Fly rod/gear recs?

My boss is a big time fly fisherman and he’s a really big fan of Orvis. He said their deals are good and the staff is very helpful. Highly recommended.

Check EBay!

I have an Orvis Rocky Mountain Large Arbor 3/4 if you would like to put it to use --> thesaskwatchtd@gmail.com

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I would do a 6wt to battle the western winds plus you can use it for bass.

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I live out west, fish a fair amount and this is what I'd recommend.

What river are you staying on?

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I vote for a five weight. The Douglas DXF 9 foot, five weight is an excellent choice (350~). I recommend a Ross Colorado (300~) reel or the less expensive Ross Animas (190~ on sale now) reel. Line should be 70-90, or so.

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WAY too expensive for a Beginner setup. Come on man, give practical advice. (And I am not saying the above are bad suggestions. They just aren't practical for a beginner.) I am of the same mindset of Gamatt53....

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There is absolutely no need spend more than 200 bucks on a fly rod as a beginner and when trout fishing basically any reel by a reputable company will have a quality enough drag to subdue a trout.

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And to the OP, trust me. I've lived out here and fished big western rives on a regular basis for almost 20 years now. Get a 6wt. I've fished the Green, the San Juan, the Madison, Henrys Fork, the Fire hole and have spent way too much time on the Provo (they're all within driving distance for me.). For throwing nymph rigs, streamers, big terestrials or fighting the wind (and the wind ALWAYS blows out here), you'll appreciate the extra umph, the 6wt will gives you. You'll give up a little bit in small fly presentation, but how often will you do that? FWIW, I fished size 20 midge dries yesterday on my 6wt in moderate wind. (and it was 27 degrees when I got to the river). My presentation wasn't the issue, it was seeing the flies.

I think the Echo and TFO suggestions are excellent ones (I'd give a slight nod to the echo, because not all TFO rods come with a case), and should put you in a rod for 1/2 of what the above poster suggested.

And lets get down to brass tacks. The biggest differences between most fly rods these days is the fit and finish of the rods. Almost all of them are vastly superior to the first graphite rod I owned 30 years ago. Yes, as you go up in price the modulus of the graphite gets denser and the swing rate and flex patterns change, but as a beginner, this is something the OP won't like be able to distinguish at this stage in their career. The same thing applies to reels.

I've posted both of these videos before, but you should watch these videos by Kelly Galloup

How to pick a fly reel by Kelly Galloup

How to test a fly rod by Kelly Galloup

And much more important that what you're holding in your hand is what you're wearing on your feet. A good/decent pair of waders and wading boots will make your experience much more enjoyable than what ever rod you're holding in your hand.

After doing a little research, the Orvis Clearwater comes highly recommend. Complete combo, minus case, for $250ish.

LINK

There are 2 Orvis Options that fit your request. The Orvis Clearwater or The Orvis Encounter. Both are full combos(rod,reel,line)that are beginner level with a fast action and good price. They are nearly identical on specs and quality BUT the Clearwater carries the Orvis guarantee, the Encounter DOES NOT.

A 9-5 fly rod is the Montana state flag, will cover anything in that state. You could go higher or lower and probably not notice a difference as a newbie.

I fished the 9-5 Encounter for a year, on about a dozen trips and noticed some stress fractures around the connection joints, which happens with a lot of rods, of all levels, it would be nice to have the guarantee to return it when broken.I fought Big Oregon Browns pushing 25" with it and had no issues.

I'll be up in Montana mid-August, fishing for a week or so, I love it there.

Also, I live in Wyoming and have for the last 10 years. I fish 4 wt thru 7. Have multiple 5s and 6 weights. For an all around rod I recommend getting a 6.

Yes there are situations that you would like to throw a five, but more times than not you will want the 6 weight. Dealing with wind, hopper dropper rigs, nymph rigs with an indicator all will be easier, especially for a beginner with a 6.

Tigers33, I love Wyoming, but do you mind turning the wind off the next time visit?

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Also, I live in Wyoming and have for the last 10 years.

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Up by Yellowstone, down by Ham's fork and the Upper Green or over by Casper and the North Platte?