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Grizzle, just curious... are you using a fly or a spinning rod? Are you fishing lakes or streams the majority of the time? Of course, If you're using a spinning rod then yes, a nice reel is very important but not so much for flyfishing rivers when you don't expect to catch anything over 25"... because most people just don't use the reel.Quote:
Originally Posted by grizzle6
Quote:
Originally Posted by flabango
I spend most of my time fishing rivers, and I'm sure as hell not catching fish over 25" (although I wouldn't mind it):wink:
I do, however, find myself using my reel on anything over 18". Maybe I don't need to, but I enjoy getting em' on the reel and letting the reel do the work.
Ya same here for the most part. In the last 4 years I've caught only 4 or 5 big ol' Browns in the 22-25" range... all on dries. What an incredible high it is landing those big ones... without a reel. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by grizzle6
Ahh. Cool. Different strokes for different folks. I'll admit my reel (and skill) did give me pause for the few fish I've cast to that were 24"+, but they weren't interested in my flies so it didn't matter. And I wouldn't had the money to get to those places if I'd spent it on reels either. And the current one (Orvis Battenkill) has been bashed against rocks on 3 continents.Quote:
Originally Posted by grizzle6
back on track. hev - the outfit you linked to isn't bad, but for $40-50 you could get something definitely better like one of the Redington outfits or a St Croix imperial or the temple fork series. Also checkout Sierratradingpost - they sometimes have decent rods being closedout. I had an LLBean rod - the warranty is nice, but I wasn't impressed with it. Orvis can be good (there warranty certainly is). The Scientific Anglers beginner set I had was crap.
Wowsers... You dont use a reel at all :eek: Just kidding, I understand the argument, but for me fishing is easier and more fun when using a nice reel. And for the record, I dont use $500 reels for trout, but I do spend a couple of hundred on trout reels and enjoy every minute I get to use them. Now back to the original thread, since Hev, just wants to get his brother out there, any of the recommended rods would be great. A year from now when your brother has a closet full of Winstons and Scotts though, you may want to buy him a nice reel to go with them :biggrin:Quote:
Originally Posted by flabango
I need to put a word in for Orvis clearwater setups. It was my first and I have since passed it on to many a friend to get them started. Definately go with a rod/reel with a lifetime warranty. I use it more than I would like.
Unfortunately within the first season your brother with undoubtedly get the bug for a better setup and find his own niche. It just seems to come with the sport. That said, I wouldn't want someone buying me a rod unless I got the chance to pick it out. Its personal I guess.
CABELAS STowaway with one of their light clicker reels or a medilist is the cheapest best combo you can get I like it better then a lot of th ehigh price rods I tried this summer
I caught many stripers on an 8wt quest but I also have a 10wt fenwick with reddington reels I loveQuote:
Originally Posted by fez
Yay! A flyfishing discussion.
Just a word about reels -
I always thought they weren't important until I finally got a good one - a Ross Gunnison (~220) for my 5wt - and now I swear by a decent, sturdy reel. That is the nicest piece of gear I own. I've bashed it against rocks, and it still works like a charm.
temple forks is good rods for the $
anyone know of the equivalent of a TGR board for Flyfishers?
Agreeing on #4-5 weight rods/lines. No need to go with a 9' rod either...(just my opinion)
I have cast line with some nice Temple Fork rods, St.Croix, Cabelas...LLBean/Orvis...(I enjoy my $120 Diamondback)....all of the less expensive genre....etc.
Try to find as light a reel as will fit/match up with the rod's reelseat.... I guess I'm with the guys who've also landed nice trout without using a reel with an expensive drag system. A reel with a drag system is nice, but it just isn't that necessary..and it's more $$$. He'll appreciate the feeling of a lighter reel...a light rod will cast a lot nicer with a lighter reel...
$.01...
Just $.01... I thought you were holding out and now I know you are. Give it up sucka! :wink:
It's good to see all the flyfishers.
Fighting a fish on the reel is a skill everyone should develop if they ever plan on fishing the salt.
If I can find them, I'll post pics of a couple of name brand reels that the drags melted, seized, and blew off the spindle while fighting #100- #120 Tarpon.
In trout fishing I don't think it matters what method you use, but I also think everyone that flyfish's eventually wants to up their game and take on the challenge of salt water fishing.
my 02 ( Flats guide)
Werd!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Hook
Wish I needed my reel a little more these days, but them Snookers will be heating back up any time now.
You should all plan on flyfishing the saltwater. Rivers are quiet and serene, but nothing beats the thrill of hooking up with a real monster. Especially when that monster heads for the nearest cover the second you hook him, trying to break you off with every run. Ever had your knuckles bashed so bad by the reel that you saw stars? Now THAT is fishin'. 40-50" Snook are not uncommon here, with my biggest sitting at 52". Tarpon, well you'll have to ask Hook about tthose.
Open invite to any mags, come fish the flats with me in St. Petersburg/Tampa. You will love it. I'm sure Hook could show you some of the better spots south of here (and there are many spots south of here that are MUCH better:cussing: )
Here are my local fishin' holes:
Fort DeSoto-
http://www.pinellascounty.org/photos...ShellKeyHi.jpg
Weedon Island (My Favorite)-
http://www.pinellascounty.org/photos/HiRes/WeedonHi.jpg
Sunshine Skyway Bridge (where we get the big feeshes)-
http://www.pinellascounty.org/photos/HiRes/SkywayHi.jpg
Might take you up on that sometime. The GF and I want to go Marlin fishing at some point too.Quote:
Originally Posted by warthog
Do It, Do It.Quote:
Originally Posted by Odin
Plenty of room here, as well. As long as you like dogs. Can't help you with the Marlin thing though. They don't live here, and Warthog don't troll.
A nice reel is a great idea.
http://www.islander.com/
(my wife got me one and it's really nice)
Have you been marlin fishing before? its a world unto its own. The captain, mate, and angler have to work as a tight team to have any sucess at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Odin
Its hard to just walk on a boat and know your part if you have never been in the game before, however if your just out to kill a few beers and let your gf work on her tan thats different.
If you can travel on short notice, I'm going to Key West on wed or thur for a few days of flyfishing for sails. It can be a handful throwing a 14 weight flyrod but the casts are short. If the sails are scarce, there are a lot of blackfin tuna around now and you use a 9 or 10 weight on them unless the sharks are around.
Blackfin tuna = instant sushi..yum
TFO Pro series is seriously the most bang for the buck hands down. If you're going to go after a reel too, Teton Tioga is a great reel value. Bar stock aluminum (not stamped) nicely anodized smooth drag if you put the fish on the reel. You ought to be able to get this done for $200. This setup performs like 90% of a typical Sage/Abel setup for about 20% of the price.
depends on the fishing you are doing. if you are wading small creeks and streams this is good advice, but if you are fishing from a boat (especially on the montana rivers) then a 9 ft, 5 or 6 wt is about the smallest rod you should look at.Quote:
Originally Posted by steved
the 9ft is just better for keeping the fly out of your rowers ears and you will need a stout rod to fight the wind.
Quote:
Originally Posted by skitoolong
They are the shit. I like them so much I bought 2 of 'em. A good middle of the road reel for the $$$. Dan's Fly shop in Lake City has a good hook up. He rolls rods for Sage but makes customs and they are first class products. Look him up when on the Lake Fork.
Damm, a big flyfishing discussion and I have been missing it.
Just to echo the Reels disucssion. Good reels are the way to go. You don't need the super top of the line stuff but a good middle of the road one will work wonders. I used to think reels didn't matter and used $30 berkeley reels that would get tangled up all the time. Now I switched over to all Teton Tiogas also and life could not be better.
Also another vote for Reddington. I have a 4wt 4peice pack rod from them and its the shit (bought it at Sierra Trading Post for super cheap).
Thanks to the maggots for edumecating me. After some delibaration I ended gonig with a orvis setup. Clearwater III reel and CLEARWATER 9052 MID FLEX OUT rod. Other setups I looked at were comprable in price but it was hard to know what I was getting. Props to orvis for having a good usable site for fly flishing JONGS like me. My bro loves the gift.
Bumping to demo the importance of fighting fish on a reel.
BTW that's Aspen's Andy Mill fishing, he lives down here when not in Aspen.
http://www.howardfilms.com/chasingsilverTrailer4.html
That show was sick. In my never ending quest to find a good Saltwater Flyfishing show(other than The Walker Cay Chronicles), I stumbled across this gem the other day. I have watched it a couple times, since I tivo'ed it. Highly recommended.
ooooh... I want some of that!