I have been fly fishing for a couple of years now and have been happy to buy at the cheaper end of the market, but I am now ready to upgrade my kit. What would be your recommendations on where to start, new rod, better line etc, where would I get the most benefit from. I currently fish a medium spate river but would like to fish smaller streams, I look forward to hearing your views and suggestions on tackle.

Steve M

What do you mean by the cheaper end of the market, what kit do you currently have and how much do you want to spend. Are you thinking of adding to the rod(s) you have or replacing them or both ?
GD

Hello GD

I curently have a Sportfish IM6 rod (8"6 #4/5) and a BFR Dragonfly reel and use an Aircel floating line. I am looking to spend in the region of £300-£400 for a complet set up, that is new rod, reel and couple of lines.

Steve M

Are you unhappy with the rod you have? Surely you must have thoughts on where you want changes? A softer rod or a faster action you should identify what you need before you spend cash

Casting lessons and change the rod. The reel and line will suffice for a while longer.

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If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment

That's good advice - as well as the casting lesson - and then maybe the coach could give you some advice on what would be the best improvement over current kit depending on where you are going to fish. For example and 8ft 4/5 is fine for most rivers but you may want something a bit heavier such as as a 9ft 6 wt or 10ft 7/8 if you are going for sill water. On the other hand to give you more flexibility for small streams a 7 ft 2/3 wt would add to your armory - in which case I'd look at the GRXi or Streamflex. But get the coaching first!
GD

..........

Steve

Why do you want to upgrade?
The reel and line should be fine.

Have a look here for really good rod, if you must...

Guideline Lpxe Fly Rods For Sale.

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Cheers
Wiz

www.wandletrust.org
www.wildtrout.org
www.a-c-a.org
http://www.aapgai.co.uk
www.riverflies.org
www.wandlepiscators.net

Some good advice here, I would listen to them.
The rod does not make the fisher!
The best trout fisherman I have ever fished with was on the middle and upper tweed, he used an old soft fiberglass rod and wore a battered tweed jacket to hold his single tobacco tin of flies, hand tied with a wisp of silk for a body and a blue cock hackle.
This Guy could fish the pants of us all and did so even when invited down to my beloved Eden in Cumbria.

And the answer is simple, stealth , getting as close as he could to the fish and most importantly reading the drag before presenting his fly like thistledown.
He showed me that pattern of fly really is less important than presentation.

My advice: learn your craft first and then when you go the river expecting not hoping to catch fish ,do what we all do and spend some cash and become a tackle tart.

Thanks for all the replies, as said previously theres some good advice offered the one thing that comes through is the need for tution/coaching which is where I will head next. Any suggestions as to who to contact in my area which South West Wales once again thanks for all the comments

Steve M