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| Fly Fishing Equipment Questions |
Question:
I am just getting started in the adventure of fly fishing and have been looking for a good fly rod/reel, line, etc. I went to one of the local fishing establishments and spoke to one of the fishing "experts" and he said that when looking for a fly rod the one thing one should look at is the number of line guides it has. The minimum number of guides should be 8 and the recommended is 10 or more so as to give a smoother cast. He also said the type of reel is not that important. He did stress that the fly line itself is probably the most important along with the leader and tippet. I thought I would throw this out and see if this is all true or if there should be other considerations taken into account when selecting good fly fishing equipment. Any opinions/advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
Answer:
In my opinion, buy one of the entry level combination rigs from Orvis,
Cabelas, or other mail-order houses. For Trout, a 5wt. rod (at least 8 feet long) and matching weight forward floating line (slate grey or tan colored line) will get you through most fishing conditions (also, the appropriate amount of fly line backing is needed). The reel doesn't need to have a break system, but you should be able to "palm" the reel with ease. Leaders & flys can be obtained in any fly shop near your fishing destination. With a floating line, you can always add split shot to your leader to fish the nymph’s patterns. A 5wt. can also be used to toss those small streamer patterns when required.
Perhaps the best advice for you is to obtain the Orvis beginning fly fishing book. The exact title escapes me now. Another idea is to see if there are any fly fishing clubs in your area. Usually clubs will have casting and entry level classes for the novice. They may also have rod and reel systems for you to try.
As for the question of smoothness of casts with at least eight guides; well, fly fishing is casting the line with the weight of the line only. If you cast from the reel, then this is some other form of fishing, not fly fishing. Actually, one could fly fish without a reel and no guides. The action is the vectors of the line through the air. However, a good rod with the "action" you prefer can really aid you in your accuracy and distance of casting.
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