Scientific Anglers

Scientific Anglers
Need help..Fly fishing equipment etc.?

I fly fished in New Mexico and i really enjoyed it. In fact, im trying to save up to get the proper equipment, cause im just starting. I just need some advice on what type of equipment i should get and maybe some tips. I would also appreciate it greatly if you could explain what some of the accesories do.... like retractors, scientific angler fly floatant, leader straighteners, and strike indicators do etc.

I would really appreciate it=) thxs

I am assuming you are talking trout. My advice for larger western rivers would be to go with a 9' 5wt rod of moderate fast to fast action

Orvis makes a full line-up of rods ranging from the Clearwater starting at $169 to the ZG Helios - upwards of $755. They are 4 piece rods. The nice thing about Orvis is that you can choose the action of the rod - they make their rods from full flex (trout bum series) to mid-flex and tip flex in all their other series, and are covered by a 25 year warrantee.

Loomis flyrods are generally fast action. You can spend $660 for a GLX, $300 for a GL3 (which is old technology ) or now they have a new series for beginners called the Neptune - for $215 all are 4 piece rods

Sage makes great fly rods - Introductory rods include the Sage Launch ( I bought one of these for my daughter) which is a medium fast action rod and not too expensive and casts well at $250 and the Sage Flight which is a fast action introductory rod for $280.
You can step up to a Z-Axis for for about $630
All are 4 piece rods

There are others to consider that are not as expensive
Echo makes a great casting rod (called the Carbon) for under $200 that is terrific, check out www.kmdtackle.com for a great deal on it.
I like this rod ALOT

St. Croix makes some nice value series rods as well, the Triumph series is not bad for $120, but in my opinion, most St. Croix fly rods have a "clunky" feel to them.

Redington (owned by Sage) makes a decent rod for money as well.

Reel: you don't need to break the bank here either.

Depending upon how much cash you want to spend, I would argue
that a Bauer or a Galvan is your best bang for the buck in the $300
world of fly reels

Under $200 it would be hard to argue with a Ross Cimmaron,

Under $150 I would hands down say an Orvis Mid-Arbor

Under $100 I would no doubt say a Cabela's Prestige Plus. I use this reel on occasion for Salmon and Steelhead with no problems at all.

Don't skimp on your flyline - Rio, or Scientific Angler make good value series lines.
You'll need a vest to carry your stuff in. again, you don't have to spend a great deal on one.

You will need the following accesories:
Nippers - for trimming your leader and clipping the tag end from your fly
Floatant: I prefer Aquel for larger flies and Frogs Fanny for smaller flies
Leader Straightners - don't bother, use your fingers
Hemostats for removing hooks
Polarized Sunglasses
Indicators - leave them at home until you learn the proper technique.

A good book such as "Fly Fishing, Learn form a Master" by Bill Mason
would help out alot with equipment selection, knots, techniques, casting and how to read water.

Some Basic Dry Fly patterns:

Adams - parachute or not is your choice. Imitates a wide variety of mayflies

Elk Hair Caddis - take this in tan and olive anywhere and you'll catch fish

Blue Wing Olive - This is the most common hatch and is year round.
often time this fly will produce a strike when nothing else will

Stimulator - Imitates a big stonefly or a grasshopper or it just gets a trouts attention, works well near dusk or at first light

Wulff Pattern - Au Sable or Royal - possibly the best choice when fishing fast water because they float very well - also great for using as
as part of a "dry and dropper" rig

Tan Comparadun - Wil imitate March Browns, Grey Foxes, and any other tan/brown mayfly, also a good searching pattern

Rusty Spinner - simply a "go to " fly, needed for almost every spinnerfall

Black ant, cinamon ant, beetle - you always need some terrestrials in your arsenal - these 3 choices are staples.

Griffiths gnat - indespensable for when they are feeding on midges, and other micro-flys

Here's a link to a question about nymph fishing I answered - you should get some more ideas and info (and save my fingers from typing)

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoJydMc_rLCm2fiIY1S.BvLty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090706103711AAcJ5gN&show=7#profile-info-4lrRk7myaa