Fly Rod And Reel Combo?

[asap52]

This probably wont be a popular comment but I'll make it anyway.

I was in Bass Pro today and they had their 9ft 2 piece 5wt combo on sale for $70. It is a cheaper alternative. Some will say that you get what you pay for, which is a relative statement. I own a couple of these that I use as loaners when I take friends fishing. They are good intro combos. If that is what you are looking for, it's a good deal. If you are looking for more, maybe the St. Croix is a better deal.

My 2 cents.

Noted and being considered. This is what I am looking for.......your opinions and suggestions. Thanks!

[Paola Cat]

Noted and being considered. This is what I am looking for.......your opinions and suggestions. Thanks!

DaddyO is right on .... nothing wrong with a BPS or Cabelas starter combo.

[kaiser]

DaddyO is right on .... nothing wrong with a BPS or Cabelas starter combo.

I Agree with Daddy O,, I actually bought that combo for my boy when we went to Wyoming ,, He is a beginner and he did quite well with it... No issues and was able to make some good distant cast with it...

[asap52]

DaddyO is right on .... nothing wrong with a BPS or Cabelas starter combo.

Do you guys recall the name brands from BPS and Cabelas on their combos that you are talking about?

[Njardar]

You could easily go the cheapo special route, and if you decide its not for you you're out $70 bucks give or take. The alternative is to buy a decent intro rod (TFO, ECHO etc...) and if you find fly fishing is not your thing you can always sell the rod and reel on e-bay. My first rod was a TFO Lefty Kreh Professional that a Sage rep helped me pick out. One of my wife's coworkers loaned her his bargain fly rod for a trip...one look and one cast and we left the loaner home. The advice you've received so far is dead on... go try the rods, then decide.

- Charlie

[asap52]

Just got to wondering......what diameter reel should I be looking for or does it matter that much in the LIR and RRSP. Does it need to be matched with the weight of the rod? Thanks again guys.

Corky

[lostinthecity]

I bought my wife a BPS Dogwood Canyon set 5wt and was really impressed with it. Didn't want to spend a lot of money in case she did not stick with the sport. It casts very, very well and she was able to even catch some fish on it her first time out.

IMHO, the diameter of a reel isn't so important as he weight balance. Do not want to be too heavy on the tip or the butt. Reels are classified by regular arbor, mid-arbor and large arbor. In general, increasing slightly in diameter with the arbor and usually weight, depending on material. Larger the arbor means less line memory.

A sealed drag is worth the extra cost.

I really don't think for a generic trout rod arbor size makes that much difference, except do believe casting for distance with large arbor is easier. Get one too big or too small for the rod and balance will be off.

Also good to have a reel with one side that spins so can palm-drag it.

[asap52]

Well I have a rod and reel on the way. Now you guys need to help me out with the small things that catch fish. What is the best fly or lure combo for the LIR? Any starting advice will be appreciated.

Thanks guys!

Corky

[OKFlyFisher44]

Here is a list of flies that have worked for me over the years and are Ozark standards no matter where you fish I believe. On the nymphs, I would try to buy them with a brass or tungsten beadhead, IMO, but thats just me.

Dry Flies - All in sizes 16-22

Adams

Parachute Adams

Blue Wing Olives

Elk Hair Caddis

Griffiths Gnats

Pale Morning Duns

Stimulators (sizes 12-16)

Light Cahills

Tricos

Creme and Black Midges

Foam Beetles (size 14-16)

Foam Ants (size 14-18)

Foam Hoppers (size 10-14)

Nymphs - All in sizes 14-20 (Sometimes larger or smaller depending on where you fish)

Copper Johns

Gold Ribbed Hares Ear

Pheasant Tail

Prince Nymphs

Wire Body Midges (Red and Black)

Red Fox Squirrel Nymphs

Scuds (Green, Tan, Orange)

Sowbugs (Green, Tan, Orange)

Stoneflies (Sizes 8-12)

*Some of these patterns are offered in a rubber-leg version, always a good varation to have in the fly box!

Various

Soft Hackles (Various colors - sizes 14-18)

Wooly Buggers (Black, Purple, Olive, Brown - sizes 8-12)

Mohair Leeches (Black, Purple, Olive, Brown - sizes 10-14)

Sculpins (Olive, Brown, Black - sizes 8-12)

Caterpillars (Green, Red, Yellow - sizes 14-18)*

Cracklebacks (Brown, Yellow, Red - sizes 14-18)

Eggs (Red, Pink, Orange, Peach - sizes 16-20)

Y2K Bug - (sizes 16-20)

San Juan Worms (Red, Pink, Brown, Orange, or Chamois)*

*The chamois worm and caterpillar is kind of a local pattern that I've only seen in a few fly shops in Missouri, so you might not see it online, don't worry about it.

All of the above patterns are all good for anywhere in Oklahoma, Missouri, or Arkansas. There will always be a certain fly that is working and you won't have it though...its happened to me 100s of times so you just have to give in and go get them from a fly shop local to the river.

Other recommendations:

•For trout, I always use 9ft, 5X-6X flourocarbon leaders except under certain situations where you need to use 7X for tiny dry flies or can get away with 4X or 5X when fishing bigger streamers like woolly buggers. You can always trim off the tippet section of your leader and add whatever tippet size you want. This also allows you to rebuild your leader and save you a little $$$ over time as long as the "butt" section of the leader is in good shape. I'd keep at least 1 extra leader in your pack and as far as tippet goes, a spool of 5X and 6X will cover most situations for trout. Or buy the Maxima or something similiar in 2lb and 4lb test. I firmly believe in flourocarbon leaders and tippet...its far superior to standard mono, but its also usually double the price so thats up to you.

•For bass, stripers, sandbass, etc, I use 7 1/2ft - 2X flourocarbon leaders. The shorter leader will allow you to cast and turn over the bigger poppers and weighted streamers that you will use for these species.

•Even though you can buy the nymphs in a beadhead pattern, get some weights because there are a lot of times where you'll need the extra weight to get the flies down to where the fish are in very deep or fast water.

•Some floatant and dry-shake is always good to have in the pack for your dry flies too.

There ya go...

[DaddyO]

Disregard my post to your other topic. Chance have give you all the information you will need. I highly recommend that you print out his post and keep it with you when you go to Bass Pro/Cabellas/Local Fly Shop, etc....

Good Job, Chance.