Beginner Fly Fishing outfit

[new2BC4bass]

" Double Tapers suck " is putting it mildly when it comes to a 3 wt.  It doesn't help that I learned on (and have only used) my 8 wt.  I thought it was bad waiting on its Fast action to load on the back cast.  The 3 wt was ridiculous with that double taper.  New line is a must before I'd be willing to try it again.

[flyfisher]

All good advice on here already.  I will say that in my experience it isn't the weight of the rod/line that makes something harder or easier to cast but rather the length.  A 9' rod will pick up more line more quickly and enable you to load the rod more effectively.  My short rods are relegated to mainly roll casting in tight quarters.  

A quality line is as important s the rod is as well.  I am a fan of WF lines for pretty much everything except my smaller lighter weight rods where i prefer the wulff triangle taper.  I swear you can roll cast those lines 50+ feel with ease, even with a short stick.  

I'd also recommend that even though you want to teach yourself to fly cast on your own, get one lesson from a reputable fly shop/instructor.  The knowledge gained there will be huge and then you can go practice proper form and technique without getting stuck in bad habits.  

 

Above all else, have fun with it and don't make it more complicated than it has to be.

[waymont]

On 6/20/2019 at 11:03 AM, LipRipper978 said:

Cabela's

I agree on this. The Cabela's fly combos are pretty great for the cost.

[slimjim1135]

So if you're more of a finesse angler, and are comfortable not feeling like you need to be casting flies 60+ feet, another consideration would be to go with fiberglass. The Cabelas CGR rods are easily the best value of any fishing equipment I've ever used. Absolutely phenomenal fiberglass rods at any price point, much less their $80 price tag (and like $50 when they go on sale).  

 

Fiberglass rods are very easy to load, very easy to feel loading, and very forgiving. They teach you immediately how to slow down your cast and they're fantastic tools for learning the basics. Also, fiberglass rods are known to bend to the cork before breaking, and are very sensitive. You can take out a 3wt and not feel like the rod will snap if you hook into a big fish, and you can take out an 8wt and not feel like it's too much rod for a bluegill. I would recommend the CGR 5/6 7'6" and use 6wt WF line on it. It would be great for bass, panfish, and trout in the winter.

 

Other brands to look at, if you've already settled on graphite for your first rod, would be Echo, TFO, Fenwick, or Orvis. The Echo base is a great little budget pick. TFO teamed with Lefty Kreh, so they get a nod just for that.

 

If you know fly fishing is for you and want to step up your budget a little, Fenwick Aetos and Orvis Clearwater combos are both just phenomenal first rods.