musky fly setup question
joel
Posted 5/7/2012 4:14 PM (#558383)
Subject: musky fly setup question




Posts: 73


Location: sw pa
Was wondering if there are much difference between a four piece and a two piece rod for fly fishing.also was wondering if there are any fly tackle shops online to buy baits and etc.....never fly fished before but always wanted to try it and learn.I mainly fish small rivers that are clear and have an average depth of 4' to a max of 20'. I plan on taking casting lessons also. Anybody know of a decent setup around 600$? Thanks for any info
guest
Posted 5/7/2012 4:52 PM (#558387 - in reply to #558383)
Subject: RE: musky fly setup question


Its a very small market. stick to a 10 wt combo, with a pike/musky WWF 10 line, or an intermediate line around 400 grain for your deeper work. you want a fast action rod to deliver large flies and the heavier lines. a GREAT starter rod, is the temple fork TiCR. Not the ticr X which has an action less forgiving and is designed to pull fish from underneath. Cabelas usually has one of their reels paired with this rod as a combo at all times. their reel this year is designed by lamson-waterworks, who is one of the best in the business. I would pick up this combo if i were you. Thorne brothers in blaine, mn has a fly shop that would be able to help you. As far as casting lessons, unless you are learning from a musky/pike fisherman the lessons will not be as easy for you. You will get the basics on how to haul, double haul, water haul, etc. However people who fish only trout, bass, other freshwater, and any saltwater do not use flies in the 4/0 to 6/0 size with any regularity and cannot effectively cast them with their "tight loops". You need to keep you loop open with flies of this magnitude you will be using. You will find a few flies online to use, a few at thorne brothers and some customs elsewhere. I tie all my own flies from pike/musky to bonefish to tarpon. I highly recommend the teimco 600sp hook if you choose to tie your own. Flash flies (google them) are great to use because they dont hold water and are very light weight to cast. the europeans are mostly the guys tying them. get a 4 piece rod, they are every bit as good as a two piece rod, and you can travel with them on a plane carry on. much more travel friendly. you dont need to spend $600 on a musky set up, you will not need an awesome reel, anythign with a large arbor and a sealed drag will work, you wont be getting to your backing often. if you want to spend more on your rod i wouldnt say thats a bad idea. if you can find an orvis hydros tip flex 10wt still anywhere online it would be a great option, i have one in 8 and 12 wt's. My 10 wt i just upgraded from my TiCR to a loomis nrx last fall and cant explain how happy i am with it, but it is at an expensive price point.
don3118
Posted 5/7/2012 7:11 PM (#558408 - in reply to #558387)
Subject: RE: musky fly setup question




Posts: 111


Location: Weyauwega Wi.
Hi Joel. I have a 10 wt combo I would sell very reasonable. PM me
Jeremy
Posted 5/7/2012 7:50 PM (#558416 - in reply to #558383)
Subject: Re: musky fly setup question




Posts: 1144


Location: Minnesota.
Wish you were closer, I'd gladly teach you to cast. It's not really difficult at all once you know what to go for.

As for rods, I prefer a two pc. b/c after some time casting I've had sections come lose enough to give me trouble if ever I were to get into a fish. The inexperienced angler won't be able to differentiate too much 'tweenst a 2pc or 4pc IMHO .

We recently had a garage fire and I lost a nice Ranger boat and all my muskie gear, including fly rods. I looked long and hard to get back into a few good 2 pc rods. Be sure you pick the "faster" style of rod, like Loomis IMX's, Sage older Rplxi's or the SP+ or the xi2 or 3 series 8-10 wts. Makes the loop control much easier. You don't have to go spendy at all but a nicer rod makes this stuff easier when you're learning to cast.

What "guest" said is pretty much spot on but we each have prefs. You don't need to go overboard and remember reels are really just "lineholders". I've taken muslkes to 43" on an 8wt and all you need do is "palm" the spool for line management and tension. Visit a fly shop in your area (Thorne Bros are in my back yard!) and talk to the guys.

Don't go cheap on hooks. Like "Guest" said...TMC 600SP's are great, "sticky" hooks. You don't want the point folding over on you.

I could go on but I hate to type. Good luck. You'll become a believer in the fall, September-time, when a muskie nails a Dahlberg Diver topsides!!! It'll change your life. Pike are fun too, to keep you on your toes!

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/thegubster/38incher.jpg[/IMG] ..nice little fly rod guy.

Do your homework. Pick up a copy of Barry Reynolds' "Pike on the Fly" and you'll learn much from flies to rods/lines and tying wire bite- leaders to actually casting for them.

Don't get me started.

Jeremy.

joel
Posted 5/7/2012 8:19 PM (#558423 - in reply to #558383)
Subject: RE: musky fly setup question




Posts: 73


Location: sw pa
Just want to thank you guys.I was looking at a orvis hydro large arbor reel.with a st croix rod to start.is this a good setup. As for living closer,wish I did too. You have all the big girls swimming around up there.
Peter Stoltman
Posted 5/7/2012 10:00 PM (#558436 - in reply to #558383)
Subject: Re: musky fly setup question




Posts: 218


Shops that specialize in fly fishing for muskies would be We Tie It in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin www.wetieit.com or the Hayward Fly Fishing Company in Hayward, Wisconsin www.haywardflyfishingcompany.com . I've mostly dealt with Bill at We Tie It but have heard nothing but good about the Hayward shop too.
guest
Posted 5/8/2012 7:52 AM (#558472 - in reply to #558436)
Subject: Re: musky fly setup question


That reel will be just fine, larger diameter arbor helps pickup line faster when you have a fish on the reel as well as stores line in larger coils lessening the memory. sealed drag keeps out dirty water/dust. you still need to take the spool off and clean once in a while just dont take the drag apart.

Which criox rod are you looking at? i highly recommend getting a "saltwater" model of rod. their actions are faster, the rods are generally more durable and are built to tame larger fish and cast into winds.

Do you have a line/leader combo picked out?
Slime King
Posted 5/8/2012 8:36 AM (#558485 - in reply to #558383)
Subject: Re: musky fly setup question





Posts: 494


Location: midwest
Joel, if you are fishing smaller rivers definitely take a look at the Echo edge 8'4'' 10 weight. It was designed for fishing rivers that require shorter overall quick cast with a heavy butt section for fighting fish. Here is a video with the overview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POmByCFdkLA