a lesson on life and $ from a forgotten fly rod

Just some thoughts I thought I'd share in hope that it may benefit someone else as well.

Since I have begun to learn about fly-fishing, it has seemed to me that everyone always make a big deal about the rod. New rods are advertised everywhere, with new-fangled technology that I don't understand... if you're new to fly fishing, I recommend that you just ignore all that. This is why...

I went to go fly-fishing the other day and it was slightly windy, so I brought along my spinning rod & reel that I had purchased from wal-mart for a grand total of $40. I fished for about a half hour when the wind calmed down and the lake turned glassy. I hurried excitedly back to my car to get out my fly rod but was utterly disappointed to realize that I had left my fly rod at home, 40 minutes away, and as I had to be home in about 90 minutes, I didn't have time to go back and get it. I could have just kept fishing with my bass rod but I'm stubborn - I wanted to fly fish. So I thought a little bit. Despite forgetting the rod, I had brought my fly reel and line all spooled up on it. And I had A rod, not a fly rod, but a rod nonetheless. The idea occurred to me to experiment a little. Will a fly reel fit on a bass rod? - I'll give away the ending to you, it does! I tightened the reel on, put the line through the guides, attached a fly, and off I went! It wasn't pretty at first, and it took some getting used to, but after 20 minutes I was casting that line just as far as I ever had on my fly rod!

I think I learned a valuable lesson about spending money and about life.

Regarding money - if you're new to fly fishing and going to buy your first outfit, my advice is to stay well within your budget and buy a used rod, or a rod that is the color you like, and feels good in your hand. Then get a reel that fits well with the rod and the best line you can afford.

I'll draw a parallel between this and photography, a topic I know much more about than fly-fishing. To me, there is a huge difference between a $150 point-and-shoot camera, and a $1000 Nikon DSLR, not only in price, but also in output and the creative possibilities that the more expensive camera provides, features that a novice photographer wouldn't be able to appreciate. (Side note: If you don't know what DSLR means, don't buy one. You'll probably just end up frustrated and possibly discouraged from taking pictures.) But the money is only worth it to the extent that I can appreciate what it provides. if I can't take good pictures with cheap camera then what good is an expensive one? Not even the most high-tech camera in the world will take good pictures on its own.

I will probably never own a $600 fly rod - I don't need it to enjoy the experience. I do, however, own a Nikon DSLR and enjoy every picture I take with it.

What I learned about life -

I think my inexperience served me well here. In my undiscriminating mind, I had a reel and I had a rod, all I needed to do was put them together. Had I been an experienced fly angler, I doubt that it would have occurred to me to mount the fly reel on my bass rod. Of course, it didn't feel the same as my fly rod, and I don't intend to fish that way on a regular basis, but it was a good reminder to me to be aware of what I assume and to question those assumptions - and to not let my experience or knowledge actually hinder me or limit the possibilities.

Karli-Rae

Thank you for sharing your experience with us, I have found what you said to be true as well, take time to enjoy...:)

That theory hold true in many things.
I know a guy who loves to shoot sporting clays. he uses an old 870 field grade and will out shoot most of the guys with the several thousand dollar custom built guns. It's all in the technique and practice.

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I will probably never own a $600 fly rod - I don't need it to enjoy the experience.--AlbaSurf

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But when you go to a fly shop with the intention of getting a rod a little better than your "beginner," watch out! i spent one summer learning on a $19.95 Eagle Claw and had a ball. then my birthday came. I went to the fly shop, where someone had set aside a Winston leaning on the counter. just for laughs i asked to try it out. oh. my. goodness. there was simply no question of not getting it! it's been my pride and joy ever since, and i have even more fun fishing.

you're right: when you know enough to know the difference, it's time to upgrade. :-)

i totally agree with this. i started out with a fairly cheap starter flyrod my father got me for christmas. i broke it because i picked it up the wrong way. then i inherited a bamboo Orvis battenkill rod from my Grandfather. i did not break that one. then i was casting with a 6 piece backpacking flyrod of my dads, and somehow broke it, so i decided that i needed an inbetween. i searched, and "Clay" led me to an awesome deal for a 3 weight rod that was marked 66 percent down, and i got it for 100 bucks. BEST DEAL EVER. i have cast with the repaired backpacking rod, and the action is soooooo different, i dont want to go back. but until u experience the mediocre, u cant appreciate the exceptional. and i know that my $100 rod isnt EXCEPTIONAL, but the Battenkill is, and i use them in different situations. for example, on my likely LAST fishing trip with my grandfather, i used the Battenkill, becuase it is a connection point, but on my fishing trip with Michael E, i used the other.

so, yes, experience does effect knowledge, know-how, and feeling for quality. good subject Alba Surf. very good subject

Jordan

Agreed....no reason to lose your mind on fly fishing gear like many of us have:^) But it is sure alot of fun. LOL!

When I go fly fishing, I carry a spin cast reel, for when the wind is not cooperating, just attach it to my fly rod, and do some spin casting until the wind dies down. I add a water bobber to the spincast line (bobber with a cork that you can remove to pour in some water to add some weight to carry the line, and fly out during the cast). I still consider it fly casting, even if the reel and line are not. ~Parnelli

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Originally Posted by Steven McGarthwaite

When I go fly fishing, I carry a spin cast reel, for when the wind is not cooperating, just attach it to my fly rod, and do some spin casting until the wind dies down. I add a water bobber to the spincast line (bobber with a cork that you can remove to pour in some water to add some weight to carry the line, and fly out during the cast). I still consider it fly casting, even if the reel and line are not. ~Parnelli

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That's a really cool idea! I never thought about that!
Do you have a link to an online store that sells those types of bobbers? I've never seen them before but I am intrigued and would like to see what they look like.

Karli-Rae

Karli-Rae - Send me a PM with your snail mail and I will send you one to see if you like it. Jerry

Iknow what you're talking about, I always knew thenm as "trout bobbers" they are clear and such. I always tied a piece of neon yarn to the top half so i could see it in the water better!

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Originally Posted by Steven McGarthwaite

When I go fly fishing, I carry a spin cast reel, for when the wind is not cooperating, just attach it to my fly rod, and do some spin casting until the wind dies down. I add a water bobber to the spincast line (bobber with a cork that you can remove to pour in some water to add some weight to carry the line, and fly out during the cast). I still consider it fly casting, even if the reel and line are not. ~Parnelli

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Blaspheny! :lol:

I learned to fly fish beause I broke my only spinning rod while fishing. It was a two hour trip home and I decided I wanted to fish so I stopped at the only hardware store there was on the way home. The only rod they had that my reel would fit on was a cheap ($18.00) fly rod. Sometime later I decided to buy a fly line and reel. Taught myself to cast with this outfit and the rest is history.

One of the brands is ajust-a-bubble. They are available at Wallyworld and just about any sporting goods or bait shop.

You can also make a bunch of wooden spinning bubbles from wood dowels. If you have a lathe you could make a lot of them very quickly. No lathe?, just cut a 1 1/4" dowel into 1 1/2" lengths. Taper each end to look kinda like a rootbeer barrel candy, but with one side smaller than the other - 3/4" and 1/2" ends. You can do this with a wood rasp and sand paper or probably on a drill press. Attach an eye screw to both ends - paint the bubble any color you like ( I like white or fluorescent orange ) and your done. I'm still using the ones my dad made me, back in 1974! Also, you could seal the wood with spar varnish or something similar. I seriously need to get a digital camera! LOL!!!!

DIAGRAM
3/4" big end ------ eye o( >o eye ------ small end 1/2" ( line from spinning reel attached to small end eye screw )

( leader&fly on 1 1/2" ( length of dowel )
this end )
(starting dowel dia. is approx. 1 1/4")

Best regards, Dave S.

This really touched a nerve with me. Last fall my son and I were preparing to go with a group up to Lake Erie tributaries to fish for steelhead. We were given all sorts of advice on equipment, rods, reels... basically the whole works. Having grown, he needed new waders and boots, and I knew we needed heavier rods than the 5 wts we had always used. I began to look everywhere, and finally ordered two rods from L.L. Bean- the entire set-up, ready to fish, was under $100 each. There had been al kinds of discussion about the drag on the reel being able to handle a large fish, the feel and action of the rod, and so on. What I found was that the most important factor was being with people who knew where to find fish, what flies to use, and how to present them. When it was alll done, a 13 year old had sucessfully hooked and landed 3 fish over the weekend, all at least 5 pounds. There were people with us who had spent twice the amount we did just on a reel, but nobody had a better time. Our equipment did just what it needed to do, the results were super, and I had no complaint with what we fished with. I don't know if we would have appreciated any difference using "superior" equipment, and having gone back and done it again, I doubt that we'll ever see the need to upgrade what we have.

Thanks for your thoughts. This applies to all sorts of activities, especially to us who have kids. Do you need a $2000 guitar to start? Or a $700 bow to try your hand at archery? See how you like it, try it out, and then by all means upgrade if you want to or need to!

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Originally Posted by CaseyP

But when you go to a fly shop with the intention of getting a rod a little better than your "beginner," watch out! i spent one summer learning on a $19.95 Eagle Claw and had a ball. then my birthday came. I went to the fly shop, where someone had set aside a Winston leaning on the counter. just for laughs i asked to try it out. oh. my. goodness. there was simply no question of not getting it! it's been my pride and joy ever since, and i have even more fun fishing.

you're right: when you know enough to know the difference, it's time to upgrade. :-)

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I think that Casey makes a good point that a comparison between a $20 rod and a $600 rod will come out massively in favor of the more expensive rod. The difference between a $100-150 dollar rod and the $600 rod gets much smaller very quickly. In fact, if you select your rod carefully, the difference can negligible for many anglers. Some anglers even prefer the cheaper rod because because the ultra-fast tip, high-priced rods tend to be very unforgiving of less than perfect casting. For me. the "bang for the buck" rods fall in the middle price range. Now let me say if you can afford a $1,200 graphite rod or a $3,000 bamboo and fishing such a rod brings you joy and pleasure, I have no argument with you at all. All I'm saying is that rods with excellent casting characteristics may be found in the more moderate price ranges.

BTW, I was casting my grandfather's yellow glass Eagle Claw (circa 1950) the other day and with a few small adjustments in my timing, it was laying out some pretty good line.

I'm sure others will disagree but consider the opinion in the light of what you paid for it. 8T :)

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Originally Posted by Eight Thumbs

BTW, I was casting my grandfather's yellow glass Eagle Claw (circa 1950) the other day and with a few small adjustments in my timing, it was laying out some pretty good line.

I'm sure others will disagree but consider the opinion in the light of what you paid for it. 8T :)

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I don't disagree in the slightest.

Two years ago on a trip to Montana I only shipped my one favorite bamboo rod.
Big mistake!! Second day I hooked a locomotive-like rainbow. The rod splintered slightly above the mid ferrule.
I still think it was my fault but nonetheless the damage was done. There I was without a rod. My brother-in-law, a non-fisherman called his brother and arranged for me to borrow the only fly rod he owned, an old Eagle Claw glass rod.
Well, for the next couple of days I fished it. The action was terrible but I was determined to make it work. Caught a bunch of fish and bolstered my ego to no end. I figured if I could catch fish with that rod, I could catch 'em with a crappie cane pole.

I suppose you could say you can catch fish with about anything that will throw a fly line?
It's, in my opinion, a lot more fun to catch 'em with a smooth casting rod and that does not have to be a "break-the-bank" one!!

Bob

AlbaSurf; OMG.....how refreshing to have sense and experimentation in the same act. You elated me so much I didn't finish your post; which I will do as soon as I reply.

It took me about 10 years and thousands of dollars to discover what you did in one outing. I should have taken Neil Travis' article about Castwell doing a demo with a broom handle to heart (and mind).

Also, I did your little trick last summer. Took a 5' ultralight spinning rod and put a reel with 4wt. line on it and cast like crazy!!!! Go figure.

But, I was in one of those TU chapters and you know what that means....lots of experts with expensive rods and reels that know more than me; and, certainly discourage experimentation. Give me an old piece-of-crap IM6 rod and I'll cast the living *$%# out of your Orvis, Sage, Winston, T&T, etc. all of which I've had over the years.

Have the time of your life, AlbaSurf.....for a few dollars.

Regards, Jim

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Originally Posted by Tig

I learned to fly fish beause I broke my only spinning rod while fishing. It was a two hour trip home and I decided I wanted to fish so I stopped at the only hardware store there was on the way home. The only rod they had that my reel would fit on was a cheap ($18.00) fly rod. Sometime later I decided to buy a fly line and reel. Taught myself to cast with this outfit and the rest is history.

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That's awesome! I like stories like that - thought sometimes when you are staring at a broken rod it's hard to imagine such an unfortunate event could open up a whole new world of opportunities, but often, that's the way it works if you don't get discouraged. :-) Thanks for sharing!

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Originally Posted by Jim Sentell

AlbaSurf; OMG.....how refreshing to have sense and experimentation in the same act. You elated me so much I didn't finish your post; which I will do as soon as I reply.

It took me about 10 years and thousands of dollars to discover what you did in one outing. I should have taken Neil Travis' article about Castwell doing a demo with a broom handle to heart (and mind).

Also, I did your little trick last summer. Took a 5' ultralight spinning rod and put a reel with 4wt. line on it and cast like crazy!!!! Go figure.

But, I was in one of those TU chapters and you know what that means....lots of experts with expensive rods and reels that know more than me; and, certainly discourage experimentation. Give me an old piece-of-crap IM6 rod and I'll cast the living *$%# out of your Orvis, Sage, Winston, T&T, etc. all of which I've had over the years.

Have the time of your life, AlbaSurf.....for a few dollars.

Regards, Jim

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TU Chapters? lol, I actually don't know what that means. What does it stand for?

It saddens me that anyone would discourage experimentation - but how exciting and satisfying it is to invent and discover new possibilities on your own!
Jim, your response encouraged me, thank you.

Trout Unlimited Chapters. I've found them to be highly worthwhile for both their conservation efforts and their informative programs. Jim is right, however, that a spinning rod with a fly reel and fly line would raise an eyebrow or two. Very nice people though. 8T :)

Man I hear ya!!!!!!! My first fly rod outfit I bought at a flea market in the 90's, an old Daiwa Apollo fly rod with an automatic Pfluger fly reel and who knows what kind of line LOL paid $8 bucks for the whole thing. When I got into fly tying (I'd tied bucktail jigs for years) I kinda knew what I was doing, my son and I were fishing a FW pond and I set the fly rod down to use my UL spin gear (trying to get back up under an old tree limb) my son grabbed the fly rod that had a Renegade fly on it and was catching perch, and sunnies left and right. Ok DAD!!! can I have a fly rod of my own???

Well a trip to WalMart produced a lucky find, a metal trash can with all different rods for $10 each. Bought myself a Courtland FairPlay and my son a Renegade (don't know who makes it) and I had a cheap fly reel at home for his and got him a cheap fly line.

Now I'm not a purist fly fisher and I never will be, but living in Vermont the home of Orvis I do take some ribbing about my Courtland and now Renegade as my son is in the Army now and I've acquired it LOL.

They do what I want and maybe someday I'll get a higher end rod but for now they're just fine.

Fatman

I got my rods for free. they are hand me downs from my forebears. a herter's fiberglass fromteh fifties that I use religiously, a shakespeare ugly stik frommy father, and amartin cheap set that my dad bought for giggles because mymom forgot her rod at home.

A couple of months ago my father, who hasbeen fly fishing for about fifty years has graduated up to a gorgeous sage 3wt. I use my fiberglass four weight. the river had swelled and my dad forgot his wader boots. he couldn't get into the river and so we went to one ofmy usual fishing spots.

Shore stalkingwith my dad is an experience I will nevr forget. my son and I avidly stalk the shoreline for bass, trout, blue gills, you name it. but when it came time for is to fish the still waters, my dad only hadcomplaints. " This setup is only for small streams! you need a bigger rod to fish this and those crappy wet flies..." then along comes this skrawy old man with a "000" rod that abou five feet double hauling itout to the backing who looked at my father and asked him " Son, it's a sage, it can do the job far better than that crappy ole fiberglass that kid over there isout casting you with. " my dad quit and waited in the car.

Score one fo rhte fity dollar outfit the oldman had, the 20 bucks on the four weight line I had, and for my son who said to my dad at breakfast at waffle house. " Maybit's a good thingyou didn't teach my dad how to fly fish...."