Cabela’s Cahill Fly Rod and Reel Outfit
908 9’ 8 4 7/8/9 65 yds./20 lb./WF8
Or should I be looking for something more geared toward salt water?
Is WF-Floating line a good choice for around here?
Thanks for any help, I am trying to get into saltwater fly fishing, but not spend a whole lot of money (which is difficult it seems).
Thanks,
PB
I’m sure this is going to sound like an asshole thing to say, but no, that is far from a good fly fishing combo.
Will it work? That all depends. If you’re just targeting trout, I’m sure it would be fine. What bothers me is that it only has 65 yards of backing capacity. Hook into a large red and you’ll be spooled before you can blink. And I seriously doubt that the disc-drag in that reel has very much SMOOTH stopping power.
My opinion would be to get a decent entry-level rod. Temple Fork Outfitters Signature or Professional Series or St. Croix Reign or Imperial come to mind. They discontinued the Reign a year or so back, so you may be able to find one out at a closeout price. Look to spend at least $100-$150 here - AT LEAST. When I first started out, I bought a TFO Signature series for just over $100 and it’s still the rod I use the most. Is it great? No, but it gets the job done and I haven’t replaced it yet.
Next comes the reel. I’m sure Ken or Hutch will come along and recommend an Okuma SLV - I’ve personally never used one, so I can’t comment there. I really like Lamson for inshore saltwater schtuff, so check them out. Their lower-end reels all use the same drag system, so check out the Konic. They discontinued the Radius a year or so ago, which I LOVE, so again, you may be able to find a 3.0 or 3.5 for a good price.
Finally, good line goes a LONG way. Your line is what gets the fly to it’s destination - schitty line=schitty casting. I’m a big fan of the RIO Redfish line. But good line isn’t cheap, so it’s probable that you will spend as much on the line as you would on the combo you listed above.
Good fly fishing equipment isn’t cheap, so if you think this is something you’re going to get into and enjoy, I would recommend coughing up a few extra bucks up front - it’ll save you in the long run.
FF is right… about the rod and me suggesting a SLV 
I HIGHLY second the TFO rods… I have been playing wiht them a lot lately and I am really liking them. OUTSTANDING entry level rod that won’t break the bank and you won;t need to upgrade anytime soon… Reels, I highly second the Lamsons… great reels, but the Okumas are a great entry level reel. Bullit proof and light. Lines I learned the hard way here… Spend the $60-$80 and get a GOOD ly line… you will apprecite the differnce… Hope this helps
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
I have a feeling you can look through some fishing boards and find a nice starter combo for about 200.
Lamson has some nice entry level stuff and I second the TFO rods, and a good line is nice to have as well. I think you can get into a nice combo for about 200. good luck with it.
Far better it is to dare mighty things to win glorious triumphs even though checkered with failure, than to take ranks with those poor spirits who never enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
Wow, thanks for the most thorough and thoughtful responses. 60-80$ on line! Whew! I know you get what you pay for yada yada, but wow. Thank you for all the recommendations. If anyone reading this has any gear they might be trying to part with, please shoot me a PM.
Please correct me if I’m wrong here but I’m looking for a 9’ 8 weight rod, with a solid 8-9lb reel, and probably 8wt line? I have only fly fished ponds for bream and bass!!
Also, what are some good fly fishing forums with used gear?
8wt at a minimum for reds… sometimes it’s over gunnin for trout but when those big reds grab your fly and head for the horizion… yeah 8wt at a min A TFO 8wt 9ft 2 peice is about $120… reel if yu go Okuma $70, and about $70 for a good redfish line… you are lookin at abour $260 and you will be SET for fishin… You can buy cheaper rods and reels but if you get quality first you will spend a lot less time returning broke rods and buying new ones… Most fly rod companies all have a (**() good warrantee, most no questions asked, replace the rod for you. Again it’s worth the money to buy good stuff to start with.
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
nikon-good luck with the SLV reels? Saw some on sale and thought about grabbing one. thanks man
17’ McKee Craft
90 Yamaha
Beagle
LOVE my SLV’s… I have 3 and Okuma sent me 6 for Heroes on the Water… now I just needs rods for those guys
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
i love my tfo proffessional. not being old enough to work forces me to get all my money i have through lawn mowing, birthdays, and christmas. so it took me about a year to save enough money to buy my 9 wt. setup which consists of a tfo professional, a sage 1680 reel, rio redfish line, and scientific anglers 20 lb. backing. i would recomend an 8-9 wt. for reds but if you want to go after albies or something like that, the 9 really comes in handy.
Please check your pms palmetto
Far better it is to dare mighty things to win glorious triumphs even though checkered with failure, than to take ranks with those poor spirits who never enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
This is great info. I bought a cheap a$$ combo at Dicks two years ago. Complete crap. I’m thinking about taking the fly class at CA soon. Ken, can you give a little more info about the class?
Johnny
I took that class with John Irwin a couple yrs ago and it was good. I learned a ton. He was a good sport even though it was freezing cold and windy that day
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke
I am not sure when the next one is BUT… I am working at the Summerville store this Saturday and Sunday 7-6 and 10-4, stop by and I’ll help ya out. If you have a fly rod bring it and we’ll work on it. BTW this invite is to anyone else who needs help. I’ll do my best to get ya casting right and rippin lips
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
Thanks Ken. BTW I was the guy in the Summerville Angler the other day with the busted Falcon. They are totally helping me out. They said to send it in and they would replace it for $45 (out of warranty). I’d definately buy one from them again.
very Cool. BTW the next class is 12 June from 9-3, at the West Ashley Store. Capt john Irwin is teaching it and it is $75 with lunch included. This is a great class but inthe mean time I can help anyone out wiht casting and tying if ya need. stop by and gimme a shout.
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
This entry level question is a catch 22. First many people don’t have the “only $200” to spend. Second, lots of folks try fly fishing and find it’s not for them. Then there is “you get what you pay for”. There are some many things to consider when thinking about trying the long rod. That being said I know I am going to draw the wrath of the group but here goes. Ten years ago I wanted to try fly fishing but didn’t have a lot to spent so without any advise I went to Bass Pro Shops and bought a 5 weight Hobbs Creek outfit.It cost under $100 but that was a big expense for me. I learned to cast pretty well and could put a fly where I wanted. I caught my share of bass and bluegills and snook with it. Later I did upgrade to a better line and that was only $20 so the investment was still fairly low. I found that I loved fly fishing so when I scraped together enough money I got a Gold Cup 9 weight outfit ( yes, still Bass Pro). I tried the more expensive rods and found no difference in the casting and in fact got better results with my outfit. I have caught albies, dolphin (25 lb) small tarpon,snook,reds and bonefish with no adverse effects. I found you can catch fish with something less than a $700 Sage and $800 Able loaded with a $99 sharkskin line. Would I do better with a high end outfit, probably, but to me the expense doesn’t justify it. OK let’er fly.
Cappy I agree wiht you, you lucked out and got a good outfit but so many places, especially BPS, have low end gear that fails. I learned the hard way and spent a LOT of money I really didn;t have to finally realize if you get good gear to begin with it saves a lot of frustration in the future. We all have opinions, we all have prefrences. It’s all good Brother. Do what is good for you and your wallet. I saved for a while and finally got a great outfit, still under $200 that I love. The High end rods are made wiht new materiels and new ways of making them, like Sage has a different way of wrapping the graphite which make sit stronger and lighter. Someone has to pay for the R&D and sadly it’s us but there are still “high end” rods that won;t break the bank. I always suggest the TFO rods, excellent quality and not a bank breaker. I have thrown the $20 wal mart rods and can still use them pretty well but when I pick up a TFO or my beloved March Brown rods, or a Sagr or a Winston I can feel a BIG difference. BIG time. again do what is right for your budget and as always wiht me Bro… it’s all good
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
Here is my two cents, and that is about what it is good for. For someone just trying out, or just starting, particularly someone on a strict budget, some of those starter combos are just the ticket. Don’t get me wrong, I do have a couple of very nice rods that I have upgraded to over the years, but some of the low cost BPS and Cabelas combos are worth it for the money. Fly line can be critical to get the distant casts, and I think probably the key area to try not to skimp. Having said that, normally someone just starting out will not have the technique to get the distance out of a premium line anyway. In this case a relatively inexpensive line is the way to go. Work on your casting, and as another benifit, if you do something not too smart you are not out 70-90 dollars on a premium line.
You will need to take particular care of a budget combo. My take on it is that they don’t always stand up to the salt water environment as well…not that you don’t need to take care of the good stuff too!
JohnH0802
I have a Cabela’s Cahill trout rod. I found it in a snowbank when I lived in Vail Colorado. the WORST rod I have ever thrown. it is literally a piece of cooked spahgetti, i have a 3 weight that has more backbone than that rod. get a TFO Professional series to start out with
There is no normal life, there’s just life.
Tarpon 140
Knot the Reel World Fly Fishing LLC
I have bought the $30 fly line and even trying to get a 30ft cast is a pain… Seriously… you don’t have to go straight to the top of the line but you need QUALITY gear to get started right… too many people give up because of crappy equipment… or don’t. I love fly fishing and want anyone else who wants to learn it to love it.
Hokie… now ya know WHY you found that rod
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os