Fly Fishing Combos for Beginners

Fly fishing is a fascinating sport that combines the excitement of catching fish with the opportunity to develop refined fishing techniques, which eventually translates into catching more fish, under varying conditions. There is an art to casting in fly fishing, and it takes considerable practice to master this art. Experienced fly fisherman make casts that are smooth, almost elegant. The fly lands softly on the water, emulating the action of a real fly. Beginners, on the other hand usually experience a certain amount of clumsiness, and their line slaps the water, disturbing rather than tempting the fish.

  1. Choosing Equipment

    • Selection of equipment is an important consideration for the beginning fly fisherman. Certain kinds of fly fishing rods are more difficult for beginners. As you gain more proficiency, you can graduate to equipment that takes your fly fishing experience to the next level of enjoyment.

      Practitioners of the sport often recommend that beginners purchase an equipment "combo" or kit, which includes a fly rod, fly reel, the specialized floating line utilized in fly fishing, and a selection of flies --- everything you need but the fish. Advanced fly fisherman many times design and make their own flies; this is a challenging sport within the sport. But the beginner has enough to worry about just learning the basics of equipment and casting technique.

      Beginner fly fishing combos from popular manufacturers sell in the $30 to $40 range.

    Fiberglass and Graphite Rods

    • First, select the type of rod from among the two basic materials used, fiberglass and graphite. For the beginner, fiberglass has the advantage of durability, but many experts choose fiberglass as well. Graphite is a more expensive material, is lighter-weight and may allow the experienced fly fisherman to achieve greater accuracy with his casting.

    Flexibility of the Fly Fishing Rod

    • This is the amount of "action" you get with a fly fishing rod, and is broken down into slow-action, medium- or moderate-action, and fast-action. Slow-action rods have the greatest amount of bend -- flexibility -- down the length of the rod. They are great for short-range casts, but beginners sometimes find they don't have enough control with slow-action rods.

      Medium- or moderate-action is the most popular rod for beginners, and many experienced fly fisherman choose these as well. These rods bend at the tip and the middle.

      Fast-action rods only bend at the tip. These stiffer rods are designed for making longer casts, and for hauling in bigger fish. Beginners may have difficulty learning the sport with a fast-action rod. The beginning fly fisherman can't cast as accurately with these as with the medium-action rod.

    Length of the Fly Fishing Rod

    • Rods under 8 feet long are classified as short. Shorter rods are the choice of anglers who are fishing in smaller streams or tree-lined canyons where the ability to maneuver and not get the line tangled is a consideration.

      Medium-sized rods of 8 or 9 feet work well in most fishing conditions. You can make longer casts, but they are not so long that they are difficult for the less skilled angler to handle. This length is thus a good choice for the beginner.

      Fly fishing rods can be even longer than 9 feet. These are the choice of anglers who want the capability of making the longest casts, and are going after larger fish.