texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
Brad2587, C Man, Cameron Gose, Jetskirentals512, Flashin Assassin Lures
119183 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 121,062
TexDawg 119,800
Bigbob_FTW 95,347
John175☮ 85,918
Pilothawk 83,274
Bob Davis 82,393
Mark Perry 72,492
Derek 🐝 68,322
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,038,935
Posts13,955,800
Members144,183
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Good "starter pack" of flies #12374860 08/06/17 08:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 882
N
Naggler Offline OP
Pro Angler
OP Offline
Pro Angler
N
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 882
Just recently got a 4/5 wt as my first combo and am looking for a good starter pack of flies that I can order online. In a related thread, some folks told me Llano bugs, small streamers, clousers, and anything buggy looking pretty much. Chasing sunfish, smaller bass, crappie, whites etc.
I live outside Austin and plan on hitting up Sportman's Finest again to get some hand picked flies when time is not an issue. Went in there last week to feel a couple different weights before I ordered my combo and the employees there were very helpful. Just looking for some online sources now. Haven't really shopped for flies yet...are they sold by weight (ex 1/80 ounce etc) or just by look? Thanks!! fish


"Ahhh, yes yes...who has time? Then again, if we never take time, then how can we ever have time?"
Re: Good "starter pack" of flies [Re: Naggler] #12374881 08/06/17 08:52 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 828
M
mbarker68x Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
M
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 828
Most are sold by hook size. For the fish you are going to be chancing, and what I use on my 2 and 4wt rods, I recommend 12-6 . As for a started kit, I've never seen one put together for them. Another shop down in your area is Living Waters, another great bunch of people. I've never tried ordering on line from them, but every time I've been in there, Chris is always taking orders over the phone and filling them.

Re: Good "starter pack" of flies [Re: Naggler] #12374924 08/06/17 09:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 882
N
Naggler Offline OP
Pro Angler
OP Offline
Pro Angler
N
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 882
I will look into them thanks!!


"Ahhh, yes yes...who has time? Then again, if we never take time, then how can we ever have time?"
Re: Good "starter pack" of flies [Re: Naggler] #12374941 08/06/17 09:40 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,238
R
RexW Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
R
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,238
The NXT kit comes with a 4 wt rod and a 5 wt line. While you are learning to cast, I would stay with size 10 flies or smaller. The higher the hook size, the smaller the fly. Beadheads should be fine, but I would not start with conehead flies. They are heavier and more difficult to cast. Learn to cast with files that are easier to cast before trying larger flies that are more of a challenge to cast.

Also, a size 10 olive Woolly Bugger will catch pretty much anything that swims.

Have fun!


Fly Fishers International certified casting instructor
TFO Rods pro staff
Re: Good "starter pack" of flies [Re: Naggler] #12374971 08/06/17 10:09 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,238
R
RexW Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
R
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,238
I just read the hopper post. You can go with a larger fly size when using foam flies. Foam is usually easy to cast.


Fly Fishers International certified casting instructor
TFO Rods pro staff
Re: Good "starter pack" of flies [Re: Naggler] #12378340 08/09/17 01:57 AM
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 387
M
Mitt78 Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
M
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 387
Here is a "starter pack". I don't know if the price is good or not. I haven't ever bought fly or really looked at prices.
http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/k-e-stopper-lures-13-piece-freshwater-fly-kit

Last edited by Mitt78; 08/09/17 01:57 AM.
Re: Good "starter pack" of flies [Re: RexW] #12378369 08/09/17 02:06 AM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563
1
1960texan Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
1
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563
Originally Posted By: RexW
Also, a size 10 olive Woolly Bugger will catch pretty much anything that swims.


I'm still pretty new to fly fishing, and from my own personal experience I could not agree more. I've caught a ton of fish on the olive green wooly bugger. Also caught a good bit on small poppers and brown hoppers.

Bead head nymphs have also been good to me.

Re: Good "starter pack" of flies [Re: 1960texan] #12378433 08/09/17 02:53 AM
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 387
M
Mitt78 Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
M
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 387
Originally Posted By: 1960texan
Originally Posted By: RexW
Also, a size 10 olive Woolly Bugger will catch pretty much anything that swims.


I'm still pretty new to fly fishing, and from my own personal experience I could not agree more. I've caught a ton of fish on the olive green wooly bugger. Also caught a good bit on small poppers and brown hoppers.

Bead head nymphs have also been good to me.

Brown bugs have been working all spring and summer. I got this on a black dubbing brown foam Llano bug mothers day weekend. I was showing/teaching my wife to fly fish in Dinosaur Valley.

Re: Good "starter pack" of flies [Re: Naggler] #12378558 08/09/17 04:43 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 882
N
Naggler Offline OP
Pro Angler
OP Offline
Pro Angler
N
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 882
Thx guys...gonna head to Sportman's Finest tomorrow and grab some Llano bugs, woolly buggers, poppers, streamers, bead head nymphs, and clousers. Get to break the new rod in on the Llano River Friday and at my stock tank Saturday...totally stoked!!! Will post results...thx again to all for advice on the new gear! fish


"Ahhh, yes yes...who has time? Then again, if we never take time, then how can we ever have time?"
Re: Good "starter pack" of flies [Re: Naggler] #12389598 08/17/17 03:06 PM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 18,106
C
COFF Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
C
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 18,106
I'm just reading this thread, so this may already be too late. I would not go out and stock up of flies from a local shop. Fly shops typically stock higher priced flies. Your nymphs will be $2-3, and the more complex and pretty flies will go up to $5-6. Based on the list you gave above, you could drop in excess of $50 before you know it.

You can argue that these flies are higher quality and worth the extra money. But you will quickly find out that as you are learning to fly fish, you will lose a ton of flies. You aren't used to tying the small tippets, you'll pop them off on your back stroke, you'll catch them in tree limbs, you'll break them off setting the hook. That $50 you spent at the fly shop could be gone in your first hour at the river. Trust me, been there.

Go to one of the discount online shops and order about a dozen of your two favorite patterns. You should be able to get a dozen for under $10 and then just go to town with it.

Here is one you can try, but there are several others. www.bigyflyco.com


Re: Good "starter pack" of flies [Re: COFF] #12390357 08/18/17 01:40 AM
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,067
M
McKinneyLonghorn Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
M
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,067
Originally Posted By: COFF
I'm just reading this thread, so this may already be too late. I would not go out and stock up of flies from a local shop. Fly shops typically stock higher priced flies. Your nymphs will be $2-3, and the more complex and pretty flies will go up to $5-6. Based on the list you gave above, you could drop in excess of $50 before you know it.

You can argue that these flies are higher quality and worth the extra money. But you will quickly find out that as you are learning to fly fish, you will lose a ton of flies. You aren't used to tying the small tippets, you'll pop them off on your back stroke, you'll catch them in tree limbs, you'll break them off setting the hook. That $50 you spent at the fly shop could be gone in your first hour at the river. Trust me, been there.

Go to one of the discount online shops and order about a dozen of your two favorite patterns. You should be able to get a dozen for under $10 and then just go to town with it.

Here is one you can try, but there are several others. www.bigyflyco.com


Agreed. I believe the discount fly shops sell a lower quality, less durable fly, but like you said, when learning, you'll be losing flies enough that you'll likely lose the fly before it falls apart.

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3