Guest madsmc Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 Hey Raiders. I have been thinking over the last few weeks that I might like to take up the fly challenge. I've noticed that there are a few fluff chuckers on the site and would like to hear your advice on a setup for a beginner. It will be mainly light saltwater work, bream, flatties, mullet, tailor etc. I've had a look at a few online retailers and found a few Loomis combos that aren't going to send me broke (or force the to remove one of my vital organs) at around the $400 mark, but I thought I'd ask for some advise before any purchase. The combo comes in either 6 weight or 8 weight. I was thinking the 8 weight would be preferable for the salt, and the 6 would be more trout weight? I would like to give trout a go, apparently there are a few streams in the Barrington Tops that are stocked. Would I be able to use a 6 weight for both the salt species and for trout in streams? Any advice would be most welcome. madsmc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narralakes Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 (edited) I reckon a 7 wt is a happy medium, you can go for trout and salmon and just about anything in the salt until you get more experience. Iv'e caught a few salmon with the 7 wt and it handles them no worries, I have a 10 for chasing kings, and a 5wt for most estuary/river fish like bass, lizards, bream, tailor. A 7 will get you started and you can then see if you want to specialize once you have a go for a few months/years, for me I prefer it over any other form of fishing, although I spin/Sp every now and then. Like Andrew said, once you get a king on, you'll struggle with a lighter rod to keep it from reefing you, just use a heavier leader. Line wise, go for a intermediate, if you can have two, have a floater and an intermediate. Strudwicks are a great Aussie rod, I have a SPS 7, very nice and lower - mid range price. Make sure you spend what you can and get a decent rod, one with a free replacement for busted rods. Edited September 9, 2005 by Narralakes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troutboy Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 a nitro innovator distance 6/7 w will give you enough grunt for sambos and still not be overkill for trout. a good quality rod that wont break the bank! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warpig Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 I bought the Loomis #8. The rod is very nice, although the line that comes with the set sucks a bit (very soft surface drags on the runners and reduces casting distance. Armour all improves things a great deal, but washes off after a few hours). Be aware that the reels have no drag, which shouldn't be a problem for the fish you mention. I've only caught small fish so far, and the set up has way too much power for anything less than 1 kg++ fish. It would be a mighty lot of rod for trout! I primarily bought the #8 for bonito, queenfish and giant / golden trevally. The #6 might be a better idea for estuarine stuff. I'll buy a Sage sometime down the track in this size for this purpose, when I become a bit more proficient. $400 is a bit much: I got the set for $350 a couple of months ago. I'm pleased with it apart from the iffy reel and line, and if I had the chance to buy it again, would not have bought any of the alternatives (some of which have better reels, but lesser rods). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weiry Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 (edited) Gday mate, ABA had some Strudwicks on sale going at a good price! Edited September 15, 2005 by Weiry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bluecod Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 These blokes in front of me are probably all experienced types, so a bit of advice from a fairly new SWF fisher is in order Get the best rod you can afford! I've picked up some Mitchell and Daiwa 6/7's which I'm happy with on smaller targets [bream and mullet and bass] and have a reasonable ABU 8/9 which goes well on trevally, but have yet to get a sambo on it [tomorrow is another day], a cheap 9/10 that'll bend all the way through to the butt locked up on a good sambo and a Penn 12 weight that kicks the stuffing out of small dollies. If you are able, try the rod out and you will want something in reserve in the lower section of the rod to punch heavier flies into a headwind. Ken has an article or two on SWF on the homepage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogo Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 G'day madsmac, Split the difference and get a 7 wt, it will be plenty of rod up to salmon, dollies and rat kings and will be a good rod for lake and large stream trout, and will do the job on small streams. The key thing with rods is that the design line weight is with the rod casting 30 feet of line, so by definition if you are starting to cast more than that ( and you will after a short while) that is the same as casting a heavier line over a shorter range. and vice versa that is a lighter line over a longer range. Most modern graphite fly rods will quite happily cast a line either side of their nominated weight and will adequately cast two line wts either side. Ive got a 9'6 7wt and it casts a five wt line well, particularly at longer ranges and casts a sinking six wt out of sight and over lining one wt helps in windy conditions or bulky flies. I also use this rule on my other flyrods, I often use a 5wt line on my 4wt rods to get a bit more carry into the wind or to turn large flies and have occasionally used 6wt when fishing very small streams where the casts rarely use more than 10 ft of flyline (doesnt sound much but 8ft rod + 10 ft of flyline + 7 to 10 odd ft of leader =25 feet, and on a lot of small streams that would put your fly onto the pool above the one your fishing) I've always found the 7 to be a useful allrounder, later on if the bug really bites you will find yourself getting more rods and the next most useful steps are a 4wt or 5wt for trout and a 9/10 wt for heavy or tropical saltwater. Spend the big bucks on a rod, next bucks on the line and then the reel. Hmmmmm reading all this makes me wonder why I have so many fly rods 2x4, 2x6, 1x7, 1x9, 1x 11 and a 6/7 15 ft spey and worse I would like more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weiry Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 Hmmmmm reading all this makes me wonder why I have so many fly rods 2x4, 2x6, 1x7, 1x9, 1x 11 and a 6/7 15 ft spey and worse I would like more 66237[/snapback] Pogo...I know he feeling mate... your not alone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest madsmc Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Cheers for the tips guys. I'll keep looking around while I wait for the funds to accumulate. Let you know how I go. madsmc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent X Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I reckon 6wt will be good for light SW. But might require you to load it up with a 7wt line to get a better 'feel' of the rod while u're learning to cast. Getting the best rod that you can afford is good advise... another thing you might want to consider is warranty. I'm a sucker for Unconditional Lifetime Warranty... and am glad for that... the tip of my Xi broke twice already due to freak accidents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ankles Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 howdy and there agent x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bluecod Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Agent X You're not the clown who's painted a bloody big X on the rocks at Spot X are you ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent X Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 oh.... that was done ages ago... I tied a brush on the end of my flyline and created that piece of art.... muahahaha you guys got a great sense of humour.... I like it already!!! Agent XYou're not the clown who's painted a bloody big X on the rocks at Spot X are you ??? 66827[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ankles Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I tied a brush on the end of my flyline and created that piece of art.... muahahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bluecod Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 We try hard to welcome new members Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent X Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 i like everything except the whipping part.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jocool Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 you'll get to like it!!! 66850[/snapback] Speak for yourself Chris. to the site X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent X Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 A pleasure to be here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlin_dc Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 welcome to the site Mr X. glad u have finally gotten urself on the site. People!!! this dude is a fly fisho and a pretty gd one to add. Hahah i mean anyone who can flyfish in singapore and actually catch fish must be pretty gd!!!!! regards DArryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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