What do I need? What should I stay away from?
This will be my first big boy flyrod. Mainly want to use it for reds on the flats…
I don’t mind spending a little bit of money as long as I get something that I feel is well worth it.
quote:
Originally posted by duckcommanderIt came across as knocking the rod not the cocks… and, wow, that sounds extremely gay.
xHCFKx
23,
I use what I have, either a 6wt or my 8wt depending on my mood, where I’m fishing, and how hard the wind is blowing. I prefer the 8 1/2 ft 6wt and use if 75% of the time. When I’m fly fishing I’d rather be outgunned, that’s what makes it interesting.
that’s a 29" red on a 6wt when I thought I was throwing a fly at a trout busting bait.
There is nothing - absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Kenneth Grahame
I would grab a 9ft 8wt Crosscurrent Glx or a Thomas and Thomas Horizon II. They are sick rods.
“Fishing is alot like sex…when its good,it’s really good, and when its bad, its still pretty good.”
23Sailfish,
This is just my opinion but if you are just picking up a fly rod for the first time I would buy a “lower tier” rod. By that I mean one that cost under $250. Most fly rods can cast better than the person casting it. It would be like giving my a brand new set of Ping Clubs…I am not good enough to take full advantage of them. Most of the top manufactures make a lower tier rod. TFO, St. Croix, Sage and Reddington are just a few names.
The best thing you can do is take a casting lesson and then cast a bunch of different rods. See which ones feels best to you and go with it. If your budget can handle it and you like casting them then by all means get the $700 rod. I would just cast a few first before dropping that much change.
Good Luck,
Chris
Well, there’s the $200-300 and then there’s the $700 range for “big boy” flyrods. You can get a lifetime warranty pretty easily nowadays so you are protected with the higher bill purchase…but, personally I could never see paying that much for something my 5yr old might step on by accident. So do the more expensive rods cast better? I’m an average caster and I have several rods in the 200 range. I by no means think the rod solely is my limiting path on accuracy or distance. In fact, the more rods I have and the more lines/reels I buy, the more I realize it is the tuning of the combo and then matching that combo to your particular casting style that makes a good rig. For instance I have a ten wt that used to cast like a dog with the SA line I had on it. So much I used to hate taking it out. However, I found a cheap sinker shooting taper that was a hair heavier in grain wt and then lengthened my stroke a little and voila - an easy straight 90ft.
So what to do? You’re gonna get opinions about this or that rod. Loomis, Orvis, Sage, Scott, T&T, Winston and St Croix all make jam up $700 rods. Can’t prob go wrong. But I’d say the $200-300 TFO, Redington, and Echo rods would give them a run for the money and obviously cost a third to half as much. And with a tuned rig they’ll easily match their performance. So the old idea of going to a shop, listening to the dude, and doing a little casting in the yard is reasonable. Then make a reasonable choice with regards to price and what feels good in the hand. But don’t get suckered into namebrand and resist the temptation to think that a $700 rod will make a beginner (if you are) caster a pro caster. Then spend some time trying to tune it up with respect to leader/head/running line and you’ll have a nice stick.
BTW, I use the same thinking for my flyreel purchases.
OK. I know alot of guys on the board feel the same way as I do and are yet to publicly voice their opinions. TFO has fu(ked up the fly rod market. Don’t get me wrong, I own a TFO and to be quite frank it sucks compared to my other rods. I will go on the record right now and state that anyone who can outcast me with a TFO and my rod brand of same weight will get a frosty beverage on me. But, 23 you don’t have to take my word for it, I will give you a chance to cast any of my rods, or ask Jerms what he thinks of the Crosscurrent GLX or T&T as he has cast both as well. To be frank, you get what you pay for and hence the reason I see not a single TFO rod on the record books. FYI my first rod was a T&T HII 9wt that has landed everything from tuna, to reds, bonefish, triggers and tarpon it may have been overkill for a someone starting out, but I did not spend alot of money “steping up.”
“Fishing is alot like sex…when its good,it’s really good, and when its bad, its still pretty good.”
Shadowgrass,
I do agree with you on the TFO’s. I have cast several of them and was not particular impressed. The only reason I put their name out there is b/c I have friends that like them. A fly rod is such a personal preference that I always worry about talking bad about a rod. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I would never use a fiberglass rod but I have a buddy that just loves them.
Not to get off topic but I will never buy a production fly rod again. I have been building rods for a few years now and feel that you can get a much better rod if you build it yourself or get it custom built. There is a reason these companies can offer a life time warranty. I know about what they pay for their components and they don’t have a whole lot in a $600 rod. That is why they can give you several of them for free.
23…I hope we haven’t scrambled your brain when it comes to rods. Get out there and find what you like and let us know what you pick.
Chris
I own orvis, sage, and several TFO rods. I have fished Thomas and Thomas and Winston rods as well. Most of the TFO rods I own 4,7,9,12 are the TICRX rods. They cast as well as any high end rod I own if you know how to use it. The thing I like about them is you can buy 2-3 rods and for the price of one high end rod and the difference is minimal. Maybe the reason the casting records are set with other rods is the guy is sponsored by them. Most anglers would be better off saving the cash and being able to buy multiple wt rods.
No doubt a custom rod built to your specs will be the best for you and props to you for going that route. While I hope to one day accomplish building my own rods, I must admit I do not have the time to learn and practice all that I feel I would need to know before accomplishing such a feat. I only voiced my opinion on the matter because 1) I have had too much to drink over the course of the last several hours and 2)Too many feel as though they are getting the same thing in a TFO as they are the higher end brands. And while it is true their is a law of diminishing returns, the “big boys” do earn a keep and have proved themselves over the years. Still, if it floats your boat go for it, but remember just because a Hell’s bay and a Jon boat will get you to a flat it ain’t always the same.
Not to keep bringing him up, but I have seen some of the rods Jerms has built and I have no doubts that he will soon be turning one or two nice fly rods in the future.
“Fishing is alot like sex…when its good,it’s really good, and when its bad, its still pretty good.”
John, all I got to say is every TFO I have held has been heavy. If I am paying a guy $600 a day to pole my arse around for 12 hours I do not want a heavy rod, and if my rods don’t make it off the plane, he sure as hell better not hand me a TFO. . . . .
“Fishing is alot like sex…when its good,it’s really good, and when its bad, its still pretty good.”
Wow… It smells like its getting personal in here.
Listen… Nothing anyone in here has said is necissarily right or wrong, as rod preference is just that PREFERENCE. I have worked in shops for 6 years… ive been fly-fishing for 15… add that to the fact that im only 24 and that means ive spent the majority of my life with a flyrod attached to my hand… sometimes it seems as though its attached to my soul as well.
with all that said, to say that a TFO is a good rod “FOR THE MONEY”… is pretty accurate. To say that its not a bad way for someone to get into the sport… also a fair assesment. But to say that a TFO is “as good”, or “equal” to any high-end manufactured rod in the same weight is just wrong, period. There is alot that goes into “high end” rods that TFO doesn’t put in. Namely quality of components. The grade of graphites, quality of guides, even something as subtle as the components used in the reel seats can make a difference in the overall performance of a rod. But they cost more.
I think the point that Shadow is trying to get across. And its a valid one. Is that if you have the money, and are willing to spend it, go ahead and spring for the best that you can afford. Why would I want to buy 2-3 TFO’s… when I can buy one nice rod that I will never “grow out of”… and trust me, you will grow out of a low-end rod, if for no other reason than if you want a bigger better toy. We are men, thats what we do…
But hey, I only do this for a living so, take it for what its worth… Like I said before PREFERENCE… nobody’s calling you a lesser man cuz you swing a TFO…
Mad Mike
"to hell with insane… I’m OUTsane!!! "
Just curious do any of you rod building boys make/sell for other people? I am willing to check out a custom made rod but it depends on cost? Need a new 6 and I got a 9 so I am thing bout a 8 or 10? Between tying and fishing I got no time to add rod building.
If it swims throw a fly at it!
cast em all, if u can. a whole nutha debate here, but 2 Me, the rod is the most important (for reds under 20lbs and tippets over 10) and the money will be well spent, IMHO. if you can deliver the feathers better with a certain action on a rod…and they are distinctive differences…by all means go with that one. cast as many as you can before jumpin in. it is an investment and if your lucky, it will take over all that you think about:smiley:.
It’s the “real men buy $700 rods” or “discerning casters only buy $700 rods” implication that you have to watch out for. Not saying those rods aren’t nice. They are. And they are “better” rods. But Tim Rajeff can win a casting championship with a $200 Echo rod. It’s the caster, when it comes down to it, knowing the feel of the rod and tuning the rig for its performance. True, there are some component issues with the lower end rods but their fit and finish is reasonable. For instance, I’ve got a 7wt TFO that I’ve had and used in the salt for 7 years steady that has some pits in the cork handle… but it still puts it out there just fine and is one of my favorite rods on a red flat. So go try some out and make an informed (your information) decision.
Just remember, a rod does not a flycaster make.
Alex
MM, you said it better than I. If a TFO is what your budget will allow to get you into this great sport then by all means go for it, but if you know this is something you want to stick with and is not just a passing “fad” for you, go for the higher end stuff if budget will allow. To paraphrase Mike, if you do buy a entry level rod and stick with the sport, you will eventually want to step it up. Just cast alot of rods before you buy them. At recent rod purchase, I had the guy helping me hand me the rods and not tell me the brand and I did my best not to look at the rod while casting. After about 30mins I settled on the #3 rod. To my suprise it was an Orvis. I loathe Orvis, but I still bought the rod because it felt right.
“Fishing is alot like sex…when its good,it’s really good, and when its bad, its still pretty good.”
I think there are 2 disticnt debates going on here and some good points made on both sides.
23,
I’d suggest that before you spend money on a big boy rod, spend a little on quality casting instruction. If for no other reason than to be able to express your likes and dislikes in terminology an experienced caster and salesman understands.
Then go to a reputable shop and blind cast as many rods in your budget as you can. Have them tape over the brand and just see how it feels without knowing who makes it.
Shadowgrass I wound up with a full custom G Loomis a 15 years ago the same way you bought an Orvis… it was simply the best feeling 3 wt I’d ever laid hands on. I still use it every chance I get.
There is nothing - absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Kenneth Grahame
Now Shakespear makea ■■■■ fine rod for $20… all this hoopla about G Loomis and TFO is all BS… get yew a Wal Mart rod and yer set!! Just kidding. My personal favorites are
March Brown
Sage
St Croix
I started out with the 4 peice $20 wal mart rod/reel combo and it crippled me for about a year before I finally found someone to show me what a good rod can do for you. I was able to eventually cast and catch fish but it was WORK… Once I used a “real” fly rod my casting was smoother, distance and accuracy increased and it was night and day. I picked up another $20 rod, this time a 2 peice Scientific Anglers 6wt and it was night and day… still not as good as the Mid to high end rods I use now, I still have that 6wt for the pond out back , but it was an upgrade. I am not a big brand person. I could care less if it was a Loomis or a TFO… if it works it works. I finally picked up a high end rod and it really makes it easier. Someone told me once… " For freshwater you need a real good rod, the reel is just to hold the line… If yer fishin salt and bigger fresh water fish you still need a good rod and a reel wiht a good drag…" I have followed this and I have been pretty well off. it all boils down to buy the best feeling/casting rod you can. You’ll appreciate the difference…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
There’s a STEAL of a deal on a G Loomis on KBF classifieds right now. MJPRICE is selling a brand spankin new G Loomis Cross Current 8wt GLX model # FR1088-4CCGLX for $375.00 shipped
Somebody needs to grab that baby before it gets away.
There is nothing - absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Kenneth Grahame
I don’t care about ANYTHING (hobby wise, if you can call this 20 year addiction a hobby)like flyfishing.
Why shouldn’t I treat myself to the best tackle available. There is a difference. I would argue that if you flyfish <10 days a year then DO NOT buy high end stuff. Unless you are wealthy, then normal rules don’t apply.
I flyfish >10 days a month. I can tell a difference and nothing is better than having confidence in your hand when it comes time to make the cast.
Plus, Screw the chinese manufacturing for once. Don’t go to Walmart and buy a sage.