Beginner's Set?

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
21

Swamphunter,

Without intending to sound like a jerk either, I don’t think you’re going to find a single outfit, beginner combo or otherwise, that will satisfactorily fish panfish to 12lb largemouth.

I’ll bet those SA Combos have indications on the packaging about what they’re intended for. You know “Trout/Panfish”, “Bass”, etc.

I personally would start with the combo (leader, line, rod, etc), that SA bundles as a Panfish outfit – because, in all honesty, that’s what you’re going to be catching in the beginning.

22

Ronnie,

There’s never a shortage of opinion around here when it comes to WHAT to buy and WHERE to buy it. You’ll find a general concensus that encourages one to support the local fly shops and avoid the “big box” stores, but you’ll also find folks who preach against Orvis, etc. Pick over the replies like you do a salad bar…take what you want and leave the rest. You’ll find the only thing that really changes here vs. The Refuge is the main topic…fly-fishing vs. duck hunting. You’ll quickly catch on to who the real experts are…and aren’t.

Fishing the Ozarks

23

Thanks, JC. I meant to mention that and forgot.

Fishing the Ozarks

24

BigFlatBrook,
I know your not going to find an outfit that will fish the rainbow of size fish that are in the water. My bass rods will handle a 14 bass just fine, but it won’t handle a 40 pound catfish that doesn’t want to be caught. That’s when the line breaks or you cut him loose.
Basically, I was just trying to get a general idea of what I need for the most part.

I am pretty sure that the leaders and tippets doesn’t come with the kit, and even if it does I know that I will need some more leaders for different applications.

Just trying to get a general idea of what I need before I buy.
Thanks for the response though.

Ken,
I kinda got that feeling. I do appreciate the help though and that was exactly what I was looking for.

J.C.,
I have been through the Fly Fishing Basics several times now. I didn’t find what I wanted to know and that’s the reason for the question. Trust me, I always look for other resources before I ask questions. Just didn’t see any that fit what I wanted to know.
Very good info on the how to’s. Thanks for having them.

Thanks all and Take Care,
Ronnie Ladd

25

Swamphunter,
As per your second post, I don’t think you will have a lot of options as to length and action when purchasing “ready-up” combos. A bit, but not much. Seems those you mention usually come “light and small” for little panfish and just a bit heavier for bigger panfish…which is fine.
The places you mention seem “open” so a short rod would be of little advantage. Are there LOTS of the bigger fish around? Are you generally going to handle 2#-3# fish? Maybe the bigger kit would be more comfortable, especially tossing poppers. Both kits should be fun on smaller fish. Some grand fish can be brought to hand by experienced fishers on very light gear, but maybe the heavier kit will keep you from buying twice too soon.
For small panfish, a 2#-6# tippet should be fine and can also function as a “safety fuse” when big stuff is encountered, if needs be. Most of the stuff you mention isn’t too leader shy, so grand amounts of length should not generally be necessary. Say 6’-9’…?
Learning to use what you have in your hand is far more advantageous to success and enjoyment than any amount of “what brand”. IMHO
…lee s.

26

get yerself a 9’ 4x tapered leader, a spool of 5x tippet and yer ready to rock.

27

You’ll be fine with an 8’ 5-6wt rod. If it’s SA look at the leader, if it attaches to the fly line like this:

You will need to get the L2L leaders, if not then any type of leaders would work. For starting out I would buy a 4x and 5x leader with a spool each of 4x and 5x tippet.

28

Hi Swamphunter. Welcome to the addiction.

For bass and panfish: I tie my own tapered leaders using regular nylon monofilament. Triple Fish Perlon is my favorite. They are either 6 feet or 8 feet long. On still water with a floating line, when I want to fish deeper, I’ll use the longer leader.

If you think tying your own might be something you would enjoy, do a search for leader formulas. There’s lots of information available on the net.

For tippet I use 18 to 24 inches of either 4# or 6# test Magnathin.

Fortunately, neither bass nor panfish are particularly leader shy. Some folks don’t use a tapered leader at all, and just go with a 4 to 6 foot section of 6-12 pound test mono.

Whatever you choose, pay attention to the way it delivers the fly. In general, you’ll find you need larger diameter tippet for heavier (or bulky) flies and smaller diameter tippet for light dry flies.

Leader selection or design are things best learned by doing. The responses you get here should give you some starting ideas.

Jim

[This message has been edited by nowindknots (edited 18 May 2005).]

29

Thanks for all the good info. I started another thread a couple of days ago on this subject, but I was looking at the St. Croix starter kit and asked about it exclusively. After seeing the responses, I will definitely consider the SA as well.

Paul

30

Most fly shops have a decent variety of used rods and reels that were traded in by people upgrading. This is a great opportunity to get yourself into a slightly higher end set up than the Wally World special. Although as stated, these outfits are well balanced and may preform OK for a while, the itch for better will be there. Something decent will have a return if you want to trade up.
Walk into your local fly shop and try and trade in your Wal Mart Special and see what you’ll get for it. Then try it with a name brand rod, might not get what you paid for it, but still worth more than the Wally Mart rod.

31

CTC, I’ve always wondered about the absolute wisdom of that. By that I mean, in actual dollars spent. Since I habitually keep all my toys, except for the occasional gift to friends, I really don’t know how it works.

Let’s say I buy a $500 rod, use it for a year, then decide flyfishing just isn’t for me. Can I get $440 for it used? Is it a fluid market? Will I have to search for a buyer willing to pay that much? As a newby will I know people who are even interested in buying it all?

If not, I can throw away my Wal-Mart special as you call it, and still be dollars ahead. Or I can donate it to the Boy Scouts, Goodwill, other organization, or the neighbor’s kid and get a warm fuzzy to boot.

Jim

32

Here’s some more advice I got when I first started out. And that I followed.

The best all-around weight fly rod for West of the Mississippi is a 6-weight. The best all-around rod for East of the Mississippi is a 5-weight.

I live in Jersey so I got a 5-weight.

33

if in fact a 6wt is in fact the “best all around rod for west of the mississippi,” how come I never fish mine?

mgj

34

Hey, Swamp;

First, welcome!

From reading your first post a second time, just to make sure, I’d make the suggestion of probably a 6 wt rod. With that (especially if you add a Bass taper line in the future) you will be able to throw the larger poppers and clousers and weighted bugs you are gonna want to for the LM and white Bass you are talking about. With a 3x or 4x tapered leader, you will be right in there ready to fish them.

With the kit, you will probably get a 5x. That will be great for the smaller flies for the gills and such. That is what I had for a leader when I started the WW fishing. I didn’t use any tippet until I got back to the heavier taper and then added 2x, 3x or 4x depending on the fly I was using. Currently I seldom go lighter than a 4x leader and/or tippet, but that is just me. You probably won’t need to either, especially in murky water.

For extra tippet going forward, grab some 2x, 3x, 4x and maybe 5x (I do use mine on occasion, like smaller scuds or something on a dropper). That with a couple of 2x or 3x tapered leaders should do it for you.

The line with those cortland setups is usually their 333 line, which is a pretty good line. Heck, I use one on my 5wt. It was their top of the line offering 10 years ago or so. If it is the 333HT it is even better.

As for landing the larger fish when they hit, well, they are not gonna bust the rod, if you follow the articles by JC and LF recently that addressed that. If you are using the heavier tippet, you will be in good shape. If for some reason a 9lb LMB hits your scud on 5x, you will probably not even have to think about it, the bass will take care of things itself. (Found that on the 3wt a couple of weeks back.)

Anyway, to stop rambling, the outfit you are talking about will do the job. You may want heavier or lighter in the future for certain situations, but for starters, you’ll be in good shape.

Don

35

Swamphunter, you might consider that someone, me for example, would be willing to trade you a nice beginner combo for a hand carved decoy. What do you think? I have several rods sitting around that I would think about trading.

36

Nowindknots,
My experience has been in dealing with a couple of local shops, hanging out and helping them out on a barter system is;
They will take a rod / reel in trade for the approximate whole sale ammount is depending on condition and then mark up 10-20%. They will also use these rods for classes which works out as well because a newbie starting out with no gear, learns on something will tend to buy for the right $$, especially when they see what it would cost new. Also keeps them from having new stuff turned used and then having more used to unload.
Pete