What is the recommended weight for specifically targeting Hybrids at LLELA? I was figuring about a 7#, how far off?

Thanks!
Dave

That would work. It would let you toss larger flies for sure.

Thanks! I was thinking that a 5# was a little light.

Dave

Great post. I agree with everything you said with one additional note. I am a firm believer in spending money on a good rod...and a better fly line. That pushes the cost a bit higher than you show above. But in the end you will have an easier time casting the flies. And at the end of the day your wrist might not be as tired. A good rod will cast a good fly line and make you look like a pro. A good rod will catch(set the hook) for you if held correctly. Finally the 'good rod' will allow you to see the bottom of a river or lake like a blind uses his cane...feel.

This is just my opinion. I have never spent over $400.00 for a complete setup to give some bearings to my statement.
I also tie my own flies because I feed the trees and bushes about every other cast there in Texas.

John

great write up...little less worried about my pending entry into the fly fishing world

I've noticed a few questions about detecting the bite as well as setting the hook. Remember, slack ain't yer buddy. Hold that rod tip down close to the water. If you have too much slack, Mohammed Ali Ali and Joe Frazier could re-fight the "Thrilla from Manilla" on your fly and you wouldn't know it.
Most fly lines these days have a braided dacron core. Braided dacron does not stretch. Keep your rod tip down and pointed toward your fly when possible. You should feel the bite then give your line a brisk tug for hard gummed critters like bass as you raise your rod tip... Fly rods are not designed to set the hook like a bass rod. We get a large part of our hook set from the no-stretch dacron in our fly line...fish on!

Ok. I just read all 4 pages of this post. I have been wanting to try out fly fishing for 2 years now but haven't gathered the courage to start from scratch. My family and I just got PCSed to Germany a couple of months ago, so my first question is: Should I get a fly rod/reel setup here since what I'm mainly interested in fly fishing for to begin with is to catch my beloved panfish in my beloved Hill Country? Also: What is the best weight rod to catch bream with the rouge 3lb bass taking my offering too? Also: Will fly tackle extend my cast reach? For comparison I use a 6' one piece graphite L and a 7'6" two piece graphite UL almost split down the middle. I also use a 7'6" two piece fiberglass UL for my mini topwaters, crankcaits and the like. And, to go along with that question: Does the lenght of the rod affect the lenght of the cast like conventional tackle? ie, longer rod; longer casts. Thank you for all the feedback in advance.

I'd guess that tackle that works well for trout ought to also do well for bream and bass. A five or six weight would be nice start. Mainly from learning point of view. As you get better you can go to even lighter tackle for even more sport.

Nope. More like bowhunting vs. gun hunting; two very similar but very different activities.

Rod length; don't put a lot of attention on that until you get some experience casting and have a baseline to work from. There can be differences but at the start it is not a big deal IMO.

Adding to what Robin had to say, if you're used to UL fishing, a 3 wt would be good for perch back home and those funny browns in the streams over there, would probably be more in kind to your UL fishing, and a shorter 3 wt would also be good for smaller streams.

What weight fly rod is best? This is relevant or just a mater of opinion but the biggest Bass caught on the lightest rod offers the best Sport. A five pound Bass on a one weight rod with a fine tippet is great sport IF you can pull it off. However in the Texas summer heat it is best for the fish (if you intend to release it) to use at least a 5 weight ( or up) with a proper tippet and not play the fish too long. Not all fish released live.... something to keep in mind.

I never knew there's such thing as Fly fishing. Quite interesting though. Gotta to try that someday.

Its really un-ethical for an attorney to advertise, much less SPAM a fishing forum.Dirtball.

He or she will be very gone very soon.

If I was a little long on a cast and ended up breaking 4-5 feet off the end of a WF Floating line should that be a problem? I could literally see it hang in the tree. Was able to wade pretty close to it, but not close enough to untangle it.

It's now a modified WFF line. The only question remaining, what exactly it's been modified to?

I sound smart aleck but it's a fact. Glue the face shut, tag on a braided mono loop and it ought to be OK. Although perhaps a slightly different weight line.