Beginner fly rod

[Flyjunky]

Maybe the issues are a bit more recent. I took a Rio flats pro to Mexico last summer and it got all chewed up and we weren’t even fishing over coral, just catching mid size bonefish and baby tarpon. I also had a 9wt with an SA grand slam that looks like it’s new even after 3 separate saltwater trips. When I was in Hawaii fishing for bone fish last winter, the guide said he’d given up on Rio lines for the same reason.

As a former Rio guy, about 5 years ago I basically moved all my single hand lines to SA. RIO just wasn’t holding up like they used to. For freshwater applications I’ve been really happy with their amplitude lineup.

 

[butcherboy]

Sage, loomis and Scott Ross start in the ~ 6-700 dollar range….great rods all of them but not really what I’d call a beginner rod for somebody who wants to see if they like it.

I suggest going out and trying some rods if at all possible, they aren’t all the same/equal. Within brands, there are certain models that are better and within models of rods there are certain weights that just perform better.

One of my least favorite rods I’ve uses was a Thomas and Thomas avant 2 7 weight. It just sucked. The 6 weight from the series was nice though.

I just s looked at a Fenwick the other day at Sportsman’s Warehouse that was under $250.00.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I just s looked at a Fenwick the other day at Sportsman’s Warehouse that was under $250.00.

I didn’t even know fenwick made fly rods. I’ve never considered them a fly fishing company. Maybe it’s a regional thing but I thought they just made spinning rods for crappie fishing.

 

[bigbassin]

I just s looked at a Fenwick the other day at Sportsman’s Warehouse that was under $250.00.

I didn’t even know fenwick made fly rods. I’ve never considered them a fly fishing company. Maybe it’s a regional thing but I thought they just made spinning rods for crappie fishing.

The Fenwick Aetos 6wt is a great rod. Not sure what they are now, but I got mine for around $130 pre covid.

Covers all my river bass fly fishing, typically throwing sinking line with the below fly attached. Feels as fast as a spinning rod, I don’t like it at all for indicator fishing, but launches small to mid size streamers with ease. Handles poppers pretty good too, I just don’t typically throw top water.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The Fenwick Aetos 6wt is a great rod. Not sure what they are now, but I got mine for around $130 pre covid.

Covers all my river bass fly fishing, typically throwing sinking line with the below fly attached. Feels as fast as a spinning rod, I don’t like it at all for indicator fishing, but launches small to mid size streamers with ease. Handles poppers pretty good too, I just don’t typically throw top water.

Sounds like it’s been a great value for you. For several years the only thing I had was a st croix imperial 5/6, I think I got it in 1999 and it’s all I had until ~ 2018 or so. I had some cheap reel make by a company called “Argus” and some cheap line. I caught a bunch of fish with that thing over the years.

In college a friend of mine got a scientific anglers setup from Walmart for pretty cheap, less than 75 dollars. It had everything ,line, reel, rod, flies, nippers etc. I remember that guy catching a whole lot of fish out there with me too.