So, I know we have a handful of fly fishermen on here (Dubbya, Okbowhunter, Matt/PA, anyone else?). This is a bit of dumb question, but just how addicting is this hobby? Is it even relatively close to that of bowhunting? Lol. I'm testing the waters here, and have been toying with the idea of getting a flyrod, seeing as I have my summers off, and I've always fished, and we mostly trout fish in my area due to the massive amounts of streams/rivers. I don't have a ton of money to sink into this right now, and may not even follow through with it, which is why I may just hold off. Is this something I can be happy starting out with budget equipment, or will I need to go all out for the real nice equipment, and before I know it, I've got 5 rods, 6 reels, 15 types of line, 100s of flies (don't forget tying supplies ), etc, etc? I suppose what I'm saying is, I want to get into it, and plan to, but if money is tight, is it something that should be entered into with a bit more liberal budget?
I fly fish on and off throughout the year. Mostly during our winter catch and release season for trout and the spring season. In the summer I only fish for bass and panfish and the flyrod stays home. I would not say that it is as addicting as bowhunting. I look at it as a good way to spend a day when I want to do something not hunting or bass fishing.:d As far as investment is concerned, I have a decent setup that cost around $250 total. Nice rod and line, average reel because all it really is is a line holder for me. I have tried to get more addicted to some of the wild trout streams we have here in MO but the fish are so skiddish and hard to catch that I give up after a few hours of catching creek chubs. All in all I enjoy flyfishing as an alternative to hunting and bass fishing and I think if you have the extra cash to drop on decent entry level setup, go for it.
I am a total novice (2 trout caught with fly tackle so far) at this sport. But it is pretty addicting. I am chomping at the bit to get a chance to go again. I tried to approach it with the least money I could spend while still having plenty of conveniance. I have a rod, reel, line, extra tippet, couple dozen flies, fly box, forceps, line snips, leader straitener, and a few clippy zip line things (whatever those are called). Not counting waders, that is all I needed to easily enjoy a day on the stream, and I got it all for around 200 bucks. From what I saw in the shop it is like alot of other hobbies. You can spend as little or as much as you want.
Jeff, I've got good neoprene waders from Cables, already have a good vest, etc. I trout fish and bass fish, and have done so longer than I've hunted. I've just never got into the flyfishing end of it. Matt/PA recommended the LST from Cabelas, and that will set me back about $220-$280 fro rod, reel, and line. There are some setups that sell for less...to me right now, less is more, but not if it's not worth it.
Thanks, Jeff. I was looking through their Master catalog, and saw several rods that caught my eye. Sage rods are very nice...pricey (even the low end), but nice!
Matt, my first fly rod was purchased from Cableas, it was their Three Rivers combo, cheap but effective enough. I upgraded to a Fenwick and though more expensive, I didn't like the feel as much. I am in the market for a new fly rod and I will be going to one of the local shops to see what feels the best, too me, a fly rod is alot like a bow, they each have a unique feel and only you can determine what you like. As far as addiction, some people get absolutely consumed by fly-fishing, I havn't. I enjoy it, but I still prefer spinning gear for a day on the stream, probablly more due to it being much easier to use on the streams I fish. I will be doing alot more fly fishing this season though. Money... you can invest as much or as little as you would like into rod/reel/line. One thing that I will tell you is that the money is in the flies. Those little buggers can get pretty pricey, especially when you are starting out. My grandfather just gave me all of his fly tieing equipment so I am starting to dabble in making my own, which is a whole nother ball game.
Matt, check out the Temple Fork Outfitters ( http://templeforkflyrods.com/index.html ). They are a cheaper price wise and have a good lifetime warranty. My buddy picked one up last year for his first fly rod and so far its been great for him. Most of the time, you get what you pay for but i think these are an exception. Also learn to tie your own flies, its much cheaper that way
Thanks, guys. Bucknut, I've looked into the Lefty Kreh series, and that's on the top of my list as well. TFO comes highly recommended by a lot of people. Buck Magnet, I know there's plenty to be said about actually going to a fly shop and testing out the rods (much like a bow). I have one local shop in the area, and I suppose my first step would be to walk in there and get a few of them in my hands to try. I just don't want this to become a money pit right now. I'm sure like everything, you can make it as expensive or as cheap as you want, but I tend to always somehow fall into that expensive category:D
I know that feeling Matt. I would say that your best bet may just be to get a cheap fly combo from Cabelas to start with. Cabelas has their Three Forks (just realized I called it the Three Rivers above... sucks living near the "Burg") combos for $65.00 That is your rod, reel, and line. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431-cat602038&id=0051114320570a&navCount=2&podId=0051114&parentId=cat602038&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat602038&hasJS=true You could get one of the cheap combos just to see if you are really going to enjoy fly-fishing enough to be willing to drop the extra cash for a "better" set-up. The main thing with fly-fishing isn't the gear at all, its matching the hatch and learning how to cast in each scenario that will come up. Matt/PA would be the best guy on here to pick for info about fly patterns and about what works the best in different parts of the state. Me, I personally try to keep it simple, terrestrial patterns like ants and grasshoppers as well as the good ol Wooly Bugger
I dabble with fly fishing. NOT nearly as addictive as bowhunting. When it comes to fishing my 2 main passions are spinners for trout & smallmouth fishing. I got a decent St Croix combo for under $150. Percy's Flies(google for actual website) seems to run some real good deals on rods & combos & flies. The flies seem quality enough, but I really am no expert judge of that. My toughest thing is figuring out what to use when. I am next to clueless in that realm.
I used to fly fish like it was my job from about the time I was in 5th or 6th grade, up until I was still in HS. The deer hunting sucks in Vermont, but the trout fishing is truly world class, and I had several awesome trout streams/river/ponds within bicycle riding distance of my house. I actually went to the Orvis fly fishing school for a week when I was in junior high school instead of a summer camp one year. I used to be completely addicted, but once I moved to a place where the deer hunting wasn't quite as terrible (VT makes PA look like IL), that really took over my interest. I'd like to get back into it again at some point, but it will likely be one day when I'm no longer pursuing competitive archery venues in the spring/summer.
I'm a Huge trout fisher... but with spin/reel combo... In stocked waters... Call me a "high fence" "gun" fisherman....LOL
I used to fly fish Montana and Yellowstone National Park a couple times a year. I first started when I was 18 and my set up cost no more than $125....and I caught a ton of trout on it. Since moving to Ontario for the summers in 2002 I was never able to get back out there, but wished I could. The fly fishing bug was biting me so bad that I bought a 9wt rod last year and started chasing Pike in the spring. I only had a couple days to do it, but damn was it addictive. I don't have to build a cabin this spring at camp, so I plan on hitting the water pretty hard when I first get up there. My goal for this spring is to land a 40"+ slime rocket.
Matt, you see yourself getting out of the target scene eventually? I suppose I'm going to have to look into this further. I have the spin gear, and I love spin fishing, but it's that allure of something different. I don't know.
I think I will shoot indoors for a long time, it's so much easier when I only need to go to one club one day a week for league night, and can get in quality practice in my basement with a $100 bag target and some 50 cent targets. To get truly good at 3D, the time (away from home) and/or the $$$ commitment is significantly higher. To perform at that elite level, you really need to look at 3D's every day, and shoot them every day........so unless you want to buy your own and have the land to setup your own private course, you need to spend a LOT of time away from home. That's what it takes to shoot at the elite level, and that's a time/$$$ committment I can't see myself making when it's time for a family. With that said, I've got a few years left before it gets to that, and I still plan to get at least one year chasing it at the national level just to see where I stack up..........:d
I hear ya. Looking at some of those top guys, it parallels a lot what resembles the BASS anglers. TONS of MONEY, and TONS of time commitment.
Well it's not nearly as addictive as bowhunting.... maybe. LOL I had NO fly fishing gear when I moved back to NY in the early spring of 2007. I now have 4 flyrods of all different sizes(5, 7,9, 10 weight) and each with it's own reel. Even have an extra spool for one of those rigged up differently. There's so much to learn. My brother has been doing it for almost 40 years. He ties all his own flies and tons for other folks including your's truly. Being my neighbor and since we live minutes from decent fishing he's helped me a ton and shortened some of the learning curve. You can get a decent starter outfit for what you want to do without going bankrupt, but it's not like buying a spinning outfit and throwing on some $15 mono. I bought 3 spools of fly line the other day at about $60 a piece to give you an idea. Rods can run from 150-thousands. Someone mentioned TFO rods. I have one of those and love it. Another reasonable rod is Loomis. Courtland has some low end rods too. For one stop shopping and a starter, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of the combo rigs from Cabelas. I've got one of those too and it's what I use mostly for trout. I'll take it to Alaska with me to for Grayline. Fishing for trout in PA like you'll be doing, probably a good weight would be a 5 weight to begin. If you could find someone close or in a local shop they can help immensely. Someone who will sacrifice a little fishing time to give you pointers and help you tie those tiny 2 and 3 pound tippets on. LOL Addicting, NOPE.... but it's close. I took the opening weekend of gun deer season and the first week of our Southern Tier bow season off to go steelhead fishing for a week. I said if I ever went back to Alaska(I'd been once with my wife) I was taking nothing but my bow. Well things change. I'm going to Alaska the end of July for a week of fly fishing. We'll beable to catch 5 varieties of salmon, plus monster rainbows, grayling and dolly vardin. I can't wait and won't miss not having my bow.
Thanks, David. Good to see you found your way over here. I'm looking at either a Redington setup from Cabelas, one of the TFO series, or the LST from Cabelas.
