a lighter touch than WF line.

Splurge on the rod; the reel is not as important for the average deep south baw who dabbles with fly fishing for warm/fresh water species.

I like a slow action rod for finesse type fishing and all freshwater fly fishing in general. Casting is therapeutic, and a slow action rod just makes things fun. They make roll casting and other tight situation casts easier also. My next rod will be one of the slow action fiberglass rods that are gaining popularity again.

This is all assuming that you're looking for a single setup to suit your best interests for bass and trout, in general. There's no one size fits all, as you already probably know.

I know NOTHING about real world applications of saltwater fly fishing for reds, etc., but I'm envious of those that do, simply because they get to do it.

The catfish took your fly?

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I have a Blackjack 256 with a T-top

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I am jelly.

It’s okay, honestly doesn’t bother me. There’s been good info here.