new to the sport

[MrsDucky]

As one of the cheap ones, I say get what gear you can with the gift cards, get whatever else you "need" at BCO. In a week or so, you'll have a new set of "needs" and then you can go to whichever one has that for less! I have the Wally World combo, and it's all right...for now! I'm more interested in the fly tying than the fishing, mostly due to the weather lately! Ask me again in a few weeks. I'm as cheap as they come...but sometimes you get what you pay for. I KNOW that as soon as I get that $175 reel I've been checking out, I'll feel a major difference...until then, I'll keep hauling 'em in on my little one, and guess what??? They fight the same, taste the same (or release the same), and I have just as much fun!

[Woodchuck]

What size rod should I get? Even though I want to fish for bass and the stuff in streams I may fish for trout someday too. I don't want to buy the cheap stuff I will hate but I'm also on a budget until we get our house sold and the new one finished. I have a buddy who ties flies so I'm set there and I can trade him some reloads for plinking too.

[Crippled Caddis]

<What size rod should I get? Even though I want to fish for bass and the stuff in streams I may fish for trout someday too.>

Hoo boy! You don't ask the easy ones! I'm sure that everyone will have a different opinion so I'll get my licks in first. Maybe---I type slowly.

You have at least given us a few qualifiers. For wading the creeks and small rivers that I fish I don't like a 9' rod even though it is the norm these days. I like an 8' unless i'll be bucking brush on a long hike into a small stream when I'll go shorter yet in order to reduce snagging on brush both while walking in and casting. But an 8' rod will do almost everything you need under most situations. The trick will be finding one you like in a 6 wt. Because for the things you specified I think a 6 wt. is what you need. It's light enough for delicate presentations if the caster is competent and it has enough flex to make a small trout or goggle eye fun. It is also suitable for casting the smaller poppers, bassbugs and streamers used for stream Smallies while still being suitable for fishing tiny flies for tailwater trout.

Which puts us right back at the exact rod length and weight line that most authorities recommended for a one rod arsenal back before the longer rods became fashionable. Some things just work. CC

[Woodchuck]

I think I have my mind set on the Sage Launch. It is $175 and according to the BCO site they are made on Bainbridge island. I think it will be more of a confidence issue in my equipment. Other rods may work fine but will I always be second guessing my eqiupment.

[Greg]

The Sage Launch is a fine rod in my opinion. I think an 8.5 foot rod for 6 wt line is a really nice all around size especially if you're going after bass and trout. The reel - I agree with Terry that for trout and bass in MO most reels are overkill. But you do need a functional drag. If you're shopping at BPS do yourself a favor and look at their house brand line. The bass pro CV2 line is only $20 and in my opinion is close to as good as the $60 lines. It's all I use.

Good luck,

Greg

[Terry Beeson]

I would agree that a 6 wt 8 - 8 1/2 ft rod would be a good all around beginner's rod to cover a variety of fishing situations. Of course you could go for the Eagle Claw Featherlite 6' 6" 6 wt... at $15 a great small creek rod!!!

The CV2 line is an OK line in my opinion. I have a DT 3 wt, but would count it as a beginning line to upgrade once you realize you want to continue fly fishing... As soon as Jim catches Michael out of town again and marks down the RIO DT 3 wt line to 75% off, I'll change out my CV2... (Did I just hear Michael faint?)

Hey Mrs. Ducky... you's not cheap... you's just frugal...

Besides, Mr. Ducky told me no way were you cheap... He spends a LOT of money on you... (You know I'm just kiddin'... Gotta keep John outta trouble...)

[Micheal Kyle]

Hello All

Guess who is back in town. I had a great trip and caught a lot of fish but not the fish I wanted I really had my heart set on a Tarpon.

Woodchuck, I agree with the gift cards and fully understand but before you do anything give a call at the shop. 417-889-6548 please call me.

I think that Sage Launch is a great a rod I think that the 6wt is a great all around rod for what you want to do there is however one rod you might want to look at. It is the Scott V2 and is in the same price range. I love both Scott rods and Sage rods and I fish them both I do however use my Scott over the Sage every time I go.

On to the lines I will say this, that the line will break it or make it for you. You really do get what you pay for. I have seen the mass produced fly lines that sell for 20 bucks say that there a 4wt and actually weigh out to be a 6wt. A $20 fly line will work but if it is performance and life that you are looking for I would say RIO first then S/A. They test every line that comes of the line and they make sure it will test to the performance level that it supposed to.

I always say I will let you buy any rod and reel but when it comes to fly lines I will say spend the money and get the best. I have said in the pat I run my fly lines through the gauntlet so that I can make sure they will last for you. I fish over 200 days a year because it is my job to stay informed so that when my customers come in and they are going on a trip of a lifetime, I can make sure that is a trip of a lifetime and not a disaster of a life time.

I not trying to be big headed but that is why the mom&pop fly shop will always be around. It is because we have been on those trips that people dream of and know what it means to you when you catch the Big Salmon or the Big Tarpon or just when you take you kids fishing for the first time and they bring that bluegill or stocker trout in. We are not just collecting a paycheck on Friday and will tell you anything because you are cutting into our lunch break. Not to step on any toes you all know how close our fly shop is to BP and you should some of the stories we get from people and I will be the first owner of a fly shop to say that may get stories on us too.

Enough of being on my soap box. I really enjoy talking to each and everyone of you that come in here and with out you guys the local mom&pop shops would not exist. That goes for every fly shop around the state parks and down at Branson.

Michael

[Terry Beeson]

...I will be the first owner of a fly shop to say that may get stories on us too.

No comment...

Hey Michael... welcome back!

To heck with the big fish pictures... (OK... not really... but... ) How'd the Turkey hunt go?... Please tell this Arkie who got stuck without a chance to go after a gobbler down there that you didn't see any...

And Woodchuck (I should have remembered and thought to tell you that myself) YES... Call Michael before you go to BPS...

[Micheal Kyle]

Turkey hunting was great, it took a couple of days to make those big toms jealous of our decoys be for they would come in. So with that said on the 3rd day we shot 7 birds, every outdoor writer that we had in town killed a bird.

One of the writers that I had a privilege to hunt with is a very avid fly fisherman and you all probably know him his name is Jim Cisada from North Carolina. I'm pretty sure we talked more about fly fishing than we did turkey hunting.

[SilverMallard]

With a $190 gift card collection for BPS, I would head over there and buy their TFO rod/BPS reel (made by Okuma) combo in a 6wt 9' variety. That will run you about $125. I'd then buy an SA Mastery Bass Taper 6wt line (if they sell them). If they don't have that, I would put the rest toward a good vest or chest pack and pay the difference. (FishPond, WilliamJoseph, etc.) Then I would head straight for Michael's shop and take care of the rest. If you still need a line, follow his advice. I think he sells the SA Mastery line, but actually prefers the Rio high end lines himself. We all have personal preferences. BOTH are good lines. If you don't need a line because you got the SA Mastery at BPS, then have him help you out accessories, flies, leader/tippet, etc.

FYI, if you didn't have the gift cards from BPS, I'd tell you to go to BCO and buy that V2 combo that Michael mentioned. That's a very good price on a very good combo. You could spend the $190 on some good waders at BPS or something like that.

I wouldn't get hung up on "Made in America." Even the US rodmakers do not use 100% American-made components in most cases. And virtually ALL of the rods under $200 are made overseas. TFO owns their factory in Korea and actually makes most of the rods I just mentioned for the other guys who advertise themselves as "American made." TFO is owned by a great guy from Dallas, Texas. And he's as red, white, and blue as they come. Building his rods in Korea allows him to offer the highest quality product he can for the dollar you spend. And that is his goal. And they have awesome warranty and customer service.

I gotta agree with Crippled Caddis about reels. It's a storage system for your fly line. For bass and trout and panfish, you do not need a "good drag system." But Terry is right to say that drag/no drag is no longer a matter of price point. I fish Okuma Airframe reels (drag), TFO reels (drag), and Redington RedFly (click-and-pawl) reels. The Okuma and Redington both retail for about $40. The TFO reel I have is a saltwater sportfishing reel. That's a WHOLE different critter! But for the freshwater fish you mention, you can palm the Redington reel on those rare occassions you need to. It takes 1-2 fish making runs to learn this technique effectively. If you don't want to do that, you can buy the Okuma Airframe for about the same price and have a fully adjustable drag that I and a bunch of other folks have had great luck with. Either reel should last you a long, long time and never be responsible for you losing "the one that got away." It's actual function is to store that high quality fly line...the most important component of any fly rod outfit.

I'm with Michael. You can put a great line on a mediocre rod and get terrific results. You cannot put an inferior line on a great rod and get good results.