Best fly rod for a noob like me??

[greylynx]

Go with what Pudelpointer and Silverdoctor have posted.

The other posts are marginal at the best.

[fishermansfriend]

Originally Posted by Pudelpointer

Sorry Bee, but I have to disagree. Most new flycasters will not have the wrist strength to cast an 8 weight properly, no matter how strong they are. A fast action 8wt, in fact a fast action of any weight, will make learning all the other parts of fly fishing much more difficult, such as mending line, roll casting, etc.


To the OP, there are lots of options for a fly rod out there: St. Croix, Redington, Orvis, and many others. I would suggest a "medium" to "medium fast" action 5 or 6 weight, in the 9ft range. When budgeting I would spend $120-180 on a rod, as little as possible on a reel, and buy the best line you can afford ($75 range buys you an excellent line - Rio, Airflo, SA, Cortland).

First line should be a short front tapered weight forward floating line. After that you can look at a variety of lines to suit the type of fishing you do.

Why is that? again not trying to question your knowledge, i just know very little.

[NUK SOO KOW]

Originally Posted by Toirtis

Agreed...I have 4 TFOs, love them all.

Also had 4 TFO's and just added a BVK to the collection making 5. They are great rods.

[Guy on a Buffalo]

Originally Posted by edsonfisherman

go to walmart and get a superfly combo for $100, a great rod/reel combo for begginers.

... bought one of these in Sept for $45 from WalMart!

[Pudelpointer]

Originally Posted by fishermansfriend

Why is that? again not trying to question your knowledge, i just know very little.

My suggestion of a short front tapered weight forward floating line is one of practicality. A WF line is arguably easier for most people to cast. A short front taper provides the ability to turn over bigger flies, multiple fly rigs or an indicator.

A long front taper is useful for delicately presenting small flies on quiet water. While there are definitely times a long front tapered line is desired, a short taper is more useful in more situations; in other words it is more versatile.

Similarly, a floating line is the most versatile line; you can fish dry flys (obvious) but also nymphing with an indicator (or without), cast weighted streamers, chironomid nymphing on still waters, etc. Other lines like fast and intermediate sink are useful in time.
Just my opinion.

[Woody_16]

Originally Posted by Guy on a Buffalo

... bought one of these in Sept for $45 from WalMart!

I was looking at ones similar to this at both wal-mart and canadian tire and thinking that it might be a good starting point until I can afford a better setup.. but I've also made the mistake in the past of buying the cheap spinning rod combos and had bad experiences (mostly with the reels though).. are these rods going to snap in half when a guy gets a fish on the end of them?

[bobalong]

Originally Posted by lannie

What is wrong with the TFO rods? Please provide some detail. I thought they were one of the best "bang for your buck" rods in the industry.

I and quite a few others believe they are the best rod for the buck, not sure if they were again last year, but they have been the best selling fly rod in North America for a few years.

Seems sort of strange that none of the retailers or fly shops (to my knowledge) carry the Pieroway line?

[BeeGuy]

Originally Posted by edsonfisherman

go to walmart and get a superfly combo for $100, a great rod/reel combo for begginers.

x2

I cant believe the amount of money people think they need to spend on fly gear.

kijiji is a good source too.

it makes me wonder if the gear itself is the most important part.

[pipercub17]

Originally Posted by lannie

What is wrong with the TFO rods? Please provide some detail. I thought they were one of the best "bang for your buck" rods in the industry.

as a rod builder i can tell you
they are not splined right -guides are not on the belly of the blank
making them not cast right .
they are a good rod blank just not put together well

[ryanheartssteelhead]

[QUOTE=bobalong;1418888]I and quite a few others believe they are the best rod for the buck, not sure if they were again last year, but they have been the best selling fly rod in North America for a few years.

Seems sort of strange that none of the retailers or fly shops (to my knowledge) carry the Pieroway line?[/QUOTE

Have you ever been down to the Pieroway production shop? Have you talked to these guys before? They do have retailers across Canada. They don't sell to local shops because they are a local company.

[EP2]

"Best bang for your buck" is whatever you want it to be. Longevity wise, it is a $800 sage; pure money and ability to be cast, the Wright and McGill (Now Eagle Claw) Featherlight yellow glass rods ($30 or so).

Yes, the stiff rod advice is not the best to follow. I still do not find it pleasurable or do I have the best technique to cast a fast action rod. Talk to the guys in shops. Have them show you product. If you can cast it out back. Have an idea of what you want to do, and what you are looking for before hand (which you aparently do). Nothing got my guff more in fly shops (and still at a sport retailer) than people who want a fly rod (or whatever) that will "do everything" and "cast far". You will quickly find yourself with a 7wt (arguably the best all Alberta species rod) and a Rio Deep 9 sink.

[Pudelpointer]

Originally Posted by EP2

You will quickly find yourself with a 7wt (arguably the best all Alberta species rod) and a Rio Deep 9 sink.

Man, that made me laugh.

Hard to keep a Chernobyl Ant on top with that line!

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by greylynx

Go with what Pudelpointer and Silverdoctor have posted.

The other posts are marginal at the best.

OH COME ON GREY!!! THOSE TWO RECOMMENDED A 5WT. I RECOMMENDED A 5WT. My suggestion is marginal? Cruel man cruel.

[chubbdarter]

Originally Posted by BeeGuy

x2

I cant believe the amount of money people think they need to spend on fly gear.

kijiji is a good source too.

it makes me wonder if the gear itself is the most important part.

Thats hardly a fair comment unless your well experienced in high end gear.

Do you also wonder the brain thought behind a guy in a 70 thousand dollar tourny boat as he blows by your canoe?

p.s. Sage also has a factory combo for sale

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by BeeGuy

x2
it makes me wonder if the gear itself is the most important part.

Well DUH.... LOL

Gear IS fun, I'll give you that. But hey, nobody really NEEDS a $70,000 half-ton truck either. Conspicuous consumption.

[chubbdarter]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Well DUH.... LOL

Gear IS fun, I'll give you that. But hey, nobody really NEEDS a $70,000 half-ton truck either. Conspicuous consumption.

No one uses a 1/2 ton for fishing, 1 ton Diesel minimum. The undercarriage on a half bottoms out when you crush mini vans

[Sedativ3]

I just picked up a redington crosswater rod/reel combo today. My first fly rod! 9' 5wt, it comes with nice rio line on it with the tapered knotless leader so its ready to go out of the box. Combo was $162, very reasonable considering the line alone is $60. O and i got the 4 piece one.

[fishermansfriend]

Originally Posted by Sedativ3

I just picked up a redington crosswater rod/reel combo today. My first fly rod! 9' 5wt, it comes with nice rio line on it with the tapered knotless leader so its ready to go out of the box. Combo was $162, very reasonable considering the line alone is $60. O and i got the 4 piece one.

where you pick that up??

[Sedativ3]

Originally Posted by fishermansfriend

where you pick that up??

Grabbed her at wolverine gun & tackle on gasoline alley in red deer. Forgot to mention it comes with a carrying case for that price as well.

[chubbdarter]

This is a honest question and not a slight on anyone.
companies who have numerous warranty claims and just replace for 30-40 bucks must have alot of built in costs in the purchase price. How much rod is the fisherman paying for?

i have owned probably 75 sage, loomis and T@T in my life and have slammed 1 sage in a truck door. It was replaced free of charge, not even shipping was charged back then to me. Its different now.

[jeprli]

Very true chubb!

With TFO there is no warranty, only replacements at $30 a section. I own two tfo nxt and ticr, both failed component wise and had to be replaced at my expense, replaced components don't really match up to rods. This company will never see my money again.

Go with stcroix or redington they are a fair deal for the money. At least they are splined right.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by Sedativ3

I just picked up a redington crosswater rod/reel combo today. My first fly rod! 9' 5wt, it comes with nice rio line on it with the tapered knotless leader so its ready to go out of the box. Combo was $162, very reasonable considering the line alone is $60. O and i got the 4 piece one.

Ding, Ding, Ding! We have a winner. For that price, you can't go wrong.

[silverdoctor]

Originally Posted by greylynx

Go with what Pudelpointer and Silverdoctor have posted.

The other posts are marginal at the best.

Holy crap! someone actually agreed with me!

Originally Posted by Doc

Ding, Ding, Ding! We have a winner. For that price, you can't go wrong.

Yeppers, nothing wrong with redington for starting out. Great price for a 4 pc

[BeeGuy]

Originally Posted by chubbdarter

Thats hardly a fair comment unless your well experienced in high end gear.

Do you also wonder the brain thought behind a guy in a 70 thousand dollar tourny boat as he blows by your canoe?

p.s. Sage also has a factory combo for sale

I'm sure you know what they say about brains and money.

[BeeGuy]

Would anyone care to describe what it means for a rod to be splined right?

[jeprli]

Its easy to find answer to that on google.

Rod blank has a stiff and a soft side. Guides are placed on either one depending on application. Some of the very highest quality blanks are almost perfect, meaning that blank performs equaly well around the circumference of the shaft.

Cheap rods, and more so cheap multipiece are very prone to bad splining.

If you have to reallign your rod sections every so often is a sure sign of bad construction.

[BeeGuy]

Great, thanks for that Jeprli.

Always something new to learn

[chubbdarter]

Originally Posted by BeeGuy

I'm sure you know what they say about brains and money.

Originally Posted by BeeGuy

Would anyone care to describe what it means for a rod to be splined right?

Well if we add the sum of these two posts and your giving comments on Fly Rods, we must assume your like Donald Trump....lol

[Kingfisher]

Originally Posted by BeeGuy

Would anyone care to describe what it means for a rod to be splined right?

BeeGuy all rods have what's known as a "Spine" or "Spline". It is known as both depending on which book you read. If you want to learn about it from someone what really knows get yourself the book written by the guru himself Tom Kirkman. Here is what the book looks like.



Some people give missinformation and not even know they are giving it. Do yourself a favor and do some reading. Tom describes in laymans terms exactally how and what a rod spline is and how it can work for or against you depending on how the guides are placed on the rod.

Some people have even ignored the spline and put their guides on rotation around the blank for downrigger blanks. I won't get into the why's and wherefores about that.

Any how you can easily find the spline by taking a section of rod and holding one end against your palm and rolling the rod by placing your other hand in the middle opposite the other blank. Making a bend in the rod. As you roll the blank the blank will naturally have a spot that it will spring over to. You can do this a hundred times and it will always spring over at the same point. If you mark it with a china marker you can see it again and again.

Rob

[BeeGuy]

Thanks for that info Rob.

I didn't realize the two terms were interchangeable. I'll have to check the book out.