Freddo

Thanks yet again guys. Yes - I was at a local shop and a young man helped me with rod selection. He recommended a 9' 5WT to start. For price in a combo (and lifetime warranty on the rod), I'm looking at the Redington Path (previously named Pursuit). This won't break the bank and may allow another combo in 2016 (Here we go Dave!). I also like what I see in the Orvis Clearwater but it's $110 more than the Redington setup. Also, the Redington comes with RIO line and ready to go (just add water and fish I suppose; and the training).

Thanks to all of you...!!! OK - here's the beef: I want to fish panfish and trout (no particular order [yet]; time will tell after the first fly caught trout). Being new to fly casting will surely have me taking trips to water I haven't fished before so I'm not 100% how wide or not the rivers will be. I mentioned streams and maybe that was a mistake. Last weekend I took out my spinning gear and the stretch I like to fish is may be no more than 20' across (while I'm standing ankle deep in the river). I'm not sure what justifies a "stream" to you guys but I'm in North NJ and have access to all sorts of streams/rivers/lakes. (Oh -- there, I mentioned lakes too and should have in my initial post). For flies to be fished, all of what I've tied fall into the categories that Dave G mentioned. I may go as big as a gurgler on a size 10-14 bass bug hook (Allen) unless the size #10 pushes the envelope. So far the smallest I've tied is a 12 nymph. For the most part, I've got a collection of woolly bugger tied, some other panfish flies (spiders), and I just started cruising the pages for GRHE patterns (and other trout go-to's). Ah - and a Walt's Worm. Just getting used to tying and trying many different patterns to get technique learned. My choice for the 5WT was strictly on fish size I'm after. But the length seems to be more of a concern since I'm a little guy at 5'-6" with my shoes on. I held a 9' rod at a fly shop and it seemed like a javelin to me (huge compared to my little UL spinning rod!). With and endless supply of ca$h, I'd buy all different size rods and line weights but need to "start" somewhere in between to get the most for my money, and the most use out of it. I'm sure there are some out there that own more fly rod/reel combinations than I ever will (we'll see about that one day), But again, for starting me off, I want to make one educated purchase to get me out there. I'm extremely excited about NOT taking the spinning gear and learning fly fishing. Having fished all my life with all sorts of baits, I've always admired the "idea" of fly fishing, It's time to be involved!

Hi All, I've been tying flies and while that's great fun, I'll need to get them to the hungry fish. I'm planning to drop some cash on a rod/reel combo and the last deciding factor isn't line weight (maybe) but rod length. I grew up using ultra-light spinning tackle and typically the lighter side for trout (2-4 lb test). I always favored the short 4'-6" UL rods and featherweight reels. Now onto finishing there desision is 5WT. I see there's both 9'-0" and 8'-6" rods for this line weight. Will I see much a difference from your experience in the 6" of rod length (casting, stream size, etc.)? What are the thoughts from you that own these size rods or have had the chance to use both sizes? Thanks again to all in advance!

Thanks MikeChell, I may go with a Redington Path combo and get all the stuff in one shot. The cost is great for me and the Orvis Clearwater combo I was thinking about us over $110 more than the Redington combo. The Redington has a lifetime warranty on the rod (a great plus) and comes loaded with RIO lines, For a started outer like me and from the reviews I've see in my searches, it'll be a great starting rod for the money. Thanks to all that pitched in your thoughts!

Hey there Utyer, Thanks for this.. Then maybe the Redington Path combo would be best with the rod having a lifetime warranty. The Orvis Clearwater has a 25 year which is good but I plan to out-live that warranty (my plan anyway). The Redington combo is $120 *LESS* than the Orvis Clearwater and that may seal the deal unless the Orvis is clearly a better choce for a combo,.

You guys are awesome! And thanks! So I was to the fly shop and a terrific young guy working there offered to take me out when I'm geared up. He's 17 and was on the US Olympic Fly-fishing Team. That should be a hoot! I'll treat him well even though he told me I didn't need to pay him (he'll get a "gift" then and lunch and dinner - fish or no fish). "John" helped me through the thick and thin of what I should start out with and we agreed on a 5WT. Now for rod length, I "prefer" shorter mayeb becase I'm used to UL trout fishing (featherweight 4'-6" rods) and 2lb test. [Am I allowed to reference spinning gear on here without being flogged?] Anyway, I'll go with a 8'-6" rod (John likes 'em long (11' with 5WT). I'm set on size so now brand. Hi showed me the Orvis Encounter combo (very nice). Then there's the Orvis Clearwater combo, the Cabela's Three Forks/Wind River Fly Combo,a nd I need to look at the Redington line. While I'm sure there's others, I'l start by asking if anyone's using any of these as I'm open for ideas and your thoughts. From dubbing to rod/reel combos - but Kirk says it's my thread . Thanks to all - I haven't wet a line yet and I've learned SO MUCH here. I look forward to being able to hep the newbie's after getting some real-time on the water and behind my vise!

Hi Kirk - Thanks but I know I'm OK around graphite and cork. I'm heading to a fly shop this morning for some items and I'll talk about my fly rod needs there to hopefully confirm what I think from gleaning info off the Internet for rod and line weights and all. When I was a kid and had a fly rod, it was what I could get for ~$30 done and said. I recall having a little thing I poked into the end of the fly line to connect the leader to. It was metal, had an eye and a straight barbed shank on it. Are those "history" because all I see is "nail knots" now? Well this is off topic for this thread but thanks again Kirk (and all). Regarding teh allergies - I've been fine and I'm sure to stay fine. The guinea pig lives to see another day and I'm off to the fly shop and craft store this morning.

Great - I may offer assistance. I'd enjoy a one-stop place to cross reference every hook. As it stands I've got more than four places to look and some brands aren't in any.

No gator's up here. Maybe big pickerel but "Rico" will not be attached to a hook. Now if he bites me maybe... (kidding - we are blessed - this pet is sweet). Thanks for your input on the allergy issue. It dawned on me as I never gave iot a second thought when diving in. Now that I'm shopping for a rod/reel combo, I hope I'm not allergic to graphite and cork (ha!).

No dogs or cats here but a guinea pig I'm allergic too. Are they dubbing? All kidding aside. Has anyone heard of allergic reactions to the fur and natural materials we use as fly tiers. It occurred to me just today as I was thinking of my first attempt at a deer hair spin in a hook (practicing to tie a muddler of some sort. So far I haven't had any reactions. Maybe dander is cleaned away during processing? Anyway - my wife hasn't threatened me with pet accumulations as I bring home material. She heard my son and I planning for the first gray squirrel road kill (they're inevitable here).

OK guys, I'll buy all I can and I'll start creating those "exhaustive" wish lists right away. Thanks for confirming what I was thinking! Ya know...I don't look at birds the same way anymore as it used to be. I see "flies" not "birds". What the....? When my family is ready to officially certify me as having "lost it", is there a "special place" for tiers?

When I was 11 and cleaning a trout I'd caught to have for dinner I was checking its stomach contents. I wasn't trying to match the hatch either - it was all bait for me back then. Anyway, in its stomach I found a cigarette but along with other natural items the fish digested. YUCK! At first I wasn't sure, but my dad smoked and confirmed my guess!

Nice Eide! As I'm now researching a rod buy, this might be the place to start looking. As Silver mentioned, being able to search and narrow down choices using database filtration would be so great for users (I'm a DB geek so believe me - I know). In fact I was thinking of doing something along the lines of a hook database. I'm new to fly tying and the hooks/equivalent charts are all over but there's not one great resource I've found that covers them all as you're trying to do here. Nice work so far and I wish you all the best. This is no easy task to take on.

Exactly my thought FlaFly and thanks for the confirmation. I knew jumping into fly tying that I'd learn my needs vs. not-needs, must haves vs. nice to haves, etc, etc, etc. A while ago I bought some great looking punches for my workshop, used "one" of them "once" since they were purchased. They were quality tools but I found them to just not be needed well enough to hold onto them. I just sold them on eBay and used the money for nice Dr. Slick scissors. It was a great trade off. The more I tie - the more I'll get into a "groove". Now I'm going back to research fly rods/reels/lines/weights/leaders/tippets/etc/etc/etc. I think "I'm" hooked now (does that make me a fish?).

Hey Portlyjoe, Thanks for your comment. I used the bobbin cradle yesterday; tied a about four flies. I whacked it three times (at least) 'cause it was in my way and I was focused on the fly and not what was to my right (happy ot wasn't the tall mug o' hot coffee (hee hee). So it "might" be that I want a cradle I can push behind the vise but more time will tell. one thing for sure. I want one for tying. I've dropped the bobbin over it and found it very useful. I can build one for on-stem too but may just purchase one as the funds allow. Someone mentioned above they just get in the way and while they can, that's up to the user I believe. Also, I find that even with my non-true rotary vise, the advantage outweights not having one at all.

Hi Steve and thanks! I "do" want and feel I need at this stage to have an great reference of materials/techniques and will most likely pick up a copy of "The Fly Tiers Bench Reference". That book seems to be the one most recommended. I'll also keep a note of those other authors you mentioned as well and thanks again!

Hi Steve, <<You are new to tying so you would not be familiar with the late Dick Talleur>>. I actually just watched a video he put out years ago (mentioned above; read my notes please - I enjoyed it a lot). I should look for a book from him too. Now that I've looked through almiost six books from our library system I'm thinking one or two in a personal library here would be a great idea. However, where do I start. I'm sure there's a gazillion good fly tying books out there to choose from. As a beginner, I'd like one that spells out all of the materials - all of them - and explains usage options. I have one here now on borrow currently that's good by Jacqueline Wakeford titled "Flytying : tools and Materials" (New York, NY : Lyons & Burford, 1992; ISBN: 1558211705) but there may be newer and better material to have at hand. Book references welcome and thanks in advance!

@BCT: I was joking about the goldfish thinking teh gravel was attracting but believe, like you, that it's getting food off of it of near it. I suppose now this is all clear to me - thanks again all!

HI -- @FlaFly - Nice DIY and less expensive than my build up. I've got adjustment though (not sure if I'll need it yet though). @Silver - Thanks for the link. $30 is better than $45! If it comes to me liking the bobbin cradle "thing" I might want to free up tying desk real estate and an on-vise would be great. Being a guy that likes to tinker though - I my build one all the same (for enjoyment). However, $30 is good for a tried and true tool and no fussin'. Do you know that the HMH rest will fit a 3/8" stem? @Kirk - Great call on the half hitches (THANKS). The feathers I used for one of the two flies in my image are here. Please let me know what these are from. I need to mark the bags. These came from a Whiting Variety Pack I bought locally (so many feathers - so little time). Thanks!

Hi and thankd for the replies! @ BCT: Our goldfish must think the aquarium gravel are "attractor" flies. That fish is always popping gravel in his mouth and spitting it out. @ Kirk: I totally understand the trigger thing. You all are great and thanks for the help. Now I'm clear on this term.

Thanks to all of you for the insight - I have a better understanding now and it makes sense!

Hi All, Still chugging along and learning new stuff daily. My family might think I've gone off the deep end with the fly tying excitement spewing out of me but hey - I'm enjoyin'! I've been pouring over the Internet for ideas on, well, everything but last night I got down to tying a few flies. Having plenty of peacock herl (maybe not the best I've seen) and some types of hackle material (I wish I knew what these were exactly [learning still]) I tied a couple of these: I was inspired by a DVD I watched, "Fly Tying Basics", taught by Dick Talleur. It's just fantastic for newbie tiers if you can get your hands on a copy. The section on "tools" can be found in YouTube until it possibly gets yanked for copyright reasons. He explains things so well in this video. I've watched more "Fly Tying 101 Tutorials" online than you can shake a stick at and nobody seems to teach to a true beginner like this guy does (I'm wide open to leads to great beginner videos and tutorials please [and thanks!]). However, this is not a "new" video at all. It's funny to watch and listen to when he refers to his other recordings as "tapes" which kind of dates the recording (now converted to DVD). Dick tied what he called a "Gray Hackle Peacock Wet Fly". I thought - hey - easy enough - I'll take a try at those. These were what I though were my best two out of three. Not easy enough (yet for a newbie) but I learned some techniques: I also learned, during my tying the above flies, that I wanted to try out a bobbin rest/cradle and built the one pictured below after dinner today. That bobbin of mine was bouncing around way too much for my liking and while this might be inexperience, I thought to give a bobbin rest a try. I headed to the local hardware store's parts bins and trays and came up with this (I already had the sewing machine bobbin laying around as well as the plywood piece). Total cost - less than $5.00 and have not tried it out yet during a fly tying session. I think it'll do the trick. Here's a picture of the creation (I enjoy tinkering)... Question for all of you that have them attached to your vises.... LOVE or NOT?!?!? Regal sells one for my vise and wants $45 (the better looking one). That's a lot of cash but worth it if it serves its purpose well. I may DIY one to mount to the vise stem as I'm not sure it I'll like this other thing in my work area or not. Time will tell! Your thoughts on bobbin rests/cradles - on-vise stem and off-vise stem? Thanks for reading this far. Get back to tying!

Hi All, With all there is to learn about patterns for flies, I'm trying to make sense of the ins and outs of the what's and why's of what are titled" "Attractors" out here in the fly tying realms. Any bites (pardon the pun please)! Thanks in advance!

Hi - I went nuts looking for a "standard" and don't think one exists (try for standard "window envelope" specifications when you are completely and utterly bored). I've found these links helpful for comparisons and cross references: http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server4600/cb329/product_images/uploaded_images/allen-fly-fishing-hook-equivalency-chart.jpg http://www.intheriffle.com/fly-tying-tips-techniques/fly-tying-hook-conversion-chart/ https://app.box.com/s/01db9ea439c7fbd59b55 Hope these help!

Thanks Tidewaterfly - I'll have to keep all these ideas going around in my head as alternatives and additions for the typical fly shop fare.