Thread: Educate me on fly rods

All I can say is score. Today I purchased used fly gear 1 white R. 8wt rod with white R. reel spooled up with spare spool spooled up and 1 redington 8wt with gold cup reel spooled up and spare spool and another white R. 5wt reel with backing. Cases and rod sock and both rods are 9 footers all for 75 bucks heck of a deal. If your reading Rob thank You very much.

seems like the reviews on the fly rod combos are mixed to some extent, either the rod breaks for no reason (could be owner related) or the reel doesn't work after a couple trips, again could be owner related. Anyone got any 1st hand experience on any of these combos.??

Originally Posted by jimp

seems like the reviews on the fly rod combos are mixed to some extent, either the rod breaks for no reason (could be owner related) or the reel doesn't work after a couple trips, again could be owner related.

Which combos are you talking about? As for the rod breaking and the reel not working, I'd vote for "user error".

I've owned a Bass Pro combo and would recommend them -- same goes for Cabela's and Sci Anglers.

I bought used hobbs creek combo that is working great. I also have 5wt redington ct and a new hobbs creek 5wt reel that are working great so far. Bass pro has a whites river reel in store for 30.00 and that reel felt good also. The hobbs creek reel is 40.00 and if you buy it prespooled its 59.99 thats why I went with hobbs over the whites

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Which combos are you talking about? As for the rod breaking and the reel not working, I'd vote for "user error".

I've owned a Bass Pro combo and would recommend them -- same goes for Cabela's and Sci Anglers.

I went to bps and cabelas websites, looked at all of the brands/combo kits you suggested, and read the reviews, and that is what I based my comment on. Yes, there were positive comments on all, but I still got the impression one or the other (rod or reel) was a weak link in the combo, that's all. But, I asked for 1st hand experience, thanks. I was leaning towards "user error" but just checking it out. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by jimp

I went to bps and cabelas websites, looked at all of the brands/combo kits you suggested, and read the reviews, and that is what I based my comment on. Yes, there were positive comments on all, but I still got the impression one or the other (rod or reel) was a weak link in the combo, that's all.

OK, I'll check out some of the reviews later. A couple of points for now:

1) Some people are just hard on tackle. They could break a bowling ball after one frame.

2) IMO, the typical fly rod sold in a combo is at least as good quality as any crappie pole on the market.

3) If anything did go wrong with a BP or Cabela's combo, I can't imagine they wouldn't replace it, no questions asked. My "return experience" has been excellent with both of them.

4) Buy a TFO combo (Temple Forks.) The rod comes with a lifetime warranty. If the rod breaks for any reason, they'll send you a new one for $25. (I have two TFO rods and would recommend them to anyone.)

5) I had a Bass Pro Hobbs Creek combo, and it was just fine.

Originally Posted by jimp

But, I asked for 1st hand experience, thanks.

I also have a couple of Orvis rods and would recommend them highly. They are more expensive, though.

Here are some more opinions from FAOL. A couple of the posters refer to "JC". He was the owner of the site, but he died a few years ago. He and his wife ran a fly casting school, and he recommended the Scientific Anglers combo for beginners:

Beginner's Set?

Originally Posted by jimp

But, I asked for 1st hand experience, thanks.

Here ya go:

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/panfi...-fly-gear.html