Jim's Rant: Save A Kidney, Get Good Gear

Heck, even walking into a fly shop can be intimidating. Ever felt like you needed to know some secret handshake just to spend your hard-earned cash? And don't look at me like I'm wearing the wrong kind of fishing clothes. Don't most folks fly fish in a jock strap and Motorhead t-shirt?

 

Seriously, though, here's the problem: fly gear manufacturers have spent decades telling would-be enthusiasts that the only suitable fly rods and reels cost big bucks—and that top-of-the-line gear equals instant on-the-water success.

 

(We won't even mention fly-fishing apparel marketing, which has established itself as the next West Coast Cool. Yep, the skate-punks grew up, learned Photoshop and Final Cut and traded their snowboards for 5-weights.)

 

While It's hard to disagree that you should use the very best gear you can afford—or that some applications require very specific (and sometimes pricey) gear—let’s dispel this myth that high-buck gear is some kind of magic fish attractant. 

 

As NAFC member Frederick Budde recently pointed out NAFC's Facebook page: “After years of fly fishing, I can attest to the fact that expensive gear doesn’t help you catch fish; I’m living proof.”

 

After all, in fly fishing—as in most pursuits—there’s a delicate balance between necessity and self-indulgence.

 

No one knows this better than common-sense fly-fishing guide and outfitter Patrick Straub, author of the essential guide to fly fishing without going broke, The Frugal Fly Fisherman: Bending The Rod Without Breaking The Bank. 

 

Straub replaces marketing hype with pragmatism, effectively coaching guys like you and me on how to choose the rods, reels, line, and flies essential to maximize our time on the water. In so doing, he raises a big middle finger to the fly-fishing establishment by removing the pomp and circumstance from fly-fishing, making it more accessible to a greater number of would-be fly anglers. 

 

In that way, the book has the mass appeal of a sweaty bottle of Budweiser.

 

Good thing, too, because what the world needs right now isn’t another microbrew—or, in this case—another coffee table book of rare, expensive gear and Patagonian landscapes. 

 

Rather, Straub becomes the reader's personal fly shop buddy from the very first page of The Frugal Fly Fisherman—a guy willing to walk you through the gear selection process, all the while helping you separate gear you want from gear you need …

 

So, until you get the chance to thumb through Straub’s book, here are a few of my fly gear picks with budget in mind. 

 

 

If you’re looking for fly-rod combos that fall under the $200 mark, check out Cabela’s brand, Bass Pro’s White River Series, and Redington’s Crosswater and Pursuit combos available at Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops.

 

And these ain’t cheap, flimsy sticks for tiny fish ... Most of these under-$200 category combos are available in various weights suited for panfish and trout through gear for throwing big bass bugs or targeting steelhead, salmon and even saltwater species. 

 

 

Spend a little more money, and you can step up to combos that won’t end up hand-me-downs after you

learn the basics. Rod and reel combos between $300 and $500 now offer the performance of set-ups that cost more than twice as much a mere decade ago.

I've been very impressed with the Redington RS-4 combo. The fast-action 4-piece has proved ideal for chasing limestone spring creek trout one day, bluegills and crappies (even modest-size bass) the next.

 

Each time I fish this combo I forget I'm not casting something far more expensive. The rod's balance, backbone, and strong, fast-action tip remind me of high-buck upper-end rods. Yep, the RS-4 is simply that good. 

 

At $329.99, the Redington RS-4 rod, reel, line, backing, and case combo is one of the best mid-level deals on the market. It’s available in a variety of weights (4 through 9), including three spey rod models with a 15-inch fore-grip. There are saltwater options, too. 

 

At the end of the day, the RS-4 performs with all the loading characteristics (and overall moxie) of stalwart brand offerings costing double. 

 

 

I had a chance to fish the 8-weight Sage Vantage 890-4 Rod, Reel and Line Outfit this summer and didn’t notice a huge difference in performance between it ($405) and the more expensive Sage Flight Series combo ($510) that I often take on my travels.

 

The Sage Vantage combo responded well to big double-bunnies and handled linebacker smallmouth bass with ease, even in fast upper-Mississippi River current. Its moderate fast action and negligible weight made it possible to fish longer and harder than with heavier 8-weights found at a similar price point. I found the combo well-balanced, easy-loading and made for distance casting.

 

So, if throwing large flies to large fish is your game, this could be the combo for you. Steelhead, stripers, bonefish, big largemouth, you-name-it—plus, it’s saltwater-ready and packs down to a 31” case for easy travel. And it’s backed by the Sage Lifetime Warranty. Wow!

 

Slack is evil; tight lines,

 

-- Jim