Starting rod weight
- This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated Jan 16, 2013 at 2:11 pm by
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no more than it is today, a tool is a tool. Try a few rods and stick with it. I would just make sure to find the rod that casts the size flies that you are most likely to use.
You can use a six if you want to but the size flies would make an eight easier to use. I stared with one.
I fish inshore flats most of the time. You will need to start with an 8wt due to the size of the flies and wind issues. The 8wt will be much easier to cast in most conditions. A 6 wt is a good rod for smaller flies and light wind, but if you are learning to cast on the flats, it will be very frustrating in many of the conditions you will encounter.
Clay, where do you fish most of the time?
Bob,
Most of the fishing I’ve done in the last few years has been bluewater with one trip down to the keys.
Clay –
Jekyll is a good target. (Guys Clay is my baseball watching buddy). We could hit the inside of Jekyll Creek out of my Gheenoe and do well.
Practical advice: I would look at the TFO Lefty Kreh Professional series 9′ 8 weight as your first rod. That’s a good medium fast action stick that will not break the bank. In learning to cast for the first time it’s important as Bob Riggins alluded to above for you to be able to feel the rod load, meaning bend when the force of the line is pulling backwards on it up in the air. A really good way to do that is to get an overlined learning fly line like the Scientific Anglers Headstart, which also has the advantage of being less expensive for the quality of line. It’s got the full Mastery high-end coating chemistry but it is cheaper (basically it’s a loss leader for SA to get people to buy their high end product).
So I would get that TFO rod, the SA Headstart line in a 9 weight (one weight heavier than the rod is rated, to help you feel the load). You can fish locally for stripers and shoal bass just fine with that setup and I’ll spot you a redfish line in 8 weight if we get down there. At $35, the Headstart is a good investment.
Reel-wise you don’t need to go crazy. When you get good at this you will probably want to upgrade gear across the board. For now you can get away with a reel under $100, for that matter you can even get away with a plastic reel from Wal-Mart like the Cortland Fairplay or the Scientific Anglers System One. In fact that SA System reel is probably your best bet as a beginner.
So with the TFO, the SA Headstart line, and the SA System reel from Wal-Mart, you’ll have a solid setup that will cover redfish, shoal bass and stripers for under or around $200. That’s pretty good. Down the road you can invest in the thousands of dollars of tackle I know you’ll be wanting but for now you need a rod you can beat up for a while.
Zach
Clay – One of our board members is a guide on Pine Island. Perhaps he’s not jumping in because he thinks it’s too self-promoting. Google fly fishing and Pine Island and you’ll find him. I’m sure he can give you great advice. I have a cousin who lives on the island and I’ve been thinking of a trip there myself.
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