Hi,

I'm taking up trout fly fishing for the first time this season and have joined the Bearsden Angling Club at Loch Humphrey in the Kilpatrick hills.

I have been searching for my first rod and have come up with a couple of kits. The first one is the Airflo large lake and reservoir kit,

Airflo Fly Fishing Kits - Large Lake & Resevoir - Fly Rods Fishtec

and the second is the Shakespeare advanced fly fishing kit.

Shakespeare Advanced Fly Fishing Kit | GO Outdoors

As I am new to fly fishing i'm unsure which kit to go for. I'm more familiar with the Shakespeare brand but the Airflo option seems to come with more kit. I've also found older posts on here suggesting that the Airflo kits come with line that's not worth using.

Can anyone offer any advice on whether either of these kits would be worth going for or perhaps suggest other options? For this first year my budget for my rod and tackle is probably about £100- £150 at the very most.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

apg

Try a wychwood rod and okuma airframe, cracking combo for me when I started, what line weight and length are you thinking on? I'm sure some of the trade members on here, grommit??? might be able to cut you a good deal on something

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Thanks roll cast, i'm checking wychwood out just now. I've got absolutely no clue about the line weight and length either. My only previous experience fishing was with a float and maggots on the forth and clyde canal when I was young. I do a lot of walking around the Kilpatrick hills and its lochs and have been meaning to get round to taking up fly fishing for far too long. I've been watching the Hywel Morgan series on Horse and Country for tips but other than the limited information i've got from there i'm completely clueless!

You are obviously somewhere around Glasgow area. Before you buy anything it's worth getting along to the Glasgow Casting Club on a Sunday morning. It's at the pond beside Archerhill road in Knightswood. Lots of experienced fishermen there who know lots about whats available.

try asking some of the members of your club to try some of their gear -hopefully it will suit the waters you will be fishing and if youre lucky you might pick up a second hand kit from one of them to get you started

good luck Nick

Yeah, that's ten minutes drive from my house. Will give that a try then thanks. Was also thinking about heading up to Carbeth fishery for some tuition before the season starts. Does anybody have any experiences up there? I've got plenty experience of the nearby Inn but thats as far as it goes unfortunately.

As Endrick said, get yourself along to the casting club and ask the guys there. We meet every Sunday morning from 10am. Usually a few instructors there to give you instruction.

Will definately see you all there next weekend then thanks!

try before you buy is sensible, the casting club will let you try a few from 20 quid to 600, most fish locally so you should get a few clued up pointers to get started.

maybe see you sunday

I won't be able to make it this Sunday unfortunately but i'll definately make it next weekend. I'll look forward to meeting you all then.