ENTER THE DARK SIDE - Readers Cast (Ron Tidd) - October 5, 2009

[rtidd]

ENTER THE DARK SIDE

Ok so it's Ron's turn to start contributing a story or so. What can I say... I'm doomed...

[JohnScott]

... I'm looking forward to a chronicle of your experiences in the huge universe we call fly fishing. Really. I can't think of anyone better equipped to tell the story the way it should be told, from the day of conversion to the day that you are doing the things that Neil and Tom talked about in the other articles in today's issue in places like Dee has reported recently, i.e. the spring creeks of SW Montana.

This can be a great ride of all of us, and for the newbies coming to this sport and this site. No pressure, of course. No pressure at all.

John

[EdD]

Wait until you start sticking up fish porn and fly porn in your cubicle/office. That step probably follows the fly fishing comic(s) but before the "My other car is a kayak/canoe/pontoon boat/flot tube" bumber sticker.

When you here somebody say, "Get the lead out", and you can't but think that you tie/tye with with lead-free wire, you will know that you have joined us. (Or just start hanging out at Fish-Ins.)

Ed

P.S. Just pop in a copy of "Welcome to the Machine" by Pink Floyd when next you visit your fly-tying area.

[JeffHamm]

Congratulations Ron! I think you're going to find the dark can be a lot of fun!

- Jeff

[branhap]

Hey Ron,

From one newbie to the world of fly fishing to another... Go with either a Cabela's or BPS combo to get u started. Much better quality compared to the SA Wally World setups. I know, cuz I have both. I got a SA for my wife. Not even close in quality.

Good luck on your endeavor.

Paul

[EdD]

Ron, I'm sorry about muddying the waters, but I've got combos from BPS, Cabelas, and the SA Wally World Special. I have NO problem with my Wally World special and I am pleased with it. No, it isn't a Gatti. None of those combos are. But you can buy several combos the price of a Gatti rod and have change let over.

Paul, I'm not trying to be rude. I suppose that these are just different opinions of the rods.

Ed

[branhap]

No offense taken Ed. Just tryin to help out.

To be fair... I like the Trout SA rod since it is a 4 piece. It handles great. the Fly line seems top notch. I had issues with the leader. Almost like it got baked in the sun, cuz it was breaking with less than a half lb of pressure. So I ended up replacing that almost immediately. Lastly, I wasn't fond of the plastic reel.

If you buy the SA you won't be disappointed, I just think the BPS or Cabelas Combos are better, in part because it seems to have a higher quality reel. Then again, I mostly use my reel for storage as I haven't hooked into a giant yet! Heh