Thread: what is a good starter rod and reel

Originally Posted by midnight_f150

I could also use some tips on how to pick files and how to fish them?

Any good DVD or book will have some info on fly selection. It really depends on what you're fishing for and where. One good all-round pattern is a woolly bugger. (It's basically a chenille-and-marabou crappie jig without the jig head.) It will catch anything. I like white or chartreuse for crappie and black for bass and bluegill. Olive is very good for trout. Any standard trout nymph like a pheasant tail, hare's ear, or prince will catch trout and bluegill. Add some small poppers or spiders for topwater action.

Thank you deathb4disco for your help. The guy at the shop had me looking at both 4 & 5 wt rods. would a 4wt rod be ok to use?

There's not that much difference between a 4 and a 5. You should be OK with a 4wt. A 5wt will allow you to cast bigger/heavier flies a little easier. When picking a rod, start out with the flies you want to cast. That will tell you what line/rod to choose.

If you're talking to a guy in a shop, I'd definitely pay attention to his advice. He has a better idea of your local situation than I do. This "what's a good starter outfit?" question comes up fairly regularly, and it's usually from someone who's not within 100 miles of a decent fly shop. Arkansas has some good trout waters, so it's not surprising you have a fly shop nearby.

If you buy a rod from him, get him to give you a casting lesson. Or, if they have an "intro to FF class", sign up for it. It will save you a lot of frustration.

BTW, this book I mentioned:

Amazon.com: L.L. Bean Fly-Fishing Handbook, 2nd (L. L. Bean) (9781592282937): Dave Whitlock: Books

... is written by Dave Whitlock. He's originally from Oklahoma, but he spent many years in Arkansas fishing the White River and running his fly fishing school.