cabelas beginner flies

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" wrote in message
oups.com...

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.

1. When learning to cast, a longer rod is usually
an easier tool. Do not try fishing in confined spaces
until you cast instinctively, e.g. can place your fly on
within 6 inches accuracy at a range of 40 feet without
even thinking about.
2. For local (non-generic) conditions, you will probably
find better flies in local stores than buying by mail.

Post early results here !

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

But do you think the shorter rod will be necessary anyway, for the
places I want to fish? I cant imagine hauling a 9-footer into some of
these places. I've thought about getting a second heavier and longer
rod for other situations, but dont even know if I am going to like
using the first one yet...

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
But do you think the shorter rod will be necessary anyway, for the
places I want to fish? I cant imagine hauling a 9-footer into some of
these places. I've thought about getting a second heavier and longer
rod for other situations, but dont even know if I am going to like
using the first one yet...

You'll get varying opinions on this but the difference between a 7-1/2
footer and a 9 footer really isn't all that important. The shorter length
is marginally more convenient on small streams, but the longer works
marginally better for dapping......it's pretty much a wash. I've used
various rods in any number of combinations of lengths and weights on many
miles of northern Wisconsin and Michigan streams (as well as other
locations), and found that the rod and reel are typically the least
important considerations. In time you'll probably develop preferences of
your own but for now it's just not worth fretting over. You'll do better
learning as much as you can about fishing conditions in the areas you intend
to frequent, the patterns that tend to be successful in those places,
terminal tackle, etc. The business end of your rig is the one the bug is
attached to. That's where your attention should be focused.

Wolfgang

Joe wrote:
But do you think the shorter rod will be necessary anyway, for the
places I want to fish? I cant imagine hauling a 9-footer into some of
these places. I've thought about getting a second heavier and longer
rod for other situations, but dont even know if I am going to like
using the first one yet...


The longer rod will be a little more versatile, but if you spend too
much time worrying about which rod, reel, backing, line, leader, tippet,
and fly to use, then you'll never get to the water and learn what this
is all about in the first place.

Without a little help getting started you may find yourself bewildered.
I'd find a good fly shop somewhere close and get some advice there about
fly selection and where to fish. And buy the rod there, too.

Mail-order is fine for people who know what they want. But folks who
need advice should join the local chapter of Trout Unlimited or
Federation of Fly Fishers and buy their gear from somebody local.

Having said all that . . . I see that Cabela's has an 8 1/2 foot
5-weight on sale for 90 bucks. I think that'd be hard to beat. Wait
until you have some more experience before going for a lighter rod.

Bob

Myself, I'm a slow learner and it was much better to stick to ponds, lakes
and lagoons and big streams. Start off for panfish.

Nothing can be more discouraging than to get in way over your head in
alders.....

john
"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
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.

On Mon, 30 May 2005 19:22:45 -0500, Bob Patton
wrote:

Joe wrote:
But do you think the shorter rod will be necessary anyway, for the
places I want to fish? I cant imagine hauling a 9-footer into some of
these places. I've thought about getting a second heavier and longer
rod for other situations, but dont even know if I am going to like
using the first one yet...


The longer rod will be a little more versatile, but if you spend too
much time worrying about which rod, reel, backing, line, leader, tippet,
and fly to use, then you'll never get to the water and learn what this
is all about in the first place.

Without a little help getting started you may find yourself bewildered.
I'd find a good fly shop somewhere close and get some advice there about
fly selection and where to fish. And buy the rod there, too.

Mail-order is fine for people who know what they want. But folks who
need advice should join the local chapter of Trout Unlimited or
Federation of Fly Fishers and buy their gear from somebody local.

Having said all that . . . I see that Cabela's has an 8 1/2 foot
5-weight on sale for 90 bucks. I think that'd be hard to beat. Wait
until you have some more experience before going for a lighter rod.

Bob


I agree. An 8 1/2' 5 wt. is a good choice for an all around rod for
northern Wisconsin. While it may seem that you need a very light rod
for fishing our tag alder infested sreams in actuality if you are
going to be only casting 10 or 15 feet of line and 7 1/2' of leader
attached to a sometimes bushy dry or streamer having the extra mass of
a 5 wt or even greater weight line (I won't get into overlining
though) is an advantage. I know several *excellent* fishermen who fish
5 wt. rods virtually everywhere, from the spring creeks of SW
Wisconsin to the tag alder jungles up north to the smallmouth bass
rivers that are everywhere up here to the big rivers in Montana.


g.c.

Who wonders how many people can *always* lay a fly down in a 6" circle
at 40'.

Who wonders how many people can *always* lay a fly down in a 6" circle
at 40'.

George, I invariably drop my fly into a 6" circle, every time I cast.

Trouble is, the 6" circle is not always where I want it to be.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

vince

vincent p. norris wrote:
Who wonders how many people can *always* lay a fly down in a 6" circle
at 40'.


George, I invariably drop my fly into a 6" circle, every time I cast.

Trouble is, the 6" circle is not always where I want it to be.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

vince

I can beat that. I can pick out an individual twig in a particular tree
and hook the fly in a specific knot around that twig. And I can do it
behind my back!

Bob

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