was fishing a high mountain stream today and broke my fly rod. luckily we were on the way out so i got to fish most of the day.
So i am poor and am looking to spend as little as possible but still pick up a good rod. what are your recommendations ? probably a 4 or 5 wt so i can fish anywhere
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...if you are super broke there is always eagle claw.
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Cortlands are cheap and have always worked well for me. Also if you are willing to spend just a little more a Temple Fork Outfitters is great quality for the price.
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This is a tough question because inexpensive rods are different for every person and budget.
I personally hate the walmart combo types, but other think they are fine.
For cheap rods I would look at TFO, Echo, Reddington, and Cabelas brand.
Windriver
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+1
I've also noticed the newer cortland models at walmart are thinner and have more eyes. They are still what you pay for them, but if you don't have the moolah you can't go wrong with a 16-20$ rod.
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TFO, I am hard on rods and love the warranty. Broke one so far this summer. And they had it back in my hands with in a week.
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I agree to look for a rod that has at least 9 total "GUIDES" commonly referred to as eyes.
The Eagle Claw is a good bushwacking rod, but you are not going to get any long casts or controlled cast.
I have this rod:
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sport.../cat101046
And it has been a blast. It is a meduim action rod. Has the old Bamboo appearance. Half glass, half graphite.
Or I agree with the TFO, however, it is $30. to get it repaired. I have the 10'er and it has broke in the same spot three times. Could have almost bought a new rod.
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It depends on how they feel to you. The price is awesome. Not that it matters at that price, but I assume there is no warranty on those.
I not all about price, although I will say it does make a difference, but more how it feels. I will go from the W.W.Griggs to the Helios, and love them both.[
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i guess i should have stated a price range lets say less than a 100
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I got a 6 and a half foot 3 wt WW Griggs for on Joni's advise for about $60. Very good rod for the price. The cabela wind river is OK but not in the same class to me. Do you want an used rod? I have 1 or 2 I'll let go for very little. They're rods that beginners in the family used a bit.
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so i went and visited Rodger down at Portneuf he suggested something like the St Croix Rio Santo rods there on the upper end of my price range but they felt nice.
I fish alot of small streams but i also spend lots of time on the Henry's fork because we have a cabin up there. i do some dry fly fishing but spend a large majority of my time throwing nymphs and some streamers. Im decided on the 5 wt for versatility but now im questioning length do i go with a shorty 7.6 or an 8, 8.6, or a 9ft rod?
what are the points that you all with more experience look for in your rods.
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from what you want to use it for and a 5wt, personally I wouldnt go shorter than a 8'6". I would get the 9 and make it work until you can put the cash together for a short 7'6" 3 wt for bushwacking.
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redington crosswater is a great rod
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[quote jabink89]redington crosswater is a great rod[/quote]
x2! just bought that for my first fly rod yesterday, got the combo
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Again, I say how does it feel in your hand. I agree with 8'6" at the least....in GRAPHITE. In glass I would say 7'[
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My JWF is a great stream/creek rod.
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I have an Orvis 5wt Clear Water and fished with it quite a bit. I also have a few other rods (9 to be exact)between $50-$200. Funny thing is, the most used rod I have is a 9' 3wt, err 8.5' now since I broke the tip off last year, that I picked up on Ebay for $10 as a blank. I use that rod for everything and have caught more fish on that one rod than all the other put together.
The whole idea is it is not how much a rod costs, but how it performs and feels to YOU. The only way for you to know this is to go to a store and check them out and if possible, try it out.
I would suggest Jimmy's and Sportsman's and check a few rods out in your hand before you just order a cheap rod.
The closest rod I have found like my $10 rod so far is a TFO. I built the TFO for my sister in law and it was an awsome feeling rod, but I never had the chance to test it out.
Buying on the internet is hit and miss. It may look great and have a great price, but once you get it in your hands, who knows.
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unfortunately a lot of these rods i am unable to test and see how they feel. that is the nice thing about what Rodger has i know what it feels like and its nice but then again. slightly expensive
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It is your choice, but, a 5 weight is the perfect all around rod. To me, it would be one of the more expensive rods because of that.
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