Ye Olde request for newbie fishing gear

"riverman" wrote in message
...

We get these requests here about once a year, but rarely from a
roffian. So much for that...

I'm looking at buying 21 beginner outfits for my students, to be
mailed out to me here in HK. I already know I want to start them with
multi-piece 9ft 5wt outfits (so they can travel with them easier), but
I want to keep the price below $150 per setup while still getting a
rod & reel that will serve them beyond their 'novice' years.

So far, I've looked at LL Bean's 'Quest II' 4-pc outfit for $119 (less
bulk discount, plus shipping)
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/48827?feat=2136-GN2.
The rod and reel are nicely balanced, the rod casts good enough to be
a lifetime toy, but the reel is a little weak: the tolerances are just
loose enough that the line can slip around the stopper to the wrong
side of the reel when stripping line, causing a snarl.

Cabela's has a TFO 'Prestige Plus' setup for $90 for rod, reel,
backing, line, flybox and chest pack. Does anyone know about the rod
and reel: are they any good (or at least as good as the LL Bean
setup?) in terms of durablilty, balance, etc? The price seems too good
to be true, unless its basically a toy rod or reel.

Cabela's also has a Reddington 'Crossover' outfit for $99 with rod, LA
reel, backing and line. That looks like an even better quality setup,
but of course, I can only go by the text.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these (or any other)
Cabela's outfits, or can make another recommendation for a 4-pc 9ft
5wt starter pac?

Thanks

Say what you will my friend, but I think an 8 and 1/2 foot rod is plenty
long...I'd even wager an 8' rod.

First timers are going to be drifting nymphs or straight upstream
casts...not much mending and such.

Why not set up a little weekend camp...I'll bring my 8 1/2 foot 8 wt and my
9' 5 wt and we can let the kids play and give them a few basics..... I
promise I will say nothing...

I am about two hours away on Mindanao in the Philippines....

....and thinking seriously of the whiskey bars you spoke of

And to every one else, so much has happened I don't know quite where to
begin. I found my "Waldo's 2000 Spring Fling " hat.... I've had a voodoo
experience with CDM coffee thanks to Rdean and I caught some Talapia and
Heto the other day.

Yah...give me a place to set my tent and I give free casting lessons.....as
long as we don't speak the language...jejeje

john

On 12/2/2010 10:45 AM, john b wrote:


I am about two hours away on Mindanao in the Philippines....

...and thinking seriously of the whiskey bars you spoke of


john

ok...i'll bite that lure. so, john...wtf is going on with you? are you
now an ex-patriot? living in the philippines? doing what? why? plans?
fishing? sold out and departed from ohio/usa forever? there's always a
story, and i'd sure like to hear as much as you can share...

trust all is well.

jeff