Fly Fishing Equipment Clearance Everywhere

I spent yesterday afternoon running around town doing a bit of shopping to replace some of my older fly fishing equipment. I couldn't believe the amount of fly fishing rods and reels I found already marked down on clearance. I ended up buying two new fly rods, a fly reel and a new pair of wading shoes. I looks like the stores are marking down fly fishing equipment early this year and getting ready for the hunting season. If you are a fly fishing beginner looking for bargins this is a good time of year to snatch up some really cheap fly fishing rods and reels.

In my area the bargins were especailly prevelant as the stores have started stocking more fly fishing gear during the spring. It seems fly fishng in my town has started gaining popularity. The number of fly fishing items on clearance means they were either over priced early in the season or that they overestimated the numbers when they placed their fly fishing equipment orders. Either way it really paid off for me. I'm not much for buying new fly fishing gear every year but I always take advantage of clearance prices to replace fly line, leaders, tippets and other regular fly fishing equipment. Check your local shops you might find some real bargins too.

Dont over look the tying supplies if you think you'd like to get started tying flies over the winter or need to replace existing equipment.

Fly Fishing For Beginners | Common Fly Fishing Questions

Fly Fishing For Beginners has been receiving several questions from fly fishing beginners. Last week I listed some common fly fishing mistakes, today I'll cover a couple of the most common fly fishing questions I've been getting.

1. What is the best fly fishing combo. I've discussed in several of my initial articles that it's not the equipment that makes the fisherman its the technique. If you spend time to learn the basics correctly you will be able to use any fly fishing equipment effectively. Some companies that make decent starter fly rods and reels are Martin, Shakespeare, Crystal Creek. These can usually be purchased at local retail stores and tackle shops. If you have the money and want to purchase a more durable fly fishing combo, Cabelas and Orvis both make excellent beginner fly fishing combos for around $100.00.

2. Do i need waders? - No, waders are not an absolute necessity but if you plan on fishing in streams and rivers with colder water I would highly recommend them. Make sure and get a pair the fit properly. Waders that don't fit properly will create trip hazards, cause rubbing, blisters and fatigue. You want to enjoy your time on the stream not feel like you ran a marathon.

3. Can I fly fish from a boat? Absolutely, I often take my Jon boat out to local lakes and ponds for a day of fishing. Fishing from a boat requires good casting skills to keep everyone safe. Fly fishing a lake or pond also requires learning to read the water to determine where the fish are hiding. This will all depend upon what type of fish your after, read up on the habitat your particular prey likes.

4. What time of day is best? First, fly fishing can be done at anytime of day if you know what type of cover the fish your after likes. Most will have the best luck fishing in early to mid morning and late afternoon to dusk. Another key factor in when to fly fish is the hatch. Learn your area and when the types of insects hatch. Matching your fly to the current hatch will result in much better fly fishing results. Another good time to fly fish is right before or after a weather change like a thunderstorm.

I hope this answers some of Fly Fishing For Beginners questions and I'll be happy to answer others as they come up. Now its time to go fishing. I'll catch you all later.

Fly Fishing Combo | Fly Fishing Gear For Beginners

As mentioned in my previous post for the beginner fly fisherman I suggest starting with purchasing a fly rod and reel combo available at most big box retailers.There are several companies that make these and I have used just about all of them. While you can buy expensive combos from Orvis, Basspro.com and other big name sporting goods dealers I still prefer the less expensive combos made by Martin and Shakespeare.They are usually available in several different sizes, and weights. We will discuss the specifics to fly rod weight and size in later posts. Typically the fly fishing combo available at your local retailer will be stocked based on the most common size and weight used by fly fishermen in your area so you really can’t go wrong. These rods make it easy for the beginner by using fly line matched to the rod; include the leader and tippet necessary to get started. The fly fishing novice shouldn’t have to be concerned with all the little details involved in getting the correct fly fishing gear but should rather focus on practicing his casting. These types of setups are designed for the starter and are very forgiving to the little mistakes you’ll make when first starting.

There are some disadvantages of using these less expensive fly rods, durability being the biggest. They typically aren’t made as strong or with as high a quality of components as the more expensive brands. So take care to be gentle with your rod when you do get snagged in a tree or weed bed. When your finished flishing with one of these less expensive or used fly rod combos make sure to take the time and clean the rod, reel and line according to the manufactures recommendations. Pay special attention to the reel, as they are the most likely to fail when abused or not kept clean. Don’t just throw your fly rod and reel in the trunk of the car or bed of the truck and forget about it. Inevitability someone will throw something on top of it and crack the rod or damage the eyes.
Well that’s enough about the basic care of your new fly fishing combo for now. I’ll continue posting more little tidbits for the fly fishing beginner as we go on. Next post will focus on the basics of fly-casting to help you avoid making too many bad habits.