Beginner fly rod

[TaperPin]

I've gone to full on 7wt for big streamers. you don't need much rod to chuck wooly buggers, I grew up doing that with a 5wt, even a 4wt.

I agree - every fly box regardless of rod wt should have a number of wooly buggers.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I agree - every fly box regardless of rod wt should have a number of wooly buggers.

There's some modern variations of them out there that work really well too.

 

[BLJ]

There's some modern variations of them out there that work really well too.

Which ones have you used?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Which ones have you used?

I used one called a wooly sculpin that had me catching fish like crazy. Let me look at my notes and see what else I’ve used.

 

[dylanvb]

This is my latest adventure. I picked up a fly rod for bass fishing a couple of years ago but was never successful. As of the last week I have dived back into fly fishing partially because I have always wanted to learn but also because my son is getting to the age where he is starting to enjoy being outside more. I want to get him hooked on fishing a spinner and I can practice fly. With that being said my buddy recommend an Echo Carbon XL pole 4W-5W and a Lamson Remix reel. I am still doing research into lines and flys etc but was just curious what you guys think about that rod/reel

 

[thinhorn_AK]

This is my latest adventure. I picked up a fly rod for bass fishing a couple of years ago but was never successful. As of the last week I have dived back into fly fishing partially because I have always wanted to learn but also because my son is getting to the age where he is starting to enjoy being outside more. I want to get him hooked on fishing a spinner and I can practice fly. With that being said my buddy recommend an Echo Carbon XL pole 4W-5W and a Lamson Remix reel. I am still doing research into lines and flys etc but was just curious what you guys think about that rod/reel

That's a great setup. Echo makes good rods for the price and you could o much worse than a lawson reel. Get a good line on that and catch a bunch of fish.

 

[BLJ]

This is my latest adventure. I picked up a fly rod for bass fishing a couple of years ago but was never successful. As of the last week I have dived back into fly fishing partially because I have always wanted to learn but also because my son is getting to the age where he is starting to enjoy being outside more. I want to get him hooked on fishing a spinner and I can practice fly. With that being said my buddy recommend an Echo Carbon XL pole 4W-5W and a Lamson Remix reel. I am still doing research into lines and flys etc but was just curious what you guys think about that rod/reel

Scientific Anglers Mastery GPX Fly Line - Weight Forward - Save 53%

Scientific Anglers Mastery GPX Fly Line - Weight Forward in Green at Sierra. Celebrating 30 Years Of Exploring.

www.sierra.com

No experience with this line but I have some coming to try out. From what I’ve read it seems to be a good option for the price.

 

[s1768s]

ERA Fly Rod | Best Fly Rod for the Money

Designed to deliver outstanding performance at a price that is accessible for all anglers. The ERA is fun to fish and makes a great entry level or backup rod.

douglasoutdoors.com

As someone said earlier, the reel for these type of fish are just there to hold line, don’t spend money there or on the backing/line for what you are looking to do.

Can’t go wrong with the Clearwater, but the Douglas rods are great up and down the board.

Orvis does make it easy with the full kits. Walk in, walk out with a ready to go set up.

Just buy one that fits your budget to get going and start fishing. When the bug really gets you (it will) and you want to hit the saltwater, that’s when things change a bit for the set up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[thinhorn_AK]

ERA Fly Rod | Best Fly Rod for the Money

Designed to deliver outstanding performance at a price that is accessible for all anglers. The ERA is fun to fish and makes a great entry level or backup rod.

douglasoutdoors.com

As someone said earlier, the reel for these type of fish are just there to hold line, don’t spend money there or on the backing/line for what you are looking to do.

Can’t go wrong with the Clearwater, but the Douglas rods are great up and down the board.

Orvis does make it easy with the full kits. Walk in, walk out with a ready to go set up.

Just buy one that fits your budget to get going and start fishing. When the bug really gets you (it will) and you want to hit the saltwater, that’s when things change a bit for the set up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree that for that sort of fishing the reel is just a line holder BUT, those cast spools and frames break really easily. They work fine but I've seen them break from 3 foot drops onto a boat deck. If there's an argument to spending a bit more, I think that's it, a 300 dollar reel won't really work better but it will be far more durable and fully machined.

 

[IdahoBeav]

Which ones have you used?

A mini peanut envy is a killer- stacked blondes and mini dungeons are also great streamers.

Woolys and leeches do well, but IMO they're a little more suited for the beginner streamer fisherman or waters that don't have many large fish. They're great for getting started with streamers, but I prefer something more aggressive.

 

[Tradchef]

My vote is the Redington classic Trout. Great rod for starting out and just to have as a great back up rod regardless

 

[thinhorn_AK]

A mini peanut envy is a killer- stacked blondes and mini dungeons are also great streamers.

Woolys and leeches do well, but IMO they're a little more suited for the beginner streamer fisherman or waters that don't have many large fish. They're great for getting started with streamers, but I prefer something more aggressive.

All of the galloup streamers are awesome, Ive had crazy luck with the stacked blond, bush pilots and zoo cougars, actually, I've had great luck with every galloup pattern there is. That's the whole reason I switched to a 7wt and sinking lines to throw those.

 

[Thinkingman]

Scientific Anglers Mastery GPX Fly Line - Weight Forward - Save 53%

Scientific Anglers Mastery GPX Fly Line - Weight Forward in Green at Sierra. Celebrating 30 Years Of Exploring.

www.sierra.com

No experience with this line but I have some coming to try out. From what I’ve read it seems to be a good option for the price.

I was just about to post STP for lines.

As for the comment about reels being nothing more than a line management device, I generally agree...However--Last Friday I went out wading throwing caddis and march brown dries during a hatch 3 miles from my house on the Bitterroot River.
I had two takes on a sz 14 dry and ended up hooking the biggest brown of my life.
This was on a 4wt rod and 5X tippet.
That fish did what ever he wanted...3 jumps cleared the water, slow, powerful runs...I legitimately expected him to break me off. Every time he got close to the net, he just turned and swam away.
I finally did net him and this thing was a slab.
22-23" Brown buck.
Moral of the story...If I didn't have a decent drag on that reel, I don't think I would have landed him.

 

[IdahoBeav]

All of the galloup streamers are awesome, Ive had crazy luck with the stacked blond, bush pilots and zoo cougars, actually, I've had great luck with every galloup pattern there is. That's the whole reason I switched to a 7wt and sinking lines to throw those.

That dude has the best names for his flies, lol. I wish someone sold a stacked blonde on a size 6 or 8 hook. I'm trying to find someone to custom tie some for me.

I've had good luck with the Airflo streamer max short in stillwater and rivers with large pools, but when fishing moving water, I find that it's easy to be too long. I have been running the Airflo Trout polyleaders, and they are awesome once you learn to cast them. They're $10-$15 each and come in several lengths and sink rates. They work well on the end of a power taper line. With this setup you can easily swap back to a 3x conventional leader and throw hoppers or salmon flies on top.

 

[s1768s]

I was just about to post STP for lines.

As for the comment about reels being nothing more than a line management device, I generally agree...However--Last Friday I went out wading throwing caddis and march brown dries during a hatch 3 miles from my house on the Bitterroot River.
I had two takes on a sz 14 dry and ended up hooking the biggest brown of my life.
This was on a 4wt rod and 5X tippet.
That fish did what ever he wanted...3 jumps cleared the water, slow, powerful runs...I legitimately expected him to break me off. Every time he got close to the net, he just turned and swam away.
I finally did net him and this thing was a slab.
22-23" Brown buck.
Moral of the story...If I didn't have a decent drag on that reel, I don't think I would have landed him.

A big brown may be the one that takes you there and that changes the story. Just go buy the Clearwater and make it happen. Then, come back here and let us all know when you want another rig for something different. A lot of us have played this out over the years and it is not much different than rifles and scopes. Have fun.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

That dude has the best names for his flies, lol. I wish someone sold a stacked blonde on a size 6 or 8 hook. I'm trying to find someone to custom tie some for me.

I've had good luck with the Airflo streamer max short in stillwater and rivers with large pools, but when fishing moving water, I find that it's easy to be too long. I have been running the Airflo Trout polyleaders, and they are awesome once you learn to cast them. They're $10-$15 each and come in several lengths and sink rates. They work well on the end of a power taper line. With this setup you can easily swap back to a 3x conventional leader and throw hoppers or salmon flies on top.

I caught more fish last year with the stacked blonde than than any other, I think I have 10 or 15 of them because they work so well.

 

[Thinkingman]

A big brown may be the one that takes you there and that changes the story. Just go buy the Clearwater and make it happen. Then, come back here and let us all know when you want another rig for something different. A lot of us have played this out over the years and it is not much different than rifles and scopes. Have fun.

I think you were directing your comments to the OP.
I have a pretty full quiver..2wt, a couple of 3wts, 4, two 5s, two 6s and an 8.
I started buying mint secondhand Ross USA reels a few years ago and they serve me well.
The Bitterrroot river will spoil a guy.

 

[s1768s]

I think you were directing your comments to the OP.
I have a pretty full quiver..2wt, a couple of 3wts, 4, two 5s, two 6s and an 8.
I started buying mint secondhand Ross USA reels a few years ago and they serve me well.
The Bitterrroot river will spoil a guy.

You are correct on this for the OP.

 

[3325]

Don’t overlook Tenkara. They’re a lot of fun.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Don’t overlook Tenkara. They’re a lot of fun.

He should definetly overlook that.