so what does one buy when he can t afford a sage ??

[tjflyfisher]

hi all

new to the board so i figured i would post for some info on 5 wt rod/reel combos

if you can t afford a sage tfo or orvis /stcroix/ g loomis 5 wt combo what do you look for in the budget combo line up ??

lets say the budget is $150 for rod reel line and backing to be used for trout small mouth bass and bluegill

i have read mixed reviews on the cabelas rods but some seem ok for a starter outfit

any and all suggestions welcome

tjflyfisher

[fflutterffly]

TFO or ECHO

[tjflyfisher]

have not seen any tfo or echo 5 wt combos under $150 do these really exist??


tjflyfisher

[stanbery]

For a starter kit look at these kits
Cabelas
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Rod-Reel-Combos/Fly-Fishing-Rod-Reel-Combos%7C/pc/104793480/c/104762880/sc/105571980/Cabelas-Traditional-IIPrestige-Plus-Fly-Combo-without-Fly-Line/711178.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-rod-reel-combos-fly-fishing-rod-reel-combos%2F_%2FN-1104843%2FNs-MIN_SALE_PRICE%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104762880%26WTz_stype%3DGNU

St.Croix
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Rod-Reel-Combos/Fly-Fishing-Rod-Reel-Combos%7C/pc/104793480/c/104762880/sc/105571980/St-Croix-Rio-SantoCabelas-Cahill-Fly-Combo/728642.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-rod-reel-combos-fly-fishing-rod-reel-combos%2F_%2FN-1104843%2FNs-MIN_SALE_PRICE%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104762880%26WTz_stype%3DGNU

Redington is very good as well
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Rod-Reel-Combos/Fly-Fishing-Rod-Reel-Combos%7C/pc/104793480/c/104762880/sc/105571980/Redington174-Crosswater-Outfit-Fly-Combo/1166294.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-rod-reel-combos-fly-fishing-rod-reel-combos%2F_%2FN-1104843%2FNs-MIN_SALE_PRICE%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104762880%26WTz_stype%3DGNU

Jon

[mk4]

i have read mixed reviews on the cabelas rods but some seem ok for a starter outfit

There are mixed reviews for every rod, including your $800 variety.

If a blind test were done, I doubt most could tell the difference between an $800 rod and a $200 rod.

There are a lot of self proclaimed rod experts here, so I'll let their expertise guide you.

[SaltyFresh]

Do not get a sage, i snapped my tip, and still havn't received my new rod, its been 5 wks now.

[Wildman]

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your experience fly fishing. It's nice to know who you're talking to when you share expertise or experience. I used a Crystal River combo fly rod and spinning reel for over a year and it worked great. I think they sell on ebay for 80 bucks. I have eight rods and my favorite is a Forecast 7'9" that I bought the blank for $18 and made the rod. I fish it over all my others on creeks and rivers.

[anacrime]

http://www.basspro.com/Wright-&-McGill-Plunge-Fly-Fishing-Rod-and-Reel-Outfit-with-Accessories/product/10210938/-1675876

Wright & McGill Plunge kit. The added bonus is the excessively long (not my my choice!) DVD that I did for them. You'll even find David D'Beaupre (Sierra Trout Magnet) and ColoradoXJ from our forum in the video. Not one of my finer works, but it fit the budget available and the conditions we were faced with in early spring in Colorado.

This is an outstanding deal. Do it! Perhaps think about the 3/4 set up for small stream and smaller bass stuff.

[Pete]

Budget!!!!! What's wrong with you? Budget...... for crying out loud we're talking fly fishing here . Just kidding . I would recommend trying out different rigs. Most guys will hand you their setup and let you try it out. Find one you like and if need be wait a bit until you can up the budget if necessary.

Since you are talking 5wt., which usually equals bigger fish, you will probably want a reel with a decent drag system on it and that might require a bit of a budget increase. Even if you go with a $150 budget, don't go bargin bin on the line. Good line on a cheap set up can make a huge difference in casting .

If you are into fly fishing for the long haul, save up to get a decent setup. Otherwise you will just end up spending more in the long run to upgrade. Just say no to Big 5, Walmart and K-mart combos.

JMHO,
Pete

[fly addict]

Go to a good shop like " The Spot" or Marriotts and talk with a pro and cast a few rods. $150 is not going to get you much. Maybe check out the used market, Ebay or Craiglist.

Mark

[WanderingBlues]

Start looking at the classified sections in as many forums as possible.

[Flatsix]

I would recommend bumping up your budget a little and wait if need be.

Last month I picked up a Winston Passport 490 that included a Rio line for $200.00 delivered. I added an Orvis Battenkill that I picked up on closeout for $50.00.

I fished this 4wt next to my 5 wt Sage at the Owens a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed with the presentation of the Passport.

My first rod was inexpensive and I got what I paid for. Looking back, I wish that I would have waited and spent a few more dollars and bought something a little better.

If your interested check E-bay for Winston Passport or Crystal Fly Shop.

[flybob]

The fish don't care what brand you are fishing with!
Don't get me wrong, I am not poo pooing the high end stuff, I own some.....I just did not start out with it.

The Cabelas outfit that Stanbery suggested is a darn good deal for the price!
And Cabelas stands by their products!

I started with a Cabelas outfit, which I still use occasionally, I keep in my truck at all times, you never know when you will see something worth casting into, and I am not worried about it getting stolen. That reel that comes with it is as durable as they get! You will still need line for it, good line, I may suggest the Hook and Hackle High Floater, a good price, and a good line.

I know what it is like to be on a budget, and when you can't spring for little more, you can't!

hope this helps.
Bob

[Chris Kuhn]

My first outfit was an LL Bean Quest. I was very satisfied with it.

[Swanee]

I had a bad experience with Cabela's LST, broke 2 of them within 2 weeks. They feel really good when casting but are too brittle for me. Cabela's service and warranty is great, but "Made in Korea" was not exceptable in this case. The second one broke without breaking the 5X tippet I was using. They sent me a Sage Launch instead.
In your price range, there are some good choices for Redington depending on the size of water you like to fish and what type of action you prefer.
Guy Jeans brought out all his models a couple of months ago and my pick for small streams was the 7 1/2' Pursuit in a 3 wt but when you get into the 5 wt and up the Pursuit seemed a little stiff. The 3 wt. had enough power for long casts, power curves, and the tuck cast when nymphing. For shorter casts and a lighter feel, the Classic Trout model was better.
my $.02
Swanee