1st Rod/Reel

[DaveF]

Hi!

I am new to fly fishing and I have been trying to get some ideas for my first rod and reel.

Here is a list of my criteria:

1.) I would like a rod that I can use for both light salt water and fresh water.

2.) I would like to keep the price at, or below, $300.

Target Species:

Anything that I can catch from shore in the Mid-Atlantic area, including the Chesapeake Bay, and Cape Cod.

Based on what I have read and heard so far, I currently am thinking of buying an 8 or 9 weight, but there are so many choices out there, that I would like to come up with a list of recommendations to try before I make a purchase.

Thanks!

Dave.

[striperboyz]

Here is a list of my criteria:
1.) I would like a rod that I can use for both light salt water and fresh water.
2.) I would like to keep the price at, or below, $300.
Target Species:

Anything that I can catch from shore in the Mid-Atlantic area, including the Chesapeake Bay, and Cape Cod.
Based on what I have read and heard so far, I currently am thinking of buying an 8 or 9 weight, but there are so many choices out there, that I would like to come up with a list of recommendations to try before I make a purchase.

Thanks!

Dave.

Temple Fork Outfitters makes the best rod for the money, go with the Lefty Kreh Signature Professional Series, I personally and a lot of guys on this forum will come to bat for these rods, and you can get an 8wt or 9wt for $149.00.

For reels, it seems like the best reel for the money is the Tenton Tioga 8/9wt, which will run you ~$140.

Rod/Reel total $290 and can fish it forever.

If you were going to fish just salt water in those areas I would tell you to get a 9wt, 9ft, and if you were going to fish just fresh, I would tell you a 8wt 9.5ft, so what are you going to be fishing for in fresh? salmon/steelies? or bass/musky/pike?

Overall maybe the 8wt 9.5ft rod would be the best, the extra lengh will give you mending and presentation abilities for salmon/steelhead and for salt the longer 8wt will help you fight the bigger fish you could incounter (stripers/blues)

Hope this helps,

Josh

[Pauper Piscator]

No. No No No. You can get two decent, complete beginner outfits for $300.

Buy a 5wt (MAYBE 6-7 for lunker bass pike) for Fresh. 9wt (MAYBE fast 8) for Salt.

Play golf? Put with a driver? Sand with a 3 wood? No. Same thing.

Buy something basic. Upgrade as your hobby grows.

Your 7wt will be too much for trout, too wimpy for stripers.

Sorry for the bad news but fresh and salt, perhaps with the exception of the great lakes tribs or Alaska, are just to diff to have an umbrella rod.

[mansfieldsign]

Hi Dave, First let me say you picked a great site to ask that question. These guys give great advice. I'm new also, but I don't usually fish freshwater.
Through the info I got here, this is what I ended up with -- Tioga 10, load it with a WF inter. line. for now. (Spare spool later) Rod, TFO 9'9w ticr. Good Luck.

[stevec]

I second theTFO rod and the Teton Tioga reel.

Go with an 8wt...anything lighter for stripers isn't fair to the fish (IMO). yeah yeah yeah you can catch them on a 7wt but do you really want to wear them out and reduce their chance of survival.

[masssalt]

IMO don't recommend the TiCr series TFO to beginners, the Professional series or IM6 are both easier to learn casting with. When you can consistenly cast 70+ feet, that might be a good time to move up to TiCr.

Jay Horton
Pro Staff
Temple Forks Fly Rods

[MatMet]

dude. i just started fly fishing, salt, and fresh. The tioga reel is the way to go. i spent way too much money on a rod b4 i hooked up with reel time. one thing that i learned was that the rod and reel are only part of your expense. backing, salt water fly line, tippet material. i dont know how tight the budget is but just a heads up, seems like i am being nickle and dimes all over.
that being said congrats on the choice.

[mdrew9]

Try a search next time, but basically everyone will recommend the TFO Teton/Tioga combo. I would go with a 9wt.
Mike

[DaveF]

Thank you for all of the replies so far. By the way, I stumbled across the web site for STH reels. What is the concensus regarding cassette/cartridge systems for light saltwater?

Thanks again!

Dave.

[Roop]

Thank you for all of the replies so far. By the way, I stumbled across the web site for STH reels. What is the concensus regarding cassette/cartridge systems for light saltwater?

They're great if you like trying to unseize them every time. Tioga is the way to go or Scientific Anglers...

[Pauper Piscator]

TFO/TIOGA combi undoubtedly kicks a$$.

For Salt water, yep you might cook an STH. But I doubt it unless you are catching tunoids, Span macks, or bones.

They are not as nice. They are not as expensive either, and the "spools" cost $10 not $100. An Intermediate, AND a depth charge would be advisable for salt. Ergo, two spools. A decent line costs $60.

Dave, if you are young dumb and full of (rymes with young and dumb), and have lots of free time and no one to answer to (e.g. a jealous woman, kids, dogs, goldfish etc), AND will be able to weather the frequent skunkings that accompany being a novice without quittin, then drop the big ducats on your first rod.

If not, while the advice here is great, a lot of the "old" salts here, including myself, have the champagne tastes that come with experience.

So...If you are 100% commited to fishin, divorce, insomnia and alcoholism for the long haul (gotta be commited!), buy the nicest stuff you can unreasonably afford. If you're dabbling, then dabble.

[ikan besar]

"...So...If you are 100% commited to fishin, divorce, insomnia and alcoholism for the long haul (gotta be commited!), buy the nicest stuff you can unreasonably afford. If you're dabbling, then dabble...."

A knowing statement and well put. I made the mistake of adding up the value of my rods and reels for an insurance rider - OUCH!

[Mark Cahill]

You can buy that as a combination from The Saltwater Edge and support Reel-Time at the same time.

http://www.reel-time.com/ads/swe-tfo-tioga.jpg (http://www.saltwateredge.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SE&Category_Code=OFT&Affiliate=markcahill)

[Animal Chris]

That's a good deal, Mark. I'll be picking up a TFO TiCr 6wt & 8wt. this afternoon. Really looking forward to fishing with them. I have a couple of 8wt. and a 10wt. Professional Series and really lover them. Rick Pope and Co. really have a good product. I'll have to bring them up and give your stripers a try. Tight Loops, AC

[SHORTFIN]

Dave i would like to reccomend that you check out the STCROIX Imperial Fly Fishing outfits .These outfits are made for exactly the Usage you are looking for .
And if you chose to go with a travel rod take a look at the Imperial travel outfits.

all under $260.00 complete with backing and leader and travel case

Capt. Chris

[striperboyz]

Dave i would like to reccomend that you check out the STCROIX Imperial Fly Fishing outfits .These outfits are made for exactly the Usage you are looking for .
And if you chose to go with a travel rod take a look at the Imperial travel outfits.

all under $260.00 complete with backing and leader and travel case

Capt. Chris

I owned a 8wt imperial setup for half a season, I liked it because it was really moderate action and I was only a freshwater fly man at the time, but soon as it tried to throw a bigger fly it became a powerless noodle. You can't throw anything heavier then intermidate line either, just not enough power in the rod. They are a great rod if you were just fishing fresh water, that is why I bought it, for bass and pike on the CT river, and I had some fun catching schoolies with it on small clousers in the salt, but when I tried to throw heavier I actually broke the rod.....twice...got rid of it and bought a TFO, huge difference.

I'm not telling you not to go with the Imperial, it is a great set up, just make sure you try casting it with something other then floating line and light flies.

Cheers,


Josh

[pops]

best advice is to go to a fly shop test out various combos and see what suits you, most shops will line a rod with reels etc ...
look into a moderate to fast action [read stiff] for surf flyfishing ,dont go with a wobbler ! or youll only make into the first wave ... ;) instead of 80 ft past it. --127-3-