I wanted to talk about what people call Essential Panfish Fly Fishing Gear on youtube hosted by fly shop channels. I am a strong advocate of getting into the sport on a budget of $100, or less in their first fly rod combo.
I got my 1st flyrod about 20 years ago at Dick's. It was a Pfleuger combo, with a 5/6wt rod and clicker reel, preloaded with backing, flyline, and leader, and it included a few cheapie flies. I still have it to this day, and I only got another flyrod when my Dad's best friend gave me a Wright & McGill 3wt rod. I got a 3/4wt MaxCatch Eco reel and all the line for Christmas, and it's one of my dearest possessions. (My Dad's friend passed away in 2021, and my Dad passed in 2022.)
I ordered the MaxCatch 7' 3wt fiberglass thanks to you. Based on this video, I started looking up reviews and videos on their rods and kept hearing the same thing over and over. Decent little fly rod at a price that can't be beat. I just got the shipping confirmation. I have a TFO 8wt pro II, and a TFO 5wt NXT... I just couldn't justify the price of those rigs for my first step into panfish fishing. The MaxCatch fit my budget perfectly.
I’ve got way more days behind me than in front. When I started fly fishing I was the only one I knew who did it. My first fly rod was a Martin combo set up I sold night crawlers to be able to buy at Kmart. Best advice I was given was find fly groups who will teach you to build rods and tie flies. A lot more joy catching fish on something you’ve built or fly you’ve tied. Video is right on.
Sage advice, my friend. I fell into the same trap as you. I bought an uber expensive rod and reel - that I'll never use. Instead, I'll stick with my $100 MaxCatch combo.
Hit the nail on the head with this one, I asked a forum good rods to start with and everyone was suggesting $400+ combo and luckily I found a sale on a redington 5wt crosswater combo for $92 and couldn’t feel any happier with this purchase and I’ve been slaying pan fish and even landed a couple small trout in the river down the street. Now the tough part is finding good places to go fish but I look forward to progressing!
My uncle had 1 arm and fished with an automatic reel. Thats all i ever used. The popping bugs were Made by a preacher that lived on Bayou Barbary, Elder Millet. I still have that old stuff. chuck
Oh man I would love to see some of those bugs! Thats old school history :) what was thats preachers name? I would def research him and learn about him :)
First fly rod was a Martin starter kit for $38 at a sporting goods store. Caught some small bass, bream, and my first trout on a wooly bugger i tied myself. It has since been retired(tip broke), but i still have it.
Shakespeare fly rods and that Cortland set that Walmart sales are actually nice kits. On 2wt to 4wt I will just use monofilament most of the time as my main line.
I love it 👍. I definitely fell into the trap of feeling like I needed to buy the recommended top notch stuff in the beginning. Ironic but all my super expensive stuff broke quicker than the bare basic gear I've got. You can build your own leaders with regular monofilament material, maybe some floro for your tippet. I'm far from an expert but it has seemed like to me over the years that when the fish feel like eating, they will. When they don't feel like eating they won't, doesn't matter how much money your wearing or how much your gear cost. Maybe if your a guide you need to "look" like you know what your doing bit if your just fly fishing for fun then just go have fun. And if the fishing is tough just enjoy the scenery and beauty of nature, that's something I still have to work on. Good stuff man, thank you. And PS: boy would I love to go out to Louisiana and go catch some bluegill, bass, and whatever out there, thats my dream vacation 👍
You give some good advice in here. Obviously, you get what you pay for. Yes, for panfish, you don't need an expensive outfit. I love my Cabela's CGR with a Battenkill reel. Using fiberglass rods can be far cheaper, and more durable than graphite rods. But, you do get what you pay for. I learned a long time ago, that not only is it the materials, but also the technology that goes into making equipment. Bottom line is, if you can do it, try different outfits to find what is best for you.
I got a 12 ft crappie rod, with a lews spinning reel ,with 15 pound braid ,a water barber, 1 bead ,a swivel and 10lb monofilament leader and I catch just as many fish and sometimes more fish than my friend with a fly rod setup.
It’s not a fly rod but I bought a 9 ft telescopic spinning rod combo for $40 from a Chinese website, and I rigged it with a bobber, 80 lbs braid, and some mono leader with a bobber and a small fly. It’s overkill but better safe than sorry. The whole thing folds up to like a foot long and doesn’t take as much space to cast as a fly rod, plus the action I get out of the fly is good enough to trick so many bluegill by the banks you wouldn’t believe it.
so after your other video i was looking into a 1wt rod kit and could only find a 2wt combo is there that much difference when it comes to close quarters ditch and canal fishing oh and i also own a long 5wt rod that is to long for m9st of the fishing i want to do
yea the 1wt combo kit is always sold out, but I see the 1wts rod on amazon with 15 in stock at $59.99,a reel 29.99, and line kit 18.00.. I had to buy mine all separate as well
Maxcatch make really good rods, reels, and line. I will never own a Hardy or Galvin reel or a Wilson rod…. $400 rods and $500 reels are a ridiculous concept to me.
Chuck I live out in the south west along the Colorado river north of Lake Havasu. Lots of back water bays and slow moving water & not to brushy. What length of rod should I start out with for blue gill & trout combo. I am a beginner but sure would like to pan & trout fish. Thank you & enjoy your channel!👍👍
So what will the 1 weight cast efficiently? Poppers even? I’ve seen a people say 1weight won’t cast poppers well is that a farce as well? I was gonna buy a 1 weight for bluegill
I cast small poppers and dry flies all the time on my 1wt fly rod. I can cast small poppers sized for panfish super easy, but yes, the larger poppers meant for bass you need a at lease a 4-6 wt fly line. check out my video on DIY foam popper heads I make my poppers out of punched foam bodies, but name brand like Betts cast just fine as well.
