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3. Need advice

Well i have not been fly fishing since i was a kid and i am trying to get back into it but i need some advice on equiptment, more importantly what stuff to stay away from.

I have heard Pflueger and Sage are good brands and Orvis but i don't know much else. I think i am looking for around a 5wt setup maybe a pflueger 1500 reel but i am not sure on rod. and i am not sure abou the small odds and ends i need either.

I will be fishing the white river in north west Arkansas mostly until i plan some good trips to other parts of the country. I am looking for a list of essentials that i will need and things i might want to add to the tackle box later. also if anyone knows of a good beginers site that would be great.

thanks,

-matt-

Here is a good place to start:

Recommendations for the Beginning Fly-Fisher

good page, Roger.

best piece of gear advice i was ever given as a newcomer was: a big, really big, safety pin or two. they're called quilt pins in the fabric store. nothing beats them for untangling stuff. bring two so you can drop one.

oh, and don't forget a net. it's kinder to the fish unless you know how to hold them upside down when getting the hook out. a MeasureNet has kind mesh and doesn't cost the earth.

and a disposable waterproof camera.

Great tip on the safety pin, Casey. I love these little immensely useful homemade gadget ideas. I make my own tiny fly tweezers out of big bobby pins. The ones with two unrippled sides seem to work best. Bend to suit and attach it somewhere with a zinger or elastic band. I have one attached to my midge box and another attached to my baetis box.

Thanks for the link and the tips, I will definately post what i find, what i get and how it works for me.

I did the same thing as you.

FF'd from age 15 to 25.
Gave it up for 25 years and picked it up again in 2000.

I will make a suggestion:
Test cast a lot of rods before you decide.
Slow ones, Medium ones, med-fast and fast.

Length depends on the type of stream you frequent.
Big open water = long rod.
Small brushy water = short rod
Mid-length rods = all around

I'll bet you surprise yourself.

I like test casting rods about as much as I like test driving cars.
( AND that's quite a bit )

In addition to a reel, You'll also need:
Backing
Line
Leader
Tippet spools in 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x
Assorted flies - dries, nymphs, emergers
dry fly floatant
Asst'd Split shot
Indicators
zingers
Forceps
Nippers
POLARIZED SUNGLASSES

yada yada yada

~ Greg