Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: New to fly fishing - advice on gearing up a 5/6 wt?

Welcome Patrick,

+1 for Gene's post.

If you have a 5/6wt line on your rod, I would check it out first.  Pull the first 30 feet off the reel and see how kinky it is.  If it looks like a corkscrew, stretch it by pulling on it (two feet of line between your hands and just pull, it should have some give to it) and see if it straightens out some.  I've purchased reels with 20 or 30 year old line that work fine, especially for bluegill and bass fishing.  

With that said, if the line doesn't lay out straight, replace it, it will just frustrate you and make learning hard (not to mention fishing).

I like Gene's post, and also don't fish Clouser Minnows that much, but a lot of people swear by them, so don't write them off.

Carl

On Wed, Nov 12, 2014 at 12:55 PM, TurbineBlade <doublebclan@gmail.com> wrote:

You'll see a bunch of old posts for this same topic if you search something like "new" or maybe even "what do I do" or something like that.  Your rod is fine for a lot of fishing around here -- I'd do this:

Get a 5 or 6-weight, WF floating line.  If the rod is graphite, go with the 6-weight line since you're "warm" inclined. Sinking lines suck on fly tackle -- I can count on one hand (my left one, "stubby") the number of times I use my depth charge line and still pick my nose with the other 3 fingers (not at once, one has to wait its turn).  Plus, they're made from Tungsten and/or lead, which are Enviro-no-nos and everyone here knows how much I want to save the environment first, and then fish second (I also don't like adverbs).  

Don't sweat tippet size too much --  Rob ties a good tapered leader with something like 20 > 12 > 8-pound test and I generally do the same for warm stuff.  It works well.  If you really want to buy tippet spools (and there's nothing wrong with that) pick up tippet in the 0X - 4X size and you're set for "warm".  I don't start with tippet spools until you get to 5X.  

I hate clouser minnows -- you can have all mine at the next tie if you want.  I never fish 'em anymore.  I do much, much better with marabou/rabbit/CDC/soft hackle fibers/etc. streamer patterns. I like movement in my patterns, for virtually everything actually.  Bucktail is lifeless and it stinks up my materials bin too.  Unfortunately for me, I know a LOT of hunters and have a surplus supply.   

Blue poppers are all everyone uses around here -- it actually began as a ploy to get rid of a lot of baby blue fabric paint in a factory in Harrisburg, PA in the late 80s.  Now the fish are used to them.   

Gene

On Wednesday, November 12, 2014 12:28:06 PM UTC-5, Patrick Kearns wrote:

Hey all,

Having stalked this group as a spin fisherman for general DC fishing advice for a while, I've officially been bitten by the fly fishing bug.  Something like 10 years ago, my dad bought us both Cabela's fly fishing starter kits, which were casted a few times on the lawn, and then allowed to gather dust.  My dad was kind enough to dig my rod back out and get it down here to me, so I plan on using that rod until it breaks, or I get into the sport more and want to replace it.

The plan is to get fully outfitted for Christmas, so now the question is:  What on earth do I need?

At the moment, I have:

 - One cheap three-piece rod (the stamp says 5/6 weight, and I believe it's 8'6")

 - One reel

 - 10-year old fly line of unknown weight and dubious quality

From what I gather, I need:

 - Line (5 weight? Floating vs. sink-tip? Taper?  So much to know here!)

 - Leaders 

 - Tippet (3X?)

 - Some flies (looks like there's some good advice in other posts - clousers, wooly buggers & a popper or two?) 

 - Vest/storage, clippers, other accessories.

I gather that this size setup is mostly going to be good for panfish & small bass, so that's what I plan on targeting.  Recommendations on what specific sorts of gear to get for fishing in the area  (especially Fletcher's, the Tidal Basin and the C&O) would be greatly, greatly appreciated!  (Any tips on extras to modify the setup to be serviceable for trout and for the shad run would also be great!)

I plan on making it out to a few Beer Ties this winter so I can pick up a little first-hand knowledge, and repay kind advice in tasty, tasty beer.

Thanks, y'all!

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