Best Rookie Set Up for $$$

Seducer · 12-06-2007, 01:05 PM

Just recently had my first experience fly fishing for steelies on the Deschutes and I'm hooked

Any ideas on a reasonable rod / reel for steelheading? I want something good, but don't want to break the bank. I'm thinking like $300. Thanks

Frozen_Arrows · 12-06-2007, 02:43 PM

Check out the Sage Fli outfits. Lifetime Warranty and you cant beat the rod for the dollar.

VO2Max · 12-06-2007, 02:45 PM

While I am not a veteran of fly-fishing I had a great experience with the "rookie set up" that I purchased. Redington has a Crosswater series for about $80 (9foot, 8weight rod) and then I got a Loomis Venture 7 reel for about $100. Backing and line will run you another $60 (depending on the line you get of course). Line choices include floating line, intermediate sink, clear camo sinking, multi-tip (Rio makes a great one) as well as Teeny making some crazy fast sinking lines. Like i said, I am no expert but slowly learning myself. You should be able to get all of the essentials (rod, reel, line) for about $250-$300 or even less. Have fun! ERIK

Slow and Low · 12-06-2007, 07:09 PM

one hander or two?

Seducer · 12-07-2007, 06:02 AM

One-hander, thanks

Grantspastor · 12-07-2007, 07:55 AM

As VO2Max pointed out, you can get a pretty nice outfit for $300. I would go to a Fly Shop and talk to them, and try casting a couple of their rods. Most shops are very helpful. If they aren't, just thank them and try elsewhere. Another option would be to check out Cabela's on-line catalog. Their descriptions are reasonably helpful in choosing an outfit (Although to read them, you'd think that every rod they sell is the absolute pinnacle of fly fishing technology) Just read,through the marketing data, and choose a well-balanced outfit in your price range. If the rod is a dedicated Steelhead tool, probably an 8wt? For Rogue fall fish, I go smaller...but I fish from my drift boat, so long casts aren't much needed. I'd recommend a weight forward floating line for your first one. You will add sink tips, etc later. Just buy extra spools for your reel. This will probably get me flamed, but I don't feel it's necessary to invest big bucks into a reel that has a super-duper drag. When a fish runs, the weight of the line alone exerts a fair amount of drag. You do need a good enough drag to stop the reel from overrunning itself. Exceptions to that advice would be fishing big fish in fast water where you can't chase them a bit if necessary. Be sure to put plenty of Dacron backing on your reel
Unlike 35 years ago, the market today offers many high quality rods and reels for relatively reasonable prices. Good luck...and sorry about your "selling out to the dark side"

stillwater97 · 12-07-2007, 09:13 AM

First,

Don't get caught up with the myth that you need a sage or winston in order to catch fish. Rod technology has significantly improved to the point that good rods are available from manufacturers besides the big names. I'm not trying to say that Sage/winston isn't good, just that an angler has a lot of good alternatives out nowadays.

If it was me, I'd pick up the following:

http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/rods/jimteeny.html#T

The Teeny series is a really nice rod that compares quite well to much more expensive rods. In
They are a real nice moderate-action rod that makes casting close-in as comfortable as casting out to say 50 feet or so. (plenty for an entry rod)

Now for the reel...

There are a lot of good buys on ebay and you can get a lot more reel for your money. Here is some info about reels that a lot of people don't know about. 1. Most reels (even some of the real expensive ones) are made in the same 4-5 machine shops located in Asia (China for the most part). manufacturers in the states then re-brand them as their own and mark up the price 100% or so.

So, if you know where to look, you can get a machined aluminum reel with disc drag for a fraction of what one will run you in the states.

This particular reel is a great buy and I own several of them purchased from this seller (no affiliation but it was a good transaction and a good reel).
http://cgi.ebay.com/CLF78-3-Bearing-...QQcmdZViewItem
I know that at least two major fly reel producers are importing virtually this exact reel, pad printing their name and turning it for around $150 bucks. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather have the same reel and keep the extra $100 for gas, flies, and beer.

Lines,

Depends on your fly rod, but I'd check out the Wulff Triangle taper or the Cortland 444 both in WF.

Good luck!

MikeT · 12-07-2007, 09:23 AM

Stillwater,
I followed your link to Ebay, and that reel looks OK. But $54.44 for shipping? How do you save anything over locally available products with that shipping fee? I'm looking at a spare spool for a Hardy Marquis reel on Ebay, and shipping from England is only $8.12. Doesn't make any sense.....
Mike

Chromaflage · 12-07-2007, 10:05 AM

Another good option for a reel is a Pflueger Trion. One of the best reels under $100 IMHO. Ebay around $75 + reasonable shipping. In fact, I'll probably be putting a steelhead outfit together this winter - TFO + Trion + Wulff TT. A pretty decent setup for under $300

hooksetter1 · 12-07-2007, 10:06 AM

Take a look at this Sage Launch outfit, held one of these in hand and they are a nice light, well balanced rod. Here's the link on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sage-Launch-890-...QQcmdZViewItem

Seducer · 12-07-2007, 01:09 PM

Thanks everyone for all your help, that should be enough info to get me going.

Nicechromer · 12-07-2007, 01:36 PM

Agreed. The Sage FLI is pretty nice stick for around that price. BUt as said above, you can get a rod that's really close for a lot less.
I have a Redington RedFly2 and its a fast action nice rod..
I heard a lot about Echo and Temple Forks too. Check those out..

98ramtough · 12-07-2007, 01:43 PM

I think the GL3 Loomis flyrod is a great rod for that price range. Spend all the money on the rod, get a cheap reel and upgrade the reel when you have money.

Also look for a used rod. I picked up a Orivs 8 wt with CFO reel and spare spool with sink tip system and wonderline for $100!

Steelie Mike · 12-07-2007, 03:23 PM

There are many rod companies that offer warranties and good products under that price point. Echo, Redington, St Croix to name a few. You can find them and most of your local fly shops. Make sure you cast them before you buy and make sure the warranty is 100%. Do not buy a rod just because is has a name brand on it.

stillwater97 · 12-07-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeT

Stillwater,
I followed your link to Ebay, and that reel looks OK. But $54.44 for shipping? How do you save anything over locally available products with that shipping fee? I'm looking at a spare spool for a Hardy Marquis reel on Ebay, and shipping from England is only $8.12. Doesn't make any sense.....
Mike

Your hardy Marquis spool might be only $8 for shipping, but what was the Auction price?

You will end up BUYING the entire reel for UNDER 60 bucks. including shipping. In other words, the seller is making his money on shipping and handling, not on auction price (He doesn't pay fees to ebay on the shipping charges, just the auction). I've bought several of these reels from this seller and they are totally worth the money and I never spent much over 50-60 bucks in total including shipping. This never was a problem for me as I care about the total price (auction price + shipping) not just one part.

Look at the end price on the Auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/CLF78-3-Bearing-...QQcmdZViewItem

$ .99 Auction price
$54.44 Shipping
+_____________
$54.43 total.

If you don't like it, I'll buy it from you as I could use another reel.

MB

Djflyfish · 12-10-2007, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stillwater97

Your hardy Marquis spool might be only $8 for shipping, but what was the Auction price?

You will end up BUYING the entire reel for UNDER 60 bucks. including shipping. In other words, the seller is making his money on shipping and handling, not on auction price (He doesn't pay fees to ebay on the shipping charges, just the auction). I've bought several of these reels from this seller and they are totally worth the money and I never spent much over 50-60 bucks in total including shipping. This never was a problem for me as I care about the total price (auction price + shipping) not just one part.

Look at the end price on the Auction:

The GL3 is the way to go 7wt. Followed by a orvis Large arbor big game reel. This is a great setup

http://cgi.ebay.com/CLF78-3-Bearing-...QQcmdZViewItem

$ .99 Auction price
$54.44 Shipping
+_____________
$54.43 total.

If you don't like it, I'll buy it from you as I could use another reel.

MB

Wiggley1 · 12-12-2007, 06:33 AM

I just got a North by Northwest rod on sale at Joes for 62 bucks. It's an 8#, 9', Made by Wright & McGill. I got a Cortland Endurance2 reel that comes with 2 arbor cassettes for 2 differant lines for 120$ and some 444 WFF peach. So far I love the set up, it works great.

clarkman23 · 12-20-2007, 03:10 PM

Well, if you HAVE to go with a plastic stick, check out the Echos...my only plastic stick that ever gets used is my Echo (it's a 3 wt, though)...it casts real nice though...even though I prefer a much slower rod. PLus, it's tough as nails and won't break the bank.

~Randy

Wiggley1 · 12-31-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarkman23

Well, if you HAVE to go with a plastic stick, check out the Echos...my only plastic stick that ever gets used is my Echo (it's a 3 wt, though)...it casts real nice though...even though I prefer a much slower rod. PLus, it's tough as nails and won't break the bank.

~Randy

I guess an IM6 a plasic rod. Never thought of it that way. huh