[DBuck]

I have a cheap 2 in 1 spinning/fly rod kit from Marlboro that I purchased off ebay a while back, I just want to try the flyrod to see if I can get the hang of it before I spend any real money on a good one.My question is this..How do I set up the flyreel,how long should the backing be compared to the leader and the fly line? Any help would be greatly appreciated...Thanks

 

[mysticguido]

I use all the backing and all the flyline and about 10 feet of leader(tibet). do you have a paper to show you how to tie the lines together? if not I think I still have one around here somewhere.

 

[bloodtrails]

dbuck,

Great site for fly fishing at NJtrout.com. I'm sure someone will have an answer here but you will get great advice very quickly there.

 

[JJoe]

D,...
get 100yds of 20lb backing line. Attach this to a WF Floating fly line of equal weight.(usually 45-60' long) You should have the weight marked on either the reel or rod. Most common is a 5 weight.

Fly lines are at leaset $30..You can however re-use it if you get another set up down the road. Walmart should have a decent price on Scientific Angler products...

 

[JerseyFJ40]

Attach this to a WF Floating fly line of equal weight

I don't know much about flyfishing... actually, I'm forgotten more than I remember at this point... but don't you think it would be a good idea to go with a Double taper line for the tight streams in NJ?

 

[JJoe]

FJ...DT will work too..The WF lets you just "flip" out the line in tight spots. It also gives you some distance casting in a big river or a pond/lake.

 

[jerseyhunter]

I would go with the double taper, after the front end gets worn and cut back you just reverse it and start anew.

 

[DBuck]

Thanks for your help guys I really appreciate it. I made a post on a flyfishing bulletin board that I found and they were very helpful too.

Hey Jerseyhunter thats funny, I saw a guy walking down a back road with a fly rod and a dog so I stopped and picked his brain a little bit and he told me the same thing about the double taper,still not real sure what that means but i'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.

 

[DBuck]

oh yeah mysticguido I almost forgot..Yes i do have the paper...thank you

 

[OutlawJT]

DBuck - JJoe is all over it !!! [up][up]

His information is exactly correct. [up]

Most Fly Shops will help you get set up for free, if you can't get the knots right.

Also, a little trick I learned was that if you want to learn to cast and beat the learning curve, go to your nearest fly shop and tell them you're looking into buying a moderate - high priced rod and reel fly outfit. They will usually take you outside, and in some cases down to a stream or river to let you "try it out" and to "sell" their product. [smirk]

After trying a few rods out, you can become quite a good caster, and don't hesitate to ask about how to do a roll cast while you're there!!!

See the following sites for each line, knot to use in setting up your outfit, what tippet sizes to use in relationship to the size fly you will be using, & how to cast (They were of great value to me in my crash course in fly fishing):

http://www.thecreek.net/juletips.htm

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/beginnermenu.html

http://www.steelheader.net/knots/knots.htm

http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/scianglers/leaders_tippet_backing_ms-fresh.jhtml

http://www.shannonsflytackle.com/fishing_tips.htm

http://www.atlantaflyfishingschool.com/casting tip 10-00.htm

http://www.flyfishingextreme.com/education/cast.php

It seems like a lot of information, but read it carefully, and once you get the hang of it, it's a blast...Casting takes practice, and the best place to do it is on the water in a wide river like the South Branch of the Raritan!!!

Caught a nice sized Brownie on the South Branch on my first cast EVER using a dry fly last June, and I've been "hooked" on fly fishing ever since.

If you need any more help or information, e-mail me at my address listed on this site, and I'll help you out some more!!![up]

JT

 

[OutlawJT]

Oh yeah - One more thing!!!

When first learning to fly cast, the WF (Weight Forward) line is the way to go, and is the most forgiving until you get your casting technique down pat !!!![up]

Fishing a river or stream at least 20' wide is a good starting place, until you get the roll cast down - a must for fishing tight areas where you have limited or no room for your backcast.

The Fly/Spinning Combos have a lot to be desired, so I suggest trying casting a 4 wt. and 6 wt. rod at any local fly shop as mentioned above.

Fly rods are made for fly fishing and spinning rods are made for spinning reel fishing - PERIOD. Different actions and usages for each rod, and kinda' tuff to pair together and enjoy the true fly fishing experience. [smirk]

 

[DBuck]

Thanks for the info Outlaw. I know what you're saying about the fly/spin combo but thats all I have right now, I don't want to dump money into flyfishing only to find out that I don't like it or that I really suck at it.

 

[DBuck]

Would something like this be good starter kit?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33973&item=7152597518&rd=1

 

[OutlawJT]

That doesn't look bad as far as 5/6 wt. combo/starter kit, but just remember, you get what you pay for. [smirk]

Seriously, I would go to a fly shop and try casting a few rods - Tell them you are just starting out, and you'll get your FREE casting lesson, while deciding which weight rod is for you!!!! Not a bad trick!!!!

Then, spend a few extra dollars and go for a moderate priced 6wt. 9' combo (all around usage rod/reel combo as far as I'm concerned)to get started and learn on, but you'll see that after a little bit you'll wanna go lighter for trout (2 - 4wt.) and heavier for saltwater species (8 wt. and up).

I started with the Cabela's 6 WT. Model 906 9'Genesis Rod/Reel Combo - Paid $135.00 - It's a GREAT STARTER KIT & comes with EVERYTHING you need to get started!!!!!!

Cabela's Genesis™ Fly-Fishing Outfits
Item: IF-316491
Price: $135.00 - $140.00

Genesis™ Fly-Fishing Outfits

Genesis Fly-Fishing Combos include everything you need to get started fly-fishing. The graphite composite rod is moderate/fast action to accommodate the beginning caster. A genuine cork handle, composite reel seat and double-foot chrome snake guides make it a first-cl [no swearing please] fishing instrument. The reel is die-cast aluminum with a disc drag sporting a large knob for simple, dependable adjustment. And it easily converts from left- to right-hand retrieve. All combos include a rod/reel case to protect your outfit while traveling. The 4-, 5- and 6-weight rods include an assortment of two-dozen flies suited for trout fishing. With the 8-weight rods, you receive an eight-piece popper assortment for b [no swearing please] and other warm-water species (comes with a medium flat/ripple fly box).

Each combo also includes:

A Scientific Anglers Headstart® weight-forward fly line and 100 yards of backing
One bottle of Scientific Anglers fly floatant
Floatant holder
Two tapered leaders
Nippers
Forceps
Two small retractors for forceps and nippers
Strike indicators
Split-shot assortment
Leader straightener
Fly assortment
Chestpack to store all your equipment.

Check out:
Cabela's Getting Started Fly-Fishing Video - Let award-winning guides and fly-fishing instructors Mike Jansen and Brandon Powers improve your casting, fly selection, nymphing, wading and much more. Item:IF-315857
Price: $9.99

OR

Cabela's Getting Started Fly-Fishing DVD - Let award-winning guides and fly-fishing instructors Mike Jansen and Brandon Powers improve your casting, fly selection, nymphing, wading and much more. Item:IF-316986
Price: $9.99

Check out: http://www.cabelas.com and click on the "Fly Fishing Combos" link - They have some pretty good deals for better quality equipment starting at $24.99 - $49.99 (low end - SALE PRICE) and up. The SALE is going on right now on-line!!!

I now fish with a Temple Forks Outfitter 4wt. 7' rod with matching Tioga 3/4 wt. reel for trout.

Gonna use the 6wt. Genesis in Mississippi for saltwater Specks (Speckled Trout/Weakfish) and Redfish either this Spring or Fall.

 

[DBuck]

9 Foot...isn't that kinda long for a beginner?

Today is my B-day so I'm going to do it what the hell

Thanks outlaw

 

[OutlawJT]

Happy B-day DBuck!!!

9' foot sounds kinda'long, but it helps you learn better control - Remember you are casting the fly with the weight of the line, not the rod - The longer rod will help you control the line in calm to moderatly windy conditions, whereas the shorter lighter rods are less forgiving.

Whatever your choice is, good luck with it...And, again, Happy B-day.

Maybe I'll catch you out on the South Branch in June/July when I break my fly sticks out for the "real" fun fishin' - CPR (Catch, Photo, & Release) - Fishing dry flies and nymphing are my favorite ways of fly fishing!!!!

 

[DBuck]

Ordered the one that you suggested Outlaw,and the DVD. Thanks for your help

 

[OutlawJT]

Good luck with it, and hope you really enjoy it !!!

Right now, these are the hatches and fly patterns for this week on the South Branch of the Raritan:

Cream Midges, BWO, Griffith's Gnat - Adams 22-28 Al's Rat (Diptera species); Early Black Stonefly; Black Hare's Ear; Black Caddis size 14-16; Little Iron Blue Quill (Baetis Vagans)Blue Quill, Adams 16-18; Quill Gordon Epeorus Pleuralis Quill Gordon, Blue Dun 12-14; Light Hendrickson/ Red Quill Ephemerella Subvaria 12-14; Tan Caddis 14-16; Black Caddis 18-20

I've found that if you carry natural colored flies, carry permanent markers so that you can change the color to "match the hatch".

The Bead Head Golden Ribbed Hare's Ear nymph's, Prince Nymph, Bead Head Zugbugs, and Flash Back Pheasant Tails are deadly nymphs on the South Branch and most North Jersey Streams.

For dry flies use the Adams, Sulphur, Pale Evening Dun, Blue Wing Olive (BWO), and it's nice to have a few black ant and red ant flies (they are killer, especially now through July).

I also personally like to carry a few natural colored CDC Emergers size 18-22, and a few natural colored Snow Shoe Hare Emergers in size 18-22 - They can be fished as dry flies or as nymphs!!!

TIP: Carry a black, a brown, and a dark green permanent marker to change the color of these flies if you observe that the "bugs" you observe streamside are of that color!!!

These are about the only flies I cary in my box, and they are the most effective throughout the year.

I really enjoy fly fishing in June/July (when the stocked and holdover fish are more acclimated to their "native" environments and are feeding more on the hatches than on worms and spinner lures).

I also fish for trout, again, in the Fall & Winter (when I'm done saltwater fishing and clamming, and in-between deer, goose/duck, and small game hunts !!! - Not many people on the streams, but plenty of fish to play with!!!!)

 

[OutlawJT]

Another tip is to try not to use too much floatant - it makes the flies sink after a few uses (I learned this the hard way!!!).

I don't use any floatant anymore - I dry off my dry flies to make them float by making a series of "false casts" to shake the water off/out!!!

 

[wojtowicza]

i just got Cabelas Fly-Fishing catalog yesterday. Alot of nice stuff.