One topic that never fails to stir up responses on the General BB and the Saltwater BB is the cost of the equipment that is used for fly fishing. I wonder if we have the same split here on the Warmwater BB. Given the cost of the typical outfit that you fly fish with in warm-water, do you consider yourself high-end, moderate, or low-end in terms of your equipment? This is just my definition but it might be helpful in defining your cash involvement. If your typical outfit (rod, reel, line, and backing) runs $800-$1,200+ you fall in the high-end group. If your typical outfit falls between $400-$799, you are in the moderate range group. If your typical outfit costs between $50-$399, you belong in the low-end group. Where do you believe that you fall?
I am definitely in the low-end group with three Orvis Clearwater outfits as my principal warmwater tools for extracting fish from Lake Hartwell.
You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it’s a real short camping season.
Definitely low end. I’ve fished some mid level rods and some high priced reels but have found that I cast, fight fish and enjoy my lower end equitment. Therefore, I can’t see spending the money. I fish for Bass, panfish, striper, drum and the occasional trout (sshhhh) so the equitment needs to be good and reliable. I’ll stick with my lower end Diamondback rods and sth reels. Just my low end opinion.
Well, looks like I fall into the low end of yer ratings. My wife seems to think that I should be in the high end based on how often I have to get this or that little thing, but even adding up everything I have I would only be in the middle of your moderate group, and I have 3 rods and reels.
I’m not just low-end, I’m bargain-basement-bottomed-out-big-time! (say that 5 times really fast)
I bought my first rig (starter kit already strung) from the big W (Wal-mart) for about $39.95. Learned to cast fairly well and replaced the level line with WF6F worth about $14.00. My aunt gave me a couple of graphite rods and the reels she no longer used, I replaced the line on the 4 wt for about $17.00.
I’m couldn’t be happier with the gear I have and short of replacing many a leader or tying many a fly, I’ll stay in the basement.
Now, if I could just talk the wife into buying that cata-raft…
There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
I buy mostly what I feel I need…and depending on what it is I’m buying…I’ll go whole hog…I seldom look at a price tag if buying in a shop…If…I have that certian something ,Like say the perfect patch of deer hair,weather for winging,where it need have perfectly intact tips,or really course/thick butts for spinning…I’ll layout whatever it takes…when buying online or through the mail…it’s whole other ball game…
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
You left out the garage sale or flea market end.
I’ve got more in my fly tying set up than in what I go fishing with!!
I’m building my fist rod because it was a cheap way to go!
P. S. I think the responses here will scare off any mid or high end posts!
I feel more like I do now than I did when I got here!
Cactus AKA “Lucky Dog (Pirate Name)”
[This message has been edited by Jack Hise (edited 20 July 2005).]
Hmm…my two graphites are Redingtons, Red.Fly and Crosswater, but I mostly use my 9’ Granger Victory, which was a gift, and an 8 1/2’ Montague Rapidan which I paid $125 for…so I’d say low-medium.
Because this is not exactly a “target rich environment” the only pillaging and plundering being done involves my wife and my paycheck, I am forced to “buy” my own equipment, so I am relagated to the lowest of low ends.
I would say low-end on cost, but high end on quality. I build my own rods and would not trade any of them for a T&T, Winston, Sage, etc. Maybe a blank from them, but not a factory rod. My rods are functionally superior because they fit MY STYLE and I build them how I WANT.
My reels are low end, but all I need. I use an Okuma Integrity on my saltwater rods, an Orvis Battenkill 3/4 Click, Ross Colorado 0, White River Classic UL, and Hobbs Creek LA 3/4.
My flylines are mostly Cortland 333HT, a few SA Ultra 3, Mastery Headstart, and Aircel. I actually am quite surprised at how well the Aircel performs.
Guess I’m somewhat in sticker shock. My thoughts of “high end” are squarely in your “moderate” range. I guess I’m quite content to wrap my own blanks and tickle the fringes of what a “moderate” outfit would cost if I went that route. I never understood the need to spend a fortune on reels, but I’m not an ocean guy. I’ve had a large flathead cat and several carp take me to the backing, yet have never used a reel in battle. Maybe that’s why I get a line burn on the old finger there about once every summer. Back in my 60’s days I had a VW Beetle. I guess I’ve always had that mentality with fly fishing rigs. They’re comfortable. Get great mileage. Cost is right. And they get me where I want to go efficiently. JGW
.