Welcome to the board.
We have a very small but good bunch of guys flyfishing the South Shore.
Let us know when you're ready to get started, and we'll break you in slow, like we did with Rocky. Overheard during first on-the-water casting practice:" Hey what the hell is this on the end of my line? It's a damn striper!"
I gotta' go with Captain Chris on this one. Nine-foot, Ten-weight. Airflo Intermediate. Skimp on the reel at first if you want to save money. Buy a wicked cheapo and plan on throwing it away, once you can afford a better one.
All the shops recommended a nine-weight to me also. They were wrong.
Don't let them suck you into buying a floating line either. There's fifty-bucks I'll never see again.
Sorry, Tom, but I wouldn't recommend the RPLX to a beginner, nor would I recommend mail order. You want to develop a relationship with someone local who will take care of you when you split that rod with a clouser in the middle of the season.
Here's my review of all the places I know of on the South Shore to buy fly gear.
Henry Weston Outfitters in Pembroke. The big guy who works there, I think his name is Jim Mackay, is knowledgeble, friendly and helpful. There's one guy who works there who likes to laugh at you when you go in with a problem or a question. He's been fly fishing in the salt for like, two-years now, which makes him the worlds foremost authority. He's the guy who sold me the floater, and nine-weight. Orvis has a great warranty, good products, and really knows how to take care of customers. Hard to go wrong there. Just try to get Jim to wait on you.
Old Salt Outfitters, Hingham Harbor. New shop, opened this year. Not a huge selection, but nice stuff. Loomis, Thomas & Thomas, Abel etc.. Wicked nice guy named Brian ran the store for the summer, but I think he went back to school. He might be around on weekends now. I'd rather have him wait on me than the other guy, who constantly gives me a hard time for going there four times a week and buying stuff. I get the feeling he's not happy unless you leave the store with a brace of, " Abels," mounted on T&T Horizons. I swear to god, I spent at least $ 1,000. there this season while he wasn't in the store, and every time I go in for tying materials, leaders, etc. he asks me when I'm going to spend some real money in his store? Honest!
Monahan's Marine in Weymouth. I just found this place. They sell St. Croix, and Fisher rods. They may not be big fly fishing studs, but I feel more comfortable here than any of the other places. Must be my solid working class upbringing. If I had it to do over again, I'd go here and get a St. Croix ten-weight. But that's just me. They probably won't try to sell you a six-hundred dollar fishing jacket, or a pair of Kevlar gravel guards. Kind of a no-nonsense fishing place.
Let us know if you need more help.
Jay
PS If you're interested, I got a nice clean used Orvis Nine-weight, and floating line. Only fished by a little old lady on her way to church on Sundays. Honest!