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Started By
Message
Beginner Fly Rod
Posted on 6/24/24 at 7:32 am
Posted on 6/24/24 at 7:32 am
Headed out to Colorado next month and would like to fly fish a bit with my son. Have fly fished a couple of times, but definitely not an expert and would like to buy a beginner setup to use on this trip and maybe around LA for bream, small bass, etc. Dont want to spend a fortune (say less than $100) as I likely won't use that often. Have seen a few basic setups on Amazon, but wanted to see if the OB had any recommendations.
Thanks
Ben
Thanks
Ben
5
Posted on 6/24/24 at 7:45 am to craazyjose
I had been using a Cabela's combo for the last 5 or 6 years. It was around $75. This year I picked up the Temple Fork Outdoors Bug Launcher combo (about $200) and it's noticeably better than the cheaper combos I'd been using.
I went with the 5-6 wt. I caught a 2 lb bass on it and it handled it well. Comes with line, backing, and a hard case.
https://tforods.com/product/bug-launcher-kit/
This is pretty much what I was using before. It got the job done.
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/100861280-white-river-fly-shop-dogwood-canyon-fly-outfit-100861280
I went with the 5-6 wt. I caught a 2 lb bass on it and it handled it well. Comes with line, backing, and a hard case.
https://tforods.com/product/bug-launcher-kit/
This is pretty much what I was using before. It got the job done.
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/100861280-white-river-fly-shop-dogwood-canyon-fly-outfit-100861280
This post was edited on 6/24/24 at 7:47 am
Posted on 6/24/24 at 8:24 am to craazyjose
I'll preface my comments with the following. I've fly fished for going on 50 years now. I've owned and fished with everything from cheap fiberglass rods in the 70's to high end graphite rods (Sage and Winston) and even bamboo.
A few years ago I stupidly forgot my rod on a quick midday trip to a local stream/river. I stopped at a sportsmen's warehouse to pick up some just to fish with for the day. I ended up getting a Reddington Path. I've enjoyed that rod so much, it's almost my go to at this point. It's not as fast and stiff as my Winston, but in my mind that's a plus. Most of the the fish I catch aren't 50'-60' away, they're 20 feet away. Plus the slower action makes it a little more forgiving. I can't recommend it enough for a beginner.
For what you're wanting to do, I'd say a 9' 6wt would be perfect.
A few years ago I stupidly forgot my rod on a quick midday trip to a local stream/river. I stopped at a sportsmen's warehouse to pick up some just to fish with for the day. I ended up getting a Reddington Path. I've enjoyed that rod so much, it's almost my go to at this point. It's not as fast and stiff as my Winston, but in my mind that's a plus. Most of the the fish I catch aren't 50'-60' away, they're 20 feet away. Plus the slower action makes it a little more forgiving. I can't recommend it enough for a beginner.
For what you're wanting to do, I'd say a 9' 6wt would be perfect.
This post was edited on 6/24/24 at 8:25 am
Posted on 6/24/24 at 8:53 am to craazyjose
8 - 9 foot 5 or 6 weigh graphite (only because finding a glass flyrod is hard to do today). Simple reel.....nothing you're talking about fishing for will require a reel that is anything more than a place to hold a floating weight forward fly line. I bought a 7 foot 3 weight from Bass Pro last summer at this time to catch bream on and I paid less than $80 for the combo....and it works exactly as I expected it to. You do not want to learn with a 3 weight though cause you will break it...5/6 is perfect,
Don't bend your wrist or elbow while casting. Keep them locked. Pull the line taught before back casting and wait until you feel the line weight before shooting (casting forward). The rod should never go behind you...the tip will when it loads but the rod butt should always be poiinting nearly straight up. When the rod is loaded properly the fly line will shoot forward and the leader will roll over perfectly and the bait will land on the water without any disturbance.....if you find yourself muscling through casts you are doing it wrong....even a cheap fiberglass fly rod that weighs 10 pounds will allow you to cast for hours on end without pain...try to muscle it and you will give up fly fishing. Straighten the line...snap it off the water with a quick motion with as little flex in you wrist and elbow and wait until the line pulls the rod...and snap it forward. The rod will do the work...any rod. Don't worry about double hauling and all manner of fancy stuff...just a straight line, a quick snap with straight arm and wait for the rod to load....
You will find that the line will shoot amazingly well when you do it correctly...plenty of distance for about 99.9% of fishing. It will do so in a stiff breeze and it will do so with amazing accuracy. If the line is slapping the water behinid you or the groung youre beding your wrist, elbow or both....if the line shoots forward and "bounces" back toward you youre using to much muscle on the forward cast....let the rod do the work...even a cheap one will. If the line is shooting but the leader is not rolling over (the fly is landing between you and the end of the fly line) you aren't using enough speed on the forward cast.
The biggest issue most grown men have who take up fly fishing is they suffer from the idea that strength is involved. It is actually counter to the desired effect...speed is the idea....pick up the line until it is straight, snap it back, do not break your wrist of elbow, wait for the rod to load and snap it forward....before you know it you will be shooting 20 yards of line and the leader will be rolling over perfectly and your fly will kiss the water without a ripple.....
Don't bend your wrist or elbow while casting. Keep them locked. Pull the line taught before back casting and wait until you feel the line weight before shooting (casting forward). The rod should never go behind you...the tip will when it loads but the rod butt should always be poiinting nearly straight up. When the rod is loaded properly the fly line will shoot forward and the leader will roll over perfectly and the bait will land on the water without any disturbance.....if you find yourself muscling through casts you are doing it wrong....even a cheap fiberglass fly rod that weighs 10 pounds will allow you to cast for hours on end without pain...try to muscle it and you will give up fly fishing. Straighten the line...snap it off the water with a quick motion with as little flex in you wrist and elbow and wait until the line pulls the rod...and snap it forward. The rod will do the work...any rod. Don't worry about double hauling and all manner of fancy stuff...just a straight line, a quick snap with straight arm and wait for the rod to load....
You will find that the line will shoot amazingly well when you do it correctly...plenty of distance for about 99.9% of fishing. It will do so in a stiff breeze and it will do so with amazing accuracy. If the line is slapping the water behinid you or the groung youre beding your wrist, elbow or both....if the line shoots forward and "bounces" back toward you youre using to much muscle on the forward cast....let the rod do the work...even a cheap one will. If the line is shooting but the leader is not rolling over (the fly is landing between you and the end of the fly line) you aren't using enough speed on the forward cast.
The biggest issue most grown men have who take up fly fishing is they suffer from the idea that strength is involved. It is actually counter to the desired effect...speed is the idea....pick up the line until it is straight, snap it back, do not break your wrist of elbow, wait for the rod to load and snap it forward....before you know it you will be shooting 20 yards of line and the leader will be rolling over perfectly and your fly will kiss the water without a ripple.....
Posted on 6/24/24 at 8:58 am to Loup
quote:
This year I picked up the Temple Fork Outdoors
TFO rods and reels are ideal in my opinion. They are affordable and will do what they are supposed to do. No doubt more expensive rods will handle better but most people do not need better, they need functional. If your casting is right a cane pole will work...not a split bamboo rod but a cane pole. Even big redfish can be caught on a simple single action reel.....drag is nearly useless on a fly reel, 99% of fly fisherman never actually handle a fish on the reel....as long as the reel will turn and is not locked up the drag is nearly useless.
Posted on 6/24/24 at 9:46 am to craazyjose
Take a casting lesson. But don't let them sell you a $600 rod.
You can find a good combo for under $200. Google best budget fly rod combos.
You do NOT need an expensive reel for trout.
You can find a good combo for under $200. Google best budget fly rod combos.
You do NOT need an expensive reel for trout.
Posted on 6/24/24 at 10:12 am to craazyjose
I bought a $46 piscifun 4wt for when I went out to Colorado a couple years ago. Spent a little more money on a TFO rod but you can get cheaper.
Ended up catching around 100 trout in a couple of days without issue.
Ended up catching around 100 trout in a couple of days without issue.
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