This is being written in mid-October. The fishing report from the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources shows fly fishers are using buggers, nymphs, and streamers. The tributaries of Lake Erie are starting to see fish migrate upstream.The recommendations I read are to use an 8-weight line and fly rod and cast wooly buggers. You will want an assortment of wet flies with you and see which are working best. I did see an assortment on Amazon.com that looked promising.

Amazon.com Widgets

I was looking for something better than some of the cheap beginner sets but still in the more inexpensive class. I thought this one on Amazon.com could just be that set. Although I don’t completely trust in so-called “customer” reviews (because they might be bogus), I was persuaded by the write up and the reviews.

Here is just some of what you get:

4 piece fly rod with a LIFETIME WARRANTY

A large arbor reel preloaded with backing, a weight forward (5 weight) floating fly line and 5X tapered leader.

A rod sock, a rod case, a fly box and three flies–Parachute Adams, Black Fly and Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear.

Rod Specifications: Line Weight: 5 or 6; Rod Length: 9 Feet; Number of Sections: 4; Rod Case Length: 31 Inches; Flex: Mid; Action: Slow; Material: IM6 Graphite; Rod Weight: 5.7 ounces; Grip: Western; Rod Blank Color: Dark Gray; Winding Color: Black.

If you’re looking to get started in fly fishing or catch more fish, then you really should check this out. It is more than just an ebook that you can download instantly, it is a complete course!  It’ll make a huge difference to your fly fishing success!

This book is for anyone, anywhere, who wants to get started in fly fishing.

Visit the author’s web page and see for yourself how you can now catch more fish than ever.

If you are planning to “get into” fly fishing, but don’t want to invest a lot of money, maybe you should consider a very low cost beginner set. I was visiting one of my favorite online stores, Amazon.com to see what they had.  I found a couple that looked promising. I included (affiliate)  links to them below. I don’t feel you can go strictly by the reviews because one or a few vocal people out of thousands of product sold may not be reliable. After reading about the Crystal River set and the Eagle Claw set, I think I am leaning toward the Eagle Claw brand because of their long history of producing quality fishing equipment.

A new event this year for fly fishing enthusiasts. Whether you are new, an expert, or just curious about fly fishing, you should attend Chagrin River day on Saturday, September 25, 2010 in beautiful Chagrin Falls, Ohio. This is an all day event from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Hear experts talk about everything from Steelheading to using two-handed fly rods for the great lakes. Speakers are located in Township Hall 83 N. Main Street.

Across from Township Hall in Riverside Park are casting demos, a naturalist, a casting tournament, and a 2-mile river/nature walk.

For details click here to view the poster.

At Fly Rod Reviews we know that a good fly rod will make a roll cast easier. When you are in a tight area, such as on the edge of a pond or small stream, you will need to limit how far back you can take the line. Watch this video on the perfect roll cast.

When doing your fly rod reviews you should consider that you will be doing a lot of casting. The best way to learn how to fly cast is to go fishing with some experienced in fly fishing. With right person you can hear instructions and copy that person’s technique. And of course, you have the benefit of guided practice. Before going, you might go online and search for videos on how to fly cast. Here is one I found that I thought was very good. (Remember URLs can disappear, so you may have to do a new search.)

Bamboo should be part of any  fly rod reviews you undertake. A finely crafted bamboo fly rod allows you to castperfectly. They have a special sensitivity and feel that synthetic material hasnot been able to reproduce, at least to many of us. A quality bamboo rod hasjust the right amount of flexibility and weight.

They can be a bit pricey, but they can be a beautiful pieceof workmanship. What price do you put on being at peace with yourself andnature? There is something about the look and feel of bamboo (the best areconsidered made from Tonkin bamboo) that makes life just a bit more satisfying.Knowing that it was crafted from  anatural product makes each rod unique and has own look and feel.

Where do you want to fish?

Investing in some fly rod reviews is important to finding the right fly rod. Fly fishing is done in streams, lakes, ponds, and the ocean shore. Where you fish and therefore the type of fish you are after requires different types of flies and casting techniques. Large bodies of water often require long casts while streams and ponds may need short but very accurate casts.

Balance

Balance is a key part of enjoying fly fishing. The rod should feel easy to hold while casting. Balance is affected by the length of the rod, the grip, and the reel.

Action

The type of “action” the rod has is important to the distance and accuracy of casting a fly. Fast action refers to a stiff rod that allows you to cast a longer distance but is not as accurate for short casts. Probably most people start with a moderate or medium action that has more flexibility at the end of the rod. Slow-action rods have more flexibility along the entire rod and have more of a curve to it. A slow-action rod allows more accuracy where long distance is not a factor.

Weight/Length

Weight is what weight line you intend to use. For many of us fly fishing conjures up standing by or in stream fishing for trout. A typical trout rod is 9 feet (plus or minus a half foot) long hand is rated as 4-weight, 5-weight, or 6-weight (line weight). Just as medium-action is the all-around pick, 5-weight is a safe bet for most of us.

Reel

For proper casting you need a reel to match the weight of the line, that is, if you using 5-weight line you will need a 5-weight reel. Today most reels are being made with disc-drag systems (like the disc brakes on a car). The retrieval system should be manual, single action. There are other types of retrievals but each can give some problems. Oh, get an extra spool because reels quit getting manufactured and extra spools are hard to find. The extra spool can be loaded with a different type of line, such as sinking or floating (whichever is not on the other spool).

So the basics of selecting a fly rod involves a number considerations. Just end up with same weight numbers for line, reel, and rod.

This new site is for fly fishing enthusiasts, especially those who are new to the sport. It seems more of an art sometimes than a sport. Maybe one could say it is a cross between meditation and sport. Look for much more to come.