I still consider myself “entry level”. In the recent post on the Winston boron IIx rod you said,
…and I have for the past ten years been pushing the rod industry to produce better rods for the entry level fisherman. They have done a marvelous job of doing just that.
I’ve looked through some of the old postings that speak about entry level rods but wondered if you might give us “entrys” any rod recommendations.
I’m still unsure as to my likes/dislikes versus wants/needs when it comes to rod weight and action, so I thought you might suggest some things we could consider when shopping.
Thanks…
There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
Which rod does depend of what you are fishing for. Freshwater, for trout or panfish, a 5 wt rod is pretty much the “universal” rod.
In that same vein, a 9 ft rod is also the most recommended and fished.
What rod? For entry level folks, I highly recommend NOT going with a super-fast rod.
You want something that allows you to feel the line and actually load the rod.
In order of my choice:
Redington Red Fly and
Redington Wayfarer (now in 5 piece)
G. Loomis GL3 (the rod we used in our classes)
Sage SLT
St. Croix new Avid
TFO Finesse Series
Albright A-5 or GP
This is the best of the entry-level rods,
with good cosmetics and rods which will serve you for a long time.
That said, both Scientific Anglers and
Cortland produce a fine kit - the rods are
moderate action, and the kit comes with reel, line, leader and video. A real bargin for about $100.