Any Fly Fishers?

[srimes]

This is so true, to an extent. If your quarry is under 5 lbs no drag is required. Go after 150 lb and up and you not only need an excellent drag, the body itself must be capable to hold those forces.

Tarpon is the exception. 99.9% of fly fishing doesn't need disk drag like that. I've caught plenty of steelhead with a cheap clicker drag reel. There are plenty of more important things to spend money on: flys, waders, boots, bags/packs, nets, etc. All I need from a reel is to hold the line and to have enough drag resistance to no backlash when I hand-strip.

Fly reels are at the opposite end of the spectrum from baitcasting reels. THOSE are precision machines where quality matters and greatly impacts performance.

$400-ish isn't horrible but can't lie.. It would be great to be all-in at that price since I have no idea if I am going to love it or hate it. Still need a bunch of other stuff all of which are single purpose items.. other than the forceps which I remember using in a slightly different manner back in high school...

Four piece for a smaller package since I might backpack with it.


Rod weight.. I understand the numbers and matching weights. So...
Streams only for now. You narrowed down to 4 or 6. I would think lighter is better.
The rod/reel combo doesn't list a 4 available though.


All research confirms the line being critically important and probably disturbingly expensive.

$400 is PLENTY for a nice rod-reel-line setup for trout. You'd do fine with half of that.

The numbers depend on what size fly you're throwing, and isn't that sensitive (ie, 4 vs 6 isn't huge). 5/6 is typical for trout, start there.

WFF is all you need for most cases, and fits what fly fishing is good at. Most everything else is better accessed with casting rods and reserved for fly purists.

The fly line is the weight you through. The leader tapers from the thick fly line down to the thin line tied to the fly. The tippet is what you tie the fly to, just another word for leader in other fishing setups. None of this needs to be expensive.

You know what really matters most? Skill. So many new fly fishermen are like rich new jeepers that have no clue how to drive off road. You don't need to start with a $100k machine. Get something good enough to cover the basics and practice practice practice. If you want to spend money to jump-start your progress invest in lessons and guided trips, both of which often provide gear.

 

[LukesfirstJeep]

There are quite a few local shops that offer free seminars, paid lessons in casting and fly selection and even have guided tours to some of the local spots.

There are two universities near me that teach flyfishing. My neighbor is one of the instructors. Now that I'm retired, maybe I'll see about auditing a course.

 

[MikekiM]

No Cabela’s near me and without a recommendation I don’t think an online purchase is smart without seeing or handling it.

I wouldn’t know where to begin with fly selection

 

[Bobsled84790]

The advise to take a guided trip is very good . You will gain so much knowledge .

 

[DuckNut]

No Cabela’s near me and without a recommendation I don’t think an online purchase is smart without seeing or handling it.

I wouldn’t know where to begin with fly selection

This is why you need the book. It tells you everything you need to know. Flies and sizes.

As Srimes says too, you could probably be content with a $20 reel from chinazon. The fly line is about $80 and lasts a long time, years.

Watch some videos on attaching tippet to fly line. And a few on backing line to fly line.

 

[cliffish]

Well that was easier than I expected.

Orvis has everything in one shot.

https://www.orvis.com/fly-fishing/rods-reels-line/fly-rods/clearwater-fly-fishing-rods
Rod:
Now. 4 piece or 6? It is your choice and comes down to space and how much you have.

6 weight or 8 weight? 6 is great for average to smaller fish. 8 is a pretty hefty rod. I use an 8 for salmon and steelhead in fresh water and for 10 to 35 pound fish in saltwater. If you are going to be targeting your typical stream trout you could go with a 4. If you are going to be hitting the blue ribbon streams in NY, go 6. I use hefty lightly as the entire rod will be less than 2oz.

Reel:
Get the same size reel as the weight of the rod.

Line:
Same as reel. Taper, you want a WF taper, floating. That means there is more weight at the front and does not sink.

The Clearwater line has everything you need to get going. This is not junk and by no means is it top shelf. It is quality for the price. It is also above beginner gear because in my experience beginner gear is crap and I have seen too many people give up because they are fighting with their gear or they graduate to the next level quickly and wasted that money.

My fly reel for creek trout doesn't even have a drag. I just let the excess lay on the water for the next cast- my fingers are my drag.

This outfit will get you started in the yard. You will also need waders. Neoprene are warm and durable. But they have a tendency to put downward pressure on your knee caps. These are indispensable if you end up fishing for salmon and steelhead in the fall. The fabric ones are kickazz but offer zero insulation.

Now onto the cheat. Scour planet earth for this book.

Matching the Hatch: A Practical Guide to Imitation of Insects Found on Eastern and Western Trout Waters (by Ernest G. Schwiebert and Jams Prosek)

This book tells you the rivers to fish, what insects are hatching for any given month, the times they hatch, what flies to use and what size. This book will have you catching fish, not practicing casting. Follow that book and pay attention to the hexagena limbata hatch. That is the giant mayfly hatch. The biggest trout in the rivers chase the little guys away to gorge themselves. This is the time to catch that giant trout. Ironically, it's happening, oh maybe, now...May. LOL.

Need any specific info, pm me.

any difference in action between a 4 or 6pc rod except size? could an 8 wt rod be used for used for the 12-14" trout and still perform for heavier fish like salt water stuff? or will it not cast smaller flies due to the heavier weight?

 

[MikekiM]

This is why you need the book. It tells you everything you need to know. Flies and sizes.

As Srimes says too, you could probably be content with a $20 reel from chinazon. The fly line is about $80 and lasts a long time, years.

Watch some videos on attaching tippet to fly line. And a few on backing line to fly line.

Father's Day is coming up. Gear and/or lessons are in order.

Now you did it.. you went and added backing line to the discussion. I'm back to square one.

Given how small the local streams are, and that I would at some point backpack with the kit, any thoughts on Tenkara?

 

[srimes]

any difference in action between a 4 or 6pc rod except size? could an 8 wt rod be used for used for the 12-14" trout and still perform for heavier fish like salt water stuff? or will it not cast smaller flies due to the heavier weight?

Wherever you cut a rod into pieces and put in a ferrule you have a stiff point that doesn't flex, so a 4 pc rod will be a little stiffer than a 2 pc if they used the same blank. They could start with a softer blank and end up the same. At the end of the day it's a very minor difference and most people won't notice any differences.

Rod weight is the stiffness, and it's sized based on what you're throwing, not what you're catching. A 5 wt bends much easier than an 8 wt. The problem with using an 8wt to throw a small fly is it'll want to crack like a whip. You can soften it with a longer leader or tippet, but that makes it harder to be precise. Proper presentation is super important.

 

[Mike_H]

I do some fly fishing. Thankfully, I live near Cabelas, so was able to go in and buy a “kit”. 12’ 4 piece rod, 4 weight for the streams we have here. I took a class at one of our DNR field offices. Flies are crazy expensive, but I’m not going to start tying my own.

I will say, practice casting in a low risk environment. I started on a pond, catching bluegill and bass. There is nothing more frustrating than snaging up in a tree. Each fly is a few bucks, and you can go through a bunch, quickly. If you aren’t good at casting, you’ll spend more time re-tying flies and tippet than you do fishing. Some of the streams I fish, I should be using a shorter rod, they are so tight.

It’s fun and rewarding when you get it though.

 

[MikekiM]

Wherever you cut a rod into pieces and put in a ferrule you have a stiff point that doesn't flex, so a 4 pc rod will be a little stiffer than a 2 pc if they used the same blank. They could start with a softer blank and end up the same. At the end of the day it's a very minor difference and most people won't notice any differences.

Rod weight is the stiffness, and it's sized based on what you're throwing, not what you're catching. A 5 wt bends much easier than an 8 wt. The problem with using an 8wt to throw a small fly is it'll want to crack like a whip. You can soften it with a longer leader or tippet, but that makes it harder to be precise. Proper presentation is super important.

I do some fly fishing. Thankfully, I live near Cabelas, so was able to go in and buy a “kit”. 12’ 4 piece rod, 4 weight for the streams we have here. I took a class at one of our DNR field offices. Flies are crazy expensive, but I’m not going to start tying my own.

I will say, practice casting in a low risk environment. I started on a pond, catching bluegill and bass. There is nothing more frustrating than snaging up in a tree. Each fly is a few bucks, and you can go through a bunch, quickly. If you aren’t good at casting, you’ll spend more time re-tying flies and tippet than you do fishing. Some of the streams I fish, I should be using a shorter rod, they are so tight.

It’s fun and rewarding when you get it though.

Good stuff.. thank you all.

The streams here are all very, very narrow. Maybe 20 - 30 feet at their widest. And most are largely under cover.

 

[cliffish]

No Cabela’s near me and without a recommendation I don’t think an online purchase is smart without seeing or handling it.

I wouldn’t know where to begin with fly selection

I was just in a Cabela's today in NH, not much rod wise in the fly section

 

[cliffish]

this site better explains the orvis kits

https://www.reelflyrod.com/orvis-clearwater-905-4-fly-rod-outfit.html

https://www.reelflyrod.com/orvis-clearwater-908-4-fly-rod-outfit-kit-90-8wt.html

fenwick

https://www.reelflyrod.com/fenwick-aetos-105-4-fly-rod-combo.html

 

[DuckNut]

Father's Day is coming up. Gear and/or lessons are in order.

Now you did it.. you went and added backing line to the discussion. I'm back to square one.

Given how small the local streams are, and that I would at some point backpack with the kit, any thoughts on Tenkara?

Learn the roll cast.

Backing is to take up space so you take up more line on each rotation. You'll never need it. Use a $3 spool of 30lb from Walmart.

 

[DuckNut]

any difference in action between a 4 or 6pc rod except size? could an 8 wt rod be used for used for the 12-14" trout and still perform for heavier fish like salt water stuff? or will it not cast smaller flies due to the heavier weight?

Sure can. The difference will be you dragging the fish in vs fighting the fish.

Srimes described the difference in feel on rods with different number of pieces.

 

[srimes]

Learn the roll cast.

Backing is to take up space so you take up more line on each rotation. You'll never need it. Use a $3 spool of 30lb from Walmart.

I've needed it. Was visiting my inlaws and needed to get out, so I borrowed my FIL's 5w trout rod and went to see if I could pull some smallmouth out the river that ran through the middle of town. Caught a few of those feisty little buggers. It was almost time to head back and then I hooked up on what gave me the toughest fishing battle of my life: a 30 lb carp. He took off down stream and I just couldn't turn him with that 6lb tippet. Pulled all the line and almost all the backing with no sign of slowing down so I took off after him to avoid loosing it.

I chased him for a few hundred yards until I figured out I could get him to turn by pulling in the opposite direction I wanted. That's how overpowered I was. He eventually tired out, and just a little before my shaking arms did. I took me 4 hours to land that fish. I was so late coming by my wife was worried I was messing around with another woman


I've also needed the backing on steelhead. Big fish in strong current can be impossible to turn. Backing is cheap and when you need it you really need it!

 

[cliffish]

I am heading to Bozeman MT in sept, I am emailing guides now and see what their suggestion about gear is. I would love not to buy Chinese but USA made rods seem to be over a $1000 for just the rods

 

[DuckNut]

I am heading to Bozeman MT in sept, I am emailing guides now and see what their suggestion about gear is. I would love not to buy Chinese but USA made rods seem to be over a $1000 for just the rods

There are some fine rods/reels by American companies. If their goods ard made in the US it will be expensive. If the company hires china to handle the manufacturing the design will be stolen.

I can tell you with certainty that a well known US company has had every reel and rod ripped off...the only difference is the colors. Ebay is loaded with exact copies of US goods.

 

[cliffish]

There are some fine rods/reels by American companies. If their goods ard made in the US it will be expensive. If the company hires china to handle the manufacturing the design will be stolen.

I can tell you with certainty that a well known US company has had every reel and rod ripped off...the only difference is the colors. Ebay is loaded with exact copies of US goods.

Yeah I get that. The orvis Clearwater was designed in VT but is made in China. Do have a particular us made rod. I am looking at Bozeman fly works, initially it looks to be USA made but the sub $400 price leads me to think otherwise

 

[BlueC]

I have GAD really bad. (Gear Acquisition Disorder)

Stay away from fishing, or you'll have BROKE on your bank statements.

I suggest finding a local guide or two who has all the gear and pay for a few trips before buying anything. See if you even like it, and get a basic understanding of what you need, and more importantly, what you don't. Keep in mind, shinny lures are for catching fishermen.

 

[MikekiM]

Stay away from fishing, or you'll have BROKE on your bank statements.

I suggest finding a local guide or two who has all the gear and pay for a few trips before buying anything. See if you even like it, and get a basic understanding of what you need, and more importantly, what you don't. Keep in mind, shinny lures are for catching fishermen.

Best advice yet. I was two steps ahead of you.