Hi everyone, great to be here just made a thread in the "members intro sub forum" though I am looking to get into fly fishing. I've done coarse fishing mostly but I really like the look of fly fishing and they seem to catch more and bigger fish from what i've observed!

I am not sure what brand of rod/reel to get or even flies.

I would like to fish for pike, trout and salmon.

Had a wee look at these.

Airflo Hardwear Fly Rods – Glasgow Angling Centre

Shakespeare Starter Fly Outfits – Glasgow Angling Centre

Stillwater SFX2 Fly Rod – Glasgow Angling Centre

Ron Thompson Energetic Fly Rods – Glasgow Angling Centre

Thanks all

Hi WCG....

Amongst other rods I have a Shakespear Expedition 9ft 6/7wt, 6 piece rod. Cost new, less than GBP 30/-

I have caught many trout on this rod and this year caught a 20lb Common Carp (on the fly) which fought like a demon for 15 minutes and at times my 'Shaky' rod was literally bent double ! It didn't break !!!!!

Don't equate high cost with high efficiency and effectiveness when it comes to fly rods.

Welcome aboard.

Nigel

You read my mind, I was thinking expensive rods were better

Glasgow angling centre seem to give the stillwater rod a good recommendation. Do you reckon your rod is better?

Hi WCG,

I have other rods but all of the Shakespear equipment is excellent !

Get started first. Later on as your experience and income increase you can start buying equipment with 'designer' labels....and beware, there are more than a few tackle tarts on here ! (LOL)

If you had seen the bend in that rod when I was trying to keep an extremely angry and feisty 20lb carp out of a snag - you would be recommending it too !

Nigel

Sounds like it

It was between that and Airflo or Stillwater.

Airflo Hardwear Fly Rods – Glasgow Angling Centre

Stillwater SFX2 Fly Rod – Glasgow Angling Centre

Glasgow angling has 'stillwater' as their in house brand so they would recommend them

In a nutshell, 90% of the cast comes from the caster not the rod so get a budget rod ( shakespeare/airflo/stillwater is fine ) and spend the difference is there is any on fly casting lessons.

The reel is just holding the line, so just get a cheapo.

A bad line is a nightmare so don't go too cheap on that, it's a real false economy.

For the time being focus on trout, salmon is very different and can be expensive, but by golly get into it later on! And leave the pike for now, casting a pike fly can be a pig so don't bother trying to run before you can work

Otherwise welcome, good luck, and take advantage of all the advice and good will on this forum.

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Ah well that explains the good rating they had

I think i'll stick to trout for now then as theres plenty here and build up to pike eventually.

Would you recommend the shakespear gear like Brit in Bahrain?

Hi WCG just check out all the good reports regarding the shakespeare odyssey rods on here for under £27 you can't fail.Fly line drop pitsford pirate a pm and talk to him or Mike Barrio both can be found with a simple members search good luck and welcome Noel

Shakespeare rods are ideal for starting off,just because they are cheap dont let that put you off,they are perfect to get you going.
look at the odyessey range aswell.

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Kevin

Nothing wrong with the Stillwater.great VFM.but the shaky is also good.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.