Turkeygirl Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Hopefully some of you can give me some suggestions. Last month I went to a NWTF Women in the Outdoors Event and learned how to fly fish from a nationally known lady! Anyway I am hooked on fly fishing now and would like to get a rod and reel and such and start fly fishing. I am looking for something that will be good for a beginner but is of good quality but not expensive. Keep in mind I just graduated and I might be going back to college,lol I've only looked in Cabela's catalogs right now but can anyone tell me what I should be looking for, where I should be looking , what would be good? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... i would keep looking in cabelas, the cabelas prestige fly rod and reel combo is a good one buddy of mine got it and he like it, i think you can get away with it for 150 maybe cant remember, the fish eagle is what i started on out of cabelas bout 8 years ago, but i dont think they make the fish eagle fly rod anymore just freshwater rods, i would look into a cahill II flyreel, not to expensive and ive had mine for 9 years and hasnt failed me yet, im up to a st croix avid fly rod now and i love it, but i dont know if you wanna spend that, definetly go with a 4 wt rod if fishing for trout or bluegill something small, go 5wt or 6wt if fishing for bass or something bigger get fly line wt to match your rod wt and also make sure it is floating fly line, the floating is gonna be easier casting for a a begginer, for fly line cabelas has prestige fly line for like 30 bucks and its orange, the orange has a not at the end so it would be better for a begginer for tying knots and also prestige has neon green line for like 35 or 40 bucks but it does not have a loop at the end of it, if you have any more question you can shoot me a pm or something, but looking at fly fishing stuff i would not think twice about buying cabelas brand been fly fishing for 12 years and thats all i own and never had a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... Thanks DU! I was looking at the Cabela's Cahill combo's; they seemed like a decent deal, do you know anything about those? And which would be better as that combo offers either a graphite reel or one that is aluminum I think. Thanks! Hopefully I can find something good for a beginner that will last:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... i went and got my recent cabelas fly fishing magazine, what rod are you looking at to go with the cahill reel combo, i would definately recommend the cahill reel, and they are aluminum casted , ive never seen a graphite reel, i think your thinking of the rod that is graphite, but rod for a beginner i would recomend the cabelas traditional 7'6 if gonna be fishing small streams or something smaller rod would be better, but if not 8 ft would be fine always go with a 2 piece rod never 3 or 4 they are a pain, the cabelas traditional rod only is 59.99 then get the cahill reel, or if you wanna go more get the, which i would recommend for a beginner would be the cabelas prestige fly rod 7'6 or 8 ft your preference like i said, the rod seperate is like 100 to 110 bucks but you can get the combo for like 1 something with a prestige reel, but i would not recomend the prestige reel with that rod, i would recomend getting the prestige rod seperate and buying the cahill reel and like i said look at the prestige floating fly line weight forward and the prestige plus but would recommend just the orange prestige for a begginner and dont forget backing for you reel too, dont have to be to picky on what kind, again hope this helps, anymore questions just ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... In a Cabelas cataloge I got a little bit ago, the Spring edition, they have a Cabela's Cahill Combo which has fly line/backing, a graphite rod, and a choice of a graphite reel or a aluminum reel I think. I did see before on the website that they were offering that if you bought a traditional rod, you got a reel (the prestige) for free. Is that what you are talking about? I'd like to try to stay under $100. What I found also was Cabelas Cahill rod with a graphite reel combo for $50 or Cabelas Cahill rod with Ross flycast reel combo for $80; not sure how those are. Thanks for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... ok just got the spring edition from upstairs and if im right you should be on page 56 bottom right corner for the cahill combo the rod is a 8'6 thats a pretty long rod and it is 3 pieces, i really dont think you would like that, but its up to you also three piece rods are also a pain to find a case for, i really cant tell you much about this combo i dont know much about the reels, or rod, i thought you were talking bout actually cahill reels these ones on this page are not, if you do get this combo i would get the rod and get it with the ross flycast reel instead of the cause it is aluminum and the other is graphite i would not recomend getting that graphite reel the aluminum one will last you longer, you i just noticed that cabelas traditional with the free reel with purchase for like 65 bucks 7'6 or 8 ft not a bad deal, the prestige reel it comes with you could use for now until you want to upgrade that wouldnt be a bad setup, but i see your not getting the whole package like line and backing which im sure you kinda want a whole combo set up, i wish i knew about this cahill combo but i dont, just keep looking at them and tell me which one ya decide on or if ya look at anything else let me now and ill do my best to help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... the rod is the most important thing Ruth. make sure you get a good one there. I assume you'll be fishing for steelhead with it right? If so, go with a 8 weight, 7 will work well too, but since its your first one, I suggest an 8 weight. Reddington makes some good, fairly inexpensive rods, and they come with a lifetime guarantee. As far as the reel goes, I good disc drag is really alll you need, with a large arbor reel. Floating, weight forward line, some leader material, and some flies and you're set. I can give you some more info on leaders etc... that are specific to steelhead if you want, just PM me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... Muggs, I'll probably use it more for trout than steelhead. I'll wait until I'm more experience to try steelhead,lol. Du, I was looking at the combo since it has the fly line and everything, but I saw that they are 3 piece and really long, so I'm kind of leaning towards the traditional rod with the prestige reel, since it probably seems like the better of the 2 options. I'm going to try to find the email of this lady who taught us, and ask her what she recommends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... [ QUOTE ] Muggs, I'll probably use it more for trout than steelhead. I'll wait until I'm more experience to try steelhead,lol. [/ QUOTE ] you say that now...but come September or October...I have a feeling you might be thinking a little differently. what weight are you thinking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... Ummm...I was thinking like around 5 or 6? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... that's what I thought, I suggest you go with the 6. It might be a little more than you need for smallish trout, but it will work. Here's the best part, when you feel like you're ready to like to try for some steelhead, the 6 will get the job done too. It won't be ideal, a heavier rod will make playing the larger fish easier, but the 6 will work fine, it will even have its advantages in certain circumstances. This way, you won't have to buy another rod just for steelhead, saving $$ which is something I like to do. The longer the better. The lightest stick I have is a 7 weight that's 9.5 feet, so I'm not sure what lenght 6 would be good. Let me take a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... Wow, line sure is expensive,lol. what about fly line backing? What's the purpose of it, do I need it, and what should I be looking for in that if I do need it? Thanks! And what about leaders and tippets? Man this is getting expensive,lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... LOL, yeah, the sky's the limit on the amount of money you can spend on this sport (some do, they're usually doctors though LOL). With the right info and smart shopping you can get off fairly cheaply. I know Scientific Anlger has a good, weight-forward line that is only $20 or. Cabelas has the "Prestige" line that is $30. Those are both good for beginners. Keep in mind, you can use the fly line for many seasons with the right care. Backing is a string-like material, usually decron that goes on the reel first. Yes, you need it...how much depends on the reel, this is a good reel for both trout and steel. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...&id=0029684 If you hook into a big fish and it runs a far distance, it will pull out all of your fly line, and that's where backing comes into play. I have about 200 yards on my reel. Leaders, again, I can tell you steelhead leaders. Thats about it, but I'll save that for another thread or PM...because this fly fishing thing can seem overwhelming if you let it....but its not really, just seems like that at first. Just take your time with it and have fun! Ask me if you have to, I'll be glad to help ya out if I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... Thanks muggs! Anyone know anything about the Cabelas Three Forks/Pfleuger Medalist combo? i'm going to Walmart later so I'm going to check the price of line and such there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... So do I need leaderss and tippets or no, is that for like fishing bigger fish? So far I know I need a rod, reel, floating weight foward fly line, and fly line backing. I've got a few flies already. Anything else,lol? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... if you choose to go with something you can use for both trout and steelhead, I would recommend a 9' rod. that will really help you pick up the long, steelhead type leaders that usually have split shots and them, and place them up stream. Like DU said, a two piece rod is the way to go IMO. It will cast better, and will have a stiffer spine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... [ QUOTE ] So do I need leaderss and tippets or no, is that for like fishing bigger fish? So far I know I need a rod, reel, floating weight foward fly line, and fly line backing. I've got a few flies already. Anything else,lol? [/ QUOTE ] yeah, you'll need leaders. They're the monofilament or flourcarbon that's tied to the end of the fly line. If you're fishing for browns, you'll probably need flourocarbon, or very light monofilamnet. I PM'd you my leader recipe for steelhead. tippets are just what they call a small section of line tied to your leader. this way, if you get snagged up, you'll only loose your tippet, not the leader. This just saves your leader and thus saves money. anything else...yes and no, you have the basics there, but you'll need a bunch of flies. Eventually you'll need to start to tie your own, this will save money BIG TIME. for example, I can buy 12 egg patterns for $20 at the local fly shop, I can tie 100 myself for that price. I'll put together a PM with some more helpful info. Now, what kind of knots do you know how to tie? Just remeber, its gonna seem overwhelming at first...but you'll figure it out fast enough...just take your time and enjoy the learning process. You'll be glad you did, and when the steelhead are spawning in the spring...you can't beat a fly rod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... yes you are gonna need leaders i would look into like tapered leaders prolly like a 9 ft tappered leader in the 5x which is gonna be like 4lb test, that tapered leader is gonna be attached to the fly line and its just gonna be like a mono leader to tie your fly to and like strike indicators when fishing nymphs, turkey girl cant tell ya bout the 3 forks or the plueger, but like my suggestion and what your thinking, go with the traditional with the prestige reel, good starting, guarentee it, and like muggs said about the backing, you really dont need 200 yards of backing though, i got bout 50 yards of backing, if your strictly gonna be fishing trout i wouldnt go higher than a 5wt, for trout 4 or 5 wt is the best, i use a 4wt always have and sometimes use it for smallmouth and never had a problem, i would not recommend a 6wt for trout, unless you plan on fishing really big trout, and like up above your right your not gonna want that 3 piece rod and you wouldnt want that 8'6, but yeah email that lady like you said and see what she says, and if you need picking any flys i can point ya in the right direction on that too, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... yeah, 200 yards of backing would be overkill for trout. But if you're gonna use the rig for steelhead as well, buy a reel big enough to hold 150-200 yards of backing. Those big fish will have you into your backing. the ideal situation would be for you to buy a 4 wt. for trout, and a 7 or 8 for the steelhead. But a decent "tweener" rod for both would leave you with the 6. Not ideal for either species, but it will get you on the fish. It depends how you want to approach it. It might be best for you to go with the 4 wt. with a shorter rod. It will be easier to learn on, and once you want to start fly fishing for steelhead, buy the 7 or 8 weight that at least 9.5 feet long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... Well, I was at Walmart tonight and got some fly line - 5wt./floating/forward weight, and 100 yards of fly backing. The fly line also had the loop at the end like you recommended to make it easier for putting leaders They also had leaders and tippets but I wasn't sure what to get size wise so maybe someone can help me there. I was reading this small pamphelt in one of the kits they had there and it was talking about the leaders or tippets and the size depends on the size of fly you use? I'm not sure what size fly I'll be using but of the flies I do have, it will be around the 10-14 size I think? Whatever size is good for trout. The had like 3,4, and 5 pound test leaders. So does the leader attach to the fly line and then the tippet attach the leader to the fly? Does anyone now any nots for doing some of this attaching and how do you attach the fly backing to the fly line? Oh yeah, they also had these small pin like things to attach the line to the fly backing or leaders or what, I'm not, just wondering if anyone knwos anything about those? If anyone knows any good website for instructions, let me know! Thanks everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... for attaching the backing to the fly line i use a uni knot, its used many ways but you can attach to lines together usin it or the nail knot works too, and then attatching your leader to the fly line, if you have the loop on the fly line like you said, make a loop on your leader and do the loop to loop connection, you can look em up on the internet just search knots and you can find these knots, after you attach the leader, you can attach tippet using a uni knot again or a blood knot, or you can buy tapered leaders which the leader and tippet is in one and it just tapers off into a smaller diameter line to tie the fly onto, your gonna want your leader and tippet all together be about 7 to 8ft long, for tippet for trout ive used 2lb tippet up to 5lb tippet but i normally use bout 3 to 3.5lb tippet most the time out west, your right on the money with the leader attaches to the fly line, then tippet attaches to leader and fly goes on tippet, and fly size 10 to 14 prolly gonna be some dry flies you have, im guessing, ill use like size 10-12 dry flies at night, the bigger fly at night is gonna cast a better shadow, out in colorado, im always throwing nymphs during the day ill go as small as size 20 normally ill fish 16 size and then a 18 size dropper on nymphs, wish i knew some good websites for ya but i dont sorry, but if ya have anymore questions just ask be glad to help, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... thanks dU for the help! Will I need to change leader sizes for fly sizes or no?yeah, I have dry flies, maybe a few nymphs, not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... no you will not have to change leader sizes for fly sizes, i will use same leaders and tippet for all my flies from size 10 to size 20 your tippet aint gonna matter neither will your leader, at least from my experience i have never had a problem adn never changed my ways, and its been my pleasure helping ya out hope i gave ya some good advice and good luck, let me know how ya do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... just make sure the leader is a trout leader not like a pike or bonefish leader something like that, i forget to say the do make like sinking leaders and nymph leaders, but ive never switched my leaders up for type of fishing, just as you have the right leader and tippet youll be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonhunter Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Re: Fly fishing equipment.... [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] So do I need leaderss and tippets or no, is that for like fishing bigger fish? So far I know I need a rod, reel, floating weight foward fly line, and fly line backing. I've got a few flies already. Anything else,lol? [/ QUOTE ] yeah, you'll need leaders. They're the monofilament or flourcarbon that's tied to the end of the fly line. If you're fishing for browns, you'll probably need flourocarbon, or very light monofilamnet. I PM'd you my leader recipe for steelhead. tippets are just what they call a small section of line tied to your leader. this way, if you get snagged up, you'll only loose your tippet, not the leader. This just saves your leader and thus saves money. anything else...yes and no, you have the basics there, but you'll need a bunch of flies. Eventually you'll need to start to tie your own, this will save money BIG TIME. for example, I can buy 12 egg patterns for $20 at the local fly shop, I can tie 100 myself for that price. I'll put together a PM with some more helpful info. Now, what kind of knots do you know how to tie? Just remeber, its gonna seem overwhelming at first...but you'll figure it out fast enough...just take your time and enjoy the learning process. You'll be glad you did, and when the steelhead are spawning in the spring...you can't beat a fly rod. [/ QUOTE ] ahh little grasshopper...........i see you have grow wise over the last two years. looks like your hooked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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