Group:

When I first took up fly fishing over two decades ago, the idea that one could find a fly rod that retailed for less than fifty bucks that was castable and fishable seemed like pure fantasy. Back then, fifty bucks would buy a whole lot more than it does today, but I'm not so sure that this applies to fly fishing equipment. It seems, in fact, that the reverse is may now be true, and that fifty bucks will buy better, more funtional fly fishing equipment than it ever would in the past.

My parents gifted me with a rod this past Christmas -a Cabela's "Three Forks" 7'6", 3 pc that is rated for a 3 -weight line. It retails for $49.99, but my parents claim that "The World's Foremost Outfitter" was having a sale at the time they bought it, which allowed them to save twenty bucks on the purchase price.

I picked up an Okuma Sierra 4/5 reel from Bob Slamal of Riverside Ski and Sport at the ISE Show in Pomona that matches the rod well. I couldn't resist the "show special" price on a reel that seems like a fair value even at full retail. A trip to my local Sport Chalet netted a half-price deal on a Cortland 333 line, too.

At the Long Beach Casting Club pond, I found this little low-buget set-up to be a joy to cast. There is something to be said for a short 3 -weight that will throw 85 feet of line -or more- with ease, though I'm not sure how useful that ability is in the real world where one would be fishing a rod like that. I haven't caught a trout on it yet, but it has accounted for a couple of jacksmelt in Dana Point Harbor, with complete satisfaction.

All in all, it's a sweet rod that seems to be well made, with nice hardware and very nice cork. It appears that it will do everything I would want a short 3 -weight to do on the stream, and might even do some things I wouldn't expect a 3 -weight to do. The fact that it's cheap only adds to the appeal.

There seems to be a lot of sweet but cheap stuff out there in the fly fishing marketplace these days. So to all of you hanging out by the ol' campfire, I'd appreciate hearing about fly fishing stuff you've found that is both sweet and cheap. I expect others would, too.

-JP

_________________
"I fish, therefore I am."

A friend of mine picked up one of those a couple of years ago, great price and a great little rod. Seems that lots of others also agree, as he's met up with quite a few people who swear by it. I think I'll have to look into it as well. Thanks.

I wouldn't say they were cheap but I bought a few thinks at a great price!

All the following bought on e-bay:
Dyna-King Voyager Vise, 2 at $81 each. My daughters use them now.
Cortland 444 Clear Creek Flyline, 2wt & 3wt for $15 each.

Made this deal in a forum:
Sage 379LL-3pc Rod, used <6x, $200!

Won the following in a Christmas Raffle 4 years back for $60 in tickets:
Sage 386 DS2 Rod with a Redington 2/3CT Reel
& Cortland 444 XPS Flyline.
T&T 905 Emerger Series Rod & Teton Trinity Reel
Woods River Stealthrider Float Tube

Just to name a few nice deals.

JP - I have this same rod. Got an entire outfit for the 29.95 sale price including a wff line that lasted one season and a plastic reel with the worst sounding clicker I've ever heard. It's now my go-to bluegill rod with an Orvis Battenkill 3/4 disc. It has landed a pr 12" bluegill that may have gone two pounds, the occasional largemouth to two pounds, and some 20"+ trout on the Green River. I also like the Cabelas Fish Eagle custom blanks that go for 20-30 bucks. A friend who builds rods had a 6-7 that I used for salmon, char and rainbows in Alaska. He wrapped a 4-5 7.5 footer for my 50th birthday with a Fenwick grip (gotta get him to fix my old Ferralite).

I have two plastic, er, composite Okuma Airframe reels that I use on the beach and two Okuma Sierra 5/6 reels that go on the fish eagle or a Redington RF2 5 that is probably my favorite rod. It warranty-replaced a Red Fly 5/6 that was the same blank but with cheaper components, but both have the same moderate fast action that seems to fit my casting style. I use it for everything mentioned above, surf perch and occasional efforts to land the ellusive carp inhabiting a slough that flows beneath a freeway into marshlands half a mile from home.

I could go on about cheap gear as that's mostly what I own, but I'll close by thanking you for all of your fine writing that I've enjoyed here, in the magazine and on other sites over the last few years.

Regards,
Charles C

I can say that I love my Cabela's and St. Croix rods. My first rod was a Cabela's Fish Eagle III 5-6 wt that came in an outfit with a Cabela's Hemingway reel. I still have both and regularly fish with them. In fact the Hemmingway is now my primary reel since my newer and more expensive STH cassette reel went south (the little plunger for the clicker is stuck inside the body and I can't get it out). I think the combo was under $200. My next, and long time favorite rod was a nice little 3-4 wt St. Croix Imperial. I love that rod and it only feel from my top spot becuase I built a four piece St. Croix that I love even more. That first Imperial was only $99. For my money, you can't go wrong with either company and personally, I'm not willing to pay twice as much for 5 or 10% better performance and a name. Thats not always true of budget rods, but in my experience these two companies come through.

My next budget item is the Danville rotary vise. It is made from delrin, but it is a serviceable vise and I think I got it for about $50. Its big and isn't as pretty as a lot of vise but it is rotary and hold all range of flies well. Since I would rather go fishing than tie flies, this is a good compromise for me.

My neoprenes are also cheap (see a pattern here?). I buy the Bass Pro chest waders for about $60 bucks. At that price they could be almost disposable, but they are very durable and with a little care and patching now and then have lasted for about 3 or 4 seasons. Plus, BPS makes them in my size. Nothing is worse than waders that don't fit.

_________________
www.flyfishnevada.com

I think I got y'all beat!!

Rod: Wal-Mart Special Graphite 10.99 clearance or Redington 2 piece 10 Ft 6/7 weight RedFly for 39.99 from Sierra Trading post.
Reel: Daiwa Lochmore S200 9.88 clearance (bought 3) +extra spool 5.00 Ebay. not the greatest, but does the job on trout.
Line: SA line from Wal-mart 4.88 Clearance
Waders: Redington Breathable 22.95 Clearance from Sierra Trading Post in Reno (Just a little leak, patched)
Boots: Patagonia Beefy 45.00 Sierra Trading Post no shipping cost (see below)

I also have bought flies from Sierra Trading Post for as little as $5 a doz. Watch for sales at STP, then look in (read every item description) the Catalog for the Free Shipping clue to answer. then call in your order, don't order o/l, as you cannot get free shipping o/l. They have a sale going right now, saltwater guys may want to check out the flies. They also have the Redington I bought in a 9.5 ft model for less than $35 right now. not bad for a lifetime guaranteed rod.

Teachers gotta fish cheap!!

Mike

Yeah, and so do starving artist / freelance writer types like me!

I also use that Wal Mart line. A buddy of mine from the Long Beach Casting Club turned me on to it. The stuff shoots like a rocket -even without "rocket taper" or sophisticated "distance taper" design. I reckon it shoots so well because it is so thin. My only complaint about it is that its too short by about 10 or 20 feet, so I use a little Amnesia between the line and backing to "lengthen" the line for those long shots on the club pond.

And I've recently purchased a Redington red.fly rod, too. I went on Cabelas.com to get my wife a 3 wt. Three Forks for her birthday and she saw the red.fly on sale and thought she'd get more use out of a 8.5' 4/5 weight than a 7.5 foot 3 weight. She fishes with a Loomis GL 2 2 pc. 5 weight which she casts fairly well. But, being 2 pc, and 9' long, it isn't "TJ Jeep Compatable" and doesn't travel well on a plane. We paid about $70.00 for the red.fly, which is about what I paid for the GL2, which I got on sale at Marriott's many moons ago.

-JP

_________________
"I fish, therefore I am."