I got a little taste of using a fly rod last weekend, and figured I'd give this a try.

I've been looking over the Basspro and Cabela sites and it all looks the same to me. Is there anything I should avoid in the low end combos?

What are the pro/cons of having a rod too heavy, or too light?

Fishing will most likely just be for blue gills, perch, and winter stocked trout. Occasionally I might want to try sandbass or whatever I might be able to stir up on a Brazos float trip.

I live in the Fort Worth area. I'd entertain offers on used gear if someone has something they've grown out of.

An 8ft 5 weight is pretty standard for starters and the kits are usually less then $100.00. You can certainly spend a lot more if you want to but that usually comes later as the flybug bite takes full affect and the real crazyness begins.

You might also go to Cabelas, Basspro or another fly shop and cast a few different rods. Maybe take a casting class. Good luck and have fun with it.

Stephen

Beech: I think a good all-round starter would be a 9ft. 6wt.
I like the 9ft. better than the 8ft. it allows you to keep more line off the water and mending is easier. I know you probably dont understand the inportance of this yet, but as you gain experience, it becomes very important to your fishing success. The 6wt. is great for trout, whites, brim and smaller bass. It also allows you to throw larger flys for bass and whites.
Get one of the starter kits from Cabellas, you cant go wrong, todays starter rods are as good as premimum rods of a few years back.
Hope this helps,

R. Mackey

Beech,
Both of the posts above are great info. You might get hooked on flyfishing, and then again, you may be able to fend off the consuming urge to wet a fly in your bath. Keep it simple unle$$ you've Got Lot$ of ca$h.
Handle as many fishing rods as you can before you buy. Somewhere along the line you will come across one that feels right to YOU. Just keep in mind that you may say you want to start with smaller quarry, but that may change. Balance that with this Texas wind and you may even want to include some 7 or 8wts in your search.
If this is your first outfit the reel at this point is mostly just a place to hold line. I wouldn't get as bent up as some folks get about drag, bearings, buzzers whistles and bells just yet You can go absolutely insane later...and we all hope you will
Keep us up to date on your quest would ya?
Welcome to TFF!

Run, run away before it to late.

Hey I am with Hook line & sinker you best servered with the 8 ft 5 wt until you begin to progress with your skill. I been flyfishing for trout since I was a 10 yrs old, my grandmother taught me. I have used a lot more different setups than just the 8ft 5 wt configuration and there is not anything else that will allow you the flexibilty. I have a cheep Cabelas outfit I bought several years back it will meet your needs. That rod has servered me all over the west US and Canada on some big trout.

I am know at a point in life where I want the challange when I am out fishing by myself. Now that is not to say that I will not be getting a better rig some time soon, but I want to add 3 wt for panfish and a 8 for bass and steelhead, so they will probably come before I by better (high dollar) equipment that is of course until I get the salt water bug ($$).

Being in Ft Worth try this group for help get you information and casting clinics. They have group fishing outing and can help teach you the basics. It takes some practice to get good just keep working on it you will get there.

Fort Worth Fly Fishers, http://www.iflyfish.com/fwff/

I still use regular tackle so any of the FF haters do not throw me out of here.

3wt 6ft

Beech,
If you haven't already bought an outfit, here are a couple of options that you might like.

The Eagle Claw Granger IM7 is a nice fly rod, and very reasonable at around $40. The 5wt comes in 8', 8'6", and 9'. I'm thinking about getting their 7'6" 3wt.

You can get a good fly line for $30-40 or less if you find a sale. The same is true for reels.

I haven't tried this myself, but I've read good things about the 5wt Scientific Anglers System combo - about $130. It comes with an Ultra 4 fly line, System X fly box, Fly Fishing Made Easy DVD....pretty much everything but the flies.

Regards,
TM

I ended up buying a combo rod/reel from cabelas. I went with a 9ft, 6#, 4 section rod.

I am starting to get the hang of casting. Still have tailing loops and getting knots in the leader. Working on it though. usually have 1 or 2 good casts out of 10, 6-8 mediocre casts, and usually one completely botched cast.

It can be frustrating at first, but don't give up. The tailing loops and knotted leaders will grow fewer, and the casting will become a pleasure.

That 6wt will serve you in a lot of conditions. From high sticking nymphs in streams to fishing for bass, it is a good all around rod.

Enjoy!

Hey man, do not know if you have one yet, but go to Cabelas. I do not know his name, but there is a hearing impaired guy in the fly shop that is one of the most helpful salesmen that I have ever met! I feel bad because I was going to write Cabelas a letter complimenting him, but never did. It was about this time last year, hope he is still here. Good luck!