‘Fly Rod and Reel’

Chadd: I’ve just bought a nice 4/5# weight fly rod and reel combo, but fly line wasn’t included in the deal. My old rod is a 3# weight and I have several lines at that particular weight which were pretty pricey, so I don’t want to waste money buying 4/5# line if I can use my 3# weight line, and from what you say I should be okay, thanks!

Bassmaster993,

If you are out there, Pheasant Tail asked me to add this to my answer of your question about which line to use for bass fishing.

I was away from my computer fly fishing for Coho salmon at Tofino, British Columbia. Your question closed so I couldn’t add it to my answer.

I thought if you are reviewing these questions you may run into this one.

Hope you have a great bass fishing trip.

Larry

How to set up a fly rod————–

Can you go to a person who knows what they are doing to get help? If so, I would strongly recommend it. Otherwise, give this a try. You need to learn it anyway.

Did you buy a package deal, that gave you a rod, reel, backing, line, leader and flies?

Or, did you buy separate pieces.

If you bought the package deal, then everything should match up, however I have seen some all-in-one outfits that were not fit to be called fly rods.

If you bought separate pieces, then I hope someone guided you through the purchases. Like is the fly rod the size (as in the weight of the rod, not the actual weight (yes, here is where you start scratching your head trying to figure out what I am saying) but the indicated weight of the rod. Like is it a 5 weight or a 6 weight, or did you buy a specialty rod, like a 2 or 3 weight or a 8 or 9 weight?

What kind of fish you are going for, is the determining factor in what size rod to buy.

Then your reel has to match up fairly close to the rod. Reels are sold with designators indicating that they are for a 5 or 6 weight or a 7 to 8 weight or a 2 to 3 weight rod. This is important. You can not use a 2/3 weight reel on a 6 weight rod. The line will totally fill the reel and there will be no room for backing or anything else. Also, the reel helps balance the rod while you are casting. So, if you have an ultra light reel on a heavy rod, the balance of the reel is going to be way up the rod somewhere, not down at the cork handle you are holding on to. That means you will have a hard time casting and wear yourself out faster than you should.

So, let’s hope the reel matches the rod.

Eric is right, use the Arbor knot to tie on the backing to the center spool of your reel. But first, do you want to reel this in with your right hand, thus holding the rod with your left hand, or do you want to reel it in with your left hand holding the rod with your right hand? I am going to assume you are right handed, if not the question simply needs to be reversed.

With small fish you can get away with casting with your strong hand and then switching the rod over to your other hand to reel in the line when you have a fish on. However, if you are going after big fish, then it is best to hold the rod with your strong hand and reel with your other hand, since it is your strong hand that has to hold the rod during the fight. Your muscles and mind-hand coordination are better with your strong hand.

Stop right here: You want to have at least one guide to put your backing through before you tie you it to the reel, so make sure you thread the backing and later the line through a guide. Some rods require you to put two pieces together to get a guide to use.

The line has to come off the bottom of the reel. Let’s say you are right handed and decided to reel in with your left hand (best choice). Tie the backing on so the line comes onto the reel from the bottom front and wraps up behind the reel then back out the top front, tie your arbor knot.

Reel in all of your backing if it is a complete outfit, otherwise you will have to play around with finding the right amount of backing. The papers that came with your reel should tell you how much backing in 20 pound Dacron or 30 pound Dacron your reel will take, but how are you to know how much you have reeled on? (I usually take my reel to my local fly shop and have them load it for me).

The backing serves two purposes. First, it helps fill the reel with line so your fly line does not have to be wound up in such small circles (that really causes a problem with the line). Also, if you hook into a big one or hook a tree or rock then you have some extra line to play with to get to shore or back up to where you snagged up the line. Fly lines are expensive and you do not want to be loosing those.

Eric is right, the nail knot is an excellent knot to use to tie the backing onto the fly line. In fact, once you learn to tie the knots, then you can tie two nail knots in a row onto your fly line. If the first nail knot should fail, the second one should hold.

Below are some websites you can go to in order to learn to tie the knots you need to learn. Practice with some string, two different colored ones if you can, and learn how to tie the knots we mention.

You now have the backing tied onto your line. Usually there is a little tag that mentions which end should be tied to the backing. If not, then if you are using a weight forward line, the backing gets tied to the end that has the really long and slender line. The other end has a very short slender line then very quickly thickens up, then slowly thins back down. That is the end you tie your leader onto.

So, tie your backing onto your fly line and now you need to reel it in. I prefer to take a small long box and punch a pencil or small 1/4 inch dowel through one side, push on your lines plastic holder then push the pencil out the other side. Now your line will come off the spool nice and straight and not twist on you.

Once you have reeled in all the line, now you will find out if you used too much backing because your line will not fit smoothly onto the reel. Best bet, strip your line out, and then take off some backing, cut it and tie the line back onto the backing and reel it in again.

Now you come to your leader. It has a loop on it you said. That makes it handy, but then you have to have a loop on the line or you can not use it. Some lines being made now have loops built into them. If you do not have one of those, then the best thing you can do is tie a short piece of mono onto your fly line then tie in a loop at the other end.

For now, use the nail knot to tie the mono to your line. The thicker the leader, the fewer the wraps you need to form a nail knot, but the rule of thumb is 4 or 5 turns. You can buy a nail knot tool, I would strongly recommend it, and it makes tying nail knots super easy with just a little practice. The key to any nail knot is to pull the tag end of the leader quickly and smoothly. If you go slow you end up with a horrible looking knot. If you practice ahead of time, you will tie a good looking nail knot.

For a short piece of mono I have often just cut off a foot of my leader, the thick end, and tied it to my line, then tied in a small loop using a Perfection Loop knot. If the leader came with a loop, then you have a built in loop, but you will then have to tie a Perfection Knot loop back into your leader.

It is important that this short, 4 to 5 inch piece of leader be just about as thick as the line, you can not use a real limp and small size piece of mono. If you do you will not be able to transfer the power of the cast into your leader.

If you are going to tie on a tippet to the other end of the leader I suggest learning the Blood Knot or the Improved Surgeon’s Knot. The blood knot may be the best one to use.

When putting the rod together, line up the guides and push the pieces together with an equal amount of pressure from both hands. The guides have to line up for proper casting. After an hour or so of casting, make sure you test the sections to keep them from slowly coming apart.

Now tie on a small piece of yarn and learn how to cast.

Here are three sites you can go to and learn about knot tying for fly fishing. I really love the Animated Knots by Grog site, the first one listed.

Good luck.

Larry

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbetter/knots/table.php

http://www.flyfisherman.com/skills/lkknots/index.html

I need a suggestion for a rod and reel that will really wow my boyfriend for Christmas that is in the 0 range. He is current using a redington red start..from what I have found this is a really inexpensive rod for beginners.

I have only been one time, and loved it! Needless to say, I still know nothing about the equipment, other than what I have read. He is very good and I want to get him something that will play to his abilities. He is comfortable with a 9′ rod and he really only has fished for rainbows, both small and large, and small mouth bass.

Please help! I’m running out of time and I don’t trust sales people

I’m looking to get this rod and reel combo. It’s called the scientific Angler rod and reel combo for panfish and I’m wondering if this would be a good beginner for trout that are about 12-16 inches long. Here’s the link.

http://www.fishwest.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SA24SSKO&Category_Code=&Store_Code=flyshop

Also, i need to know if i need and extra line, backing, leader and what kind of flies.(I think dry for beginner?)
does anyone think i could catch decent size trout with this

I have inherited a fly rod which sat unused in an attic for a number of years . The reel just "free spins" and there doesn’t appear to be any drag action at all- Is it broken, or do I just need to adjust it somehow? I’d really like to use this takle to fish with, but just don’t know if it is usable. Any help is greatly appreciated!
This reel has no markings, but is attached to a 8′ or 8.5′ 7 weight rod-

While there are many excellent fishing charters in the Gulf Coast area, the occasional inexperienced or dishonest charter service can ruin a fishing trip.  Follow this article to find out the best steps in finding a charter fishing boat in Pensacola!

Decide which type of fishing you’d like to have 

Think about what type of fish you’d like to target.  Many charter captains specialize in specific types of fishing or focus on particular areas of the Florida waters.  Be sure to clarify the types of fishing you’d like to experience from your Pensacola fishing charter.

Determine your budget

When finding a fishing charter, you pay for the use of the boat and the services and experience of the captain and crew for your entire fishing party.  Boat capacity can range from 2-4 people , while bigger boats can hold six or more.  In general, prices can start in the $200-$400 range for a 4 hour fishing trip on smaller flats fishing boats.  Larger boats used for Pensacola deep sea fishing on the Gulf of Mexico can range from $1500-$2500 for an 8 hour day.

Begin your search for a good Pensacola charter fishing yacht

If you live in the area, you can ask associates for advice .  If you’re visiting Florida, you can check with local bait and tackle shops, marinas, or even walk around at the docks to watch charters in action.  If you’re still planning your trip to Florida, the web is your best resource for finding a reputable and experienced Pensacola fishing charter.

Interview charter captains

A critical step in finding a Pensacola fishing charter is knowing specific information before you commit your time and money to hiring a charter service.  This gives you the opportunity to find captains who are in truth passionate about what they do, compared to the ones who are obviously not committed to their paying clients.  Below is a list of things to ask your probable Pensacola fishing charter captain:

• Ask for a detailed and complete breakdown of costs, including gratuities.
• What is the deposit amount required to reserve your spot?
• Is the captain licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard?  It is critical to verify proper licensing and credentials.  Don’t be afraid to ask to have this information faxed or emailed to you.
• Ask for references and follow up with them.  You may also wish to inquire with the Better Business Bureau
• Ask for an overview of your itinerary.  What time will you depart, how much time will be spent actually fishing, what time will you come back ?
• Will the captain give short fishing lessons to new anglers?
• What type of boat will you be fishing on ?
• Will the crew clean, filet, and package your fish, and is this service included in your rate?
• What is the cancellation policy due to inclement weather?
• Will the crew and captain also be fishing?  This may be a problem if they are not focusing their care on you and your guests, particularly if you are an inexperienced angler.
• Is it a private charter or social charter?  Social charters can mean that other people may be sharing the boat.  Private Pensacola fishing charters are of course more expensive, but this means that you have the boat to yourself and the complete attention of the captain and crew.
• Will you be able to keep prize fish?  Some captains prefer to photograph and release non-edible fish no matter what size.  If you plan on keeping a trophy, inquire about the captain’s stance on this topic.  Some Pensacola charter captains offer taxidermist service referrals as well.

What to bring

• Shades 
• Coolers large enough to take home your catch!
• Sun Block
• Drinks and food (some Pensacola fishing charters will provide whatever beverages and food you request for your trip. Just ask!)
• Light-soled footgear
• Seasickness medication

Now, all you need to do is prepare yourself for an unforgettable memory on you Pensacola Charter Fishing trip!

Today’s fast paced living has brought many people to a lifestyle of moving around a lot.  You may find yourself stuck with traveling job assignments, constantly moving from one state to another, and making an effort to visit family and relatives cross country. One of the bulkiest things you can ever lug around when you move about would be your bed. Some couples stave off on investing a big amount of money on a bed if they are still on the look out for the perfect place to settle and buy a home. A queen sized bed takes up a lot of storage and most often, you end up selling it along with some good dreams and memories. Don’t you just wish you can bring that piece of comfort zone with you everywhere you go?

If you’ve ever been an overnighter guest or constantly have surprise sleepovers, you may have found yourself in a dilemma of comfortably accommodating guests and being comfortably housed when you visit. Have you ever considered purchasing an air mattress? It’s an inflatable bed you can take with you everywhere. Indoors and outdoors! Yes, even outdoors. Camping may be a joy but for some, sleeping on the ground with just a layer of foam batting from your sleeping bag may not seem appealing to some people who have back problems, let alone the ones who suffer from a princess syndrome. An air bed hugs the contours of your body while you lay down and eases pressure on your back. The portability features of an air mattress makes this the perfect sleeping arrangement as it is just like taking your very own bed with you.

An air mattress provides you with the exact absolute comfort you get from a conventional mattress but with more value for your money. All you need is air generated from an electric/battery charged or manual air pump and you’re good to Zzz. It’s a perfect buddy you can take with you anywhere. Just inflate when you need it and deflate it, roll it up and stuff it in its own carry-all bag. Read up on how much it can make your life easier in more ways than one.

Something of reasonable quality and cost. In these difficult economic times this is out of my price range: http://www.orvis.com/store/productchoice.aspx?pf_id=9E29&dir_id=758&cat_id=14457&subcat_id=14458&Group_ID=759

I dont have very much money but I still really want to learn how to fly fish. I am thinking about buying the Martin Fly Fishing Rod & Reel Combo – 8′ Rod for . Is this a good rod and reel combo for a beginner or is harder to use because its so cheap.
What other inexpensive combos would you recommend for a beginner fly fisherman?

Markin combo

http://www.amazon.com/Martin-Fly-Fishing-Reel-Combo/dp/B0012OSVM2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1219446168&sr=8-2

Like can i dip it in the water. Im new to fly fishng thanks