WALHFOF

[Further North]

Regarding acronym, Think Beatles...

 

 

Rod: Temple Forks Outfitters, Axiom II, 8 wt., Glenn Blackwood, Great Lakes Fly Fishing Company, unraveler par excellence: $339.85.

Reel: Cabela's WLX, bought with points: $0.00  (that's a Lamson 8 wt. reel, if you're not familiar with the sub-context)

Line: Rio InTouch Single Hand Spey Line 3D , 8 wt., bought with Cabela's points: $0.00.

Leader, 6 ft, Maxima 55 lb. leader + 18" Tyger Leader, 30#, $2.73, components (parts and stuff) Brian Smolinski, Lund's Fly Shop, River Falls, WI.

Mustad twist lock: Wild ass guess, $0.25.

Fly: Me, about $2.50 with materials and time.

So, maybe, $350.00 if you tip the waitress heavily.

Will catch pikeandbass; not debatable...will likely catch musky...

Fly fishing's not nearly as expensive as some folks wanna make it seem...

[Bent]

OOOOOooooh I get flies with a little help from my friends

[Further North]

I was wondering how long it'd take for someone to...take the bait...

[TnRiver46]

I am the wahlfof! Koo koo kachoo. You have exposed the myth!!! I use fly gear that is significantly less expensive, it’s all about how use it! In reference to Fly Fishing, my buddies say “still cheaper than a bass boat”

[Further North]

Temple Forks Outfitters makes very good, mid-range fly gear.  I can't talk myself into Orvis, Loomis, Scott, Winston or Sage rods that are often north of $800, and can eclipse $1,000.

 

I like the first generation Axiom rods by TFO, so I was looking forward to this rod, would typically wait until they started showing up on E-Bay to buy one...then I read that they were performing similarly to the new Orvis Helios 3 (one of those rods I can't talk myself into)...so I decided to go new...talking to Glen at Great Lakes Fly Fishing cemented that thought.

 

I'm a huge fan of Lamson fly reels...without going out and counting, I'd guess I have at least a dozen, and the Cabela's WLX is a Lamson (it came with Lamson tag on it and a Lamson Reel pouch).  Cabela's was moving them out for $135 (a steal for new Lamson), so using accumulated points to gab that was a no brainer.

 

I had been looking at the Rio Single Handed Spey line for a while...my fly casting is atypical in that I do very little false casting...I try to pull the fly out of the water, do one back-cast and put the fly right back in the water and everything I read indicated this line would do that as well, if not better than the Rio Outbound Short I have on another rig...so I bought that with points as well.

 

If I'd had to pay retail for all this...I'd be somewhere around $650 - $800.

[N Florida Mike]

350.00 seems kind of expensive to me but what do I know?

[Further North]

Just now, N Florida Mike said:

350.00 seems kind of expensive to me but what do I know?

Not for a fly rod/reel/line.

 

An Orvis Helios 3 rod in 8 wt. is $898.

 

An Orvis Mirage reel to fit it is $649.

 

Any decent fly line (Rio, Orvis, Scientific Angler, Airflo) is $90.

 

That sorta defines the middle of the high end of fly gear  so we're talking $1,637.00

 

You can spend more, without working very hard at it, there are G Loomis, and Sage rods over $1,000, there are plenty of reels that'll start north of $700...

 

...and no, the companies are not screwing anyone, it's a matter of the scale of production.

[TnRiver46]

I go with a $30-$50 fly  rod and $20 Fly reel. I ain’t catching any pike and musky though haha. The Fly line is usually one of the most expensive parts of my setup. That and the waders.....

[N Florida Mike]

7 hours ago, Further North said:

Not for a fly rod/reel/line.

 

An Orvis Helios 3 rod in 8 wt. is $898.

 

An Orvis Mirage reel to fit it is $649.

 

Any decent fly line (Rio, Orvis, Scientific Angler, Airflo) is $90.

 

That sorta defines the middle of the high end of fly gear  so we're talking $1,637.00

 

You can spend more, without working very hard at it, there are G Loomis, and Sage rods over $1,000, there are plenty of reels that'll start north of $700...

 

...and no, the companies are not screwing anyone, it's a matter of the scale of production.

Dang. Think I'll start making custom flyrods.

[Further North]

Custom fly rods...if there's added value...can get really nuts...

 

https://www.taigan.com/shops/oysterflyrods/items/42995-oyster-legacy-series-bamboo-fly-rod-by-oyster?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5fDWBRDaARIsAA5uWTgUjrFGCHERPNsKsgP9FHakQLVt_bgTydVYi5bkcGWuzr1SOZz6BBcaAutREALw_wcB

 

 

...but you have to make a "name" for your brand first. 

 

There's always a "local" market for "custom" rods built on commercially available blanks, but they tend to sell for less than the maker's rods. 

 

There's a local guy here who builds on St. Croix blanks, for example; you can usually get one of his rods in the $150 range.  I have a few and they are great.

 

 

[Deleted account]

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour...

[Further North]

21 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I go with a $30-$50 fly  rod and $20 Fly reel. I ain’t catching any pike and musky though haha. The Fly line is usually one of the most expensive parts of my setup. That and the waders.....

...from what I've been able to figure out, $30 - $50 fly rods...unless they are used examples of more expensive rods...will hurt me more than help me.

 

I'm not saying others can't make them work, but I know I can't.

 

On the reel side...a $20 reel isn't going to have the drag I need to put a decent fish on the reel if I need to.  probably OK for most bass, but it'd never work on a decent pike or musky.

 

...but if you're makin' them work, keep up the good work!

[TnRiver46]

I’m sure you are familiar with the yellow eagle claw fly rods, they are pretty durable and the flex of the glass allows you to play big fish without breaking the line. I never get the fish on the reel when Fly Fishing unless it’s for a brief second When a fish takes all the spare lack. If you can keep a clean enough boat (which i can’t) you can leave enough line laying around to play a large fish without the reel. Although I sometimes imagine my feet getting lassoed and a Striper dragging me overboard. I always keep the drag super loose in case a fish makes a long run and use my pinky as a brake when stripping off line quickly to make longer casts. 

[TOXIC]

I have a Sage 5wt and a Scott Brightwater 9wt that I should probably blow the dust off and get them back in action.  I just don't wade fish anymore since getting the 21 foot floating tackle box with 250 ponies on the back.  

[Further North]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’m sure you are familiar with the yellow eagle claw fly rods, they are pretty durable and the flex of the glass allows you to play big fish without breaking the line. I never get the fish on the reel when Fly Fishing unless it’s for a brief second When a fish takes all the spare lack. If you can keep a clean enough boat (which i can’t) you can leave enough line laying around to play a large fish without the reel. Although I sometimes imagine my feet getting lassoed and a Striper dragging me overboard. I always keep the drag super loose in case a fish makes a long run and use my pinky as a brake when stripping off line quickly to make longer casts. 

I've not seen those rods, will have to look them up.

 

...and yeah, it's a commitment to keep the deck clear but I use fly rods often enough that I do it...most of the time.

 

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

I have a Sage 5wt and a Scott Brightwater 9wt that I should probably blow the dust off and get them back in action.  I just don't wade fish anymore since getting the 21 foot floating tackle box with 250 ponies on the back.  

Those are both great rods. 

 

Most of my fly fishing is from my "floating tackle box." I only wade a few times a year, but my fly rods are on the boat almost every time I go out.

 

There's some presentations we just can't make with gear and I like having that choice when I'm fishing. 

 

...and I just enjoy it.

 

 

[Bassun]

I don't fly fish enough, or well enough to justify even an $800 investment in one setup.  But then again, I don't spend big money on bass rods either...so maybe I'm just cheap.  I won't argue there are some benefits to the top end rods as compared to low-grade but, I find the difference is not significant enough to me, to warrant me upgrading all of my rods to top of the line stuff.  As long as it has the right action and speed, and is the right length - I'm basically happy.  

 

Heck, my favorite rod over the last few decades has been an OLD Berkley Lightning rod.  I got it super cheap at K-Mart lol.  But, it pared great for fishing flukes (probably slugg-os back then) even if probably a little lighter than what many people like.  I'll put more money into reels than rods every time.  Even at that, my most expensive reel is only a Quantum Energy PTi spinning reel (the old iridescent one).  My bait casters are no more expensive than an Abu Silver Max and BPS stuff lol.  But all I do is flip with em (well mostly), so they work fine for me.  Some of the best reels (especially for the price) I've owned were the super cheap Mitchel Avocet II's .  I had a couple of them, which outlasted more expensive Shamino's and Diawas I had.  Although, I have to admit, I did have some old diawa from the time I was a kid till probably my early 30's, and an old Shamino for almost as long.  The Shimano was the first with instant reverse and I loved it...and it made it last longer IMO.

 

Having said that, my next reels will probably be some KastKing stuff (haven't tried their reels yet), then a Shimano Stradic or Stella.  I like my Okuma and Pflueger's, but I've heard great things about the KK reels, and well, the Shimano we know is great.

 

Sorry, kind of went down a rabbit hole there.  Anyway, flyfishing -- I'm the opposite, I'd rather have a good rod, and line --- I don't fight musky (they would snap my poor little rods in a flash, lol) so unless I get real lucky my drag is by fingers on the line or palming the reel.  I have a drag on one of my reels, but I've only used it a few times.  And when I did, it just felt really odd fighting the fish on the reel.  I generally end up stripping line by hand again after a big run anyway, as it just feels more natural.  It's kind of like backwinding on a spinning reel -- I love to do it, and on a big fish with light line you almost have to - I love the feel of a fight when you are in complete control of the line --- back winding or taking and giving by hand for fly work.

[J Francho]

If you don't want to spend a ton, but want gear that won't fail you, my friend owns this company:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Water-Saltwater-Fishing-Complete/dp/B002CFNK0I/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1524490085&sr=8-9&keywords=wild+water+fly

[Bassun]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

If you don't want to spend a ton, but want gear that won't fail you, my friend owns this company:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Water-Saltwater-Fishing-Complete/dp/B002CFNK0I/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1524490085&sr=8-9&keywords=wild+water+fly

If I was looking for another fly set up, I would definitely consider that.  If it's even decent, that sounds like a good deal!

 

(edit - posted too soon)

That could be a great starter for someone who doesn't have anything yet.  A little heavy for gills, which I think are great starter fish on the fly, but if you want to try for bass, or anything bigger than gills, that sounds like a great starter!  Being set up already is nice.

[Further North]

5 hours ago, Bassun said:

I don't fly fish enough, or well enough to justify even an $800 investment in one setup. 

Me either!

 

5 hours ago, Bassun said:

I don't spend big money on bass rods either...so maybe I'm just cheap.  I won't argue there are some benefits to the top end rods as compared to low-grade but, I find the difference is not significant enough to me, to warrant me upgrading all of my rods to top of the line stuff.  As long as it has the right action and speed, and is the right length - I'm basically happy.  

 

Heck, my favorite rod over the last few decades has been an OLD Berkley Lightning rod.  I got it super cheap at K-Mart lol.  But, it pared great for fishing flukes (probably slugg-os back then) even if probably a little lighter than what many people like.  I'll put more money into reels than rods every time.  Even at that, my most expensive reel is only a Quantum Energy PTi spinning reel (the old iridescent one).  My bait casters are no more expensive than an Abu Silver Max and BPS stuff lol.  But all I do is flip with em (well mostly), so they work fine for me.  Some of the best reels (especially for the price) I've owned were the super cheap Mitchel Avocet II's .  I had a couple of them, which outlasted more expensive Shamino's and Diawas I had.  Although, I have to admit, I did have some old diawa from the time I was a kid till probably my early 30's, and an old Shamino for almost as long.  The Shimano was the first with instant reverse and I loved it...and it made it last longer IMO.

 

Having said that, my next reels will probably be some KastKing stuff (haven't tried their reels yet), then a Shimano Stradic or Stella.  I like my Okuma and Pflueger's, but I've heard great things about the KK reels, and well, the Shimano we know is great.

 

Sorry, kind of went down a rabbit hole there.  Anyway, flyfishing -- I'm the opposite, I'd rather have a good rod, and line --- I don't fight musky (they would snap my poor little rods in a flash, lol) so unless I get real lucky my drag is by fingers on the line or palming the reel.  I have a drag on one of my reels, but I've only used it a few times.  And when I did, it just felt really odd fighting the fish on the reel.  I generally end up stripping line by hand again after a big run anyway, as it just feels more natural.  It's kind of like backwinding on a spinning reel -- I love to do it, and on a big fish with light line you almost have to - I love the feel of a fight when you are in complete control of the line --- back winding or taking and giving by hand for fly work.

Great post - makes perfect sense to me.  I buy most of my fly gear on E-Bay for half off...a lot of it tends to get bought by folks who think it looks like fun...never use it...and sell it a couple years later.

[Choporoz]

I thought fly fishermen would rather be caught driving a Chevy than publicly associate with us bass fishing commoners. 

[Further North]

1 hour ago, Choporoz said:

I thought fly fishermen would rather be caught driving a Chevy than publicly associate with us bass fishing commoners. 

Maybe some of 'em.

 

This guy, and most of the fly fishermen I know, are anything but trout specific, snooty elitists.  Most even own boats and fish with gear a fair amount of the time.

 

I know three or four who fish for carp...on purpose.

 

...truth be told...trout fishing isn't hard.  To make it challenge, you have to choose the hardest of all fishing methods and stick to top-water only.

 

PS: I drive a Ford.

[TOXIC]

I have had many a fly fisher in my boat when I was guiding.  I like the added skill it takes to put a bigger bass fly out there and even the smallest trout flies.  I enjoyed fly fishing when I was a bank or wade fisherman.  Beaded Nymphs, Clouser Minnow imitations, poppers and all sorts of other flies are a challenge to throw.  I've used my 9wt to fish for Stripers in the bay off a charter boat (when I learned you don't palm the reel with a green running Striper).  I was having so much fun the charter Captain even took my rod and caught a few.  If you want to see expensive gear....go into an Orvis store or just look online for fly fishing equipment.  Our passion for bass gear/baits pales to fly fishing gear.  IMHO the allure of fly fishing is that it is much more of a "you against the fish" because it's much more complicated to put a lure where you want it, make it behave how you want it to and finally to hook and land a fish with line as thin as a human hair!!  Add to that many more fly fishermen and women tie their own flies and the fly fishing experience is more heightened.  Getting to the fish is usually much more difficult and there's an added set of skills in wading roaring rivers or being stealthy in small trout streams.  I also know a guy who Musky fishes on Lake St Clair with a fly rod.  To me fly fishing is another "part" of this whole experience we call angling and I want to experience them all!!