New Rod

[mrdamminator]

Sorry for the previous post and now this one but i don't know how to delete it. But anyways...

I am about to buy a new rod as I have been fly fishing for a while now on a $50 5/6 weight Pflueger rod combo. I am on a budget but am willing to spend around $200 for a new rod and reel combo that I can use for a while on from now. I fish for trout mainly on the Chattahooche River but would like to branch off to some streams (if you know any good ones in georgia around the marietta/kennesaw area?). I am considering:
1) Echo 1 rod with Martin Mt. Brook fly reel, a Cortland 333 Pro WF floating fly line, backing, leader, fly box and 12 flies for $205 (in a 3 or 4 weight)
2) Temple Fork Pro Series Rod and Lamson Radius Reel with Airflo Line Outfit for $235 (in a 4 or 5 weight)
3) Temple Fork Outfitters Finesse rod with White River Classic Reel for $229 (4 or 5 weight)
4) LL Bean Streamlight rod with Streamlight Reel for $159-179 (3, 4, or 5 weight)

Any recommendations for price and quality? I also cannot decide what rod weight to get. I think I have settled on a 4 weight so I can fish dries and nymphs but still feel the fight of the fish and enjoy it.

Thanks alot for any input.

 

[Cowboy]

I say this to everyone who asks about a new rod. Check out Orvis. Great rods.

 

[wtex50]

I would say the Echo or for sure Temple Fork are both good rods....not sold on the Martin reel though... I would check with Steve at the Full Creel and see what he can do.....He beats everyone I know on pricing... and I know he carries Echo and I think he also carries Temple Fork...IMHO you should also consider upgrading the line to the Cortland 444......you will notice the difference....good luck

 

[ezamora]

for stream fishing, i like a 4wt and have several 4wt rods i've wrapped myself. 3 wt rods can be nice but i usually use a 4wt line on mine. it all depends on your fishing conditions. i dont know your water and how big it can be. i fish sierra streams and small rivers in central california.

as for suggestions, wow, there are too many available right now but of what you've listed, i would suggest a temple fork rod. i have the 9' 5wt pro and it was a good starter rod and was used here and there when needed. the finesse intrigues me; i've heard good things about it.

as for a reel i would try to aim higher than that martin. i have a radius 1.5 from a few years ago. let's just say i highly recommend something from orvis. the "original" battenkill, at about $79, is a great deal. even their battenkill BBS for $20 more is a great deal and a very nice machined light reel if you need that.

i wouldn't worry too much about a line. get something good but it's not necessary to buy a premium line at this point. hook and hackle's hi foater line for $31 should work just fine for you unles the olive color is too hard to see (failing eyesight). rio's mainstream or classic line would be good too.

eric
fresno, ca.

 

[mrdamminator]

If i were planning to also pursue bass fishing and needed to throw poppers and streamers, do you think a 4 weight could handle that or should i go up to the 5 weight?
And im just trying to find a good rod that i can stick with for a time to come btu within a reasonable budget that is versatile - there are so many options out there that this decision is proving harder than i thought. Someone mentioned the three forks as a cheaper alternative but i think i am willing to dish out hte money to find a GOOD rod to last A LONG TIME.

 

[Piscator]

mrdamminator,
Steve carries a full line of TFO and Echo products that would suit your need well. Plus free shipping over $100 and a 21 day test drive plan is pretty hard to beat.

Here are some links:

TFO NXT Outfits
TFO Rods
TFO Reels
Echo Rods
Echo Reels

I would stick with a 5wt if you plan on bass fishing as well as trout. I have the TFO Pro and Echo 1 rods and both are great rods. Check out the TFO NXT Outfits. I think this will fit nicely in your budget. I have seen the fly rod and reel combos and they look to be very well made.

Let us know what you decide. I hope this helps.
Thanks,
Terry

 

[zerolimit]

I'll throw small poppers and streamers with my 4 weight but if I had to choose one to cover the ground you are trying to, I'd go with the 5. You might like the 4 better for trout but as soon as you try to throw larger topwater bass bugs and streamers and add a little wind, you may find yourself under gunned with the 4.

I cast the TFO pro and Finesse and like the Finesse better. I have it in the 3 wt. but I also cast the 4 and 5. It's more of a full flex rod than the Pro so it's a matter of personal taste and preference.

My opinion on lines differes from the previous poster. Personally, I'd spend the extra $25 on a high quality line that works well with your selected rod and your fishing situation. I think it makes a big difference.

 

[ezamora]

not to be wishy washy here, but i do think premium lines can make a difference too. but if we're talking budget here, and from the recent post, it actually sounds like two rod combos should be considered if at all possible (a 4wt and a 6wt), then saving some money by buying good quality lines, not cheap stuff, and not necessarily the top $6o-$65 lines, might be something to pursue. for instance, with scientific angler lines, even the mid level lines around $30-40 can have AST coatings, one of the two nice advantages of the premium lines.

i tried bass fishing for the first time last month. from a float tube. it just seems like such a huge difference fishing a 3 or 4wt floating line with something like the finesse or other 8' 3wt rod and dries like i do, and the 9 ft 7wt rod i wrapped for the bassin'. the trout setup is a lightweight floating line, the other, i used a 7wt bass taper line, with a second reel set up with an 8wt sink tip line, tossing size 4 weighted bunny leeches and big ole poppers. i guess it all depends on the type of bass you're fishing for too and conditions and the fisherman. i can be somewhat of a (budget minded) gear whore! ;-)

if only one rod for now, i'd go with the 5wt. if you need it to do both, bass and trout, stream and stillwater, i might look at the TFO pro in the 9' 5wt version.

if you think you might "need" a third rod at some point and need to constrain purchasing, i would seriously consider learning how to wrap your own rods. that was the situation i found myself in and now i wrap my own in all weights for very good prices.

eric
fresno, ca.

 

[mrdamminator]

What is you guys opinions of the Winston Ascent and Sage Launch rods? Ive narrowed it down to them plus LL Bean rods in a 5 weight. Thanks.

 

[Joni]

Well the Winston Asian and the Sage USA, which is entirely up to you, I mean I have a TFO also, plus a few other Asian items with no complaints, but, if it were me I would go for the Launch out of the two. You should take a minute and check out the ECHO however...sweet stick.
I am going to agree with the couple of others on the line... I am going to say the reel might not be as important as the line itself.
Check out Cortland 333 or 444...great lines for around the $50. mark.
The better the line, the easier it will go through your guides. Specially floating lines.