The other day my wife announced that she likes fly fishing enough that it is time to buy her own rod (instead of borrowing one from friends). This is a real accomplishment as she is quite frugal and wouldn’t buy a rod unless she was serious.
Now the bad thing. We’re both very frugal (I think I mentioned that already ). We’d rather spend less than $250 for the outfit and would prefer to have a good warranty, in a 5 weight, 8’6", 4 piece variety.
I’ve been pondering a couple of options. One is a Clearwater outfit from Orvis. The other is a Temple Fork Professional series.
Does anyone have any ideas/opinions? Hoping to get all set up for trips to Arkansas (big river fishing) and Montana (tiny stream fishing) this year.
Well, it seems to me that she’s enjoyed using the outfit she borrows so a good starting poing might be to determine the price of that outfit if you can still get it all “new” at your local shop. If it is older gear and you can’t get it new (or it’s out of your acceptable price range), talk to the people in the shop, tell them about the outfit she is used to, and see if they can recommend a few packages that might have a similar “feel” that are within your budget constraints. Finally, have her test cast the recommendations to determine which rod package she is most comfortable with.
Just remember, you’re not saving any money if the rod never gets used because it doesn’t feel right to her.
Get her to cast every rod she can get her hands on. Go to fly shops, shows, friends, even ask some nice people on your local rivers and streams if you can take a couple casts with their rod. Then narrow down her likes and pick the best deal. For the reel, try lookin for a used one from a friend that will balance her new rod to her liking. Sometimes the combos don’t feel right from the box, sometimes they do. Everyone likes something a little different always try before you buy. Good luck.
My wife loves her Temple Fork 9’ 5 weight (and her Winston), and so do I. The Orvis Clearwaters are very nice too! I am very impressed with the quality of both.
I can’t speak to the Orvis or Temple Fork issue since I don’t know own any of them. The advice presented already is sound from my standpoint.
My wife got into stream fishing(flies and bait) the last couple of years. She had been using a 7ft Eagle Claw(bright yellow) fly rod. I eased her into waders and now she was ready to upgrade(I wanted to make sure that she really liked fishing streams).
As a result of that, I bought her a 8.5ft 5 WT Fenwick graphite Flyrod/Reel for Christmas. She has only used it thus far practicing casting in the back yard(I haven’t gotten her out yet). She seems to like it.
So…follow all of the advise provided so far and just go for it.
By the way, where do you head out and fish from San Jose ?
Re: " Does anyone have any ideas/opinions? Hoping to get all set up for trips to Arkansas (big river fishing) and Montana (tiny stream fishing) this year."
Frugal? As in buy once, cry once Frugal?
You’re in San Jose and using some means of transport ( $$$ ) to get to Arkansas and Montana “this year”. You want to buy an outfit that may ( if you’re frugal ) be called on to serve for many years.
How much are you two spending on “this years” travel ( of which only the memories will be lasting ) compared to the $250.00 you wish to spend on an outfit, that could last a life time?
Opinion -
1 ) Up the budget and let her buy her own gear.
2 ) An 8’ 6" five weight wouldn’t be my first choice for " big river fishing “.
( Define big river & the type of fishing that will go on there. )
3) Same could be said of " tiny stream fishing”.
4 ) There are several Fly Shops between San Francisco and San Jose. It might serve her well to stop by one or more of them and pose her questions, build a relationship, get known, etc.
John, A man once crossed a Perch with a jellyfish intending on a boneless Perch. Unfortunately he got a bony jellyfish. You may find the 5wt. a bit lite for the ‘big water’ and too big for the ‘tiny’ water. You might consider two less expensive ‘outfits’. One 7wt and one a 3wt.
Since the subject was broached, which Cabela outfits do you prefer? I’m looking to build or buy a 9-foot 5-weight. I’m thinking in the $150 to $200 range.
Thanks
While I don’t own either of the products I’m about to recommend, I have cast the rod and I own other reels from the same manufacturer. The rod is the Temple Forks Lefty Kreah TFO 05 86 4P which is a four piece 8?6? 5 weight at $139.95. The rod is built on an IM6 graphite blank, and is a little softer than the new graphite?s, and is therefore a little slower action rod. IM6 has been around a long time and I have several IM6 based rods that I love to fish. The 5 wt will handle a large fish; 20+ inches and 5 to 10 lbs with no problem and will still present a size 24 dry fly with delicacy. The TFO warranty is a no-fault, lifetime warranty. Finally yet importantly, TFO is a sponsor here.
The reel is the new Ross Flywater. This reel offers a full disk drag system and is based on the proven Gunnison reel design. The price is $99.00 for the 4-6 weight reel. It will hold a WF 5 plus 125 yds of backing. While Ross is not a sponsor here, their reputation for quality and service makes them someone I would recommend.
). We’d rather spend less than $250 for the outfit and would prefer to have a good warranty, in a 5 weight, 8’6", 4 piece variety.