fishing equipment
How much should I spend on beginning fly fishing equipment?
I’m a 17 year old girl and I want to learn how to fly fish. How much should I spend on equipment (a pole, string, leads, flies, etc.) Would it be better to buy one of those inexpensive, complete kits that come with everything needed to start?
The best answer I know of, and one you’re probably already gotten, is to buy the best you can afford, and buy it from someone who knows what they are selling and can provide you with a properly matched rod and line and a decent reel. If you try to go cheap you may get an outfit that makes learning to cast a royal pain which will quickly destroy your desire to learn this wonderful sport. You will also need to think a bit about what types of fish you plan to pursue. A good quality 5 wt rod with a floating, weight forward line is a good start.
Fly fishing is like any hobby – you can spend a fortune on gadgets. Here again, you should think about forming a relationship of trust with someone who knows the equipment. I became a lifelong fan of one company because they talked me out of buying things I really didn’t need. OK, now to answer your question: for the rod, reel and line you’ll spend somewhere around $150. Cabelas (I’m a real fan because everything I bought is excellent and Michael, the fly shop manager, seems very knowledgable.) or Bass Pro both have decent oufits within that range. Try to avoid getting sucked into buying the orange line that comes with some of the rigs. Most decent rods come with a rod sock and you should get a rod tube as soon as possible. I make mine out of PVC pipe with foam captured in the bottom and top. That case is heavy but it floats and is darn near indestructable. Fly rods are fragile, so never travel without having it in the rod sock and in a case. A scratch can weaken the rod enough that it will break someday – no doubt when you least want it to.
OK, so now you have the rod, reel and line, now what. Get a hemostat-like device such as the ones made by Dr. Slick with oversize finger holes. Next you need to think about leaders and tippets. Since you’re just starting out you can buy a few tapered leaders ranging between 2X and 5X and some monofilament tippet spools in the same sizes. Finally, buy an assortment of popping bugs and a plastic box with divided compartments. These things will add about $50 to your investment. Unless someone’s going to take you on a trip to fish for something exotic, stop here and learn to use this stuff before buying a vest and the rest of the stuff. Also, invest in a good book such as Fly Fishing for Dummies, it’s excellent so don’t be put off by the title. At this point you need to learn about tippets and hook sizes and how all this stuff relates. If you can find a good casting instructor take a couple of lessons – it will save a lot of frustration. If you can find a Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) casting instructor, they’re worth every penny. It’s kind of like learning to drive, don’t let a friend teach you. There is a club here in St. Louis called the Ozark Fly Fishers (do a Google search and you’ll find their website) and they can help you a lot, but you’ll need to ask for help. They’re not arrogant or whatever, they just assume folks know how to cast unless you speak up. Several of their instructors are FFF certified and I’ve taken lessons from them on a number of occassions. It’s amazing what the placement of your hand or how you turn your wrist can affect the cast and that’s exactly what makes lessons so valuable.
One of the easiest ways to practice, and one that’s a lot of fun, is to go out to Busch Wildlife and rent a rowboat which costs about $5.30 for the day. Go in the afternoon, at least during the summer, and plan to get on the water about 5:00 or so. Until the sun starts to go down, most fish are too deep to reach easily with a fly rod. Find a shady spot with some deep water nearby and play with the popping bugs. You’ll catch lots of panfish and learn both casting and accuracy while having fun. Resist the temptation to go fish for trout right off the bat. They’re a pain in the tail and you can flail the water for the entire day and catch nothing. One last thing, crush the barbs on your hooks. That way you can release the fish without damaging it and, when you catch yourself, the hook comes out easier. The absence of the barb makes very little difference in landing the fish. Wear a broadbrimmed hat to deflect the flies that seem to want to nest in your head and some sort of glasses that cover your eyes very well, for the same reason.
Long-winded answer to your simple question. One of the wonderful things about this sport is that, generally speaking, folks are delighted to help others become as fascinated by the sport as they are. That’s my goal for you. Have fun, and stop fishing for a while when you get frustrated. Casting takes time to learn, but it’s very much worth while to learn correctly in the beginning.
Good luck.
Rex Hunt – Light surf fishing equipment
