Talk Cancer

Question:

I have had to address the same question with my son, who has only now begun to look at flyfishing seriously.  (I have been flyfishing for 40 years). I advised him to start inexpensively, until he understands fully what "loading" means…..he has to feel that to understand that expensive rods simply do it better.  At his stage, the reel should be sturdy, but that it’s sole purpose (until he masters better technique) is to store line.  He can grade up later, in price and quality, when he learns to double-haul, feel the rod "load," and master three or four types of cast that will put him eventually into the kind of fish that will require better equipment. Best place to find low-cost rods, reels, etc.?  If you’re lucky enough to have a flyfishing collectors’ show in your area, don’t miss it.  It’s you’re best chance to pick up high quality equipment at amazingly low prices.  And along with it, you’ll get honest good advice from the collectors themselves, who are often as good at using the stuff as they are collecting it.  Failing shows with used equipment, try scanning the ads in back of most flyfishing magazines.  Also, join a flycasters club, even if the nearest one to you is 100 miles or more.  They have "swap" meetings, and offer tremendously low prices for great stuff, along with the best advice you’ll get anywhere. Lastly, stay out of Orvis and the other high-brow suppliers.  You’ll end up with a $700 Visa charge, and buyer’s remorse.  Spending a lot of money for equipment will come, as you grade up.  But don’t do it as you begin.  It’ll just bankrupt you, and leave you with no cash to go fishing anyway!!! I wish you years of wonderful flyfishing experiences.

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I have never fished with anything but a Sage. Last week I broke my sage 8 wt. and had to borrow a Cortland to go fishing for Redfish and Snook. By the end of the day my arm was worn out and I had blisters on my casting hand. I never realized what a difference a good rod makes! If you are serious about the sport, don’s mess around whith cheap junk. Buy the best and it will last forever, and give much more enjoyment. Glover –

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Hello to all,  Can any one recommend a fly fishing setup for a beginner? Are there decent beginner’s kit available that people would recommend? I don’t want to spend several hundren dollars but also do not want to end up with something that would turn me off to fly fishing.. thanks.

Try a Sage Discover Rod series priced at around $230 or a Cortland at around $100 depending on your budget.  They both include a Rod, reel, line and tube.  Give a call to Kaufmann’s Streamborn – 800/442-4359 – they’ve got free catalogs that have great information and great photos!  

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Hello to all,   Can any one recommend a fly fishing setup for a beginner? Are there decent beginner’s kit available that people would recommend? I don’t want to spend several hundren dollars but also do not want to end up with something that would turn me off to fly fishing.. thanks.

Another good place to start might be a local fishing club. Our local FF group has an auction every spring, and good buys are available, since nearly everyone there has -plenty- of gear already. They can also help you learn the basics, and take you fishing, if you’re lucky enough. – Jon McCoy – Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics – Washington State University – Pullman, WA – – Project: Boron-Neutron Capture Therapy for treatment of            Glioblastoma Multiformae brain cancer

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Hello to all,   Can any one recommend a fly fishing setup for a beginner? Are there decent beginner’s kit available that people would recommend? I don’t want to spend several hundren dollars but also do not want to end up with something that would turn me off to fly fishing.. thanks.

Hi We stock mainly St. Croix rods and Scientific Anglers stuff, could be that this is above your price range but here goes… A beginners kit of 5/6 wght. St. Croix rod, SA 6 wgt. line and approprite leader for your preferred fishing, plus we’ll throw in flies (a dozen) and a Leeda reel will set you back about $175. Cdn.(SA reel available but $50 more) We also sell a true beginners outfit, but this is more geared to kids: Pflueger rod, Shakespeare reel and SA line/leader and a dozen flies for $90.Cdn. The difference is that the St. Croix will last a lifetime, the other is good, but in about 5 years if you really get into flyfishing, you’ll want more. On the other hand if you do get into it, you’ll want more than one rod… Tight Lines Tackle Shop and Guide Service Lockeport , Nova Scotia , Canada B0T 1L0 Phone or Fax 902-656-3329

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    I have been a fisherman for some time now, but would really like to try my hand at fly fishing.  If anyone could give me advice on some reasonably-priced equipment, it would be greatly appreciated.     JWG

I recommend buying the cheapest outfit you can lay your hands on.  As soon as you realize that flyfishing is the best thing you ever did you’re going to want a better rod, a better reel, a rod case, maybe a travel rod, a 3wt to go with your 6wt, then a 9wt, then fill in all the gaps in between.  All the while buying waders, boots, bags, vests, and so many gadgets for fishing and fly tying. Call Cabela’s and order a Martin rig for about $50.  You get everything you need to catch a fish.  I’m not saying this is a good rod and reel but it gets you on the water to try your "hand at flyfishing" and see what you think.  If flyfishing is a bust then no serious financial harm is done.  You can probably sell the mess to somebody else for at least $20.  If you like flyfishing you haven’t wasted any money on the mediocre stuff. The most consistent thing about mid-priced mediocre fishing outfits (greater than $75 and less than $200) is that you will probably be less than satisfied with at least one major component, rod or reel, by the end of the first season.  The rod may have an action which is the equivalent of a baitcasters noodle rod.  This is where you learn the difference between slow action vs. fast action rods.  The best advice about reels (drag settings, actually) was recently posted in this newsgroup by a saltwater fisherman.  S/he said to fasten your tippet to the car door (or whatever) and run as fast as you can in the other direction.  The rod will take some of the shock but the reel better start feeding line pretty quick.  Now you’ve learned about reel inertia and drag settings.  Maybe a little something about how to break a fishing rod too. Whatever you do, go out and have fun.  There will be plenty of time this winter to think about what to buy next. Jack

Response:

try the scientific angler kits. They have excellent quality   products and are not outrageously expensive($175.00?).  Cortland   also makes some good kits in the $150 price range. Good luck.

Orvis also has a line of "kits" (but they don’t include as much stuff as the SA kits do), from the Henry’s Fork Clearwater (~$150) to the Rocky Mountain (~$300).  Sage also has their Discovery kits, but they’re pretty high, if I remember correctly, ~$250-300. — Editor, KUDZU a digital quarterly KUDZU website: <http://www.etext.org/Zines/Kudzu/ KUDZU FTPsite: COMING SOON <ftp://ftp.etext.org/pub/Zines/Kudzu

Response:

Hello to all,   Can any one recommend a fly fishing setup for a beginner? Are there decent beginner’s kit available that people would recommend? I don’t want to spend several hundren dollars but also do not want to end up with something that would turn me off to fly fishing.. thanks.

Response:

–   try the scientific angler kits. They have excellent quality   products and are not outrageously expensive($175.00?).  Cortland   also makes some good kits in the $150 price range. Good luck.

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