Hey guys! My names Chris and I'm new here
I'm also new to fly fishing. I got my first outfit from Cabelas for Christmas.
I've typically been neighborhood pond fishing for bass, but I'd really like to branch out and find some cool streams/river/bigger water bank fishing spots in DFW to catch sand bass, crappie, white bass, striper, carp, or anything else with fins worth catching!

I've got a birthday coming up in March and I'd like to build up my fly fishing arsenal, but i'm not sure what is needed most.
I'll tell you what I've got so far, and then I'd really like some advice as to what to get next.

So far I've got a 8wt 9ft rod with the same for reel and an 8WFF line. All came from Cabelas in the wind river combo. I've got a small fly box that I prematurely filled with a bunch of trout flies when I first got in not knowing any better. I have since bought some wooly buggers that have worked pretty well.

Here are some thoughts I've got on what to get next:
- I've thought about getting a lighter wt setup like a 3wt, 4wt or 5wt to to make pond and stream fishing a bit more fun, but I'm not sure what size I should get.
- Also, I know there's a lot of accessories I don't have
- Should I invest in some nice waders?
- What kind of flies do I need for this type of fishing?

So basically, If you had my current minimal setup, and you were going to make a prioritized list for next steps what would it be!?

Thanks guys! I've enjoyed reading up on these posts so far

Welcome Chris

People often build there collection of rods by purchasing either even or odd sizes. 2/4/6/8 or 3/5/7/9 weight setups. Fishing for carp and strippers can be done with the 8 weight. For the remainder of the panfish a 4 or 5 weight would be a good choice. Being a new fly fisherman I wouldn't step down to a 3 weight just yet. A 5 weight is probably the best choice but I really prefer my 4 weight. I use it for bluegill, crappie and white bass. The lighter rod and line really helps me to feel the bite on subsurface flies.

Really appreciate the tip!

Welcome Chris!

Not sure what neck of the woods you are in, but you might consider going to the Fort Worth Fly Fishers Club meeting next Tuesday, 03/01. Here is the website for more information, http://fortworthflyfishers.org/. A bunch of really helpful folks in this group that can really help you out with a lot of newbie questions.

+1 on J-Moe's comments. Regarding waders and flies, the answer is, "it depends". If you plan on doing much wade fishing in the next couple of weeks in the area or going up to LMF, then yes, get a pair of waders; otherwise save the money for the time being. The water is warming up and will be tolerable pretty soon without waders. Flies, depends on the type of fish you want to target; yes, there are several flies that can be used for multiple species.

This forum is a great place to get information and learn. I wish you the best of luck.

FishyB

Forget about waders, water temps are on the rise, so you won't need them in the near future. You could buy some normal wading boots and use neoprene socks with them, so when fall comes, all you'll need is waders. I'm with J-Moe. Get a 5wt. TFO and redington make good products. Their rods are great on price and quality. Can't beat TFO's warranty. Get a handful of different streamers. Clousers are good flies to have. Don't be afraid to get some small streamers, big fish like small meals too! 7-9 ft leaders 4x-5x will be good. Buy some tippet material in 4x or 6x depending on what you're fishing for. I like to use flourocarbon tippet. White bass and crappie fishing will spoil you right now. Pm me if you have any questions. I'll try to help.

I'll be getting with you soon FishyB!

1) Smaller rod 4 or 5 weight
2) line/reel to match
3) If you enjoy wading, get waders. If you are indifferent, don't get them.
4) Bass/Panfish flies - grasshoppers, pheasant tails, some poppers, etc.
5) Smaller tippets, leaders, and accessories for the smaller fish.

If you don't have them already - a decent pair of polarized glasses and some good traction hiking/wading boots.

Have fun

All good advice! Thanks guys! Keep em coming!

So should I keep the 8wt? or take it back to Cabelas and get a nice 5wt?

Personally if you intend fishing bigger waters for bigger fish stripers on Tacoma or big bass on Lake Fork etc then keep the 8 weight, that being said I have been really enjoying the lighter weight rods from 2 weight up to 5 weight. Possibly for you as a newbie fishing kinds and streams I would really say 4 weight to enjoy the smaller fish.
Fly wise don't forget the Briminator for brim to bass and also what others have said above.
For Blue Gill etc don't be without thermostats for the removal of hooks one that includes a scissors is better.

Those lite rods will tackle big fish to if you look back thru the light rod big fish thread. As far as flys around olive and black buggers and chartuse and white/grey and white clousers about all you need. I like to go with 7.5 ft leader around here and I add 3ft of seagar invisx 8lb floro the the end.

I just got a pair of cheap waders/boots to replace my nice Redington's that burst since I'm a poor college student. $70 for bib and boots at Academy in Fort Worth. 4 days of fishing, and they've been great so far. Worth the price for a beginning angler. They don't have any of the fancy frills of the nice waders, but they keep me dry and the boots are pretty decent for grip.

All depends on your target fish. 8wts are great for coastal Texas and some inland striped bass spots(and freshwater reds when Fairfield was active). I like an 8 wt for bone fishing, if you plan on getting into that. Other than that, my 8wt sits idle.

Seems like a 5wt would be a really useful purchase for you considering the list of fishing targets you presented in the Op. From there you can go down to a 3wt also as a finesse tool and then skip 4,6,7 purchases in the future. Let target situations drive you to any of the larger weight rods. By the way, don't spend a lot of $ on the reels for the lighter rods...they basically are only used to hold your line

Flies never to leave home without: clousers (chartruse/white/gray colors), wooly buggers (olive, black, brown), bead head prince nymph (or equivalent in BH pheasant tail, squirrel tail, or BH zug bug), and last but not least Miss Prissy or equivalent type popper. With that set, you can get just about everything that swims in Texas water and most others.

Other stuff...buy it when you need it, as opposed to buying what looks good out of catalogs and in the stores. Its really surprising what one can accumulate even under that restriction, LOL.

i use 1 wt, 3 wt and 5wt those are good for bass, trout
You do need a wader, i got my 1st wader from bass pro shop for 60 bucks
You can try to tie your own, check ebay, they sometimes have good deals

don't fall into the "equipment trap" by continuing to buy equipment(I'm a professional equipment procurer). Get you the basics; maybe 3-4 rods and reels and enjoy fishing. Someone will say, "I love my 1 weight"; or you don't know what you're missing with this 3 weight" so you buy the one, the two, and the three as well as a couple of 4's; a five or two; and a sack of flies that will cause you to buy a bunch of fly boxes of various sizes and quality as well as a half dozen different lines, leaders, gadgets, etc., etc.. Before you know it you have to dedicate a room for your fly fishing addiction. (I know this from experience) What I am saying is keep it simple or, like meadowlark sez, you'll accumulate way more equipment that you'll ever need. Starting to tie your own flies to "save money" is a big joke; flies you tie yourself will cost you about $10 a fly(that's a conservative estimate) I have enough feathers, hides, hooks, beads, vices, scissors,(you get the picture) to tie flies till I'm 110 and I still have to order stuff to tie that great looking fly I saw on the internet. Its all a "MONEY PIT"-p-

Sooooo you're saying I should return the Gander Mountain Fly Tying Kit I just bought? haha

Does anyone here tie flies to sell that I could get a good mix of bass/panfish/carp flies from?