Can someone recommend a nice reasonably priced fly rod? I am looking to get my brother one for his b-day, but know pretty much nothing about the sport. Also any other reasonably priced items to throw in would be apreciated.
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Can someone recommend a nice reasonably priced fly rod? I am looking to get my brother one for his b-day, but know pretty much nothing about the sport. Also any other reasonably priced items to throw in would be apreciated.
Sage is a real standard. Fenwick is sort of a Ford/GM type.
A set of leaders (4x-7x) is a nice inexpensive addendum as would be a decent assortment of dry flies or size assortment of muddler minnows.
Like skis "reasonable" varies from person to person and application to application. A budget and intended use (trout? salmon? saltwater?) would be appreciated. St. Croix makes some nice rods.
Reddington makes a pretty nice and reasonably priced one. Sage would be a pretty expensive one. I have a sage and a reddington- the reddington is not bad at all.
Cool thanks guys, my budget is around 200 and application is freshwater trout.
I'll tell ya, I bought a rod/reel package from Cabela's for my younger brother, and while the reel was nothing to write home about, the rod had a nice smooth action.
Sage has that DS2 line...i've got a 3 wt and it's a nice little rod.
Yes, I agree, go with a Redington plus they have a lifetime warranty. A good starter rod is the Redfly #4,5 weight - 8.5' length. That is a good all around rod for small to medium size rivers.
Small to medium rivers by Utah standards. I don't know where he will be fishing???
fishing will be done in steamboat/north park.
Look at the Orvis Clearwater rods. Go to an orvis dealer and see if they any refurbs in stock. Usually can get one for $150 or less. Still has the same Orvis warranty.
If he already has graphite fly rods, you can prowl around the net to find older bamboo rods. They're vintage, kinda like having a singlespeed.
For $200 you can get a decent St. Croix rod. My father has one and it works great. Great feel and nice backbone when a larger fish is hooked. It is used for freshwater trout.
Have you looked at Temple Fork? This was my first saltwater rod.They have freshwater stuff too. Good price and good rod for starters. No need to blow the bank on something you can't appreciate.
http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/
$200 for the whole set-up? Beter look at Cabelas or Bass Pro packages. Some pretty good stuff there, and comes complete with line and everything. Couple extra bucks gets you a couple basic flies too.
Does your bro already flyfish? If so you better look at what he already has. Flyrods are like skis... anyone into the sport has a quiver. Personally I have 7 or 8 rods and people would be hard pressed to buy me a rod I would actually use, unless they asked me what I needed. Plus alot of fisherman get very particular about rods and may not even like the action of some companies rods. If he does have rods, personally, I think you would be better off seeing if he needs a good reel. $200 buys you a nice reel, not just "reasonable" as it does in rods. Hope that helps.
Heh, I was going to recommend Temple fork also.
If your brother is a good caster he will like the stiffer action of the TF, if he's just starting out he will most likely want something with a softer action.
TF's also have a bullet proof warranty, just send it back, no questions asked, no hassles.
One advantage to Sage is they have several actions available in the lighter weights, so he could exchange it for a different action if he didn't like the one you gave him.
Flyrods as gifts rock!!!
professor beat me too it
Not to change the subject... but I will. If you're fishing for average size trout why do people buy these expensive reels? The only thing the reel does on a fly rod is provide a way to conveniently store the line. I know flyfisherman are vain but for the most part a reel is a reel is a reel. Fortunately I was able to raid my dads tackle box and found a brand new vintage Hardy bros. reel. It holds my line well and passes with flying colors through the elitest checkpoints I encounter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Professor
And yes, if he's already an established fly fisherman then a $200 rod is like going to the prom in an 84' Chevette. If that's the case you may want to go with some nice Simm's wading boots or waders.
Since I am 'working' instead of skiing, I will address the reel question. I used basic spring and pawl reels for trout for years and on my 4 weight and under I still do. However, I fish Lamson Lightspeeds on my 5 weights and up. The reason is I NEVER want to lose that trophy fish due to a reel problem. When you hook into something big on a small spring and pawl reel it is up to you to do everything. Top it off with trying to get a bunch of line put back on the reel when the fish gets close and you can end up with all sorts of problems. I do have to say though I am one of the few people that I know that actually will put trout "on the reel" instead of playing them by dragging line through my hands. This helps me avoid bringing in a fish only to lose it when he makes a big last run and I am sitting there all tangled up in my line. I also find that being able to let larger fish run a bit further when in a boat is definitely a place that a nicer reel helps.
I have a nice temple fork 6 weight for the heavy salmon and large fish we get here. I love the rod, and picked it up for about 139
PLUS Temple Forks gives you a
"Our NO-FAULT WARRANTY on all our rods is for the life of the original registered owner. "
TFO 06 90 4 P 6 Wt. 9'-0" 4 Pc. 3.8 Ounces IM6 Graphite¹ $139.95
http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/gra...sional_tfo.jpg
I also picked up a Okuma Magnitude Reel for aboot 60.00 or so.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/co...316322sq02.jpg
Then you will need line, w/ backing.
I like this
http://www.jimteeny.com/jtCatalog/ca...es/boxSink.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by Professor
You said it all Prof. I've found that fishing with a good reel is totally comparable to skiing powder with fat skis. You can ski powder with skinny skis, just like you can catch a fish with a crappy reel, but skiing pow is so much easier and enjoyable with fatter skis. Same can be said for catching a fish on a good reel.
I think you might be confusing a good flyrod with a good flyreel. Or maybe fat skis with poles?Quote:
Originally Posted by grizzle6
Unless it's a big trout I never use my reel. See flabangos average trout comment. My reel holds line - and gets banged against rocks. I don't have a cheap reel (it was $90 or something, the ones I've had that were less were POS) but it's no $500 LA wonder machine either.
Whoa. Lots of great info. I am probably go the cabellas route so far just cus I have been happy with thier pricing in the past(and don't know what I am looking at).
My brother is long time fisher, but just moved to steamboat so it's a new oppurtunity for great fly fishing. The goal of the setup is to get him out there. I am sure he'll form an opinion down the road but I don't think he has one yet.
I guess I am actually seeking a combo. This is kind of the one I like so far.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...231&hasJS=true
Yo Hev! I've got a $20 coupon you can have for Cabelas.
I guess we would have different fishing styles there chief. Also--no condescending intended here, but I would consider $90 somewhat cheap for a real. It's very likely an adequate reel, but it would definitely be on the cheaper end of things.Quote:
Originally Posted by cj001f
LL Bean Quest series 99.00 nice rod lifetime warrenty
The quest series really are pretty nice rods for the money. I've only fished them in 10 wt (both the stripers in my avatar were caught on 10 wt quest series rods), but my brother and I had no problem chucking streamers 80+ ft with them. nice easy action.Quote:
Originally Posted by vtdownhiller
I also have a 5wt 4 piece ll bean guide series rod that i really like the action of as well.
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.