Hi everyone,

I'm looking to get myself a basic starter selection of tackle together, and was hoping someone could confirm if i'm on the right lines...i'll almost exclusively be fishing small to mid sized streams/rivers looking for trout and greyling (I've already had some success at this with course fishing methods);

I already have a rod, purchased pretty cheap (£10!) but brand new from a car boot... it's a Leeda Obsession 6/7 9'. I have two reels; an old Shakespeare 'Glider' I've had for about 20 years, and a new Greys GX500 I picked up pretty cheap. So I guess I now need to select lines and flys...

So I'm thinking of loading one reel with floating line, and the other with sinking, both #6, just because it seems like a safe middle ground. Obviously, I can start to fill up my spare spools as I get more experienced.

Fly wise, I'm thinking a selection of nymphs, a selection of dry and probably a mayfly selection.

What do we think? Does that seem like a sensible selection to get me started?

Welcome to the dark side...

to be honest the rod is a little on the heavy side (i would use a 6/7 for sea trout, on the small to med river i fish i never use heavier than a 5 wt more often a 3 or 4 weight) but will work just fine...

the best investment you could make now is a casting lesson or 2 ... once you have developed these skills you will be in a better position to decide what you like in terms of rod action and length and weight..

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ickypimp's advice is sound. The only thing to add is don't worry about your rod being a little on the heavy side, compared with the received wisdom for river rods these days. Years ago a rod for that weight of line would have been normal and folks still caught fish. Get the lessons, ask your teacher for advice on the flies and go fishing a lot.

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Hi Jeast,

sound advice from two experienced anglers! I can only add it's not worth investing in sinking lines for what you aim to do. Spend the money on some different types of leaders (maybe self made) and some decent tippet material.

Welcome and tight lines!
Johan

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Johan Janssens

I would have to agree with Richard.The rod will be fine as a starter rod.I spent 10 years river fishing with a 7# fibreglass rod(more suited to seatrout) and this did not stop me catching fish.And Johan is right forget the full sinker.why not try a sink tip.Or Polyleaders.

Jim

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

Thanks for the replies, chaps! So, casting lessons seems to be the way forward then...what's the objective of the lessons, though? As in, what skills am I trying to hone?

And line, a floating rig and maybe a sinking tip rig? Do you get sinking leaders too, or do you just add small weights?

Also, can anyone recommend a good floating and sink tip line? Not too expensive?

leave the sink tip alone...

to start you wont go far wrong with one of pitsford pirates/mike barrio (see classifieds) lines my preference would be for a weight forward over a DT

the casting lesson is teaching you to cast properly, many coarse fishermen find them self on the back foot when starting to fly cast it is counter intuative, there are many different casts to master, overhead, roll, single and double spey, snap, jump, steeple, reach etc etc, all have uses all different, there is then presentation and accuracy to consider...

if you are an experienced hand on the river then the water craft you have already learned will be invaluable but it is a different world you are stepping into...

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Thanks Icky...could you explain the difference between weight forward and DT (double taper?)...?

look here at taper design
Jim

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