Help getting started.

mdk77 wrote:

My 14 year old son and I would like to try fly fishing.

For complete starter outfits, you might try.....

A little more than $200: http://www.ezflyfish.com/ezflyfiou1.html

A little less than $200: http://www.ezflyfish.com/tfonxtflyrod.html

When it comes to books, you can't go wrong with The Curtis Creek
Manifesto. Good information presented elegantly and entertainingly.

http://tinyurl.com/yl83mh

- JR

For complete starter outfits, you might try.....

A little less than $200: http://www.ezflyfish.com/tfonxtflyrod.html

Unlike JR, I'm cheap, cheap, cheap ! After I read several favorable
comments in this newsgroup about Cabela's Three Forks fly rods, I
bought one-- a 7'6" 3-wt. Two of my friends bought them, too.

Normally $59, they were on sale for $39. I also bought a Cabela's
reel for about the same price, and a weight-forward line, again for
about $39. Total cost, barely over a hundred bucks.

I liked it so well I also bought a 5 wt.

In the current Cabela's catalog, you can buy a Three Forks rod for
$49; or a rod AND a reel for as little as $79; a Cabela's line will
cost you another $36.

If you and your son discover you don't like fly fishing, you won't be
out very much. If you do, you can buy "better" rods. But I often catch
one of the above-mentioned friends, who owns several Sage and Orvis
rods, using his cheapie Cabela's rod instead.

vince

On 29 Nov 2006 09:45:25 -0800, "mdk77" wrote:

Thanks to everyone who took the time to help us out. My son and I will
be taking a "road trip" to a fly shop first (probably a long trip but
sounds like it will be well worth it). We will stay away from Ebay and
buy new, but modestly priced equipment -- maybe at the fly shop we
visit or from another source.

I am curious. There are reasonably priced combination outfits targeted
at beginners like my son and I. The ones that I found online were in a
fairly consistent price range that we could afford. Are any of these
better than others? Or any that we should stay away from?

Redington Crosswater Series
Orvis Streamline Series
Cabella's Genesis
Bass Pro - Hobb's Creek
Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) -- NXT outfit

There's really no such thing as a "bad" flyrod, at least as far as
what's readily available in fiberglass or graphite and made in the last
40 or so years, either new or used, assuming that 1., the rod isn't
physically damaged, and 2., your definition of "bad" is a rod that
simply cannot objectively function as a fishing tool. Secondly, there's
really no way for anyone to tell you what you'll _like_ - it's much the
same as asking someone if you'll like some food you've never tried. It's
purely subjective.

As to "used" gear, IMO, there's nothing wrong with used fishing gear. It
doesn't even make sense to say there is - the minute the gear is, um,
well, used, it's "used." What I suspect those advising against "used"
are attempting to convey is that buying used gear can be an iffy
proposition for someone who likely isn't familiar enough with the gear
to know merely used from abused or damaged. A nicked graphite rod that
looks fine to an untrained eye can shatter on the first cast and from
many companies, if the warranty would cover such, it only covers the
original purchaser. OTOH, buying used can save quite a bit, and if the
seller can be trusted, IMO, weigh your options and if the economics say
it's a good deal, go for it with your eyes open.

As to specific rods, TFO is gonna be hard to beat for a "starter" rod -
YMMV

TC and have fun,
R

"vincent p. norris" wrote in message
...
For complete starter outfits, you might try.....
After I read several favorable
comments in this newsgroup about Cabela's Three Forks fly rods, I
bought one-- a 7'6" 3-wt. Two of my friends bought them, too.

Normally $59, they were on sale for $39. I also bought a Cabela's
reel for about the same price, and a weight-forward line, again for
about $39. Total cost, barely over a hundred bucks.

I liked it so well I also bought a 5 wt.

In the current Cabela's catalog, you can buy a Three Forks rod for
$49; or a rod AND a reel for as little as $79; a Cabela's line will
cost you another $36.

If you and your son discover you don't like fly fishing, you won't be
out very much. If you do, you can buy "better" rods. But I often catch
one of the above-mentioned friends, who owns several Sage and Orvis
rods, using his cheapie Cabela's rod instead.

Like your friends, although I own Sage, G. Loomis, and St. Croix rods (among
others), I find my self doing most of my trout fishing with my 7'6" Three
Forks 3 wt.
with the Cabela's reel. However under no circumstances would I recommend
getting the Cabela's brand line.

I bought my Three Forks as a package - rod, reel, line, backing, & tapered
leader - for $89 IIRC. I threw the line away after only a couple of uses.
Even the $20 Aquanova line made in Canada (avail @ several sites on the
Web) is far superior to the Cabela's line.

Bob Weinberger

Like your friends, although I own Sage, G. Loomis, and St. Croix rods (among
others), I find my self doing most of my trout fishing with my 7'6" Three
Forks 3 wt. with the Cabela's reel.

Glad to hear some confirmation!

However under no circumstances would I recommend
getting the Cabela's brand line.

I bought my Three Forks as a package - rod, reel, line, backing, & tapered
leader - for $89 IIRC. I threw the line away after only a couple of uses.

Sorry to hear you had back luck with the line, Bob. I've been using
my 3 wt. line for several years and an 8 wt for even longer, with no
problems.

Even the $20 Aquanova line made in Canada (avail @ several sites on the
Web) is far superior to the Cabela's line.

Thanks for posting that info, Bob. I'm glad to know about that, and
I'm sure others are too. When I need a line, I'll give Aquanova a
try.

vince

vincent p. norris wrote in
:

Like your friends, although I own Sage, G. Loomis, and St. Croix rods
(among others), I find my self doing most of my trout fishing with my
7'6" Three Forks 3 wt. with the Cabela's reel.

Glad to hear some confirmation!

However under no circumstances would I recommend
getting the Cabela's brand line.

I bought my Three Forks as a package - rod, reel, line, backing, &
tapered leader - for $89 IIRC. I threw the line away after only a
couple of uses.

Sorry to hear you had back luck with the line, Bob. I've been using
my 3 wt. line for several years and an 8 wt for even longer, with no
problems.

Even the $20 Aquanova line made in Canada (avail @ several sites on
the Web) is far superior to the Cabela's line.

Thanks for posting that info, Bob. I'm glad to know about that, and
I'm sure others are too. When I need a line, I'll give Aquanova a
try.

....I had the same experience with the Cabelas line, threw it away and
bought their 25 dollar line, good stuff, probably on a par with Cortland
333 line. One thing I have not seen mentioned when recommending the 3
Forks rods (any weight it seems) their slow to medium action is preferred
over faster action for someone learning to cast. I love all my 3 Forks
rods for that reason. A suggestion, if you're going to go for the Three
Forks, the 8' 5 wt is a light, sweet rod for use on gills/crappie yet
will handle the occasional bass that comes along. This assumes you're not
fishing in thick weeds or a stump field. ;-)

Frank Sr.
Freaked out in Fremont