buying fly gear

[B.F.A.]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much i would need to spend approx to get a decent set up?

Thanx Matt

[sprat]

Depends on what you're fishing for?

Good all-rounder is #8 TFO Pro, Scientific Anglers 8/9 reel and SA/Cortland/ Rio intermediate line.

All up $600 maybe? Any of above 2nd hand would cut your costs substantially.

[GrahameA]

Matt

If you want to spend a little time and read a fair few posts on this forum you will find there are two schools of thought on this subject.

One group suggest buy good but expensive equipment. The downside of that is you can have a fair bit of capital tied up and you may not be able to recoup the costs if you decide fly is not for you.

The other group suggests that you invest minimal capital to start off with and then go with an upgrade if and when you decide it is for you. Which mens you may end up spending more than if you had gone with an initial higher purchase cost.

On top of that you need to decide what you actually want the gear to do. Do you want to throw small insect representations to Spangled Perch or huge piece of feather, fur and tinsel at big marine pelagics?

[B.F.A.]

I was looking at possibly using it for both fresh and saltwater fishing, ie chasing flathead , bream and them maybe some bass , toga and maybe yellows. Anymore sugestions?


Cheers Matt

[oscar64]

G'Day Matt

GRaham A is spot on with his post. But your reply to him mean swe can help you a bit more.

For chasing the species you have mentioned I would recommend using a 7 wt.

There is an excellent range of rods made by Vision ( I am not sponsored by them), the 3 Zone SW.
The rods are very easy casting rods, ad perform well above their price tag, of around $250.
They also have some good reels on teh market, but if you want a really good value and hard wearing reel then look at teh BFR range, they do a cartridge set up that will allow you to carry a couple of lines , with teh option for a quick change.
You should get a floating and an intermediate line, you will catch most of your fish using these. A spool of 12lb and 20 f/carbo for your leaders and away you go.

If you are unsure drop into your local store or drop me a PM and I will give you some store names to contact. ( not sure if they will let me post them)

Hope this helps ;)

[sprat]

BFA - my advice would be stick to the well-known names such as earlier mentioned - they are tried and proven.

I also started with a cheap outfit and was sorry because within 6 months I needed to upgrade, once the bug bit me. My cheap flyrod broke as well within that time. It was replaced but wasted valuable fishing time big inconvenience.

I'd suggest that you get onto Rod Harrison though asap and get some casting lessons. This would speed up your learning curve no end.

[GrahameA]

Hi Matt

Feeling confused? Don't worry it is the overload of information.

If you were taken up another sport my first piece of advice would be buy nothing, do a beginners course and join a club. At least that way you would get some idea of the alternatives.

I only fish estuaries these days and even when I fished elsewhere I used the same gear. Based on my experience #6/7 work fine in estuaries and will chuck 99% of flies without issue. I have 2 #6/7 rods and have only ever used one in anger. The other has spent most of its life getting carried around as a just-in-case rod.

The other rods I own are an #8/9 that rarely sees the light of day because I don't need it - it is so old now that it ranks as a piece of Vintage fishing equipment. And then I have a specialist hybrid that is no longer used.

The thing of interest are the reels. If you are going to only fish for species that you will not fight off the reel then the reel is only a means of storing your line. If you intend to be fighting fish of the reel then you need to get something that has a drag etc. And there can be a bit oif price difference between the two.

To give you some idea:

I have a little Silstar graphite trout reel. Does not corrode in salt water and happily stores line - cost <$20. Fine for use when you are throwing flies at little stuff around estuaries. All it has to do is store the line. It holds more backing than the little Daiwa,

I also have a Daiwa SF 706. Lovely little reel, but it is showing wear a bit more with numerous scratches on its metal body. It will hold a line and a few metres of backing and that is all - fine for Bream/Flathead - a big Tailor would see all of the line in the water followed by - Snap!

Next up Dragonfly 395 Cartridge. Probably my reel of choice for estuary work - holds plenty of backing and has a good drag. I paid $114:95 for it a few years ago and given the way prices have dropped I would expect to be able to purchase something equivalent for around the same price. It also has a few scratches on it - hate those alloy reels for that. There are numerous reels in its price range with really not a lot of difference between them.

As you can see there is a bit of a range there and the price equally varies. As for rods - well once again it is what you want/need/can afford case. Spend a little time going through a few tackle shops and see what you can get for your dollar.

If at all possible try and see if you can get a chance to try a few things out before you spend your money.

[B.F.A.]

To all who helped

Thanks for all the advice, even though i did get a little over loaded, but as i come to know a little bit more about it all i'm sure it will make sense. I like your idea of joing a club grahame, would you know of any in the brisbane area? or possibly does anyone know of a Fly club


Cheers Matt

[GrahameA]

Matt

I am not a member of any club - nothing wrong with them just not me.

There are at least two clubs I am aware of in Bris:

BRISBANE FLY FISHERS - Do a search on the forum for them.

This is a starter

http://www.ausfish.com.au/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1048666554/0#0

And there are a group on the gold coast with a web site:

http://www.seqflyfishers.asn.au/index.html

WIth any sort of luck the will be someone who will be able to fill in any more.

[flyfisho]

I think brisbane flyfishers is no more but you could also try the sunshine coast flyfishers association a great place to meet friendly like minded flyfisherpeople (politicly correctness) of all levels from freak to begginer