Fly Rods

I have two different fly rods - a five weight from Sage and an eight weight from Three Rivers. Both of them came as a combo deal - that is, the rod and reel and line was all sold together as a package.

The advantage of package deals is that you can usually get the same products for much less cost that you would if you bought them separately. The disadvantage is that is takes away the option to choose your own reel or line to go with the rod, and it takes away the option of overloading your rod (more later).

Basics on fly fishing: In regular spin fishing, you cast the lure and the weight of the lure carries it out during the cast. The reel serves a very important role as a drag controller. In fly fishing, the weight of the fly was originally too small to carry the fly out over the water. Instead, the weight of the fly line moves the fly.

During the original days of fly fishing, choosing line was a complicated affair. Different brands used different measures. Nowadays, different line weights have been numbered so it is much simpler. The rod matches the line - a five weight rod uses five weight line, etc. the smaller the weight, the smaller the fish that can be caught with it. I use my five weight for sunfish, crappies, and small trout and bass. My new eight weight makes it possible for me to catch pike, largemouths, and steelhead.

A good fly rod can cost into the thousands of dollars. The cheapest one that Cabela's is selling now is around $40. The combo Three River set up that I just bought was about $90... medium quality, in a combo and on sale. I feel good about it.

The setup of a fly line can be complicated for beginners. Around the reel is wrapped braided line called "backing". This connects to the thick "fly line", with then is normally connected to a few inches of red monofilament or similar. This red monofilament makes it possible to connect a leader - clear monofilament. This leader has to be tapered (thicker at the butte than the tip) or it will not cast correctly. If you are northern pike or musky fishing, it is necessary to attach a foot of wire to the end of the leader so the teeth will not cut the leader. Then you attach the fly.

There are a lot of other details for the amateur fly fisherman - dry flies or nymphs, floating line or sinking. Maybe later.

Still trying to improve my cast... I'm stuck at that 40-50 foot range.