Help me build a rok solid fly set up.

[thinhorn_AK]

Wait a minute, I thought you don't cast the rod. I'm confused, now you're getting me off to a bad start

My bad, I walked right into that one.

 

[RME]

My bad, I walked right into that one.

No worries my friend. I've never heard of the rod casting thing but at one time I was pretty involved with the old FFF casting instructor program and there were raging debates for years over various casting "defintions". In print people would say you have to use a word this way but then in conversation they'd immediately revert back to old usage without realizing it because language isn't easy to change.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

No worries my friend. I've never heard of the rod casting thing but at one time I was pretty involved with the old FFF casting instructor program and there were raging debates for years over various casting "defintions". In print people would say you have to use a word this way but then in conversation they'd immediately revert back to old usage without realizing it because language isn't easy to change.

Pretty much exactly what I just did. I’m in the middle of dealing with all sorts of fishing stuff right now. Between making sure I’m all set for the spring once ice is off here, prepping g for my trip to fish down in Belize, then getting ready for a bonefish trip to Molokai over the winter, I’ve been unconsumed with this stuff for a bit, add some winter steelhead and that’s all I’ve been doing. Now I need to think about going on a few bear hunts and an aoudad hunt this time next year.

 

[Dos XX]

I think all my rods are capable of it, I do t think I am though.

Luckily I’ve never really needed to get my line more than 50-60 feet out.

Yeah. I was being funny. Or trying to.

 

[Flyjunky]

Now that is a strange way to “fly” fish. I’ve done that for steelhead and it’s cool to
Be fishing but not really a style that I love. Like 9feet of 30lb mono, a bobber, weight, an egg and then a hook a few inches under that. It works, I’m not sure it’s really fly fishing though.

What’s super lame though is steelhead fishing with a bobber and a spin rod….

Anything but swinging for steelhead is lame

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Anything but swinging for steelhead is lame

Swinging is cool but it’s lame to be stuck on small sections of giant awesome rivers. I got into Spey last year but it wasn’t very effective since I fish form a boat 95% of the time.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Yeah. I was being funny. Or trying to.

Yeah I was too.

I have an area on my property where I have enough room for a backcast and enough clear area to cast 90 feet but I don’t even try usually. Before saltwater trips I work on 30-60 feet with a single back cast.

 

[flyfisher117]

Jimmy’s is a great shop, I miss talking to Jimmy when I lived in Idaho Falls. I hope it’s still great now that Fly Fish Food has taken it over.

They aren’t bad now that fly fish food took over. But there’s a couple guys working there that definitely aren’t my favorite. I’ve tried to branch out and support other shops in the area because of them.

 

[wowzers]

I still vote that a 9’ 5wt is the best all around rod. If you feel under gunned with it get a single hand Skagit line and some cheap mono for running line and you can huck huge flies.

TFO makes an interesting rod called the drift that you can use at lengths from 9’-12’3”. Is setup to euro nymph, dry fly or trout Spey. I picked one up from Sierra Trading for sub $200 but I’ve yet to fish it. I’m skeptical if it can do everything it claims well.

As others said for the majority of trout fishing in Idaho the reel is mainly to hold you line. I actually like the older click and pawl style.

 

[dgfavor]

Thanks for all the comments from everyone.

After researching, watching videos, feedback from here... I will be buying the Lamson and putting some SA line from the local fly shop Jimmy's in Idaho Falls. It seemed best band for the buck and that's what this current build is aimed towards.

Has anybody had any experience with the KastKing Chest Pack? Seems like a decent bargain.

Kastking chest pack

Remember, this is to help all new fly fisherman get started with above average gear without spending 1500 dollars on a reel/rod combo. If all goes and I enjoy it as much as I think I will, Ill upgrade next spring to some fancy stuff...

Right on! You're on your way. Personally, I rarely use a chest pack or fanny setup around here. I get by often with just a lanyard that has a rack of tippet, floatant, and hemostat/scissors. Stuff a flybox in my pocket then just add water!




It can be as simple or complicated as a person wants to make it...and at the end of the day a fish with a brain the size of a pea usually outsmarts us anyway!! My wife says I take it too serious - she says my mantra is "either you're fishing or you're rowing! We gotta have a fly on the water!!" This is her approach...






I know we would have had an eat right off the end of that island if she wasn't chillin' just enjoyin' the damn day!!

Somehow, thru alot of years, we haven't killed each other stuck in a 16ft boat for hours on end.