Comments on LL Bean Streamlight outfits

[Doug Kanter]

Been spin-fishing for 40 years, and I'm about to buy my first fly fishing
equipment. The budget's very tight at the moment, and even if that weren't
the case, I'm not sure I want to drop much more than $200-$250 into a
rod/reel outfit if I'm not sure I'm going to really enjoy fly fishing. So,
I'm looking at LL Bean Streamlight outfits, in 9ft 5wt, for $195 (2 piece)
or $229 (4 piece). I'm leaning toward the 4 piece because I like to backpack
into remote ponds.

I'd appreciate comments on the brand/model in general, as well as thoughts
as to the "cons" of 4 piece rods. Most of my fly fishing will be for trout
on small to medium streams, or perhaps panfish. Already have waders, a
serious addiction, and a prescription from my doctor for the new equipment.
Unfortunately, Blue Choice will only cover up to $175 of the rod/reel combo.
:-)
-Doug

[Greg Jetter]

Doug Kanter wrote:

> Been spin-fishing for 40 years, and I'm about to buy my first fly fishing
> equipment. The budget's very tight at the moment, and even if that weren't
> the case, I'm not sure I want to drop much more than $200-$250 into a
> rod/reel outfit if I'm not sure I'm going to really enjoy fly fishing. So,
> I'm looking at LL Bean Streamlight outfits, in 9ft 5wt, for $195 (2 piece)
> or $229 (4 piece). I'm leaning toward the 4 piece because I like to
> backpack into remote ponds.
>
> I'd appreciate comments on the brand/model in general, as well as thoughts
> as to the "cons" of 4 piece rods. Most of my fly fishing will be for trout
> on small to medium streams, or perhaps panfish. Already have waders, a
> serious addiction, and a prescription from my doctor for the new
> equipment. Unfortunately, Blue Choice will only cover up to $175 of the
> rod/reel combo.
> :-)
> -Doug
here's a thought , why not grab a set up from you local wal-mart stor for
around 50 bucks , then if you decide to continue look for better gear ,
that way if you decided NOT to continue you're only out a few bucks.

Greg

[Sr.]

As a 50 plus year old conisure of hunting and fishing equipment over the
years (INCLUDING an ll bean fly-fishing outfit), I'd suggest skipping the
'budget priced' stuff. My 'bean' pole is in the closet and I couldn't tell
you the last time it got to go fishing!! Wait till ya can afford a
qualllity outfit. Sorry, can't help ya with the 4 pc-never used one.
Sr.


"Doug Kanter" > wrote in message
...
> Been spin-fishing for 40 years, and I'm about to buy my first fly fishing
> equipment. The budget's very tight at the moment, and even if that weren't
> the case, I'm not sure I want to drop much more than $200-$250 into a
> rod/reel outfit if I'm not sure I'm going to really enjoy fly fishing. So,
> I'm looking at LL Bean Streamlight outfits, in 9ft 5wt, for $195 (2 piece)
> or $229 (4 piece). I'm leaning toward the 4 piece because I like to
backpack
> into remote ponds.
>
> I'd appreciate comments on the brand/model in general, as well as thoughts
> as to the "cons" of 4 piece rods. Most of my fly fishing will be for trout
> on small to medium streams, or perhaps panfish. Already have waders, a
> serious addiction, and a prescription from my doctor for the new
equipment.
> Unfortunately, Blue Choice will only cover up to $175 of the rod/reel
combo.
> :-)
> -Doug
>
>

[Steve Sullivan]

In article >,
"Sr." > wrote:

> As a 50 plus year old conisure of hunting and fishing equipment over the
> years (INCLUDING an ll bean fly-fishing outfit), I'd suggest skipping the
> 'budget priced' stuff. My 'bean' pole is in the closet and I couldn't tell
> you the last time it got to go fishing!! Wait till ya can afford a
> qualllity outfit. Sorry, can't help ya with the 4 pc-never used one.
> Sr.

And have you ever tried TFO rods? I do not think a beginner is going to
find much difference between a $89 series 1 tfo or $200 ticr and one of
your $600 rods.

--
Bush is a disgrace to the constitution. See
http://www.amconmag.com/12_15_03/feature.html
http://www.altpr.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=39

[Scott Seidman]

"Sr." > wrote in
:

> As a 50 plus year old conisure of hunting and fishing equipment over
> the years (INCLUDING an ll bean fly-fishing outfit), I'd suggest
> skipping the 'budget priced' stuff. My 'bean' pole is in the closet
> and I couldn't tell you the last time it got to go fishing!! Wait
> till ya can afford a qualllity outfit. Sorry, can't help ya with the
> 4 pc-never used one. Sr.
>

Boy, not my experience at all.

I taught a fly fishing course this weekend-- about thirty people, and we
provide gear when the students don't have it.

One of the rods a strung up for the students was a Shakespeare fly rod,
about a decade old, with a Pflueger Medalist. This was my first setup
(as an adult anyway). Foam handles and all. All $40 of rod, and $25 of
reel.

As luck would have it, one of our chapter members is this year's winner
of the Cabela's/Fly Rod and Reel "Trout Bum" competition, Dort Giardino.
Dort and her husband popped in to help us teach casting, and brought ten
rods that Orvis provided her to teach in the "Casting for Recovery"
organization (I think that's a great group). Let me tell you, Dort
teaches and fishes a ton, as does her husband (boy--could they teach
casting!!!).

Dort's husband was amazed at how well that Shakespeare rig performed. He
would have liked one more stripping guide, but overall, he was impressed.
He thought it was a kick teaching students that they could get into the
sport for about $100 (line included, if willing to wade wet), and have a
perfectly functionable outfit.

With you having 50 years of experience, I'm surprised that you would feel
this way. Just about every $50 KPOS made out of graphite would
outperform just about anything you might have used 50 years ago, and I
bet you had a fine time fishing all that gear.

Doug, I'd point you toward the St Croix Pro line, or maybe Temple Fork.
I'd try to get as much warrantee for your money as I can. Don't be so
concerned about brand, so much as picking up a rig you feel comfortable
casting with. If you buy in one of our three fine fly shops, they'll all
be happy to string you up any rod you want to try-- that's definitely the
way to go.

Scott

[Sr.]

Steve & Scott...what rod do you guys cast??? I was meerly stating my
personal experience over the years...I'll stick with my Orvis rods.
Sr.



"Steve Sullivan" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Sr." > wrote:
>
> > As a 50 plus year old conisure of hunting and fishing equipment over the
> > years (INCLUDING an ll bean fly-fishing outfit), I'd suggest skipping
the
> > 'budget priced' stuff. My 'bean' pole is in the closet and I couldn't
tell
> > you the last time it got to go fishing!! Wait till ya can afford a
> > qualllity outfit. Sorry, can't help ya with the 4 pc-never used one.
> > Sr.
>
> And have you ever tried TFO rods? I do not think a beginner is going to
> find much difference between a $89 series 1 tfo or $200 ticr and one of
> your $600 rods.
>
> --
> Bush is a disgrace to the constitution. See
> http://www.amconmag.com/12_15_03/feature.html
> http://www.altpr.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=39

[Scott Seidman]

"Sr." > wrote in news:108sog61gcpdfc5
@corp.supernews.com:

> Steve & Scott...what rod do you guys cast??? I was meerly stating my
> personal experience over the years...I'll stick with my Orvis rods.
> Sr.
>
>

You just used your five decades of personal experience to tell a beginner
that $230 won't get him into a functionable gear package good enough to see
if he likes the sport. I've used my three and a half decades of fishing
experience to say that I've seen plenty of people having plenty of fun
flyfishing by spending half that money on a rod/reel/line, and never
planning on spending any more.

FWIW, I think Orvis makes a fine rod, but my Far'n'Fine is a little slow
for my tastes these days. I use it when I'm on a small stream and its too
breezy for a three weight, but mostly it's my loaner rod these days. Orvis
does make faster rods, but I don't own any. LL Bean sells some damn fine
rods, too. So do St Croix, and Temple Fork. Word has it that the Cabela's
Stowaways will do in a pinch. There are some fine fishing packages that
run under $250.

Scott

[Hooked]

"Scott Seidman" > wrote in message
.4...
>
> You just used your five decades of personal experience to tell a beginner
> that $230 won't get him into a functionable gear package good enough to
see
> if he likes the sport. I've used my three and a half decades of fishing
> experience to say that I've seen plenty of people having plenty of fun
> flyfishing by spending half that money on a rod/reel/line, and never
> planning on spending any more.
>
> FWIW, I think Orvis makes a fine rod, but my Far'n'Fine is a little slow
> for my tastes these days. I use it when I'm on a small stream and its too
> breezy for a three weight, but mostly it's my loaner rod these days.
Orvis
> does make faster rods, but I don't own any. LL Bean sells some damn fine
> rods, too. So do St Croix, and Temple Fork. Word has it that the
Cabela's
> Stowaways will do in a pinch. There are some fine fishing packages that
> run under $250.


I've been fly fishing for maybe 5 years or so. Let's see, that's less than a
decade right? My first fly fishing outfit was bought at K-Mart for less than
$100. Had I not enjoyed the sport, I would not have bought my three St.Croix
Avid series rods, my three Ross Cimarron reels, and the 5 S.A. fly lines and
1 Teeny line I now own. Nor would I have 3 tying vises, a whole ****load of
tying tools, and even more tying materials, if I did not enjoy using that
cheap outfit.

Hmmmm...

Nope, one doesn't need expensive equipment to start out with. I can still
cast that cheap K-Mart rod and it still catches fish.

Go figure.

[Sr.]

Some Orvis stuff is expensive but that doesn't make
> it "quallity [sic] stuff." Just expensive.
>

True...I won't buy another Orvis vest...
Sr.


"Greg Pavlov" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 08:37:05 -0500, "Sr." > wrote:
>
> >Steve & Scott...what rod do you guys cast??? I was meerly stating my
> >personal experience over the years...I'll stick with my Orvis rods.
> >Sr.
>
> Some Orvis stuff is expensive but that doesn't make
> it "quallity [sic] stuff." Just expensive.
>

[Sr.]

Word has it that the Cabela's
Stowaways will do in a pinch.


a stick and some string would work in a pinch!!!

There are some fine fishing packages that
> run under $250.


True...I was merely staing an opinion here...MINE!!! I know for a fact the
'cheapo' outfit I started with is hiding in the closet..
Sr.


"Scott Seidman" > wrote in message
.4...
> "Sr." > wrote in news:108sog61gcpdfc5
> @corp.supernews.com:
>
> > Steve & Scott...what rod do you guys cast??? I was meerly stating my
> > personal experience over the years...I'll stick with my Orvis rods.
> > Sr.
> >
> >
>
> You just used your five decades of personal experience to tell a beginner
> that $230 won't get him into a functionable gear package good enough to
see
> if he likes the sport. I've used my three and a half decades of fishing
> experience to say that I've seen plenty of people having plenty of fun
> flyfishing by spending half that money on a rod/reel/line, and never
> planning on spending any more.
>
> FWIW, I think Orvis makes a fine rod, but my Far'n'Fine is a little slow
> for my tastes these days. I use it when I'm on a small stream and its too
> breezy for a three weight, but mostly it's my loaner rod these days.
Orvis
> does make faster rods, but I don't own any. LL Bean sells some damn fine
> rods, too. So do St Croix, and Temple Fork. Word has it that the
Cabela's
> Stowaways will do in a pinch. There are some fine fishing packages that
> run under $250.
>
> Scott

[Peter Overaas]

I'd have to agree with Scott. I recently started into fly fishing, and
since my 14 year old son and my girlfriend also wanted in, they both love
getting out and fishing, I had my hands full with budgeting the entry. We
all ended up with Temple Forks Lefty Kreh Professional Series 9' 5wt 4 piece
rods, paired up with Orvis Battenkill Barstock III reels. And they catch
fish just fine!

Last summer my son and I were fishing a lake with very tight cover and he
managed to lose his rod tip, the whole section came off I guess he didn't
have it snugged down enough. Anyhow, we searched for it but never found it.
So, I pulled out the lifetime warrenty and followed the directions. $25.00
later I had the whole rig back...no questions or snickers requried.

I gotta warn ya though, since we started we've got into 8 wt setups for
steelheading the rivers here in Nor Cal. Upgraded all our lines to nice
Scientific Anglers, purchased lots of tapered leaders and tippet, way too
many flies. And my son is building a 2 wt, so he and I are in the market
for 2 wt reels...for those small mountain creeks that hold lots of small
fish with stalking but only worth it on a light rod.

Tight lines!
Pete