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Moosedog:
Suggest you look at the lens lineup of both Canon and Nikon and read some reviews. Both manufacturers have strengths and weaknesses although they are pretty even. Since quality lenses will generally outlast camera bodies, go with that in mind. I went with Canon because of their macro lens and image stabilization lineup and “faster” autofocus. My current main camera is a Canon 30D, and it is sweet.
Also check with B&H and KEH for used equipment. You can often find older generation camera bodies for next to nothing. I know you want digital, but the Canon Elan 7 body is now under $300 new and makes a great cheap backup film body.
Thanks Zach. This is the new boat I finished in August.
The Walmart SA rods are very good blanks. So are some of the Martin rods. Zebco and SA have both donated a bunch of these rods to my son’s scout troop and some of the area school fly fishing clubs. They make a fine entry level rod and backup rod. The older graphite technology such as is in an IM6 blank is durable for knock around rods and they cast pretty good too. Orvis clearwater rods are great for the same reason. On the other hand, I had a first time fly fishing customer show up with new Walmart Shakespeare combo kit. The pressed on handle came off of the reel before he even got to use it. I’d recommend folks going the economy route buy the rod only and then a Pflueger Medalist reel and a decent line and backing.
What some of the more expensive rods offer are either super fast or finesse tapers that cast like a dream. On the White River, a finesse rod is very important when you hook up a large fish on 6x. I have customers that come with TFO 6 weights, and I usually cringe when I see one because they will be popping average size fish off left and right. The tips are too stiff, although they cast a lot of line nicely. The faster the rod, the smaller the weight rod you need for finesse fishing.
It is amazing, however, like Mike pointed out, how much marketing affects our perception of value.
Had to post this photo. It makes me laugh everytime. Some customers just have all the toys.
I’ve been blessed with a lot of good equipment over the years, but like everybody, there was a time I had nothing, and there will be a time when I have nothing again.
Scott
I’ve played around with them quite a bit for Erie steelhead and have found them to really not be worth the effort.
I’ve used both the Simms and the Folstaff. I found that the Folstaff sometimes locked up and required some rough treatment to get it folded again. But this was a minor inconvenience. Eventually I gave that staff to a friend who needed it more than I did.
When I couldn’t find another Folstaff, I ended up buying the Simms. Not quite as solid as the Folstaff, but easier to handle. However, my first Simms broke after about a year. The dealer very graciously replaced it on the spot, no waiting. In the three years since, I’ve waded with the newer Simms probably 200 times. Still going strong, though the lanyard is about shot.
Either way, I’d say, you’re get a superior staff.
But there’s one other route you might consider: I now allow the staff to float downstream of me as I fish, instead of folding it up each time I’ve waded to a new spot. Thus, the ability to fold it up doesn’t matter to me anymore. Seems like it might be a hassle, but it’s not. If you’re comfortable doing this, consider getting an old ski pole and fashioning your own lanyard. Spend your savings on a new line or maybe some premium flys. Just a thought.
I have the 12’6″ #6 TFO Pro that I use to swing flies on the larger rivers we have such as the Cattaraugus, and the Grand River (OH).
I wish I could afford that Winston, but I graduate college in 3 weeks and it will definitely be out of range of my budget for quite some time.
Interesting, we use a lot of 10′ 6 and 7 wts here for nymphing, and I figured the longer 5wt would be useful and pretty fun to scrap with a fish on under the right conditions.
They work pretty well. However, I know there are a few Fly Fishing Only streams that do not allow them.
If you add material that resembles the milky veil of eggs when they are in a stream then you can use them.
Some folks add a small amount of crystal flash for a small tail as well.
Just my opinion. I could be wrong.Your loss, Zach.
I learned a long time ago (a John Gierach incident) that you’ve got to separate the books from the guys who do the typing.
WBM
Good points all, G. And I felt the same way about his destinations. Even though I spent more than 100 days on the river this year, nearly all of it was in my home state (Colorado). It’s highly doubtful I’ll ever run into Howell on the river. But if I did, I’d congratulate him and wish him well.
What fascinates, me, though is this: Here’s a guy who was brought down by a liar (Jayson Blair). Yet Raines himself almost surely invented a fish story as a vehicle for telling his Times story. Now this is a memoir, which is usually defined as a personal perception of what actually happened. To think that Raines was brought down by a fabricator, and extracts his revenge by fabricating himself, seems preposterous. But there you have it.
Did you believe the sailfish story?
Just a curious note: I guided two ladies last week that have a lot of fun with their flyfishing. I introduced the one to the sport and she has excelled. The other is quite a good bass tournament angler that has, in addition, also taken up flyfishing. She is a very serious angler but also enjoys having fun and to her that means pink. They both work with Casting for Recovery as instructors and mentioned the new CFR pink rod outfit to me. They plan to buy one as their next rod purchase.
Lesson: Go for the average, but don’t rule anything in or out in sales. Let your customers dictate. Who knows, you might wind up with a lot of CFR gals in your lodge and you might be wearing pink next year too Moosedog
About two to four weeks for Orvis, Winston, and T&T has been my experience. If you are on a proguide program, most companies tend to take care of you as fast as possible. I always send my rods in UPS ground so it usually takes 5 days for them to get it. I would expect longer delays if you send it in around the start of the busy fishing seasons, especially around April, May, June. If you notate you need it rushed (better to probably call them), I am sure they will accommodate if possible.
GBurgFisher:
Your lighting is not that bad. Your focus is off. Several things can cause that.
1) Autofocused shot and then moving the camera – tripod will help reduce out of focus shots.
2) Check your manual and see what the minimum focus distance is to the subject–if it tells. You may be too close for it to focus. Or just do some test shots to see what your camera requires as to minimum distance. If you have detachable lenses, the lense will have a minimum focus requirement. Sometimes it is printed on the lense.
3) If your camera has a manual focus option, use a tripod and then manually focus. Autofocus sometimes cannot focus on highly reflective surfaces, so it seeks the next thing it can achieve on–the lines in your cloth.Scott
Zach-
I use that rig a lot- tho not really for trout ( don,t fish for them much). Hopper/Dropper or New Zealand Dropper are two names for the dry rig.The subsurface version you mention works really well on long rods, fishing high stick or Czech style
