Equipment for the Graduating Beginner

[thor444]

Everyone has given me great advice. I have some questions about effective, inexpensive equipment. I am not a Label Whore, but I do want decent stuff. My buddy who is a bachelor with no kids or wife just picked up the Abel Jerry Garcia Reel with 2 extra spools. It set him back $1550. I made the comment that for me, a reel was only to hold my line and I fought my fish by stripping. He said I was crazy and losing many big fish. I have a crappy Daiwa reel with the equivalent of no drag. Sure enough I got spooled and the big? fish broke off. At least I did not lose him until he ran my backing. I also have a St. Croix Prographite 9' Premier Rod. I think it is OK because no one has ever laughed out loud at its presence on a river (unlike my reel). I decided to get a relatively inexpensive OKUMA Air Frame Large Arbor Reel with a couple extra spools. It may not have been designed buy anyone wh ever played with the Dead, but hey.

Can anyone suggest any relatively inexpensive equipment that is surprisingly competent and affordable? Everything from fly line to landing nets? Waders to Wading Boots. I would probably be more of a label whore if:

A. I could Afford It!
B. If they made the labels bigger.
C. If I was good enough to tell the difference between competent and fantastic.

Thanks!

[flymatic]

Look for the what you need online at places like ebay. I've saved a ton of money on all my gear especially my waders and flyrod.

-flymatic

[thor444]

That has been the best yet, I check it down at sportsman's and write down the name and then do a Froogle, ebay and amazon search. It is about 40% off and no sales tax. This is a link to the reel I bought, what do you think? A good value?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3677765919

[«°Ñøvã°»]

How much do you fish.... How many days......streams/stillwater ratio on the water. Whats your budget for this. Myself I would put more emphasis on waders and boots first. A $10 line will get a thru and who needs nets anyway
There have been numerous discussions on waders and boots somewhere on here check out some replies

[steelie]

I think Okumas are great. They have a short lifespan, but before they break on you, they work as well as any reel on the market, IMO. Just don't expect to be fishing with the same reel in 10-15 years, as you would expect out of one of the higher-end reels. $30-$40 gets you a few years of a good reel with a good drag, you'll probably be ready for an upgrade by then anyways - for you will turn into a label whore.

St. Croix makes great rods, affordable, and I've heard the warranty is hassle-free. (fish long enough and you will break rods)

I'm with Nova on the waders - you may as well wet wade until you can get into a decent pair of breathables, you can pick up some Neos for $50 - but you'll be wet-wading anyways. All the big names got lightweights at a good price ~$150.

If your just a beginner, cortland 333 or SA headstart is all the line you will need.

Read Ouzel's thread on tippet from a few weeks back - good stuff:
http://www.utahonthefly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7831&highlight=tippet+dispenser

Browse through the gear section of the forum too:
http://www.utahonthefly.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14

[nightfish]

I second the Okuma. I've had one for 7+ years now, and though it's not my main reel, it hasn't had a problem yet. Also, ditto on St. Croix. For lines, check for clearance sales, and online would probably be the best bet. But, line is probably the only piece of gear I wouldn't buy used...well, waders too...as much as mine stink, I wouldn't want to start with somebody else's stink too.

Another option for a rod would be to build your own on a good, cheap blank.

[flymatic]

I have the okuma magnitude 5/6 L and have had no troubles with it at all, and it is lighter in weight than more expensive brands. I also can vouch for how good St. Croix rods are, I picked up a brand new Legend Elite 905.4 for only $350 online, saved about $200 on that alone.

I also agree with Nova in that you need to buy what will fit your style the most. Look at whether you hike alot to your fishing spots or do you just "park and fish" and that will tell you what kind of boots/waders to buy. If you hike alot look for something comfortable yet durable in both your boots and waders.

-flymatic

[thor444]

I can't believe how helpful everyone is. I have the Hodgman Breathables and some 3.5mm Neoprene for when the water is colder. THose are the thick ones, right, Neoprene? I get them mixed up. I am 6'6" and with huge feet, I found many I liked that were more $ (nicer?) but harder to find in my Bubba Type Size 14 feet. My boots are Hodgman too, and they are great as far as I can tell. I probably Float Tube about 10% of the time I go. I have some Browning Fins and a Caddis XXL Tube. I want a nice landing net I think next.

My Okuma Large Arbor arrived today, I guess I need to know how to tie my Fly Line's Backing to the spool, any ideas? I am so excited, I think I have lost most big fish I have hooked due to my belief I should fight them by stripping.

I stole my daughter's Butterfly net so I can sample the bugs next time.

As for how much I go fishing, maybe a bit better than once a week with a few guided trips a year. Maybe twice at the Guild Ranch in Wyoming on the lake and a couple days on the Green.

[hedgesd]

I use a nail knot for backing to fly line.

I love fighting fish in by hand. Once they pull all my loose line out then I fight them from the reel.

[jrccarter]

I don't think you can get a better reel than an Okuma for the money. As for losing the fish because of a cheap reel that is hard to believe. I have a ross Gunnison and I still fight the fish by stripping the line in. (I think a reel is to hold the line and not much more.) once all the slack line is out then it will use the drag but to bring it in I prefer stripping over reeling. If the fish tries to run while you are reeling then it will probably snap the line. You don't need nice name brand everything to catch fish, but certain items cost more because they work a little better.

[Grizz]

the "brakes" & "stopping power" of a reel should not be overlooked.

Just ask carpman & fanatic what a reel's for..............

Rarely in Outah, but river trout in surrounding states will reel "YOU" in.

the warmer species will make 'er sing.

pea's

[Fishin' Junkie]

I survived just fine with a Pflugger Meadalist for a long time. Recently, I was given a Lamson Lite-Speed from a friend who manufactures them in Idaho. I never knew what I was missing, it is a fine piece of machienery. All in all, I think if you are getting started, don't buy the bottome line stuff, go a step above and it will last you a little longer into this addiction we call fly fishing.

Just my .02 worth.

FJ

[Trav]

Thor,

Go into a good fly shop and they will help you set everything up for you.

Trav

[Drake]

Thor, personally I think your buddy is full of it. Please have him elaborate on why his Abel keeps on more fish than my Battenkill. Would I like to own a few Abel’s? Of course I would. They are beautiful reels, but until I hit the lottery I will stick with Battenkills. I also don’t think you need to spend $100 on a Battenkill, you just need a decent reel with a good drag that you can tighten and loosen as the needs arise.

I also love to fight fish on the reel. Once a big fish pulls all the loose line out, and you have a decent drag, play him on the reel. There is nothing like the sound of reel spinning when the hog runs for 30 yards.

[thor444]

He is a single guy with tons of Disposable income. I saw him change spools, and is something you could not really do streamside. It is a nightmare.

He has the the dough (ex NFL, now single guy with a dog and a job), and he loves the Grateful Dead. So, he now has 2 extra $800 spools.

He is a bad ass fisher though, up until someone caught a couple recently planted breed stock, he had the catch and release Brown and Cutthroat and runner up Rainbow for Utah. His were all natural and he got beat in each category by retired breeders.

His name was in the proc and all.