On 30 May 2005 14:26:25 -0700, "Joe" wrote:

I am new to ff, will be ordering a Cabelas 5 piece pack rod/reel combo
tomorrow. Is there anything you would recommend in flies for a beginner
that I can also get from Cabelas (without spending $50, hopefully)? I
will be fishing primarily small streams and brookie creeks roughly
10-30 feet wide, in northern WI and MN . I havent yet decided whether
to go with a 3 or 4 wgt, although I'm leaning towards the 4 because it
comes in a shorter length (7'6") and I think that will work better on
the small creeks (and be easier to learn with?). Any thougts on that
choice will also be appreciated though.

Joe,
I haven't a clue what sort of flies you should use way up there but it is
absolutely essential that you get in touch with someone who fishes the sort of
streams you want to fish, in the area you fish to get a good reading on the
fly choice for the local fish. You should also buy the flies locally rather
than from Cabella's to take advantage of regional fly variations.

I'd suggest you delay the rod purchase until you have a clear understanding of
the streams you will be fishing. Any advice you get here will be shaded by the
experience of the advisor and if it cannot be applied to your fishing
conditions you may end up with a rod that that will be a curse rather than a
pleasure. You will find that errors in equipment selection are far more
pronounced for small stream waters than large.
Find someone who regularly fishes the streams you want to fish, get their
suggestions about the equipment you need and you likely will emerge from your
quest for the proper rod with......the proper rod.

Kiyu