Any Fly Fishers?

[DuckNut]

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

Shakari is the worlds largest blank maker. You can buy an exact duplicate of a $400 G Loomis blank for $26.

Many many companies use Batson blanks. A store semi local to me has barrels of leftovers for less than $35. These are US made but they dont make rods, just blanks and components.

I believe Winston is all US.

 

[TallGuy]

Nice!
I go out a few times a year in Arizona. More when I lived in Nor Cal on the Sacramento River. Most peaceful and relaxing hobby I've ever done. I would say I'm definitely a hobbyist and can tell you to not waste your money on anything longer than a 10ft rod. Longer is not better and on narrow creeks or rivers you want something 8-10ft tbh. Streams I would stick with 6-8ft.

Buying the best will not give you the best experience. Learn with something under $200 and spend money on good flies and line. Bank fishing will seem easier but it's not. Get some waders and jump in which is the best experience.

Floating flies will be easier to learn with so you can easily check your casting and drift. Take a trip to your nearest river and just observe. You'll see what insects are on the water and then you can make an easier fly choice by mimicking what the fish are already feasting on.

Now I'm getting the urge to go!

 

[DuckNut]

Nice!
I go out a few times a year in Arizona. More when I lived in Nor Cal on the Sacramento River. Most peaceful and relaxing hobby I've ever done. I would say I'm definitely a hobbyist and can tell you to not waste your money on anything longer than a 10ft rod. Longer is not better and on narrow creeks or rivers you want something 8-10ft tbh. Streams I would stick with 6-8ft.

Buying the best will not give you the best experience. Learn with something under $200 and spend money on good flies and line. Bank fishing will seem easier but it's not. Get some waders and jump in which is the best experience.

Floating flies will be easier to learn with so you can easily check your casting and drift. Take a trip to your nearest river and just observe. You'll see what insects are on the water and then you can make an easier fly choice by mimicking what the fish are already feasting on.

Now I'm getting the urge to go!

Yep. This weekend is a free weekend away from youth activities. So what does a dad do...well tomorrow we will be heading out in the boat to do some deep dropping and then Sunday we will hit the water for tarpon on the fly and be home in time for brunc, fishy fingers and all.

 

[cliffish]

Yep. This weekend is a free weekend away from youth activities. So what does a dad do...well tomorrow we will be heading out in the boat to do some deep dropping and then Sunday we will hit the water for tarpon on the fly and be home in time for brunc, fishy fingers and all.

Nice, heading to Islamorada in a few weeks, might do a tarpon trip (not fly). This thread is really wanting me to get into fly fishing. Any thoughts on the Echo brand or TXO?

 

[DuckNut]

Nice, heading to Islamorada in a few weeks, might do a tarpon trip (not fly). This thread is really wanting me to get into fly fishing. Any thoughts on the Echo brand or TXO?

Never heard of them. I have used a TFO, but never heard of TXO. Tons of people making rods these days.

This will give a great place to start. The information can be extrapolated to different weights of the same model. But don't transfer from different models by maker. They also do an 8 weight shoot out.

 

[cliffish]

Never heard of them. I have used a TFO, but never heard of TXO. Tons of people making rods these days.

This will give a great place to start. The information can be extrapolated to different weights of the same model. But don't transfer from different models by maker. They also do an 8 weight shoot out.

meant TFO..sorry

 

[basedbb69]

I started fly fishing last year, I've been to north ga twice trying to catch some trout, no luck there yet but I've found that it's actually super easy to go fish ponds and lakes with one. In my experience I was getting way more bites than id get with lures in the same spots. Ive caught bass, crappie, and sunfish with mine. It's good to fish at a lake too so you can work on your cast before you try it at a river and end up with your line in a tree.

I'm using a reddington rod, cross water reel. The kit was 140$. I got a cheap case of flys too. I didn't want to spend a bunch of money until I figured out if I liked it. My experience has been the cheap gear works just fine.

 

[03RubiPHX]

The best advice or direction I suppose was don't worry about a perfect cast. Your rod is already 6 to 10 feet out and if your wadding another 10 or what ever feet off the shore line. You've already walked over all the fish. Toss it out there and let the water do the work.
I Bass fished all my life , the first time I caught a trout on a fly line I was hooked. I haven't gone back...And yes I'm the guy that likes the jewelry. It can get expensive if it's something you enjoy like anything.

Look up Abel reels if you get a chance and Winston rods.....for an idea of how deep the rabbit hole gets. They're not cheap but neither is having a jeep!

 

[cliffish]

Any thoughts on the Orvis recon outfit?

https://www.orvis.com/product/recon-fly-rod-outfit/2YLB_2.html

I can grab a slightly used set up for sub $500

 

[03RubiPHX]

Any thoughts on the Orvis recon outfit?

https://www.orvis.com/product/recon-fly-rod-outfit/2YLB_2.html

I can grab a slightly used set up for sub $500

You'd have to cast it and get the feel for it honestly. I have a really nice Sage rod that I rarely use because it to stiff for me. I like a softer almost noodle like rod. My son loves the feel of it though. Most fly shops even cabels or bass pro (depending in the sales guy) will take you out front and try a few different ones.

 

[cliffish]

You'd have to cast it and get the feel for it honestly. I have a really nice Sage rod that I rarely use because it to stiff for me. I like a softer almost noodle like rod. My son loves the feel of it though. Most fly shops even cabels or bass pro (depending in the sales guy) will take you out front and try a few different ones.

yeah, I know I am probably putting the cart before the horse. Heading to PA in 2 weekends for a fly lesson that they will provide the gear. Just trying to pick up some decent slightly used gear instead of the Chineasium stuff out there.

 

[03RubiPHX]

You'd have to cast it and get the feel for it honestly. I have a really nice Sage rod that I rarely use because it to stiff for me. I like a softer almost noodle like rod. My son loves the feel of it though. Most fly shops even cabels or bass pro (depending in the sales guy) will take you out front and try a few different ones.

 

[cliffish]

Well of course I could not wait, bought an Echo lift rod and a pre-spooled Piscifun Sword Fly Fishing Reel, if for nothing else something to practice with in the backyard. Also not so expensive that I would be really pissed if it fell off the kayak. Wife and I took a casting lesson and enjoyed it. I will probably get a guide for us here on Long Island soon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3TCVPL2?tag=wranglerorg-20
https://www.tridentflyfishing.com/echo-lift-fly-rod.html

 

[MikekiM]

I gave much thought to this and reviewed the recommendations here and visited a few fly fishing shops. Not a lot of them around here as most of the fishing deep sea or surf casting.

Came to the conclusion what would best for me is a Tenkara setup. I do a lot of backpacking. My summer total pack weight for a three day, two night trip is rarely more that 15-17lbs and my three season packs are all custom Zimmerbuilt DCF frameless packs so things need to be super compact and light.

Opted for a TalonMINI310 Pocket Rod from DrangonTail Tenkara. At just about 2oz and with a collapsed length of 12" it is barely noticable in the side pocket of my pack.

 

[cliffish]

I gave much thought to this and reviewed the recommendations here and visited a few fly fishing shops. Not a lot of them around here as most of the fishing deep sea or surf casting.

Came to the conclusion what would best for me is a Tenkara setup. I do a lot of backpacking. My summer total pack weight for a three day, two night trip is rarely more that 15-17lbs and my three season packs are all custom Zimmerbuilt DCF frameless packs so things need to be super compact and light.

Opted for a TalonMINI310 Pocket Rod from DrangonTail Tenkara. At just about 2oz and with a collapsed length of 12" it is barely noticable in the side pocket of my pack.

yeah not many shops here, ironically the only freshwater shops are in Nassau not near the rivers here in Suffolk.???

 

[03RubiPHX]

Great setup - you'll be plenty happy . I learned a while ago to use "fly line cleaner/lube" after a day of fishing . I was surprised the first time I used it. With the more economical fly lines it may be needed during your fishing day. I have a trip up in Montana sometime in August and another day trip up to Lees Ferry . A couple guys around here fish the canals for carp and bass and do pretty well. I usually just save it for a nice river .

 

[DuckNut]

Well of course I could not wait, bought an Echo lift rod and a pre-spooled Piscifun Sword Fly Fishing Reel, if for nothing else something to practice with in the backyard. Also not so expensive that I would be really pissed if it fell off the kayak. Wife and I took a casting lesson and enjoyed it. I will probably get a guide for us here on Long Island soon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3TCVPL2?tag=wranglerorg-20
https://www.tridentflyfishing.com/echo-lift-fly-rod.html

Stripers on the fly is fun.

On my bucket list is to go to PEI and land a tuna on my fly rod. My goal is not to hook one of those 600 pounders and lose 3 grand in equipment. A nice 250 would be special.

 

[MikekiM]

yeah not many shops here, ironically the only freshwater shops are in Nassau not near the rivers here in Suffolk.???

Pelagic Outfitters in Lindenhurst. RiverBay Outfitters in Bellmore. I'm sure there are more, but you would think there would be at least on the Suffolk county north/south corridor.
Massapequa Creek & Resevoir are the only fishing spots I can identify that are west.

 

[cliffish]

Pelagic Outfitters in Lindenhurst. RiverBay Outfitters in Bellmore. I'm sure there are more, but you would think there would be at least on the Suffolk county north/south corridor.
Massapequa Creek & Resevoir are the only fishing spots I can identify that are west.

I have talked with riverbay, will probably use them to guide a trout trip on the Connetquot. Will have to look into Pelagic, have not heard of them. There are also guides I might look into to do a Saltwater striper/bluefish trip on the north shore.

Would love to land this on a fly!

 

[MikekiM]

I have talked with riverbay, will probably use them to guide a trout trip on the Connetquot. Will have to look into Pelagic, have not heard of them. There are also guides I might look into to do a Saltwater striper/bluefish trip on the north shore.

Would love to land this on a fly!

View attachment 621783

I reached out to Riverbay for a guided trip on LI as well. That was before I started to entertain Tenkara. Connectquot is one the most obvious options. Caleb Smith could be a destination as well. The Nissequogue is said to be a target rich location, but I think it's only accessed by boat.
Not inviting myself but if you wanted to pool resources, I'd be open to a "group" outing if mixing Tenkara and western fly fishing didn't mess the guide up too much.