Fishing The Fly Scotland

Index => Tackle Talk => Topic started by: Chiz on 19/05/2010 at 11:05

Title: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Chiz on 19/05/2010 at 11:05: Hello,

I'm looking into purchasing a Rod. I'm a beginner (Only been fly fishing twice) so i'm looking for something relatively cheap, as i have no issues buying something more expensive once i gain experience and understand the basic principles and techniques.

I've been looking at the Flextec CRX88 - It's cheap and it has favourable reviews. I'm unsure if external hyperlinking is allowed, but reviews can be found online.

I think i require a 9ft 6/7 but please advise me if this is suitable or not?

I'm currently fishing for Rainbow and Brown Trout.

Any tips are more than welcome! :z16

Chiz.
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 19/05/2010 at 13:10: Greys GRXi+ ...9 foot for a 6. Will cover everything you could want it too :)

Fulling Mill Gold Label 9 foot for a 6. Really easy casting rod...

Although others rate the Flextec, I don't ;)

Truth of the matter is you should alsways try a rod before buying (says me buying a £500 rod off of Hamish without trying it!..lol). Different people will rate rods differently due to there casting etc so its always best to try one out first if you can.
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Ben Dixon on 19/05/2010 at 15:32: Hi Chiz,

I have not liked the Flextec rods I have tried although they do have a good following, I would try to cast one first.

Robs suggestion of a 9' rod rated for a #6 line is about right and ideal as an all round or first rod. A #6 line will cast all but the largest trout flies but is not too heavy for more deicate work.

Come to the River Don Open Day at Castle Forbes Estate on Sunday 30th May, there will be various tackle maunfacturers and shops there on the day and you will be able to try a range of rods before you buy.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Chiz on 19/05/2010 at 18:57: Thanks for the replies guys! Much appreciated.

Unfortunately i feel the Greys GRXi+ is out of my budget. I'd preferably like to spend no more than £60 on a rod to begin with, if this is indeed possible.

As for a 9 foot rod for a #6 line - Can someone tell me what the 6 is a measure from? is it weight? size?

BEN_D - Thanks for that. I wasn't aware of the Open Day, but i'll definitely put it into my calendar!
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Jim Eddie on 19/05/2010 at 19:40: Chiz

The 6# refers to the weight of the fisrt 10 yards of fly line. The rod is made to suit a 6# line

http://www.flyfishingforum.com/expertise/knowledge/lineratings.htm

:z18

Jim
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 20/05/2010 at 02:31: There may be something of interest on here if you want something cheap :z16

http://www.fishingmegastore.com/feature-clearance.html

Go to the fly rod PDF and there is a really good deal on an Orvis Streamlite outfit, 5wt only, but will do everything you want it too. The 5 should be as useful as the 6 for browns and 'bows

Sandy
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Chiz on 20/05/2010 at 09:39: Cheers Sandy. I'm checking that out as we speak.

Luckily enough i came into some money yesterday (Thanks you Belgium, Rotherham and Seville!!) so i think i might be able to go and get that Grey's rod :)

With a #5 rod, what would i be sacrificing over getting a #6/7? is it in theory a weaker rod and more designed for the smaller fish? I understand the line is lighter, so in theory i'm guessing it would be weaker? Sorry for all these intricate questions but i'm inquisitive and trying to learn all i can! :)
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 20/05/2010 at 10:31: Ray,
Have to agree on customer care..but not had any problems with the Greys rods I have (all be it for coarse fishing).

As for Tacklebargins..I keep forgetting about them! The Lefty Kreh rods are good and are the same blanks as used by Fulling Mill.
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Chiz on 20/05/2010 at 11:43: What do you guys think of the Shakespeare Odyssey Fly Rod. I've seen this in my local tackle shop for £24.99?
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Mike Barrio on 20/05/2010 at 11:57: Quote from: Chiz on 20/05/2010 at 11:43
What do you guys think of the Shakespeare Odyssey Fly Rod. I've seen this in my local tackle shop for £24.99?

These are excellent rods for somebody starting out in fly fishing and they offer very good value for your money!

Yes, a good choice :wink

Best wishes
Mike
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 20/05/2010 at 11:58: Shakespeare always gets a bit of a hard time as they are often seen as cheap and cheerful. Fact is, they have some impressive consultants and produce pretty dependable gear. Ok, it may not be the fanciest, lightest, longest casting, but it is functional, well put together and cheap.

The Odyssey looks ok, not cast with one, but I have cast with the next rod up, the Trion..about £50 online. I was looking at buying my partner one as she only sometimes comes fishing with me so I did not want to waste vast amounts of cash.

I would happily use a Trion, it was rather sweet. Fast(ish) action, really easy to cast and nice fittings.

http://www.bosfish.co.uk/PRODUCTS/RODS/ss497game.htm
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Ben Dixon on 20/05/2010 at 13:27: I'd happily recommend or even fish with a Shakespeare Odyssey. Cast a few of the 5wt rods and they have been very good for the money.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Chiz on 20/05/2010 at 14:03: Excellent, I think we're all agreed that this is a decent, cheap rod.

So far i've priced up:

DescriptionValueShakespeare Odyssey Fly Rod26.99Greys G-Series Reel29.99Greys GRXi Clear Intermediate Line24.99Daiwa Wilderness game bag 422.99Total104.96

I believe the above should all be ok. Should manage to get this all today and hopefully be fishing with all my own kit this weekend :z16
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Ben Dixon on 20/05/2010 at 14:20: Chiz,

Get a floating line not an intermediate!!

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Chiz on 20/05/2010 at 14:23: I was told since i was a beginner i should use an intermediate line as it's easier to cast with?
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Ben Dixon on 20/05/2010 at 14:36: Not the case mate mate, the intermediate is a sinking line so you will have to get it on to the surface before you cast it and most of my fishing even on small stillwaters is done with a floating line. You can add a sink tip to the end of a floater to get deeper. I'd strongly advise you to get a floating WF line.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 20/05/2010 at 14:47: I think the reason why you were told an Intermediate was easier to cast is because it is a denser line and thus flies that little bit further because it has less wind resistence. A fast sink line fairly flies out of the tip ring and that is what I was told to start with. For me that was fine but I see Bens point.

As Ben rightly says, a floater will be much more useful all round, easier to cast direct off the water but may not go so far....but in many situations a short cast is all that is needed. Even more so in running water where a fish can often be taken a few feet from the bank.

One thing I would say though, forget the fancy game bag and spend that money on leader de-greaser, a pair of forceps, a fly box (flies of course :)) a knotless landing net and a priest if you are going to be taking fish for the pot.

You can always put things in your pockets but it is harder to land a fish without a net or to cleanly kill it without a priest etc.
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Chiz on 20/05/2010 at 15:36: Thanks again for all the tips.

Rob, sorry, i forgot to add, i already have flies, forceps, priest flybox with flies and a net :) (and boots, glasses, hats and waterproofs) - i just have nothing to hold them all in :)

Raymond, i heard somewhere that the clear lines are more visible to the fish, therefore colour is better. I believe this is debatable though (I wish i had the link to show, but i definitely read it somewhere).

I think i'll start with a floating line then, see how i get on with that since i already know what to expect with intermediate.
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 20/05/2010 at 17:47: Looks like a good plan to me, chiz :z16

I'd go for the floater too, far more versatile
and for the waters in the NE all you need for 90% of the time

you might need some backing as well for the reel
100yds of 20lb braid is ideal, for a start.

Looking forward to seeing how you get on with it
always been a fan of Shakey rods :z16

sandy
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Andy Wren on 20/05/2010 at 18:11: Quote from: Chiz on 20/05/2010 at 14:03
Excellent, I think we're all agreed that this is a decent, cheap rod.

So far i've priced up:

DescriptionValueShakespeare Odyssey Fly Rod26.99Greys G-Series Reel29.99Greys GRXi Clear Intermediate Line24.99Daiwa Wilderness game bag 422.99Total104.96

I believe the above should all be ok. Should manage to get this all today and hopefully be fishing with all my own kit this weekend :z16
Chiz if not too late ,change the line for a floater and go for one of Mikes £19.00 ,saves you a fiver .
Why a floater , well you will find it easier to cast and more versatile , later on go to sinkers ,sinktip, midge tips and inters ,if you want .
As well as I can remeber its twenty years ago that i last fished trout with anything other than a full floater , thats bar one day when I forgot my reels and found a very slow inter in my bag and that i greased up to float !
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Chiz on 20/05/2010 at 18:43: Just bought everything :)

Odyssey 9ft 6/7
Leeda Profile 7/8 fly reel
Truefly subsurface 8lb 50mtr
Grxi peach floating fly line
Daiwa wilderness trout game bag 3

Total price came to 77.96.

I'm really happy with the purchase and can't wait to go and try out my kit :)... I just have to learn how to attach the line and then that'll be me good to go!

Thanks for all the help guys! Much appreciated!
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Matt Henderson on 20/05/2010 at 18:48: if you go to Mike's fly line webshop then you'll find a list of knots etc to use and that should provide the answers for attaching backing to the reel, backing to flyline. Flyline to leader and leader to fly.

I notice that there wasn't any backing on that list?
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Chiz on 20/05/2010 at 19:21: Thanks for that mdh. Sorry I got backing as well, forgot to add it to the list. I got it free but I believe it should be £ 2.99 :)
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: sutherland1 on 20/05/2010 at 20:03: Chiz,

Nout wrong with the Shakespeare odyssey i have had one kicking around for ages as a second rod for a novice pal of mines and i also use a Shakespeare expo 7 pc for when i go on hols etc great stuff,

Good luck with it all sure you will be fine,

Tight lines, :z4

Euan.
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: sutherland1 on 20/05/2010 at 20:07: Chiz,

Now you are set up and ready to go all you have to do is choose where you are going to fish,

Plenty of choices out there ??? for you,

Euan.
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Noel Kelly on 20/05/2010 at 21:43: Hi Chiz
You have had an amazing response concidering fishing conditions are excellent at the moment! I think you have a good settup there but can I offer a little advise?
I will anyway :)
Forget the bag, unless you ate gonna be boat fishing all the time it will quickly become a nuisance. Beauty if fly fishing is you don't have to carry much gear and can be mobile.
Get a waistcoat or fishing jacket, one with plenty pockets and rings for hanging stuff like scissors off.

The best suggestion I could make is get a casting lesson from a qualified casting instructor. Ben D on here for example. It will be the best money you could spend as a beginner.

Where do you intend to fish?
Title: Re: Spec Me a Rod
Post by: Chiz on 21/05/2010 at 09:44: I've already had tuition from Danny at Lochters. Not sure if he's qualified but he most certainly showed me the basics and how to get the line in the water!!

I'm glad i did it as i had no idea how to cast! I've been twice now, and the second time i seen a vast improvement with casting, and also got used to my own technique and figured out what's best for me.

Due to the fact that i don't drive, i'm reliant of lifts. I have a friend who's just started fly fishing as well and we've been going to Lochters the past 2 weeks. (due to them renting out rods). Since i've got my own kit now, i'm planning on going to Haddo's after payday, and then the Don, once i'm comfortable with myself (and also once i get wadders! :z16)