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Dec 30th, 2023
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 New to fly fishing
#13287450
09/20/19 01:27 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,114
gar1970
OP
TFF Celebrity
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OP
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,114 |
Like the title says i am new to fly fishing but not regular fishing. I am looking for advice on what kind of equipment to buy from rod n reel to line. Since this will be my first fly rig i want to keep it simple and cheap. I mainly want to fish for bluegill crappie and the occasional bass. I dont know anything about 3wt 4wt but I'm thinking it has to do with line test??? School me on your ways.
Thanks in advance
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13287466
09/20/19 01:37 PM
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,239
rrhyne56
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,239 |
A three or four weight would be an excellent start.
Line weight is a system made up by manufacturers to describe the actual weight of the line. It's not actually line test. From 1 to 14, with 1 being ridiculously light (I have a one weight, it's only usable when the wind isn't blowing) to 14 which is for marlin and sharks.
I'd recommend a Google search and plenty of reading on the subject in order to get up to speed.
There are plenty of reasonably priced combos out there. My advice is to err towards spending more money on the line itself if it comes down to that choice.
Fly casting is different in that the line itself does the work as opposed to the line being mainly the connection between rod and bait.
There are a few local fly fishing clubs. I'd recommend attending a few meetings, going on some outings, getting some pointers on casting etc.
"have fun with this stuff"
in memory of Big Dale
RRhyne56, Flyfishing warden
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13287752
09/20/19 06:43 PM
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,149
Ocelot
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,149 |
Those are real fun on a 3 wt rod.
I recently bought a tfo 3 wt rod and orvis from someone here on the forum.
Good price and was just what I had imagined it would be for perch and small bass.
Really a blast.
Recently started fly fishing for catfish.
Light wire hook shad and small split shot.
Even put small peg float on leader. Same setup as on spinning rod.
This is a blast on my 5wt.
Figure what you want to fish for most then get rod wt to match.
You can be as conventional or unconventional as you want
Just go out and have a lot of fun.
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13288241
09/21/19 02:37 AM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,114
gar1970
OP
TFF Celebrity
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OP
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,114 |
Thanks guys for the replies! Lots of good info there. Another question i have pertains to rod length? What would be the best for a 5wt reel? I have narrowed down the reel to a 5wt as i think its kind of in the middle. I have seen lenghts from 6ft to 9ft. Is it just a personal preference?
Thanks again!
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13288296
09/21/19 03:38 AM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 111
Dougfresh
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 111 |
Cabelas makes a nice 7ft fiberglass rod in a 5 wt. I’ve got one paired with one of their cheap fly reels. I like the shorter rod for my kayak. It’s great for bluegill and bass.
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13288304
09/21/19 04:04 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,087
fshng84
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,087 |
Thanks guys for the replies! Lots of good info there. Another question i have pertains to rod length? What would be the best for a 5wt reel? I have narrowed down the reel to a 5wt as i think its kind of in the middle. I have seen lenghts from 6ft to 9ft. Is it just a personal preference?
Thanks again! Personal preference and where you plan to fish most of the time... Dougfresh mentioned a 7ft and shorter rod for kayak fishing. I tend to the 9ft; seems to be a versatile rod length for me. Have one 9' 5wt' rod/reel combo that I have used on ponds and lakes in the DFW area, fishing Denison Dam's and Possum Kingdom's tailrace, rivers in Oklahoma - Blue, Lower Illinois, and Lower Mountain Fork, and the rivers in Texas - Trinity and Guadalupe. Have done well with it. Good luck on your purchases... I say the plural because once you get the fly fishing bug, there will be another purchase!  PS: Here is a link posted on our blog to answer a Reader's question... What is the best setup for a beginner...
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13288583
09/21/19 05:00 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563
1960texan
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 563 |
I started a couple of years ago with a 5 weight and just picked up a 3 weight last month. Either is fine for the kind of fishing you described, although a 5 weight will give you more confidence when you are fishing for bass. I've bought all of my rigs at Cabela's and have been very happy not only with the quality of the gear, but also the knowledge of the salespeople.
If you are too far away from a Cabela's look for your nearest fly shop. They're a little more expensive (sometimes a lot more) but the people are usually pretty knowledgeable.
I fished using conventional tackle for most of my life, but in my opinion there is nothing more thrilling than catching a fish on a fly rod.
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13288598
09/21/19 05:21 PM
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,149
Ocelot
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,149 |
If you are mostly going after perch and crappie will have a lot more fun with 3 wt.
You will not have much of a fight on 5 wt. thanks
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13289603
09/22/19 02:13 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,054
Laker One
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,054 |
I started fly fishing two years ago and I am on my third year. I love my ultralights and will keep using them. However there is something about fly fishing that only fly anglers can relate to. I have a good friend who only fly fishes and I have learned a lot from him. He has taught me a lot and has spent many a day teaching be some basic techniques. The more you fly fish the better you will get. I learned with a 5wt fly rod. I now have a 3wt,5wt,and 7wt . Acadamey and Bass Pro have some pretty good sales that go on throughout the year on combo's . I would suggest a 5wt to learn on. For me the 5wt is easier to learn with. My friend was {right on the money) when he said. "The more you fish with a fly rod the better you will get". I have several places to fly fish that are perfect for fly fishing. I will always remember my first fish I caught on the fly. It was a 7" Bluegill in a pond using a Red Lady Bug! Good luck on your new fishing adventure. You are going to really enjoy learning and fishing on the fly! 
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13289765
09/22/19 05:13 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,114
gar1970
OP
TFF Celebrity
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OP
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,114 |
Thank you Laker One! You just added another vote of confidence twards the 5wt. Unfortunately its now going to be awhile before i can purchase a fly rod combo.
The Lord works in mysterious ways! Yesterday the wife and i took the boat out and decided to fish a different river lake. Good thing we did. Our usual spot we fish we put in and go upstream about 8miles, the river has lots of sharp curves and thats alot of steering. Back to the other river lake we went to we only use the big motor to get off the trailer then use the trolling motor as we fish right around the ramp. It turned out the fishing was slow there so we decided to go to another lake but as i was loading the boat on to the trailer my steering cable broke. It couldn't have happened at a better time! I think now if we had been at our usual place taking one of those sharp curves and the cable broke the outcome would have been disastrous! This is proof that God is watching over us and it only strenghtens my faith!
So now i have to buy a steering cable at $150 before i buy the fly rod.
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13289975
09/22/19 09:02 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,734
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,734 |
Thank you Laker One! You just added another vote of confidence twards the 5wt. Unfortunately its now going to be awhile before i can purchase a fly rod combo.
The Lord works in mysterious ways! Yesterday the wife and i took the boat out and decided to fish a different river lake. Good thing we did. Our usual spot we fish we put in and go upstream about 8miles, the river has lots of sharp curves and thats alot of steering. Back to the other river lake we went to we only use the big motor to get off the trailer then use the trolling motor as we fish right around the ramp. It turned out the fishing was slow there so we decided to go to another lake but as i was loading the boat on to the trailer my steering cable broke. It couldn't have happened at a better time! I think now if we had been at our usual place taking one of those sharp curves and the cable broke the outcome would have been disastrous! This is proof that God is watching over us and it only strenghtens my faith!
So now i have to buy a steering cable at $150 before i buy the fly rod. The Bible says! "In all things give thanks unto the Lord"! The Lord Jesus Christ will be with you always in both the good times and in the bad times! Sometimes the Lord is trying to tell us something when something not good happens in our lives. Bad events can strength us up!  Also as I always say. "The Lord Jesus Christ has control!
![[Linked Image]](http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/823/ycku.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/560/ukw3.jpg) IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13290201
09/23/19 01:33 AM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,114
gar1970
OP
TFF Celebrity
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OP
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,114 |
Amen Brother Chuck! preach on, i couldn't agree with you more 
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13290368
09/23/19 10:04 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,054
Laker One
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,054 |
Even though I am far from being an avid fly angler,I personally think a 5wt is good to start out with. Yes a 3wt is great for the Bluegill/Sunfish but for me the 5wt was easier to work and learn with. Side Note: Keep your eyes open for some pretty good sales coming up this late winter and spring at Bass Pro and Dicks. You should get some pretty good deals on both fly rod and rod/reel combos! Also late fall before Christmas you can get a nice deal on a fly rod combo!
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13290430
09/23/19 12:00 PM
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 465
Bones72
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 465 |
As everyone says five weight is usually the best. I actually think I have an old 5wt and a real. I'll look and see if I have a line if your interested. Pretty sure I do just need to poke around some stuff is still in boxes since the move from Colorado. I'd hate to tangle with some bigger bluegill on anything less than a 4wt though I have caught some good sized smallmouth on a 2wt when I was in Kentucky. Some the fish the Banker and Vogey have been catching would be a challenge on an 8wt.
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Re: New to fly fishing
[Re: gar1970]
#13290860
09/23/19 07:09 PM
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 4
Bonfirebob
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 4 |
I use Gehrke’s Gink every time I go fly fishing - it's cheap and yes you should start off with a 3 wt rod :-)
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