Fly Rods

[hev]

Can someone recommend a nice reasonably priced fly rod? I am looking to get my brother one for his b-day, but know pretty much nothing about the sport. Also any other reasonably priced items to throw in would be apreciated.

[Buster Highmen]

Sage is a real standard. Fenwick is sort of a Ford/GM type.
A set of leaders (4x-7x) is a nice inexpensive addendum as would be a decent assortment of dry flies or size assortment of muddler minnows.

[cj001f]

Like skis "reasonable" varies from person to person and application to application. A budget and intended use (trout? salmon? saltwater?) would be appreciated. St. Croix makes some nice rods.

[nutcase]

Reddington makes a pretty nice and reasonably priced one. Sage would be a pretty expensive one. I have a sage and a reddington- the reddington is not bad at all.

[hev]

Cool thanks guys, my budget is around 200 and application is freshwater trout.

[Tap]

I'll tell ya, I bought a rod/reel package from Cabela's for my younger brother, and while the reel was nothing to write home about, the rod had a nice smooth action.

Sage has that DS2 line...i've got a 3 wt and it's a nice little rod.

[Dirty Hoar]

Yes, I agree, go with a Redington plus they have a lifetime warranty. A good starter rod is the Redfly #4,5 weight - 8.5' length. That is a good all around rod for small to medium size rivers.

Small to medium rivers by Utah standards. I don't know where he will be fishing???

[hev]

fishing will be done in steamboat/north park.

[assgasorgrass]

Look at the Orvis Clearwater rods. Go to an orvis dealer and see if they any refurbs in stock. Usually can get one for $150 or less. Still has the same Orvis warranty.

[Buster Highmen]

If he already has graphite fly rods, you can prowl around the net to find older bamboo rods. They're vintage, kinda like having a singlespeed.

[Grange]

For $200 you can get a decent St. Croix rod. My father has one and it works great. Great feel and nice backbone when a larger fish is hooked. It is used for freshwater trout.

[warthog]

Have you looked at Temple Fork? This was my first saltwater rod.They have freshwater stuff too. Good price and good rod for starters. No need to blow the bank on something you can't appreciate.

http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/

$200 for the whole set-up? Beter look at Cabelas or Bass Pro packages. Some pretty good stuff there, and comes complete with line and everything. Couple extra bucks gets you a couple basic flies too.

[Professor]

Does your bro already flyfish? If so you better look at what he already has. Flyrods are like skis... anyone into the sport has a quiver. Personally I have 7 or 8 rods and people would be hard pressed to buy me a rod I would actually use, unless they asked me what I needed. Plus alot of fisherman get very particular about rods and may not even like the action of some companies rods. If he does have rods, personally, I think you would be better off seeing if he needs a good reel. $200 buys you a nice reel, not just "reasonable" as it does in rods. Hope that helps.

[Hook]

Heh, I was going to recommend Temple fork also.

If your brother is a good caster he will like the stiffer action of the TF, if he's just starting out he will most likely want something with a softer action.

TF's also have a bullet proof warranty, just send it back, no questions asked, no hassles.

One advantage to Sage is they have several actions available in the lighter weights, so he could exchange it for a different action if he didn't like the one you gave him.

Flyrods as gifts rock!!!

[Hook]

professor beat me too it

[Dirty Hoar]

Does your bro already flyfish? If so you better look at what he already has. Flyrods are like skis... anyone into the sport has a quiver. Personally I have 7 or 8 rods and people would be hard pressed to buy me a rod I would actually use, unless they asked me what I needed. Plus alot of fisherman get very particular about rods and may not even like the action of some companies rods. If he does have rods, personally, I think you would be better off seeing if he needs a good reel. $200 buys you a nice reel, not just "reasonable" as it does in rods. Hope that helps.

Not to change the subject... but I will. If you're fishing for average size trout why do people buy these expensive reels? The only thing the reel does on a fly rod is provide a way to conveniently store the line. I know flyfisherman are vain but for the most part a reel is a reel is a reel. Fortunately I was able to raid my dads tackle box and found a brand new vintage Hardy bros. reel. It holds my line well and passes with flying colors through the elitest checkpoints I encounter.

And yes, if he's already an established fly fisherman then a $200 rod is like going to the prom in an 84' Chevette. If that's the case you may want to go with some nice Simm's wading boots or waders.

[Professor]

Since I am 'working' instead of skiing, I will address the reel question. I used basic spring and pawl reels for trout for years and on my 4 weight and under I still do. However, I fish Lamson Lightspeeds on my 5 weights and up. The reason is I NEVER want to lose that trophy fish due to a reel problem. When you hook into something big on a small spring and pawl reel it is up to you to do everything. Top it off with trying to get a bunch of line put back on the reel when the fish gets close and you can end up with all sorts of problems. I do have to say though I am one of the few people that I know that actually will put trout "on the reel" instead of playing them by dragging line through my hands. This helps me avoid bringing in a fish only to lose it when he makes a big last run and I am sitting there all tangled up in my line. I also find that being able to let larger fish run a bit further when in a boat is definitely a place that a nicer reel helps.

[Odin]

I have a nice temple fork 6 weight for the heavy salmon and large fish we get here. I love the rod, and picked it up for about 139
PLUS Temple Forks gives you a

"Our NO-FAULT WARRANTY on all our rods is for the life of the original registered owner. "

TFO 06 90 4 P 6 Wt. 9'-0" 4 Pc. 3.8 Ounces IM6 Graphite¹ $139.95



I also picked up a Okuma Magnitude Reel for aboot 60.00 or so.



Then you will need line, w/ backing.

I like this

[grizzle6]

Since I am 'working' instead of skiing, I will address the reel question. I used basic spring and pawl reels for trout for years and on my 4 weight and under I still do. However, I fish Lamson Lightspeeds on my 5 weights and up. The reason is I NEVER want to lose that trophy fish due to a reel problem. When you hook into something big on a small spring and pawl reel it is up to you to do everything. Top it off with trying to get a bunch of line put back on the reel when the fish gets close and you can end up with all sorts of problems. I do have to say though I am one of the few people that I know that actually will put trout "on the reel" instead of playing them by dragging line through my hands. This helps me avoid bringing in a fish only to lose it when he makes a big last run and I am sitting there all tangled up in my line. I also find that being able to let larger fish run a bit further when in a boat is definitely a place that a nicer reel helps.

You said it all Prof. I've found that fishing with a good reel is totally comparable to skiing powder with fat skis. You can ski powder with skinny skis, just like you can catch a fish with a crappy reel, but skiing pow is so much easier and enjoyable with fatter skis. Same can be said for catching a fish on a good reel.

[cj001f]

You said it all Prof. I've found that fishing with a good reel is totally comparable to skiing powder with fat skis. You can ski powder with skinny skis, just like you can catch a fish with a crappy reel, but skiing pow is so much easier and enjoyable with fatter skis. Same can be said for catching a fish on a good reel.

I think you might be confusing a good flyrod with a good flyreel. Or maybe fat skis with poles?

Unless it's a big trout I never use my reel. See flabangos average trout comment. My reel holds line - and gets banged against rocks. I don't have a cheap reel (it was $90 or something, the ones I've had that were less were POS) but it's no $500 LA wonder machine either.

[hev]

Whoa. Lots of great info. I am probably go the cabellas route so far just cus I have been happy with thier pricing in the past(and don't know what I am looking at).

My brother is long time fisher, but just moved to steamboat so it's a new oppurtunity for great fly fishing. The goal of the setup is to get him out there. I am sure he'll form an opinion down the road but I don't think he has one yet.

I guess I am actually seeking a combo. This is kind of the one I like so far.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...231&hasJS=true

[Foggy_Goggles]

Yo Hev! I've got a $20 coupon you can have for Cabelas.

[grizzle6]

I think you might be confusing a good flyrod with a good flyreel. Or maybe fat skis with poles?

Unless it's a big trout I never use my reel. See flabangos average trout comment. My reel holds line - and gets banged against rocks. I don't have a cheap reel (it was $90 or something, the ones I've had that were less were POS) but it's no $500 LA wonder machine either.

I guess we would have different fishing styles there chief. Also--no condescending intended here, but I would consider $90 somewhat cheap for a real. It's very likely an adequate reel, but it would definitely be on the cheaper end of things.

[vtdownhiller]

LL Bean Quest series 99.00 nice rod lifetime warrenty

[fez]

LL Bean Quest series 99.00 nice rod lifetime warrenty

The quest series really are pretty nice rods for the money. I've only fished them in 10 wt (both the stripers in my avatar were caught on 10 wt quest series rods), but my brother and I had no problem chucking streamers 80+ ft with them. nice easy action.

I also have a 5wt 4 piece ll bean guide series rod that i really like the action of as well.