Help me choose a fly setup!

[jlisk]

Alright so I have decided to take the leap into fly fishing, this has been something I would dream about as a child when I would see those fly fishing pictures in the magazines on a pristine river... XD


Back to reality I am looking for a good all around type setup mainly targeting resident trout but with the ability to lay into some smallies. I decided after much research to start with the standard 5wt 9' rod, WF floating line, and obviously... a reel.

My budget is 350, I plan on buying a cheaper reel based on what I have been told about what components are most important in fly fishing (rod/line).


So throw some suggestions my way!

 

[Madriverfisher]

Lots of choices I'd go with a redington combo bps has them as does sail it gives you everything you need for below you budget giveing you room to buy leaders tipper and flies

 

[[email protected]]

right now, sail has some nice sage rods on clearance, reg 209 starting price clearance for 149, the 5wt is reg 249 so i'd assume the clearance price is 200, i might suggest something a little heavier for bass, turning a trout in a creek is one thing, but pulling a smallie out of a weed bed is another

http://www.sail.ca/en/catalogue/fishing/fly-fishing/2156/vantage-series/

 

[grubman]

Talk to Madriverfisher, he's a big time fly nut. Plus he knows when the fly swap is coming up. I got a thread on Wilson's fly tying course, that's if you really want to take the plunge.......lol.

 

[grubman]

Ha Mad you beat me to the button........lol.

 

[[email protected]]

for a reel, you could go with this one paired with the sage rod, still leaving you with some room for flies and leaders

http://buy.scientificanglers.com/concept-2-reel-58-pre-loaded-wf-5-6-fly-line.html

its a nice reel, i've got one for my 6wt

 

[jlisk]

Thanks for the replies (and quick) I was actually looking at that sage rod on sale (at sail). I'll definitely look into that and the combo mad pointed out. I will say though I would rather spend my full budget and get a rod thats a bit above straight entry level then saving a few bucks on the combo. I find that with a lot of things I pick up once I get over the initial "what am I doing?" phase I tend to wish I had spent the extra 50-100 to get something a bit more mid/entry range.


Oh and I already ahve a vise and fly tying stuff, was tying "semi-realistic" damsal flies. A couple turned out pretty good.

 

[Madriverfisher]

I'd go with the sage rod that's a good deal I didn't here about it as for tells cant go wrong with Ross or Lamson and go with rio for line And if you want help learning casting and stuff I'm more then happy to help you

 

[jlisk]

I'd go with the sage rod that's a good deal I didn't here about it as for tells cant go wrong with Ross or Lamson and go with rio for line And if you want help learning casting and stuff I'm more then happy to help you

Thanks for the tips everyone. Mad I will definitely have to take you up on a casting/rigging everything up lesson when I get all the parts picked out.

 

[Madriverfisher]

Ya for sure just let me know I'm glad to help

 

[schnip]

i am not expert however the orvis clearwater courpled with access reel is right atround that price--good ratings online...just my input. also i am an ebay nut--if you have time hop on there, type in orvis, reddington etc... you will find complete setups and rods and reels alone. that would normally run into chapter 11 for cheap---i say this as i havent been fly fishing long at all and i am already assessing what i am going to replace with upgraded stuff--its just the nature of the beast..

 

[[email protected]]

I'd go with the sage rod that's a good deal I didn't here about it as for tells cant go wrong with Ross or Lamson and go with rio for line And if you want help learning casting and stuff I'm more then happy to help you

definately ross, i've used em....smooth as silk, and look good to boot

mad, you'll have to let me know when you're out east, maybe we can get together and toss some bugs

 

[Madriverfisher]

I don't get out easy a lot we can figure something out espically come summer well have to hit the upper grand together

 

[ChaseChrome]

Hey man: check out the sale section on hipwader.com...some good rods on offer there. Any other input feel free to e-mail me at my gmail account.
cc

 

[AKnook]

definately ross, i've used em....smooth as silk, and look good to boot

mad, you'll have to let me know when you're out east, maybe we can get together and toss some bugs

X2 All I use are Ross reels. Had one minor issue with one of my reels, sent it in and back in a week. Great product and service.

 

[AaronKrick]

Scientific anglers make an amazing combo. I started with one and i still use it quite a bit! I think the trout model is 6wt which will do everything. I highly recommend this rod and reel. It is less then $150, i cant remember the exact price. It come with a rod, reel, line, instructional video, a fly box, and a few flies.

Cant go wrong with it.

 

[weemalky]

I'm in the same boat, I was liking the look of the Orvis combos that Schnip mentioned and the Ross reels. Ran into a casting instructor Thursday at a river using a Mackenzie switch and some Norwegian reel making the Spey casting look effortless. Also heard good things about the St.Croix rods. Too many choices, do you get an 7 or 8 for steel salmon or a 5 for all round or even a nice light 3? I need to win the lottery...

 

[Madriverfisher]

man tell me about it i need to win as well i could go on for days about you can get as in fly fishing there are so many ways to go but it depends on what you play on fishing for most weather it be resi trout or steel head bass pike or whatever i use anything from a 2 wt im about to order to a 8 wt switch rod and everything in between i dont recommend going that route off the bat but decide what you want to fish for most next year and buy a rod that will work for that species of fish and see how you like it then more on to target other fish

 

[jlisk]

So I ended up going a teeny bit over my budget... but I am sure set to grow into this setup.

Mystic Reaper 5wt 9' paired with a Guidline Reelmaster Trout.

Got a great deal on the reel so I couldn't turn it down...

So they showed me how to set up the backing and line and how to tie on a loop to loop connector for the leaders.


All in all very knowledgeable and friendly service. 100% have my business from now on for anything fly/appeal related.


Big thanks to the guys over at grindstone anglers.

Now I jsut wish I could go out to some water and learn how to cast. I don't even care about the fish right now. XD

 

[Madriverfisher]

Nice set up I have never cast a mystic rod but heard good things about them I know bill spicer works there from time to time congrats on the new setup let me know when you want to fish I will try to get out and show you the ropes