fly fishing on a budget

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

A good friend of mine wanted to start fly fishing. His biggest concern was the cost. He had heard that it was very expensive. He did go out and buy a Wally world special complete fly rod set on closeout for $10.00. My first comment was any left I will buy them all! This was my recommendations to get started:

  1. Waders from Wally world - $50.00
  2. Flies from me - free
  3. furled leaders from me - free
  4. tippit material - $3
  5. Vest - $20
  6. fly box from me - free

Anyone have any other suggestions I may have forgotten? I am trying to keep it really cheap for him

2

How about the cost of a divorce lawyer once he gets addicted?

3

Polarized sun glasses are a big help and can always be used for general purpose sunglasses if he doesn’t stay with fly fishing.

4

Fingernail clippers whipped on to a cord and pinned to the vest.
You always use them the same distance from your eyes anyways…(retractors are useless IMO) $.35

Hemostats from the hospital ( 8) ) …free

Altoid type mint box with foam glued inside for fly box… free

5

Check on ebay or other places for wading boots. I’m not sure if the waders from Evilmart (wally world) have boot foot or stocking foot or if they carry boots. But, obviously they’re a must.

Second, an oil company credit card! (getting there and home is the most expensive part!)

6

Hook Sharpener. Metal nail file from the dollar store
Wally World has coiled keychain retractors for 2 bucks

7

pay attention to that one…

lucky for me, my wife gives me a day per weekend for myself and the other day is for her…actually works out quite well…

8

Might need some goops, goos & stuff like floatant, indicators, split shot, etc!

I’d tell him pass on the vest until he decides IF he wants a vest. A pocket or fanny pack will usually suffice temporarily.

My advice to beginners is what you suggest at first; then experiment and discover what you NEED and buy a little at a time.

When I was a kid first entering the workplace my boss told me: “buy one new hand tool a week, that’s it; before long you’ll have everything you need and not be broke”.

It worked like a charm!

9

Harleybob,
In an earlier herein published nail biting recount of my latest fishing experience in Wyoming ( from which I am now returning and am on the road in Mitchell SD) I fished for the first four days with a SA Wally World special at $19.95. I was under the impression I was using my Orvis TRident TLS since it too was green like the SA. Ya know somethin??, the fish, vast quantities of them, NEVER knew the difference. I can honestly say that, after discovering the mix-up, the Orvis did feel a bit “smoother”, whatever that means in casting a fly rod, but IT DID. At $10 bucks a pop, I too would have emptied Wally’s shelves of it’s bargain. I’m surprised and proud to report the SA rod did NOT explode under the severe pressures of pretensiousness in posh Jackson Hole Wyo and in fact held it’s ground admirably. :smiley:

Mark

10

Bob: To each his own, but I would not spend 20 bucks on a vest as part of the initial outlay. That money might be better spent on better waders or ?? Pockets and a creel are probably adequate to start out with. I have a vest but seldom use it.

Tim

11

my list, for beginning fishermen.

bag from goodwill or dollar store, $1
finger Nail file four for a $1 at dollar store
fingernail clipers 2 for a $1 at dollar store
tippet one or two spools for fish needed.
2 leaders
Pill box for flies $1 dollar store
rod reel wally world.
Hemostat.
pocket knife.
glasses
floatant.
ball cap

This would cover 90 percent of my fishing, If I wade, I wade wet. I intend on buying waders this year. (third year fishing)

Eric

12

I’d also question laying out $20 for a vest that probably won’t last. Instead, how about buying some big wooden beads at the craft store, string them with some large salt-water snap swivels, and add a $2 foam rubber sunglass strap so that the lanyard doesn’t cut into the back of his neck? I have a total of $7 invested in my lanyard and haven’t worn my vest in months. The remaining $13 can be invested in products from Lynchburg, TN.

13

Made me remember that I consider a flask ESSENTIAL fly fishing tackle!

Add that to my list of suggestions!!

:wink:

14

I would also suggest not getting the vest. Take the $20 and buy some better line for the flyrod. The wally world flyline would likely discourage the user.

15

You have obviously never watched JC cast the Wally World combo (Scientific Angler Combo). If you had, you would retract your last sentence. Actually, it’s more likely the discouragement will come from people rather than equipment. Most people will believe what you tell them, so why not make it positive reinforcement for the Newbie? He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

Joe

16

remember that polarized sunglasses are not just for wearing in sunshine. I wear my all the time when I am wading and they make my time in the water safer. I sure can see into the water better and it helps me to choose my next step.

17

You have obviously never watched JC cast the Wally World combo (Scientific Angler Combo). If you had, you would retract your last sentence. Actually, it’s more likely the discouragement will come from people rather than equipment. Most people will believe what you tell them, so why not make it positive reinforcement for the Newbie? He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

Joe[/quote:9b681]

Joe,

My post was made in response to a question. I stand by my statement. What is the purpose of your statement?

18

You have obviously never watched JC cast the Wally World combo (Scientific Angler Combo). If you had, you would retract your last sentence. Actually, it’s more likely the discouragement will come from people rather than equipment. Most people will believe what you tell them, so why not make it positive reinforcement for the Newbie? He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

Joe[/quote:35e01]

Joe,

My post was made in response to a question. I stand by my statement. What is the purpose of your statement?[/quote:35e01]

The purpose of my statement was to refute your statement about the quality (or lack thereof in your opinion) of the flyline. I have cast the Wally World/SA combo (and watched JC cast it quite masterfully as well), and it does an adequate job for a beginner to start with. No, it’s not a Rio or other high end line, nor is the rod a $600 Sage or Winston. But, to say the user would become discouraged before he has even tried it, is negative reinforcement.

If we expect people to try fly fishing and become long time enthusiasts, our job is to ENCOURAGE them as they progress, and not to tell them they will be disappointed before they even begin. IMHO, that is the elitist perspective which scares people off before they start. Many people fish with entry level equipment for many years without being deterred by the hype of more expensive lines, rods, reels etc. Not everyone is able to spend big bucks, and it’s proven time & again that you don’t NEED to spend big to catch fish and enjoy fly fishing.

I work with large groups of beginners several times each year, and the first thing I tell them is “You don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy fly fishing.”

I stand by my statement as well.

Joe

19

Whats this thing called a budget? :roll:

20

My view, skip the vest, as suggested by others. I use a fanny pack type thing myself and can carry quite a bit of stuff in it.

I would get the glasses as suggested, even cheap polarized glasses are a good investment for seeing in the water and to protect the eyes in case a bad cast places the fly a little close to his head.

For leaders and tippet matterial, let him know that those little Stren filler spools will work fine and show him how to tie his own leaders. It’s alot cheaper than the mono sold as true tippet material and will be very budget friendly.

The fly line that comes with the kit will work fine to start out but when he is ready to get a new line be sure to point him to some of the better low cost lines.

As for patterns, teach him your go to patterns, such as a streamer pattern or two, wooly buggers, most used nymph patterns (usually bead head hairs ear, prince, and/or pheasant tails), most effective dry fly patterns, and midge patterns, and, if you fish alot of smallies in your area, the value of cheap poppers. The fly’s, even those he purchases himself, do not need to be expensive and going for a huge variety of expensive fly’s, though it can be fun, is not needed.

This part may be jumping the gun a bit, but many beginners start wanting to try fly tying. Make sure he knows that fly tying, though again a fun way to pass time, quite often is not cheaper than buying your fly’s and that if he does decide to get into tying to be sure that he knows again, to limit cost of materials, only the most used fly’s should be tied, don’t waiste alot of money trying to get all the materials needed for all the cool patterns he sees. Most won’t work much better, if any better, than the old stand by’s and sticking with them will keep costs down.