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Best Fly Fishing Combos – Beginners Buying Guide
So what do you get in a fly fishing combo?
Fly fishing kits in the world of fly fishing are a great addition for those who want to take up the sport.
There are many ways of getting gear throughout your lifetime as an angler one of the easiest ways as a beginner is to buy a fly fishing outfit.
These combos usually come with your fly fishing rod, a fly reel fully loaded with backing, fly line and leader.
Some outfits come with extras like fly boxes, a selection of flies, possibly sunglasses and maybe a few tools like nippers, forceps and attachments for your vest.
As a beginner working out what fly rod to buy what weight of the fly reel and what fly line to use and then matching all these together so you have a balanced outfit can prove to be very daunting.
It is much easier that you buy from our list of Best Fly Fishing Combos.
Product | Image | Features | Buy Button |
1. Orvis Clearwater Combo Best Overall Combo |  | ▸Premium Cork Handle ▸Anodised Reel Seat ▸High Performance ▸25 Year Warranty | |
2. Orvis Encounter Combo Best Beginner Combo |  | ▸Reasonably Priced ▸Graphite Construction ▸Great Customer Support ▸Entry Level Fishing | |
3. Piscifun Fly Combo Best Budget Offer |  | ▸Best on a Budget ▸Limited Warranty ▸Flies Included ▸Travel Friendly | |
4. Redington Minnow Combo Best For Juniors |  | ▸Lightweight ▸Alignment Dots ▸Medium Action ▸Large Arbor Reel | |
5. Wild Water Salt Combo Best For Saltwater |  | ▸Saltwater Protected ▸Medium Action ▸Silicon Guides ▸Extension Butt | |
6. Wild Water Freshwater Best For Freshwater |  | ▸Loaded with Accessories ▸Medium Action ▸Large Arbor ▸Waterproof Fly Box |
So let me tell you more…
These outfits are produced by manufacturers to be already balanced and set up to fish perfectly well which means that the rod loaded with reel and line will sit nicely balanced in your hand ready for the overhead fly fishing cast.
Buying separately will cost more…
It is very easy then for a beginner to take up the sport when the gear that they are fishing with works perfectly.
On the other hand, trying to buy these items separately on your own with very little experience or knowledge can get complicated and you may end up with a kit that doesn’t match and makes the art of overhead casting, Spey casting or roll casting so much more difficult.
There are so many fly lines on the market today along with a multitude of fly fishing reels and rods that trying to match them all together getting the perfect setup is very difficult even for experienced anglers at times.
Line ratings assist us to find the correct rod…
One good thing is now most manufacturers provide a line rating on all their equipment.
For a rod it’s usually on the handle near the butt, they have a little marking telling the angler that the rod is a 5 weight or a 6-7 weight.
This is the same for fly reels that will usually be created or grouped together in weights like three to four or four to five, five to six and so on.
Sometimes you will get a reel that will say 6 to 7 or 6-8 and will offer accepting three different types of fly lines.
These are not so much important as the actual weight of the fly line on the rod.
The reel is usually just a container for the line in the cheaper options anyway but the fly line needs to match the rod to be able to cast properly.
So if your rod says 5 weight then make sure to get a five weight fly line.
All already set up and balanced…
The benefits to buying a fly fishing combo apart from getting the gear are it usually comes with your fly fishing rod and reel fully loaded with backing connected to your fly line and leader.
Usually, some setups now come with fly boxes a selection of flies, possibly sunglasses and maybe a few tools like nippers, forceps and attachments.
Fly fishing combo sets come from anywhere from $60 up to $300,
so read on to find out which is best for you.
As a beginner, I would recommend not spending more than $200 on your first setup.
If you don’t like the sport or find it too difficult to cast and want to give up you will be out of pocket and not likely get much for your gear if you sell it on.
Also, as a beginner you’re going to make mistakes you’re going to drop your rod or reel on the bankside maybe chipping it or damaging it and making a mess so a cheap combo kit is better, so if you do happen to damage it you’re not out a lot of money in replacing it.
When you’re more settled into the sport and have an idea of what you want you could go for a better setup or build one yourself with the experience that you will then have.
OK, we can agree fly fishing combos are a good asset to anybody starting in the sport.
So what about the differences in length and weight?
What type of fly fishing do you intend to do?
Whenever we decide to go for a fly fishing outfit we need to first decide what fishing we’re going to do if as if we are going to do small river fishing then a weight-forward five would be ideal.
However, if you’re going to do Stillwater fishing for trout and you need that extra punch off the shore out into the lake a ten-foot weight forward 7 may be better suited.
If we were fishing from the shore at the sea an 8 weight would be required to get the distance you need from the shore especially in windy conditions.
Most will start their fly fishing experiences from a river so I’ll say the 9 foot 5 weight kit is the best all-rounder and will give you the ability to fish for trout from the banking or a boat fishing on a larger river.
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Fly Fishing Combos Reviewed – Top category over $150
If we consider top-of-the-range items vs beginner items we have to say to ourselves what are we starting fly fishing for?
If you’re going to buy top-of-the-range outfits then you might be better going to the shop and asking them to get you set up properly.
A good stockist will have rods, reels and lines that will be in the upper market and well suited to each other.
Having a conversation will provide enough detail to get them started.
As mentioned before beginners are very weary setting up the reel, how to tie on the backing onto the reel, how to join the backing to the main fly line and how to join the main fly line to the front leader all require knots that all need to be done properly so they don’t break.
This is already done on a combo kit and makes the job so much easier for a beginner.
At the top category, there are fly rod kits over $150 + and ones in this range would be slightly better in materials.
The rod itself will be a little bit lighter more flexible, with a better reel seat, cork handle and guides this all adds to the experience but all comes at a cost.
They also have a fly reel which will have a better drag system better arbor and be nicely finished in an anti-corrosion layer.
A fly line will also be of better quality than ones in the budget or mid-range and some accessories that come would also be better quality giving you a nice kit to start out with.
Let’s have a look and see what’s in the range.
Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod Combo 5wt 9ft
It is very nice to have different rods for different occasions like a rod for nymph fishing, a streamer rod and a dry fly rod.
But such a big collection of the rod is not possible unless you have a huge bank account.
Instead of it, we need to get a few rods that can be used in almost all situations.
That’s especially true of the Orvis clearwater.
It gives the all-around performance and can be used in every condition of fishing.
The first impression of Orvis Clearwater is awesome.
The Orvis fishing company is well known and comes with a full backup team of fly anglers.
This rod is great to use in open river and also good to use in a small stream of the mountain.
Orvis Clearwater rod has a moderate action which offers a beautiful mixture of delicacy and power.
It is relatively easy to execute because of the accurate cast and quick loading.
Along with its medium action, it is very versatile to work, making it an ideal asset for those anglers who needs a single rod that can be used for fishing in different ways like chucking streamers.
Impressive Rod Features are
1. Woven Graphite is used for manufacturing the insert. Which makes it more durable and maintenance-free.
2. Its premium cork handle and classy olive-colored blanks are very impressive and make the rod look high-end.
You are going to love this feature if you want a rod with a great look.
3. Anodized aluminum is used for making the reel seat which keeps the reel secure and very sturdy as well and is also lightweight.
Reel Feature are;
- Powerful inline, Rulon® to stainless, stacked disc drag
- Easily Interchangeable from right to left
- High performance, affordable price
- Cast aluminum machined
- Large-arbor for speedy line pickup
- Click-drag knob feels positive
You can check out our mini-review here.
Warranty
The rod comes with a lifelong warranty of 25 years.
The rod repair program is no questions asked, if you break your clearwater then just send it to the company, they will repair it free of cost.
If the rod is not repairable then the company will replace the rod with equal value.
For replacement, the company will charge a nominal fee of $60 from you.
Features
Rod 9 ft. 5 weight, 4 piece, graphite, half wells, 3.25oz
Rod Outfit Cordura rod tube, 120 Yard of 20lb Dacron Backing, Clearwater LA II Black Reel, Orvis Clearwater Fly Line weight 5 yellow and the Clearwater Fly Rod.
Reel Anodized aluminum, large arbor, disc drag, 5.5oz
All in all you will love this outfit but at the high end cost maybe not the outfit for a beginner.
However, those with a good budget may want to consider it.
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Redington Vice Fly Fishing Combo
Redington is famous for its high-quality fly fishing gear and accessories.
This is evident in the Redington VICE Fly Fishing Outfit.
Term it classy because of the style it takes.
Definitely, a combo for grabs if you would like to buy an outfit at an affordable price without lowering its quality.
The combo comes with a reel, a leader, Cordura rod tube, a reel case and a RIO Mainstream fly line.
More below on features and specific:
This is a fast action rod with less flex and allows an angler to make long casts and cast well in the wind.
You must have good technique and timing to ace this rod.
Main features are:
Storage and portability is covered with the Cordura rod tube that had dividers to allow the 4 piece rod section properly and preventing damage.
The machined aluminum seat is anodized to protect it from the effects of corrosion and rust.
This feature makes it great for use in both fresh and salt water environments.
Quite a good thing for beginners, the alignment dots help in setting up the rod.
Stress-free and you certainly need no help here.
Redington pair this rod with its Redington I.D reel that is designed with a large arbor for quick line retrieve and ensure maximum protection to the tippet.
The Rulon disc drag is smooth and strong and makes it more capable for most types of fish and can land up to tarpon size without fail.
Its handle is twin molded and the density is remarkable. Generally, it is soft to touch and offers excellent grip and ease of control.
The I.D reel is pre-spooled with the Mainstream fly line by Rio which is 80 feet, a little short though and has a front welded loop.
Both starters and experts will find this combo interesting.
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Redington Path Fly Combo
Are you looking for a high end combo set for fly fishing that will help get your feet wet and sustain a sizable fish?
If you are, then the Redington Path Fly Combo should be among options you review.
Fly fishing tends to be an expensive endeavor especially if you are just starting out and finding value for money on your combo set may seem unattainable.
However, the Redington Path Fly Combo is designed to provide sufficient backbone and exceptional casting for an improved fly fishing experience.
It is basically an all-water set that casts under medium-fast action so you can easily gain control over how you cast.
If you have been fly fishing for a while, then you know finding a balance between rod weight and backbone (strength) can be a problem.
Most combo sets are highly promoted with flamboyant descriptions but quickly lose their backing once you catch the first fish.
Redington Path Fly Combo is not only lightweight, but has the required sturdiness to help you pull out a sizable catch.
What’s amazing about this is its ability to cast as far as you would desire.
This does not mean it cannot be used for delicate casts.
Quite contrary, it is absolutely fantastic even for the closest casts and quickly adapts to the force applied.
The heavier rods (7 wt) feature reel seats made of durable anodized aluminum while the lighter ones (6 wt and below) use wooden reel seats.
One thing you will love about this combo is its usability.
Besides effortless casting, you are provided with alignment dots that make rod setup quite easy.
The durable (Cordura) rod-tube also comes with inbuilt rod dividers so you can quickly store your rods.
I find the carrying case to be a huge bonus and while many consider this combo perfect for beginners, seasoned fishermen often find it ideal.
It also boasts several positive reviews from online stores like Amazon which is a small insight you can use to differentiate reliable combo sets from others.
Follow the link below to read more info and reviews from real users and learn from their firsthand experiences.
Features
Rod 9 ft. 5 weight, blue, 4 piece, medium fast, graphite, half wells
Rod Outfit Cordura rod tube, 120 Yard of 20lb Dacron Backing, Crosswater Black Reel, Rio Mainstream Fly Line weight 5 yellow and the Path Fly Rod. 9ft 4x leader
Reel Anodized aluminum, large arbor, disc drag
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Temple Fork NXT Fly Fishing Combo
If are out there shopping for a good fishing outfit then you need to read this.
I recommend that you try Temple Fork NXT Fly Fishing Combo set.
First and foremost, the appealing design will catch your sight, as the TFO NXT fly fishing outfit has a nice looking rod that will make your fishing activity an awesome expedition.
The rod is handsome being forest green in color and have a durable cork handle, which is why you should consider the NXT fly fishing combo set especially if you need a guarantee for a long-lasting fishing set.
The outfit comes in various sizes ranging from 8.6” to 9” (inches) for the rod’s length, sufficient for good casting on rivers.
The TFO NXT has a medium fast action made from M6 graphite, that gives the rod flexibility both at the tip and at the middle which means that the rod bends more easily right from the center.
The medium action capability is a plus on its precision when casting and ideal for anyone beginning the sport.
The kit comes together with a reel travel case that allows you to carry the outfit as a single pack and with utmost ease.
The attached reel is quite serviceable – so you are assured of not running back to the market in a short while, just in case the reel accidentally breaks.
This outfit is easy to learn, hence perfect for those using fly fishing rods for the first time.
The reel is made of stainless aluminum that protects it from unwarranted rusting, leaving your outfit looking good throughout its lifespan.
The NXT Fly Fishing Outfit is lightweight making it highly portable for a perfect experience by fly fishing anglers and is a real gift for both those who are beginning the sport.
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Orvis Encounter 9ft 8 Fly Fishing Combo
If you have just started fishing and are looking for an inexpensive quality fishing rod, the Orvis Encounter 9ft 8 fly fishing combo is highly recommended as it is a well-designed rod which is priced reasonably.
The Encounter fishing rod is designed as an entry level fishing rod for those who have just started fishing large fish, or as a backup rod for anglers whose fishing rod is misplaced or broken.
The 9 feet long fishing rod is using a graphite construction blank, which allows the angler to fish comfortably for a long period of time, without feeling tired.
The 8 weight fishing rod is ideal for fishing larger fish, as it will not be broken or damaged when the fish fight to set themselves free after they bite the bait.
A large diameter encounter arbor fly fishing reel is supplied with the fishing rod in a bag.
The reel can be handled easily so that the fish can be caught conveniently.
The fly line included is the entry-level WF8F line, which can be replaced if required.
The weight-forward trout fly line supplied with the Encounter fishing kit, allows the fly line to be cast accurately when casting for fish over a long distance.
The weight forward fly line is also suitable for transmitted the energy and controlling the fly fishing line.
The dual-tone colored line can be used to easily identify the casting point from a distance.
The fly line has backing fully loaded onto the fly fishing line, and a leader which is professionally designed and includes the necessary accessories required for fishing.
So the Orvis Encounter 9ft 8 fly fishing combo is a complete entry-level fishing kit with 4 different pieces, and most customers are satisfied with the fishing kit, which is good value for money.
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Best Fly Combos Between $100 and $150
The next category is fly rods in between $100 to $150 kits in this range will be slightly better than the budget range in the materials and possibly comes with a few extras.
The fly line will usually be good quality most likely better than the budget range however the quality of the gear will be slightly less than the top of the range as you’d expect.
Materials used will be less impressive however there are good kids in this range that some people may like better than the top of the range combos and each manufacturer has gone down a different path as to how they put together such a kit.
Redington Minnow Kids Fly Combo
Young fly anglers have an outfit to carry to the stream too.
Redington designed this for easier rod management and a relative medium fishing action.
The rod is shorter than the standard length to allow for easy casting.
Upon purchase, the outfit comes with a Crosswater reel pre-spooled with a Rio Mainstream fly line, a Minnow rod and a Cordura rod tube.
At 8 feet, the rod is shorter than the standard length.
This is advantageous to younger anglers since its weight is greatly reduced making it easier to handle and cast.
The Cordura tube’s interior is sub-divided to allow proper storage of the 4 piece rod and make transportation easy especially is you have to carry it in a backpack.
Rod set up is quite easy using the alignment dots.
The Minnow rod has a medium action offering versatility, flexibility and performance.
The rod bends moderately – half its length during casting while the other half remains stiff.
The Redington Crosswater reel has a very strong disc drag system to allow stopping power when a fish attempts to run and unreel the line.
The reel can easily convert from the right to the left hand retrieve and vice versa.
Designed with a large arbor, retrieving is quicker and easier compared to the standard and mid-size arbor reels.
The Rio Mainstream line has a short yet powerful front taper to ensure good presentation and turnover.
It is a weight forward line that is slightly heavier for easy casting in several situations.
The front welded loop is bullet proof for fast rigging.
A one year limited one year warranty is cost saving when you need repairs and replacement for your rod or reel.
As long as the circumstances that lead to malfunction are accepted by the manufacturer, you will be sorted.
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Wild Water 7/8 9’ Rod Saltwater Fly Fishing Complete Starter Package
Do you remember sometimes you visit a lake and see anglers there fly-fishing? Did you have that feeling that you wish you could do the same?
Then with the fly fishing combo from wild water you can do exactly that.
A supreme quality product containing all the components you need plus a lifetime warranty on the rod.
At an affordable price, it gives you a complete package of best features with an extra leader, a zinger plus a knot tying tool.
Specific features:
A Black Wild Water Case of length 32″ contains a 9 ft. rod breakable into 4 pieces of 28.75″ It’s an IM8 graphite rod mid flexed with slow action comes with silicon carbide stripper guides.
High-quality handle with compressed cork trim rings and butt extension making the grip easy.
A preinstalled die cast aluminum reel of large arbor design is ready with 30-pound backing, 8-weight floating fly line, and 9 feet 0X leader.
Instruction book: step by step instructions with the diagrammatic presentation is the feature you’ll love for fishing.
The commonly asked questions are answered in this quick reference guide.
With no questions asked Wild Water will either replace your rod or repair it for merely $35.00 by following some simple steps.
TECHNICAL FEATURES:
Rod: 9 ft. (4 pieces)
Reel: Die Cast Aluminum Sheet
Grip: Full Wells
Flies: 5 comes in Floating And Waterproof Fly Box (capacity up to 372 flies)
Line: 8-weight floating fly line
Backing: Orange Blaze 120 yards, 30 pounds
Leader: 9′ 0X (one preloaded and one extra)
It’s a complete starter package which you can go along with as a rookie or veteran.
Best in its class with stylish and versatile features will give you the best memories of fishing.
Get your own package soon and start fishing!
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Wild Waters Freshwater Fly Fishing Combo Sets
When it comes to fly fishing, finding the right fly rod and reel combo is one of the most difficult choices.
This product, which has everything that you require getting started, ranging from reel, rod, a fly box, zinger, travel case, flies, an instruction booklet and more, comes to the rescue, and, is an easy pick.
The 9 foot rod weights 7/8, and can be effortlessly broken down into 4 pieces for suitable carrying, and, will assist you to learn as well as make it easier to catch fish.
Moreover, its slow action design is perfect for getting perfect casts.
Also, it includes a protective sock and a user-friendly storage case.
The large arbor design reel, preloaded with 30 pound blaze orange backing will offer you the effortless action, which is essential if you wish to be prosperous in fly fishing.
The reel is intended to offer you with a good performance, and, does not over run when stripping off line, also, the line is good.
One of my favorite features of this product is that it comes with a Waterproof, Floating Fly Box, which is 5.25″ x 3.5″ x 1.25″ in size, and, can hold around 372 flies.
It is the best as the rod comes with a lifetime warranty.
The combo is light in weight and easy to carry.
It comes with not merely the flies, but also a spare leader as well as a backing, which enhances the already best deal.
The majority of the customers swore on the exceptional quality of the rod, and it looks good, too.
There are a lot of Amazon reviews about this product, and nearly all are tremendously positive.
In case, you wish to have a look at what other consumers think about this product, click below to see for yourself
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K&E Outfitters Drift Series 8 Weight Fly Combo
K&E outfitters have produced an exceptional combo the SK carbon fast action rod is a silky smooth cast.
The rod has amazing sensitivity right down to high quality cork handle.
The rod guide are made of very high quality and super smooth which helps in effortless casting.
The action on the rod is medium to fast which makes it a perfect fly rod for any level of angler.
Its 8 weight set up makes it perfect for salmon, large bass, steelhead and small saltwater species.
The reel is aluminum die-cast and is equipped with large drag knob that allows easy and quick adjustment.
The arbor is removable allowing quick cleaning and maintenance.
The drag is consistent and very much reliable.
You have a chance to choose either from silver or black finish.
How about the fly line? This is the favorite feature, the weight forward floating line is very easy to spot on the water.
It also has a natural earth tone appearance that does not scream neon. This 150 yards of backing line and 4X tippet makes it perfect.
The rod tube is made with high grade cordura material and is outfitted with adjustable strap, accessories pouch and built in rod sock which makes it to be very durable.
The fly box that is double-sided and waterproof fits perfectly well in both the rod tube pouch and shirt pocket or in your fly vest.
The K&E is perfect in terms of durability, performance and fish ability.
If you’ve not grabbed one yet then you’re the one missing in action.
Experienced users have highly recommended it.
Check our K&E Indepth Review
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Redington Crosswater 4 Piece 9ft 5-6
Are you a beginner having trouble on buying the best fishing rod and reel that is not complicated to use with pro qualities and pocket friendly?
Then the Redington Crosswater 9ft 5-6 fly fishing combo is for you. Pro-rigged by the professionals, and designed for beginner and intermediate fly casters, you have nothing to worry about once you have it.
The rod is the first item to consider when shopping for a fly fishing combo.
Redington Crosswater 9ft has a graphite fly rod with a black cotton rod stock with weights available from 4wt to 9wt for your different custom fishing needs.
It comes with medium-fast-action capabilities, making handling it a breeze for the amateurs.
The rod has alignment dots on it for easy rod set up.
Redington have included a long-lasting anodized aluminum reel seat, ideal for fresh and saltwater fly fishing.
It includes a reel pre-spooled with RIO mainstream WF floating fly line, cordura rod tube, dacron backing and RIO tapered leader.
How about the make up on it? The rod has exemplary trim details and cosmetics addons which will make you stand out.
The reel is made of durable composite material that is lightweight, versatile and the spool is easily changeable.
With a large arbor design, retrieving is faster and easier, not to mention the easiness of converting it from a left hand to right-hand retrieve or vice versa.
The strong disc drag system is phenomenal for great fish stopping power
It comes with a bag that is convenient that has pockets and straps for storing your rod and reels safely and securely.
A box is also included to store your flies securely, it is waterproof and easily portable, fits in most fishing vests.
After all is said and done, this is the best fly fishing rod for a beginner and even a pro who just wants a chilled out day without the hustle of setting up, just plug and fly!!
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Wild Water Deluxe Combo
If you are looking for the perfect fly fishing set getting started today then the Wild Water deluxe 9ft 5-6 fly fishing combo is maybe what you need at a reasonable price.
Some of the important features of this starter pack are as follows:
1) It comes with a 9 feet rod that can be dismantled into 4 pieces of 28.75 inches each.
This can then be easily stored in the protective case that is provided with the set.
The fly fishing rod has a lifetime warranty and is made from IM6 graphite, thus assuring you a tough quality product.
2) The Wild Water deluxe 9ft 5-6 fly fishing combo has snake guides made of stainless steel and sturdy silicon carbide stripper guides.
The hook keeper of the rod is made of stainless steel which helps you to easily store the fly.
It is easy to handle the rod with the help of the cork grip that comes with a western style and is accented with trim rings that are made of compressed cork.
3) The fly fishing reel is made of die cast aluminum and has a large arbor design.
It comes with a 20lb breaking strain pre-loaded backing and a weight forward size 5 fly line.
The reel is safely secured to the rod by the machined aluminum reel seat, sliding ring and fixed reel hood with the help of 2 locking rings.
This assures a sure attachment at all time while fishing without the fear of it falling apart midway.
4) As always, safety comes first. The set comes with a small fly box with a waterproof seal that keeps the contents dry and features custom designed foam inserts that makes fly storage a breeze.
The set also features a cloth rod bag that is divided into 4 compartments for rod storage.
This rod comes in a black Wild Water case that features a zippered pouch with an outside length of 32 inches.
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Best Fly Fishing combos under $100
Ok the last category is the budget range in this range you have gear that is of less quality than the ones above but still perfectly matched together to provide the beginner with a good basic kit.
Manufacturers have produced these together package them up together as such can usually drop the cost a little bit.
If these items are sold individually the total cost will be slightly higher than the kit as you would expect so the quality of the stuff you’re getting would be slightly better than what you could buy at the same price individually.
Let’s have a look at what some of the budget range has got to offer.
Piscifun Starter Fly Fishing Combo
This amazing product displays the following outstanding features; a 4 pieces 5/6wt 9ft rod, pre-spooled with fly line, arbor reel with drag, stainless steel line cutter, backing and leader, 3 different fly pattern (3/4 dozen) and a fly box, all contained in a nice tube with extended pouch for your accessories.
The fly rod is super lightweight and is 9 foot with a slow action, the size is just perfect for beginners.
This size makes it great for small streams and small trout.
The half wells cork handle aids in casting accuracy and prevents fatigue.
The traditional black fly reel which is 5/6wt is made from die cast premium aluminum alloy.
The amazing smooth click drag offers not only immediate but also accurate drag engagement.
The mid-arbor is designed to reduce line memory and to facilitate the lighting, quick line pickup.
The pre-spooled fly line, leader and backing line will save your time.
The fly box comes with a lanyard, this will allow you to keep it safe on you and not lose it.
The nine flies of three different fly patterns in the box is a great deal and has already been prepared for your fly fishing.
Its stainless steel line clippers are very easy to carry and they’re also durable.
This combo is just very friendly to travel with. The harden case holds everything perfectly well in the package.
Your stuff is kept very safe by the zippered pouch which is at the bottom of the case. Safety is guaranteed.
Repair or replacement for Piscifun starter fly combo is covered within the limited warranty period.
This is a must have fly fishing starter that you shouldn’t miss. No worry to try it out, many users have given out very positive reviews about it.
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Scientific Anglers 5-6 Trout Fly Fishing Outfit
New to Fly fishing or have you been fishing all your life?
Well, the fact of the matter is, regardless of who you are, you would want Scientific Anglers 5/6 WT Trout Fly Fishing outfit in your arsenal of fishing rods.
Scientific Anglers who have been at the forefront of fly fishing technology since 1945 through their rigorous market leading innovation and development presents to you their 5/6WT Fly Fishing Outfit.
A perfect mid size fishing rod for anyone.
It does not matter if you are new to Fly fishing because Scientific Anglers have got you covered with their expertise and high performance product.
The outfit packs a 8’ft6″ high quality graphite rod with a moderate action and a sturdy rod tube, it is a four piece rod, which is very simple to assemble and very easy to pack.
It would be perfect if you are travelling and want your fishing rod to accompany you wherever you go.
The outfit also comes with a preloaded dependable lightweight disc drag reel, so you don’t have to worry about getting the right sized line for your rod.
There is palming rim added to your reel for that extra drag.
Now you know for sure, your catch is not getting way too ahead of you, trying to overrun or reach a log jam.
Scientific Anglers 5/6 WT Trout Fly Fishing outfit comes in two colors, green and tan, choose your pick because both look amazing with a lot of attention to detail.
You would know if you have been fishing for sometime now.
The price is more than justified for what it has got to offer, it is worth every penny, a real bang for your buck.
Trout fishing could not have been made any simpler.
So get your fly fishing career started with the Scientific Anglers 5/6 WT Trout Fly Fishing outfit.
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Net Angler 8ft 5-6 Fly Fishing Combo
If you are looking for an affordable fly fishing combo for you then Net angler 8ft 5/6 Fly combo is the product of choice.
What we look for in a fly fishing set is its durability, lightweight, easy to carry and its cost.
This product meets all of those expectations. Here we are going to talk one by one about the rod and reel specifications.
Impressive features of the fly fishing rod:-
Fly rod comes with 4-piece. With basic length 8′ and breakdown length of 27″.
Fly fishing rod is made of the carbon, which makes it easy to carry and you will not fatigue easily.
The rod handle is made of cork for comfortability and the reel seat is simple and firm.
The reel seat is adjustable and made of aluminum and has two locking nuts.
The guide ring is manufactured with high-grade stainless steel, which is harmless to the fishing line.
The guides made of chromated steel reduces the friction and hence heat production.
The rods weight is reduced without making any compromise with the durability of the fishing rod.
It is because of the increased fiber density by molding with high pressure.
The strong layered construction with the graphite reduces the weight and increases the performance and durability, which makes every one of us love this fishing rod.
Features of Reel:-
The weight of the reel is light at 5.2 oz which is designed for balancing of lightweight fly fishing rods.
Line stacking is less and retrieval rate is high.
The reel is made of aluminum alloy which makes it more corrosion resistant in all of the environment and more durable.
The surface is anodized for protection and resistant from corrosion.
It is very easy to interchange between left and right hand.
Smooth Drag:- The gear ratio is 1:1. The Roller Bearing system is one way only, which is favorable for immediate and smooth drag engagement.
Disk drag is designed with superior Teflon.
Included in the package:-
- One fly fishing Rod
- One fly fishing Reel
- One preinstalled WF5 fly fishing line
- 16 flies in a waterproof fly box
- The case can carry everything that is included in the package.
This fly fishing combo by Net Angler has good reviews and well received by the anglers who have used it. A great setup for the beginner on small rivers or child starting out.
Check Net Angler Combo Amazon Availability
FAQ’s on the Best Fly Fishing Combos
What is the best fly rod and reel combo?
- Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod Combo 5wt 9ft
- Sage Foundation Fly Fishing Combo
- Redington Vice Fly Fishing Combo
- Scientific Anglers Ampere Fly Combo
- Redington Path Fly Combo
- Temple Fork NXT Fly Fishing Combo
- Orvis Encounter 9ft 5 Fly Fishing Combo
What is the best fly fishing combo for beginners?
- Wild Water Deluxe Combo
- Orvis Encounter 9ft 5 Fly Fishing Combo
- Redington Vice Fly Fishing Combo
Is fly fishing an expensive hobby?
It can be if you go for top brands and get all the gear but anyone can fly fish on a budget. Buying a starter combo a few flies can have you up and running for about $100.
Do you catch more fish fly fishing?
Not necessarily, as a decent angler can catch with any discipline. However, fly fishing does allow you to target many species quickly and once you get into it catching can become easier.
What size fly fishing rod should I get?
If just starting out a 9ft 5 weight is a decent rod as you can just as easily fish with dry flies, streamers or nymphs.
Conclusion so there you have it fly fishing combos of all types and sizes.
As I said previously a kit that is basic which just comes with the rod, reel and fly line is ideal for anybody on a budget.
It will get them started all you need is leader material and a few flies and you can get going.
If you are looking to buy a gift for somebody who’s new to the sport then you can go for a kit that has got the rod, reel, line and some of the accessories and a bag to carry it all in.
That way they have it all to start however this will cost a little bit more than the basic gear.
Those of you who may have done a bit before and want to go and buy a second outfit for backup or a decent outfit to replace your current combo then expect to pay above $150.
In that combo you will get a better quality rod reel and fly line which will last you a lot longer than some of the more basic setups.
I believe that anything on here is worth a look and will do what is expected under its price tag.
If you have any further question on these combos then drop us a line or add a comment and I will come back to us as best I can.
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Your articles never cease to amazing me with the depth of your guides. Well done on going through all the price ranges too. Man, a kid’s set between $100-$150… I sure hope that thing is kid-proof, haha! That’d be a lot of money to lose. Maybe put a bobber on it so you could easily find it if it gets dropped in the water, heh.
Christina, it depends on the kid but I wouldn’t risk an expensive outfit on a child very young. $100 is not a bad starting point for a kid’s outfit you can spend that much on a fly line alone if you wanted so it’s a bargain really, you can get ones cheaper but they are not easy to cast and will frustrate the child into giving up before they get the chance to experience the sport properly.
Hi
Thank you for the article you shared with us about Best Fly Fishing Combos,
I’m going to talk about (Orvis 2019 Clearwater 905-4 Fly Rod Outfit )
I am new to fly fishing but I like to purchase quality gear in all of my sporting adventures and this rod is no exception. Looks and feels like a quality combo that I will use for many, many years, can’t beat the 25-year warranty either. Highly recommended.
Once again Thank you
25 years of a warranty will provide confidence to all users. The Orvis Clearwater is a great outfit and has been revamped recently to give better user experiences. A true favorite of many fly anglers on the water.
Thank you so much for this article, I have finally taken up fly fishing as my wife said that I should get out more and enjoy the fresh air. I am a beginner and I have to say that the Wild Waters combo looks pretty attractive to me. Do you think as a beginner that it will work for me?
Hey Jean, the Wild Waters combos are perfect for beginners. They have loads of extras like fly boxes and tippet depending on which one you go for. They are already set up waiting to be fished right from the box making it so much easier for you to get into the sport.
Thank you so much for this! I have been thinking about getting into fly fishing for some time. I live on a lake and fish for trout on occasion. I do not know much about fly fishing except that it looks fun and would be another approach to take in getting some trout if they aren’t going for my lures. I had no idea that combos were sold for people with little experience in fly fishing like myself. Thank you for explaining all of this and giving such great options!
Angela, you are the perfect customer for a fly fishing combo. You are new to fly fishing and know very little about setting it up and live close to a lake. Getting a combo with all the gear set up correctly will save you so much time that you could fly fishing later the same day of purchase.
A nicely written article. One thing that this past year has taught me is to appreciate the outdoors much more, so when life gets back to some semblance of normality I definitely intend on going on trips where I can enjoy nature. I’ve done a little fishing from a boat when I lived in the Caribbean, but I’ve always wanted to try fly fishing, so after reading your article it has inspired me to do a bit more research on the sport and some of the places where I can try it. I will certainly take a look at some of your other articles on your site to learn more.
Hey Paul, yea it’s been a time when getting into the outdoors has become a premium time and fly fishing is a great way to do it. As a newbie check out our beginner section for more details.
Hello and thank you so much for your great article Best Fly Fishing Combos 2021. I am really new to fly fishing and I have learned a lot of info from your post. Getting a combo means the beginners will not make mistakes as it’s very clear! Following your recommendations is the best way to get to it easily.
Yes, Lisa buying a combo will get the beginner into fly fishing so much quicker than trying to do it themselves. As all the pieces are matched and ready to go fishing it leaves all the guesswork out of it so beginners can get into casting practice first before having to go and learn how to tie loads of different knots etcetera.
Hello admin, it’s a nice site you have here and this is some very good content to help newbie to get the right apparatus for fishing and that could make their experience more fun and exciting. The idea of getting the right fishing equipment saves you from stress and helps you to make the most of your time while fishing and that is great.
Hey Sean, you get it. The right fly fishing tackle will help get the fly angler to the fishing quickly and combo fly fishing sets are great at doing that.
My husband loves fly fishing. He has the waders and the fly fishing rod already but it seems like it is harder than your regular normal fishing so I am considering getting him some gadgets to help him out a bit with the kit. His birthday is right around the corner as well. I am a big fan of Orvis products, Going to check Orvis Encounter 9ft 8 Fly Fishing Combo out. Thanks for your review.
Great to hear about your husband getting gear to fly fish. An Encounter combo set from Orvis would be ideal for his birthday. It is already set up and balanced so he will be able to go fishing very quickly. I would just say is your husband fishing for pike or redfish in which case the 8 weight will be fine if it’s trout may I suggest going lighter and getting the 5 weight setup.
Thank you for this article, you made buying this major equipment easy to follow. A beginner following your instructions in detail will not make mistakes. I am attracted and caught by the Redington vice fly fishing combo. It quality fishing gear and accessories is outstanding in the market. And like you rightly said, the come with good quality at an affordable price
Redington does produce some nice combo fly fishing sets and the vice is on that list you will not be disappointed Parameter.
Well although I do not really fancy Fishing, I have a few mates who go fly fishing regularly so I will pass it on to them. Good idea from the manufacturers to make up these fly combos that are ready to go fly fishing with. It sounds like a good idea to help them out as best they can so they will not be frustrated but rather excited into buying furthermore expensive gear as their love of the sport builds.
Exactly right, nothing better than getting a new angler excited about the sport so they come back again and again to buy more and more products to further enhance their experience in the sport.
I haven’t gone fly fishing in a while and it makes me really nervous how it would be when next I go fishing and that has made me want to know some very important basics about it all again. Seeing all the time you have invested here in this article and the points made what do you think would be a good starter combo for someone looking to fly fish for trout off a drift boat?
If looking to fly fish from a drift boat you would need something between 9 and 10 feet in length which is medium to fast-acting. The length helps with mending the fly line as you negotiate pockets of water as you drift down a river. Mending both downwards and upwards to either speed up or slow down the drift to get the flies down to the trout you are after. Too short a rod will make this process so much harder.
Hello there, I am new to fly fishing and I really enjoyed every bit of the list on fly fishing combos. I will recommend these to any fisherman out there because the prices are not killing at all. I really like the clearwater combo although it’s a bit pricey for my budget what do you think is it worth going for or one about half the price?
I would recommend getting the Orvis Clearwater fly combo, it may be a bit more expensive than the likes of the Orvis encounter combo or Redington Path but that bit extra does give you superior gear. The materials used are top-notch and the warranty will look after you if you get a minor accident. It really is worth that wee bit extra.
Hello there, one of the hardest fly fishing choices for beginners is finding and choosing a good fly rod and reel combo. A good fly fishing rod will help you learn and make it easier to cast and catch fish while a bad rod might be so troublesome that you give up the sport altogether. Thanks for sharing.
Exactly right Nelson, get the wrongly balanced setup and it will make the act of casting so much more difficult. A decent angler can cast just about any rod but a beginner will struggle and that can put them off completely. That’s why manufacturers have made these sets so that it takes all the hard work out of setting up your outfit and gets beginners out fishing quickly.
Good to know there is a wide variety of combos and these can be affectionate to those who are novices when it comes to style and weight. Interesting to know that a different fly fishing combo is specially made for the beginners! It’s perfectly made and set up for an immediate use. The fly line has been already setup and the knots worked out by default.
Though I know nothing about fly fishing, I’m particularly impressed by the information provided in the post such that I almost resolved to start fly fishing soon.
The beginner fly fishing combo already setup and balanced by the fly fishing manufacturer so the beginner doesn’t have to work out how to put it all together. All the knots, line and leader ready to start fishing. All you need is a bit of casting practice a few flies and you are ready. A great gift for a newbie or as a second setup for more experienced fly anglers.
I live just next to a river, and I am the only one without a fishing rod. I have a friend who’s a Fisherman so I learned how to fish. However, I don’t really have my own fishing equipment. I like the fly combo called Piscifun, The fly fishing reel is made of die-cast aluminum and has a large arbor design. That’s another lovely one.
If your budget doesn’t allow you to buy the better-priced combos in our list then the Piscifun combo is a pretty decent runner-up. It might not last as long as the others but will give you loads of hours of fun.
I have not done fly fishing before, but every time I hear about it I can’t help but be reminded of the film A River Run’s Through It. Have you seen it?
Having the right tools when doing something is so important. You are right. Otherwise its like trying to cut a steak with a butter knife.
Having a rod and reel set up correctly with fly line and tippet is a great start for any beginner looking to get into fly fishing. Why mess about trying to learn how to tie knots and balance the setup when it can be bought in a great combo. As for the film loved it very inspirational for any angler.
These are some really great fly fishing combos you have here, that I find it hard to choose one. I have never participated in fly fishing, but I definitely will some day. In this regard, it is vital that I get to learn about fly fishing equipment, wears and tools. And indeed, I did learn on or two from this article. And finally, I pick the Sage Foundation Fly Fishing Combo.
As a newbie Nelson, a fly fishing combo would be the perfect option for you to buy. That way you get a full setup ready to fly fish and you don’t have to worry about tying knots to put it all together. The Sage Foundation would be one of the top-end combos out there. They have more at higher price ranges too but it has some of the best materials available and will last you years if looked after properly.
Wow there’s so many different kinds of combos! Great to see that they can be friendly to beginners in terms of weight and style. I’ve only done very basic forms of fishing before but it’s cool to see how in depth the hobby can truly get. Love the colors and presentation of the article, so I’ll be sure to come back with questions
There is a fly fishing combo for every beginner Quentin, they come in all sorts of colors and styles. The best thing about them is they are already setup for you to get fly fishing straight out of the packet. No need to work out the knots and setup your fly line for fishing. A great thing for any new fly angler.
Hello,
From my online research, an ideal fishing combo for beginners would be the one that is easy to use and measures high on quality, wild water is simply the best starter fly fishing combo you can get, this complete fly fishing package for beginners includes a rod, a rod case, a large reel with preinstalled line, flies, a fly box, backing and leader, a rod sock, and a detailed reference guide. There is much that comes with the kit.
Thank you.
Aluko.
You have hit upon a decent beginner combo there Aluko. The Wildwater combos contain loads of accessories to help get the newbie fly angler into the sport quickly.
Having all the items pre-installed together saves the beginner a lot of time and frustrations so they are ready to go fly fishing without any hassle.
Manufacturers are sure if they do a good job the beginner will continue in the sport and buy more advanced equipment later on down the line so it’s in their interest to provide a decent combo to begin with.
Hello there! Thank you so much for sharing with us such a wonderful article. Seeing the pictures in your article made me really excited. I lived in the riverside with my uncle, a Fisherman so I learnt how to fish. However, I don’t really have my own fishing equipments. I like the fly combo called Piscifun Starter Fly Fishing Combo and I am definitely going to get it. I’m going to share with this with my friends and family. Thank you
Great to hear Sophie that you have experience in fly fishing with your uncle. Ladies are the fastest growth area in the sport these days with more and more ladies taking to the rivers and lakes in search of some freedom and peace away from their busy lives.
Piscifun have developed a decent range of tackle including some fly fishing tackle which are set at a price range for beginners looking to get into the sport without spending a fortune.
Hey, I enjoy a lot while while reading your article on best fly fishing combos 2020. Your step by step guide is very helpful for everyone like me. The fly fishing reel is made of die cast aluminum and has a large arbor design. The set comes with a small fly box with a waterproof seal that keeps the contents dry and features custom designed foam inserts that makes fly storage a breeze. Thanks for your awesome guide.
Hi Mark,
Many thanks to you for sharing such an excellent article with us. To me, the weight of the reel has seemed very important. I have never fly fished before but I am interested in moving it forward. It is within my budget. I will spend a little time on my work and studies as well as extra time. It will surely be a new experience.
The good thing about combos is the manufacturer makes sure the reel matches the rod and line and so makes everything balanced and perfect to cast. Especially good for the beginner who needs everything to work well together.
Amazing! I always find your articles on fishing very interesting cause it’s full of necessary information for buyers who’s just getting started with fishing. This one in particular is an eye opener, next time I’ll look out for the line ratings on the handle to be sure I’m buying the right one! Thank you very much!
Line rating is very important to make the job easier in matching all the gear together. Great job the manufacturers put the information there for us to find.
Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful article with us. Your article was interesting and informative. I have got a lot of information about the best fly fishing combos. Fly fishing is a favorite of my hobbies and I love fishing. I enjoyed reading about the Sougayilang Fly Fishing Combo and I loved this fishing company and would like to buy the Sougayilang Fly Fishing Combo. I will share your article with my friends so that after reading your article, my friends can collect these fly fishing combos. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back to your website later.
The Sougayilang Fly Combo is a nice wee package coming with a selection of flies to get you started. One of the cheaper combos in our lineup but well received with many positive reviews. It will serve you well as a beginner rod for a season or two but you will find yourself looking for something with more backbone once you get into the sport. However as a beginner fly rod combo its perfect to get you started.
Hello, I really want to first appreciate your effort in putting this great website together and writing this article. I must say it took me a while to go through this page but it was worth it. I have accumulated massive information that I can share with my friends. Now I can fully decide on which fly fishing combo to buy. Thanks a lot for this review
Thanks a lot Benny, we do try.
Well, you’re definitely right about getting the right selection, it is truly a daunting task. So, if I’m being honest, this review actually simplifies the process. The fly-fishing combo certainly provides a good base for a beginner. Truth is, I’d rather avoid all the stress of trying to get the equipment separately mostly because I wouldn’t know what to look for. The scientific anglers ampere combo seems like the ideal fit for me. I think I’ll enjoy every minute of this. Really glad I found this.
The deal is to make it easier for the beginner to get into the sport. A fly fishing combo does that by having all the correct gear put together ready to fly fish.
Hello there, thanks for this awesome article it would be of great help to the public as it has been of help to me. I love fly fishing as its one of my favourite leisure activities and I must tell it’s really fun……I have been looking to change my fishing gear and I think I would get some of the ones you listed there.. I think the Clearwater fly fishing Combo would suit my needs.
You have made a good decision there, the Clearwater fly fishing combo is the complete package. Made to bring excellence to the beginner and takes all the effort out of working out what goes with what.
No need to worry about what weight of fly line you need or what size of fly reel they are all worked out to work together well fully balanced and ready for action.
Hi Mark. Fly fishing is such an amazing sport to enjoy. I was very much interested in the sport especially when I was a little boy. It wouldn’t be very much enjoyable without the best fly fishing combos. As a beginner in the sport of fly fishing, it’s not easy to know the fly fishing combos to buy because there are hundreds if not thousands to choose from. So I find this post very helpful in choosing the best ones because you are in the right position to show us the very best. Thanks for the advice and tips.
Regards!
That’s what we are here for, to show the beginner a few of the best fly fishing combos on the market so hopefully they can make a better informed decision on which one to get.
Hi, I’ve never gone fly fishing before. But I have heard many good things about it. I like the idea of getting a kit. In particular a beginner’s kit. It just sounds like it would save you so much hassle of having to pick everything up separately. And if you miss out on something, it’s likely to make your experience a lot less enjoyable.
Hey Jake you have hit it on the head, buying a fly kit takes all the problems of working it out for yourself away from you so you can fish with confidence with your new fly fishing combo and not worry about the gear not matching or working properly.
Hiya Mark
Thanks for your extremely thorough article about fly fishing rods. I know zero about fishing so I’m afraid my cringe question is what is chucking fluff? I have never seen so many rods before. My brother in law is an avid fisherman but I don’t know what type of fishing he does. I know he has won awards for it and is very good.
I am also quite surprised at how much it costs to fish in various places. My partner went fishing in the sea for his last birthday but he didn’t catch anything! I think he enjoyed sitting by the beach though. If he expressed an interest in taking it up as a hobby I could definitely recommend he take a look at your site so I will bookmark it for him. Thank you for providing so much information to enable him to make an informed choice, krs PurpleLioness
Chuckingfluff or to chuck fluff is the art of casting flies(the fluff) to fish with the use of a fly rod, reel and line. It can get expensive but there are also many budget fly combo sets to get the beginner into the sport.
Thank you so much for sharing with us such a beautiful article. Seeing the pictures in your article made my eyes wander. My father used to watch me fishing. I like the fly combo called Piscifun Starter Fly Fishing Combo and I want to buy it and I discussed it with others and found that it would be best. I am hoping my dream will come true soon. I have saved the article to find out about these combos among my friends.
This products you put here are really the best from the market.
My father is passionate about this sport and I would like to make him one of these products for his birthday. I think he would really like the Redington VICE Fly Fishing Outfit – Fly Rod & Reel Combo. I have heard that carbon rods are the best for fishing, the most durable and easy to use. The price of $299.99 is very cheap considering that I found this product on other sites at a price of over $500. When it comes about quality, I can say that Redington’s make the best products on the fishing market.
Good luck!
I own Orvis Clearwater LW 5, and i would have to disagree about the handle quality. The inside of the handle is made out of card board and it is the part that connects the graphite end with the aluminum handle but. Now you don`t have to be an expert to know that the card board and water don`t get along to well so after getting wet the but fell out and if it wasn`t for the line i could have lost the reel and i was lucky to notice the failure in time to prevent losing the but itself. The response i got from Orvis support team was disappointing to say the least, so i had to fix it myself( the epoxy did the trick). On the other hand the rest of materials and the rod all together are excellent.
Not sure what has happened here Milos but the Clearwater does not have a cardboard reel seat. It is a full black aluminum reel seat and besides that, it comes with a 25-year guarantee so I’m sure if you sent it
to Orvis they would have replaced the butt section. All I can assume that it was either an early edition of the rod or a cheap knock off. Good job you managed to fix it yourself at any rate.
Awesome review with descriptions that even a person with little knowledge of fly fishing can easily follow. The stunning images add to the high quality of the review. Thanks for including comparisons of the available equipment and appliances as well as your personal experience of some of them. How do readers know when you update this information?
Thanks for the kind words. We do try to provide good information for the reader so they can make informed purchases. There are so many fly fishing combos on the market and more arriving all the time. Its nice to be able to rely on information that comes from tried and tested fly anglers.
I am happy I stumbled across your website. My dad has been trying to talk me into learning how to fly fish. He got into it a couple years ago after I went to college. However having only used my trusty Zebco, it is hard to know where to start. Although it looks as though my best bet would be to get a fly fishing combo vs buying things separately. Is it easy for a beginner to learn how to fly fish?
Hey Pamela we have a few resources on the website for the beginner. The casting clinic is a great start for learning how to fly cast. Also the section for beginners learning to fly fish has everything to get you started. If there is something we missed let us know so we can add it to the section.
Thank you for this article, I have been planning on taking my son out fly fishing now that he is older, but had no idea where to start! The Redington Minnow Kids Fly Combo looks perfect for my son, and I think I like the Wild Waters Combo Sets for myself.
Do you think that will be good for a beginner such as myself? I like the idea of the combo sets so I have everything I need to get started!
Can’t wait to get out there and catch some fish! Thank you for the extensive list. It looks like anything I could want is listed here!
Hey Travis, the Redington Minnow is excellent for younger anglers it is slightly smaller and lighter for them to be able to handle it. The Wild Water Combos are also full to the brim of useful accessories to help you get into the sport quickly. Both good additions to a family fly fishing team.
I will tell you that if someone is looking for a fly rod they would be foolish to go anywhere else. Your post is fantastic! I think that if I fly fished, I would have found 2 or 3 rods that would work for me.
I bait fish off of the side of our boat. I like the crape and orange fish to eat. My husband likes to fish for walleye. Boy talk about an ugly fish and it is mean and has teeth.
I didn’t realize until I read your article that there was different lines for fly fishing. I can see why you should buy all your equipment put together in one group. It is definitely easier then trying to put something together and not know what you missed. I think I like the Redington crosswater fly combo the best.
I learned that you can fly fish in salt water. I would think that with the waves it would disturb the line but maybe that is exactly what you need if you are standing on a pier and fly fishing. In Long Beach CA I remember walking out on the pier and watching the old men fish. Some of them would sit and read there book while others were more active. They all caught fish.
Great article for your title. It’s very interesting to say the least. Fly fishing is one of my husband’s favorite sport. I’m looking for a gift for him this Christmas and I think now I know what to go for.
On the list you have provided, which would be good for an intermediate angler who has fly fished and owns a few rods already? He spends most of his time going after trout on mid sized rivers.
There are a few basic combos on the list that probably the more experience angler would not find worthy.
However, there are a few that guides and guillies find excellent and use as backup combos for clients when things go wrong, for example, breakage of clients’ gear.
Of these combos the Clearwater Fly Combo, the Sage Foundation Combo or the Redington Vice Combo are decent fly fishing packages made a bit better with quality materials to please people in the category. I’m sure any of these will be a good purchase for him.
You might not believe this, but I’m in the market for finding the perfect Christmas gift for my husband. We live in an area where people fly fish all the time. He always has expressed an interest but never had the equipment. I found your post was extremely well written and informative. You’ve covered everything! Thank you for that! You’ve given me the perfect solution for a hard-to-shop-for husband! He’s going to love this and love getting the opportunity to fly fish! Thank you!
You are most welcome. I am sure he will be happy with a combo set from our list. May I suggest the Orvis Clearwater Combo as a possible consideration. It is top gear at a fraction of the price for gear of similar quality.
I really like the graph that you made. How did you do that with all of the different sorting options and everything? If it’s too much to explain don’t worry about it I can Google it. But it is very cool.
I think you are right in that buying an all-in-one kit can be a better option than buying each parts separately, especially for beginners. It is just simpler knowing that everything comes included. Once you get a little more to an intermediate level of understanding then you can think about individual components because you understand how each part works. Plus, a kit is a good idea for a gift especially if it’s for someone who likes fishing but not really tried fly fishing as much.
Thanks again and I look forward to reading more of your articles.
I remember when my friend firstly bought his fly fishing equipments and how he struggled a lot to keep them together and fit them up and put it into a boat for him to go on fishing because it was too long. Who knew he would major in a job as a fisherman. I like this post a lot and I know my friend would love it more. Excellent listing of tools you suggested in the post and I must say, they are top notch. Though I can still remember a couple of them but most are still new to me. Hopefully, after I suggest this post to him, he would find some of the equipments useful and get more. Great post
This is a seriously great post. I didn’t know that one could actually purchase great combos like this for fly fishing. I am even ecstatic that there’s a combo for kids seeing that my younger sister says they want to go for camp this summer and she will like to go with some fly fishing equipment. Easy combo, very good, I’ll get something for her from the list.
Yes, manufacturers are keen to get more people into the sport and the way to do it is get them to buy a combo which is already setup balanced and ready to fish out of the box. That way newbies don’t get frustrated trying to learn how to set up the fly line, tying several knots that may not work properly and probably lose them fish.
It’s also great that they are targetting different sections of the sport like children and ladies now there are more and more combo outfits out there for these as well as more for intermediate and advanced anglers.
Thanks for the guide Mark! I’m fly-fishing in Iceland for 2 years now. I started with the orvis encounter 8wt, because its versatile for both salmon and trout/char fishing, and rivers are quite big here. But there are also lakes and smaller streams, which is why I would like to get a 5 or 6 wt combos.
Here everything is more expensive, and all combos are around 250$. I have the choice between:
– the orvis encounter
– the redington crosswater and the redington Path II
– the scierra SRX V2
– the Vision Fisu
I’m targeting trouts and Arctic char for small and medium rivers and lakes, using streamers, nymphs and rarely dry flies.
Which combos would you recommend for this usage? I’m very happy with the orvis I have, but maybe trying other brands would help me progress as well…? I’m not considering changing fly line, so which set would have the best fly line?
Thanks for your time,
Antoine
Antoine great to hear of you fishing in Iceland. I hear the rivers are pristine and well worth a visit. One on my bucket list for sure.
On the combos, I would suggest the Redington’s as a change, both come with the Rio mainstream fly line although a budget line does a decent job of delivering flies to the destination. The other combos mentioned all seem to come with a basic fly line and will get you started but better to switch them out for something better.
Hi there!Wow!
This is amazing. This is new to me. I never have seen this before. And this article is different from others. You have choose a different topic for your article. It has seen you have researched well about fly fishing kits.A good stockist will have rods, reels and lines that will be in the upper market and well suited to each other And you shared some awesome kits over here. I liked the Sage Foundation Fly Fishing Combo most as its 9 feet 4 pieces are made up of graphite and so powerful. I would like to buy for an amazing experience.
Hello there!
Ohh this is amazing. Your Best Fly Fishing Combos are really amazing. This will truly guide anglers for the best experience of fly fishing. You have shared so many amazing fly fishing combos that every single combo can make us buy them. Specially persons having so many lazy times and spend their times by fishing, your combos would be the best gift for them in this year of 2019. I liked the Sougayilang Fly Fishing Combo most as it has come as a complete package.
Post simply fantastic! For those like me who are a novice in this area there is a lot of useful information to get started. Everything is well explained and illustrated. The quality and quantity of reviews has left me breathless. It’s time for me to pick one and go fishing!
There are plenty of reels to choose from anyway Fabio if you need assistance let me know I will try to guide you.
Thanks for this amazing article, I and some friends have decided to going fishing at the lake and I figured I need to get me some fishing equipments when I came across this article, it is filled with lots of information and ideas way better than my intentions, although this is going to be my first time fishing and I was a little nervous on what to get but I’ll go with the Redington Crosswater fly combo for a start, what do you think?
The redington crosswater outfit is really a good one if you are a beginner. With a medium – fast action its forgiving enough to allow small mistakes in casting. The Rio Mainstream fly line is basic enough and will do the job but I would recommend upgrading when you get a bit better at casting to maybe the Airflo River and Stream to get further and more accurate casts.
This is a great idea to sell these flying fishing kits, rather than having to buy it all separately at a higher price. I think that this will make a great gift for my brother, who loves to fish and who seems to have everything else, which makes him hard to buy for.
I really like the look of the Orvis Combo, but I am thinking maybe I should ask him first if he likes it before I buy and it’s the wrong thing. I like that the rod has a lifetime warranty and the rod outfit looks really smart. I was thinking of embroidering his name onto it just for a personal touch.
I’m sure he will be happy with the orvis clearwater combo, its full of components to assist the fly fishing anglers activities. I have to say to you though the warranty isn’t lifetime but 25 years which is still a long time and will keep you covered if something goes wrong.
Especially when starting out, I think the fly-fishing combo sets that are available make a lot of sense as it allows the newbie to focus on the fishing as opposed on setting the equipment up when they have no idea of what to look for. As they gain more experience, they can decide on what to upgrade to and also will know what to get.
Of the 7 suggestions for the best combo sets for over $150 that you included, I agree with your assessment that the Orvis Clearwater set is the best option. It has the features you will likely need starting out and can be used in most situations you may find yourself in when fishing.
The rod and the reel in the Orvis Clearwater set both are of great quality and the 25-year warranty is nice to have for the rod. I have had a broken rod more than once, and getting it back up to snuff at no cost is a nice benefit of this set. I know the price is a bit more than some cheaper sets you can get, but generally, I have found that you get what you pay for with combo sets. You get quality with this set.
You have picked out the best of the bunch Dave, the Clearwater Fly Fishing Combo has it all and the warranty is well worth it. Accidents do happen and getting a new top section quickly is a real game-changer.
Hi Mark,
Thank you for such an educational article! I have always wanted to try fly fishing, but I think the last time I fished, it was in the muddy Mississippi. Once I left Iowa for the big city, I put all fishing fantasies to rest. Where in this country does one fly fish?
I have to say I loved the site, it was well written and the pictures where top notch! How did you do the animated fish at the top? I think all special equipment and knowledge need for fly fishing intimidated me a little. Except for the two oceans, I seem to always live amongst the muddiest rivers. Can you fly fish in muddy rivers?
Thanks again for a great article!
John
Muddy waters are not really much use John to be fair. The water doesn’t need to be gin clear but as a guide anglers normally say if they can’t see there wading boots while wading knee deep then the water is too cloudy for fly. Better using bait as fish can locate it with smell as sight is no longer an option.
Hi Mark!
Great post and very helpful to anyone interested in starting to fish. It may be a little difficult and overwhelming to begin a new sport, but your post covers everything a beginner would worry about. I had no idea about these fly fishing outfits you mention and how they were made to serve a specific purpose.
From your article, I found out that there is a great variety of fly combos for experts and beginners, and people who want to start fishing would have to make an investment at some point. Do you think many people quit fishing because of all the equipment required? Because it seems like you need a lot of things to do it correctly.
Besides that, you provided a lot of information for all these different combos, so anyone looking for a fly fishing combo can definitely find one that best suit them here.
Best,
Mariana
Hey Mariana I do agree, some beginners can become overwhelmed with all the equipment and techniques involved. That’s why a combo fly fishing set is a great idea for anyone trying to get into the sport. It combines all the equipment required to start fly fishing which is balanced and setup ready to go. They don’t need to learn how to put it all together until they have at least tried it out first.
I remember when my brother brought his fly fishing equipment the first time here to be used in actual fishing out in the sea, we struggled putting the equipment in a boat because it’s too long. That taught us that the next time we will buy a rod, it should be foldable or detachable into small pieces. I mean, some we can assemble and disassemble. So, among these combos, which one do you recommend to us?
Gomer that problem should not be around any longer. Most rod combos now come as a 4 piece rod which breaks down to less than a meter in size. They are made like that to be able to take on board airplanes so getting them onto a boat should be a dawdle. If you have the money to spend I would go for the Orvis Clearwater its a lovely setup with great support from a great manufacturer.
Thanks for this wealth of information, I have often taken the kids fishing with me and they enjoy it. I have been looking recently at learning how to fly fish and I wanted to get them into it too. Think I might spoil myself a bit and shell out for a slightly better combo and get the boys something in the $150 range.
You’ve given me plenty to choose from in this article. Thanks again
Hey Dominic doesn’t hurt to spoil yourself every now and again. A setup around $150 should be great for the kids and get them started in the sport. The Kids Minnow Outfit is a decent buy especially for younger kids being only 8ft long its lightweight enough for them to handle.
I just read your post on best reels for fly fishing as I am looking to get back into fly fishing, and then came across this post for beginners… wow… this has everything I need to get started, appreciate the time you put into sharing this information… you have saved me a ton of time and research. Thanks again man.
Thanks Robb, for beginners a fly fishing combo is a good deal. You get the fly rod, fly reel filled with fly line and backing plus a few accessories including a rod tube to carry and protect your gear. As its already matched and balanced by the manufacturer the beginner can focus on casting and fishing for trout rather than trying to work out which know works where. It takes all the guess work out of it.
I was asking myself, how am I going to balance the fly rod with the fly reel weight?
I don’t think I’ve put much thought to all this, maybe that is where the magic lies in fishing? Time to surprise the squad with one of the fly fishing combos for our weekend river escapades.
Thank you for the informative article.
Balancing a fly rod and reel can be tricky if you don’t know what you are doing. That’s why it’s so great that manufacturers have made these fly fishing combos already to fish so beginners can get into the sport very quickly.
It would have really been great had I received this information in 1959 when my dad purchased me a fly rod and reel when I was 8 years old. My dad had 3 bait casting rod and reels and why he did that to me it took me years to learn.
Growing up in farming country in Arkansas, almost all of the areas for fishing were bayous lined with trees or Cypress tree covered river cutoff lakes. Bass, crappie and red ear bream abounded in these areas and because of the things that I was to learn on my own about fly fishing in the next 10 years I was never lacking at catching fish.
Though it has been years since I have ‘wet a hook,’ your site looks like a better explanation than I could ever get at a Bass Pro shop. One question I do have concerning fly fishing. Do you have any information on fly-tying kits?
I have saved your site and will be referring to it in the future.
Sonny
Maybe he thought he was getting you a bass rod and didn’t check it till he got home. The fact you worked it out and caught some fish means you had fun anyway. Back in 1959, there was no such thing as the internet so my site would not have been around. Things have changed a bit since then and now we can google up almost about anything we want.
As for fly tying kits its an area I want to get into as I do tye a lot of my own flies but its not on the website just yet. Keep checking back though as I’m sure it’s not too far down the road. If still looking to buy then check out the fly tying lists at Amazon.
Sounds like buying a fly fishing kit would be an excellent solution for a beginner for more than just the price. As a new fisherman or woman it’s definitely hard to know exactly what to buy because there are many necessities.
While I’ve personally never been fly fishing I’ve been interested for a long time in learning. BUT I do have experience fishing as I’ve been stream fishing multiple times, and go on at least one trip every year to do so.
A quick funny story was that using a stream fishing rod I tried to fly fish the line out to the middle of a pond, and the hook ended up getting stuck in my ear… free ear piercing I guess ; D.
Anyway I would assume that using a real fly fishing rod would have made it so that would not happen right?
If so I’m very interested in trying the Temple Fork NXT Fly Fishing Combo as that seems like based on your recommendation perfect for someone that is fly fishing for the first time.
Thanks for all the recommendations here, and do you have any other tips that would help me in my first time fly fishing adventure?
Hey Josh it can still happen with a proper fly rod I did it to my fishing buddy who got too close to me once when a gust of wild drove the line straight at him, as you said a FREE ear piercing.
The NXT is a nice setup and with Lefty Kreh in charge at the time of design you know its top drawer.
The website is full of posts set out to help the beginner get into the sport. Here are categories to search.
Beginners
Hints and Tips
Casting Clinic
Give me a shout if you don’t find what you need.
Thank you for all this valuable information. Great review on fly fishing combos. I have never played this sport before, your website helped me learn all the details about this sport. I had no idea there were so many different options to use. I will share your review with my family and friends. What would you recommend for beginners?
An impressive article, I love fishing but I haven’t tried yet because I did not have any idea about fishing. This article really helps me a lot and I find this article more informational. Since I am a beginner I didn’t know which one to buy and which fly combo will suit me and I think now I have a clear idea on the best fly combo. Thanks for sharing this post and I really enjoyed reading this post and I think it is the best beginners guide. Good job, keep on.
Hello Mark,
I thoroughly enjoyed your article and have been fishing with my son for most of his 17 years. Mostly we fish local ponds for bass and the occasional trout. (My son fancies himself a Bass Fisherman, so I let him think that) We live in Central Pennsylvania and there are quite a few spots/streams in our area that are prime for fly fishing.
I pass several spots on my way home from work and routinely see guys out there fishing. I was pleasantly surprised to see that many of the kits you recommend are reasonably priced, about the same as an above average fresh water rod. I was curious about the shipping of such a sensitive rod, do you ever find that there are problems with shipping a rod?
I look forward to your response, Glenn
Hi Glenn, most of these rods come with their own codura cases. These are tough tubes to hold the rod in while out fishing then most manufacturers place the rod into a cardboard tube also. So a second skin for more protection.
There is no trouble with shipping and if there does happen to be a mishap you are covered with the sellers warranty. So buy in confidence rods are being shipping all over the world so these guys know how to do it.
I love fishing, too bad I never catch a fish! I always take my kids with me to and their rods get hung up and tangles so, I am so glad that you mentioned the younger kids fly combo. Although it is lightweight, it still seems like they would get it all tangled up.
Is the kid’s ranger recommended for a certain age group? Or is for any child that can fish? I have a 5-year-old son and he tosses the rod back and forth. Do you think the Redington Minnow Kids Fly Combo can handle a young kid that has no idea what he is doing? Or should they be a little more advanced when fishing with these rods?
I mean my main concern is him getting the line on the spool all tangled. Anyhow, I fish from the bank, don’t have a boat yet so, I am so glad to see that you mentioned what rod would work perfectly for me. The 9-foot 5 weight. It’s a shame that I didn’t find your website sooner. I’ve spent so much money into fishing, it’s embarrassing, especially knowing that I haven’t caught one fish yet.
Anyhow, thank you!
It really depends on the 5-year-old child, some are very good at listening and performing tasks people set, others are all other the place. As I speak from experience with my two sons as they are like chalk and cheese in temperament.
I would be concerned that a young child would place a fly dangerously close to the body and the danger of being stabbed with a hook would be high. You could always go for a none hook setup at the start to see if they can get the hang of it. They will always grow into it once they understand the dangers of water and hooks.
As an 8 foot 4 piece the Redington Minnow Combo is ideal for kids.
I’ve been working with a reelless Tenkara rod for years now because I primarily only fish when I’m out in the backcountry and have ample time on my hands. But I live in an excellent area for fly fishing (Truckee, CA) and I’ve been thinking a lot about getting a real set-up and taking a lesson or two to get tips on technique. I’m going to bookmark your site for later use. Thanks!
A combo is a great way to get into the sport of fly fishing. Being used to Tenkara fishing you will already be in a good position for the fly cast as its very similar. It differs in that you will be throwing a longer line in most cases and have it shoot out through the rod guides instead of the full-length way the Tenkara uses. With a bit of practice, you will be casting decent distances in no time I’m sure.
Wow! Those are some seriously amazing fly rods! I don’t even know where to start. I’m honestly thinking of the Kid’s pole you mentioned, despite the beginners pole you said is set up by professionals. One, I’m a small woman so trying to handle a long pole right at first is going to have me hooking myself. I’m kind of a klutz and I’m a total novice. Which pole would you recommend for a small, klutzy beginner? Is the kid’s pole capable enough at first? Just until I get the hang of it?
Fly rods, in general, are very lightweight now and a small woman or child should be able to use one without too much effort. I would recommend not going any longer than 9ft as the longer you go the more weight will be added.
In the combo’s I would suggest going for the best you can afford, there are 3 categories good, better and best which go up in price as the quality of the gear gets better. The wild river freshwater combo is a decent set with loads of accessories to get you started. Basically everything you need to get out and fly fishing without having to break the bank.
This is a very good article, the knowledge passed is very awesomely written and arranged. I learned so much from it. I can see why it is better to get the fly fishing combo. I have good knowledge of different kinds of fishing combos but had no knowledge about fly fishing combos before, but now I would give it a try.
Hey, Sandra fly fishing combos make the act of purchasing fly fishing gear so much easier for the beginner. Manufacturers provide quality tackle at a fraction of the price if bought on its own. Plus they match up the gear and balance it out so beginners can fish easily from the start. It takes so much of the guesswork out of getting started which puts a lot of newbies off the sport.
Am actually a newbie and am just getting to know about flying fishes for the first time. You have just shared a very nice information here getting to know their prices and knowing that buying a combo is quite cheaper than purchasing the fly rod and fly line including the fishing rod. I am interested in knowing the best of the kits among the rest. Thanks for sharing this.
Hey Kenechi, for sure buying the combo fly fishing outfit is much cheaper than buying the separate parts. You will probably pay 20-25% less when doing this. Money you can then spend on flies to give you more options when you go fly fishing.
Thanks for this informative post on buying the best fly fishing combos in 2019, I started fishing for fun when I was on vacation somewhere in Africa and it was fun though I had little problem with the fishing rod, it was quite a little shaky and couldn’t catch a big size of fish as expected, though I’m not in it for sport but for passion, I read this post and I am interested in buying one of these combos as it is more cheaper than getting them separately, I do like the Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod Combo 5wt 9ft better please how do i get it down to Africa?
Hey Seun, it depends on where you are in Africa as you know its a very large continent. I did a search in Google and found many retailers in Africa who are selling Orvis rods and fly reels. I would do the same for the areas near you and see what comes up. Alternatively, there are many retailers the world over who ship to Africa but you will have to fork out extra for the shipping.
Hi! Thank you very much for this very detailed post. Checking prices I have also arrived to the conclusion that buying a fly fishing rod, a fly reel fully loaded with backing, fly line and leader separately would cost much more than buying a combo.
Additionally, I appreciate that combos are balanced and include what we really need for overhead casting, spey casting or roll casting. As a newbie, I started checking out the diverse options and combinations I could buy, and immediately felt overwhelmed. I’m glad I found your site!
There are a lot of options out there Henry thats for sure. Hopefully you found what you needed in the post.
Mark, I stumbled across your website, you certainly have a lot of information here! I am a total beginner at the fly fishing sport, having bank fished or trolled from a boat all my life. But it’s time to move up to something more challenging, and I’ve always wanted to try fly fishing.
You’ve outlined quite a few different manufacturers’ beginner kits, so my question would be, which one do you personally recommend?
And also, would there be a kit that would be better for both a small lake shore as well as a smaller river such as the South Platte? We’re not talking Mississippi here, we’re talking a mid western river that’s more the size of a creek in the eastern part of the country. I appreciated the article, keep up the good work!
Steve
Hey Steve thanks for dropping by. Which combos do I recommend you ask? For me the Orvis Clearwater is a great buy very responsive and well balanced. The 8ft 6 inch 5 weight in this series would be perfect for small streams and rivers like the Platte.
Fishing is something I’ve done very little of in my life, but have slowly started getting into it the last couple of years. There’s still a lot for me to learn when it comes to fishing, but I eagerly look forward to it as I hopefully gain more experience.
I’ve heard of fly fishing before, but don’t know a whole lot about it and have always wondered that whenever I delve deep into it, what are some of the best products out there for fly fishing?
I love that you listed lots of different fly fishing combos that are out there.The ones that have really caught my eye are the Orvis Encounter Fly Combo and the Redington Crosswater Fly Combo. Since I’m definitely a novice/beginner, these would definitely work for me. I’m glad that a lot of these won’t break the bank for me.
On a side note is spring usually a good time to go fly fishing?
Hey Brian you have chosen two of the more popular ones there the Orvis Encounter and the Redington Crosswater both are great beginner combo sets and as you say will not break the bank.
Spring is a good time to go fly fishing yes after a long winter the fish are usually starving for food and will take most lures you cast to them so easier to catch than in full summer.
Hey Mark,
Great info here. My dad goes fishing from time to time but if you say that having a fly fishing combo is better for a beginner, it will definitely interest him. I might join him as well and learn how to fish 🙂
I’m interested in the Orvis Clearwater, I like the warranty they offer on this one. That makes it worth the cost.
Thanks for the detailed article.
Hey Ben the Clearwater Outfit is really great, not only for the warranty which is very good but the quality of the rod, reel and line you are getting. Many Guides and Guillies on the rivers have these rods in spare to give to clients who come empty handed or have an accident with their own gear…. now guides are never wrong.
Thanks so much for the article, it is really helpful I have always picked the wrong fishing tools because i do not have enough knowledge on how they operate, but after reading this article i now have some knowledge that will guide me in choosing the best fishing fly outfit I can. Thank you so much for this article once again it is really helpful.
Benefits of buying a combo is all the guess work has been taking out of it and you can go fishing very easily.
Outside of sports, fishing is an amazing activity. One that can be used to just relax and have a quite fun time. The fly fishing method is one I have not really given much attention to. I am used to the ordinary kind of fishing and would have to give this a try.
Give it a try Jay you will not be dissapointed, when you cast a dry fly to a trout and watch as it sips it in before the line tightenes and the struggle begins is one of the best moments in life there is.
I’m a bit of a beginner to fly fishing and I recently purchased the Temple Fork NXT Fly Fishing Outfit. It is a solid setup that won’t break the bank. It came with a warranty, and anytime a company stands behind their product, I feel I can trust them with my hard earned dollars.
Would make a great gift for any young or old person who is interested in fly fishing for sure.
Congratulations on your purchase James, Lefty knew his way around a fly rod and his attention to detail on this wee rod is great. I’m sure there will be plenty of trout for the table from now on.
Hey there Mark, this is a very thorough guide thank you! Before I make any hasty decisions though, (I think perhaps I’m in way over my head), let me ask first – for a noob that is totally new to any kind of fishing, where should we start – with fly fishing or regular fishing? You see, my nephew who is 14 would really like to get into fishing and as his “cool” aunt I would love to get him started. Your suggestions and advice would be very much appreciated!
Nadia for me its fly fishing all the way and when he gets his head around the way to fly cast he can move into spin or lure fishing in no time. I do it all but fly fishing is my passion and the reason I developed this website.
I actually just read through your article on fly fishing reels – without noticing this article, kinda wish I’d read this first (as a combo is much better suited to someone at my level).
Anyway, my (beloved) father in law has arranged a Freshwater bass trip and I’m not used to this form of fishing, although I’m not new to other forms of fishing.
I’m looking for a setup to take that isn’t regarded as a budget level – I don’t want to look like I’m a newbie. I also don’t want to break the bank – what would you recommend as a combo?
Hey Chris the Orvis Clearwater is top of the list and I feel a bargain for less than $300. If you were to buy the items separately it would cost in the region of $350+. So that is a saving from the start. Then you have the fact the outfit is already set up and ready to go saving you more in time and effort. If its within your budget I would recommend this one, if not then further down the list the K&E fly combo is worth a second look.
I must say that I enjoy fishing. It is one of the best sports where you can simply relax and forget about stress. I usually got with my dad, he has one fly fishing combo that is very old but still, it serves the purpose. I think that I will buy him one of those for his birthday, he will be impressed.
I’m sure he will be well pleased with a new fly fishing combo I know I would be. Its a great pastime to spend with family and one I intend to teach my two sons who are just about old enough now to learn how to fly fish.
Hey there! Thanks for taking the time to write this comprehensive and very detailed guide. Now I can use it to go fly fishing which is something I’ve been very interested in doing. I was just wondering. What is the best season to fly fish or can I go fly fishing all year round? Also, is there particular states that are better to go fly fishing than others?
Thanks and look forward to more reviews and info,
Marlinda
Marlinda you can fish at anytime of the year if the water is not frozen with a fly rod. For comfort and ease of access most folks fly fish during the the Spring and Summer with a few holding out over Autumn and less over Winter. The trout in the rivers are more active in Spring and Summer and therefore a bit easier to catch at times. Autumn and Winter can take a bit more working out with type of fly line and bugs you are going to use etc.
As for which state is the best or better for fly fishing that is up for a big debate as I’m sure the local fly fishing anglers would say their states are the best. If there is water there is usually fish in it and therefore the ability to fly fish for them. However here is a blog post field and stream have done on the topic.
Although I have been “regular” fishing for well over 45 years, I am new to fly fishing so I have questions! I for sure want to get a kit that is already inclusive of everything I will need as I usually just fish (not fly fishing) with a standard rod and reel that comes prepackaged. Most of what you were saying was a total blank to me! But because we are going on a trip and fly fishing for trout is the “thing” there, I wanted to learn what I could and see what I would need. I fished for trout 35 years ago and just used a standard rod and reel, but I want the “reel” (real!) experience!
After reading your review of the various kits, I am still not sure what would be a good choice for a beginner such as myself. I have shoulder problems so constant overhead casting may be a problem, so I need a rod that will cast easy and be lightweight. I think the Orvis Encounter 9 ft 8 Fly Fishing Combo sounds like it would be a good fit, but I’m not sure. What do you recommend? Of course, I would prefer one of the higher end products that comes with more “bells and whistles,” but I don’t want to spend hundreds $$$.
Thank you for your very thorough review and I look forward to your reply.
Hey Karin, I would go for a 5 weight rod and not the 8 weight as it will be lighter for you to handle. I put the 8 weight into the list as a rod for heavier fishing Steel head etc. The Encounter comes in a 9ft 5 weight and would be a good option for you and your disability.
This is a very useful post!
For a newbie to fly-fishing, if they decide to “kit up” on their own, I agree with you that they run the risk of making many avoidable mistakes, particularly if they start assembling their combo separate piece by separate piece. My brother is getting into fishing, and I’m thinking of what to get him for his birthday. I think that the “look” of the gift is just as important as the usefulness of the gift itself, which is why I’m leaning towards the Orvis Clearwater Fly Combo – it has a very elegant look. I understand that as it is at the higher end of the cost spectrum, it is probably not good for beginners, but I know my brother will love the design.
I’ll bookmark this post and refer back to it frequently.
Thanks!
Norman the Orvis Clearwater is a great combo I think your brother will be well pleased with it. It is a good rod for beginners in fact although its slightly higher in price it has a full warranty so your covered if it breaks.
Great post and very good info.
As you know, my friend is a lover of fishing, he wants to learn fly fishing good, but we both know it is expensive.
Now I knew there were combos, but didn’t went deeper into it, but I stumbled to your post and this one will help very much for finding the best one.
I’m not a huge crack in it, but my friend will find the best combo.
Thanks for sharing it!
I’m only just starting to take up the sport more seriously. I go fishing once in a while with a cheap rod that I got on Amazon a while ago, but I’m just starting to read more into it and now I’m looking for something a little better than what I have. Until recently, I didn’t even realize you could buy all the different parts and put them together, so having this combo list and breakdown for beginners really helps! Thanks!
Hi Mark,
Thank you for all the great information 🙂
In the last few years I’ve done more ice fishing than any other kind of fishing. But, I love to fish. I’ve always been tempted to fly fish. It’s always looked so interesting. What are the best kinds of places to do fly fishing? We have a wide river here and most people just get in their boats or fish from the shore….or wait for winter for these to all freeze over. The river is pretty calm. Are that still a good condition for fly fishing?
I will be referring to this site to find the best kit for me to begin with 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Kaeyoes flat calm rivers can be frustrating as good presentation is required to not spook trout etc. If the water is coloured it can make it a bit easier but if clear then its a must to present the fly delicately and this takes time to learn. A decent long tapered fly line with a clear intermediate tip may be a good addition to help disguise the cast.
I find even in larger flat rivers there are sections where structure is apparent like underwater rocks which move the river. These are good places to try as trout tent to lie beside these. If you look hard enough you should find some spots that make caster a bit easier for the beginner.
Also ask around the local fly fishing scene you may get an angler who knows the river to take you out and show you a few places. This kind of knowledge is priceless.
Hi there!
This was a great in-depth review on what to get as a beginner fly fisher! I’ve been fly fishing once and it was in Colorado!
My dad and I had a very great time and we caught TONS of fish! I know this blog has 21 different combos, do you personally have a top three that you would recommend or use yourself??
Also where are your favorite/best places to go fly fishing at 🙂
Chris
Oh Chris to pick just 3, I would say the Clearwater is top of the bunch for me followed by the Wild water deluxe and the K&E Outfitters. There are loads of decent kits in there for the beginner or advanced fly angler looking for a second setup to use on the cheap and all have been given decnet reviews on Amazon.
I love river fishing more than stillwater. The movement of the water makes it more exciting and I like to keep on the move trying new pools and stretches. Rivers are usually different each time you visit depending on rain conditions so the flow can be faster or slower making it fun to work out depth to work the flies and how much drift is needed.
Hello Mark;
There are a lot of fly fisherfolk in my family. I’ve been tempted in recent years to join them. I’m a bit “older” with osteoporosis, but I’ve been working hard to build up muscle. I believe a beginner combo that doesn’t require a lot of strength would be perfect for me. Plus, I don’t want to spend a fortune to start.
You have presented a lot of good choices and possibilities here, so I’m going to bookmark this as part of my research. Thank-you for all of the detailed, valuable info.
Stella 🙂
Hi Stella, sorry to hear about your condition, hope it doesn’t spoil your activities too much. Fly fishing combos are really rather lite in today’s market.
The common rule is the longer the rod the heavier it will be and a 9ft is about the medium size. If you think you can go for that size it will cover so many possibilities for you.
The more expensive ones are in fact lighter so it may come down to your budget on what you can afford and weigh it off against the best rod in that price bracket.
Hi, Mark
I love your article and I love fishing but with a fly, I need more practice so I think this combo is great for me, What do you think?
I have been fishing for 35 years and have fished with fly many times but never learned from professional but now I can go to youtube and learned and go for a kit that has got the rod, reel, and line than I am sure I have all the best suit I need.
Thank you for the great article Mark
Best regards
Salomon.
This article was very helpful! I am a very keen fly-fisher, but only new to the game. This article gave me the information I needed to point me in the right direction of what combo I need. One thing I found is that it is a very long article, and was a struggle to get through.
Clancy there are 25 combos on there. Each one about 300 words so I know there is a lot of content. There is a nice table of contents at the top which can be used to navigate the post however.
Thanks for this great review of different fly fishing combos. I am new to the sport and so I am not 100% sure of what gear will best suit my needs. Its great that there is so much choice available – but sometimes choices can make things seem a little harder than they need to be.
I like the Redington Path Fly Combo. I like the little carry bag to protect it from the elements / in transit as well. The Fenwick/Pflueger Nighthawk Fly Kit also looks good because it looks like it can be packed up / set up quickly and easily for when we are on the road.
I was just wondering what is your #1 recommendation for children?
Hi Glenys, you mentioned a couple of good combos there, the Redington Path Fly Combo seems to be a firm favorite and selling well.
You mentioned which is the best fly fishing combo for children and i would have to ask a few questions about the child in question to answer that properly. However as a guide I hope this will help.
For a child aged 5-7 I would suggest a 7ft setup and a child 8-10 an 8ft older than that could possibly handle a 9ft rod if they are well developed. At the end of the day it should be fun so having a small light setup will benefit a small child. With that said you probably don’t want to spend too much on a setup for children as a) they will outgrow the setup and need a bigger one if they continue and b) may get fed up with it and turn to other activities.
With this in mind I would suggest you shop in the category of fly fishing combos under $100 that way when they grow up or if they give up its no problem you can ether sell it on or use it yourself as a nice wee brook rod.
Is there a difference in rod and reel for fresh vs salt water?
The main difference is that saltwater is very corrosive while fresh water is not. Most rods and reels will work in saltwater but you need to make sure you rinse them off with loads of freshwater after use and let them dry properly before putting them away.
You don’t want to spend loads of money on gear to have it corrode on you and not be workable the next time you take it out.
There are some rod and reels custom made to work in saltwater they have special anti-corrosion properties and made with materials that will stand up to the salt for a longer time. These are much more expensive to buy and unless you know you are going to be fly fishing extensively in the sea then I would suggest going for something a bit cheaper and making sure you clean it off afterwards.
I like the looks of Scientific Anglers Ampere Fly Combo and it seems like that it has a good quality price ratio. I want to get it for my uncle’s birthday and you said that it is suitable for beginners and he is also a beginner and If I nicely put this, he is not very talented about this. Is this ideal for him?
Hi Furkan the Scientific Anglers Ampere Fly Combo is a great setup. It comes is several line ratings so make sure to choose the correct one for the type of fly fishing he wants to do. If its nymphing for trout then the 5 weight, if its at the sea shore then maybe go for the 8 or 10 weight to allow casting into the onshore wind with heavy lure flies. .
Hello Mark, great review on fly fishing combos. I have never played this sport before, but I’m interesting in giving it a go. Since I am a beginner, I would go with the Piscifun Starter Kit, which is within my budget. When I have more spare time, I will try it out. Thanks again, and I wish you the best of luck with your website!!!
Hello Mark,
This article about fly fishing combos was very informative and helpful. I myself haven’t done fly fishing but am interested to start.
The combos you gave in your article was very detailed and I personally liked no.5 Redington Crosswater 4 Piece 9ft 5-6, sound like a great beginner set.
What would you recommend for beginners?
Helpful article, you did a great job.
All the best
Waldo
As the title of the article suggests all these combos are set up for beginners. The Crosswater combo in the middle category $100 to $150 is indeed a good option. As it comes with an all contained tube to protect your new possession its ideal for someone getting into the sport.
I’ve used a fly rod before but it wasn’t mine and it was over 35 years ago, what does 5 weight mean? Is it like mono line and 5lb test, does it mean you can catch a five-pound fish? I’ve just never heard that before. I live in Florida in the US and was thinking about a fly rod for tarpon fishing. They can get pretty big, what weight would you recommend for that and what combo? You have a lot of info to digest here.
Hey Tom, the AFTM (association of fishing tackle manufacturers ) came up with a scale for making fly fishing tackle so rods, reels and lines could be matched easily. They start at 0 and work up to 15 or so. Now a days most anglers work with 3-12 line sizes however.
The 5 weight is 140+/- 6 grains in weight for the first 10 feet of the fly line head. Which is used to load the rod and make the cast. All 5 weight rods should allow the caster to use lines of this weight.
For Tarpon fishing you will need a 10-12 weight rod as they can get big as you know. Not only is it required to fight the fish but cast large weighted flies out to them. With a small rod like a 5 weight you will struggle to cast the flies never mind catch the Tarpon.
With that being said it is possible to catch big fish on light gear you just have to remember you cannot put as much pressure on them to pull them in. You need to let them run when they want and play the longer game.
Not ideal for the catch and release nature of Tarpon fishing that is another reason a heavier weighted rod is better as you can bring in the catch a lot faster so it can be returned without being too fatigued.
Thanks for the breakdown on these fly fishing kits! I’ve always been interested in the sport, but never knew the best way to get started and was intimidated by the amount of gear required. This definitely helps!
I live in Georgia, in east Atlanta. What rivers would you recommend in the region to go fly fishing in?
Also, if you were just getting started today, which kit would you buy for yourself?
Hey Michael, the Chattahoochee river seems to be a good choice, full of rainbow and brown trout and perfect for a 9ft 5 weight.
On the matter of which combo would I choose. I have to say ony of them would be a good starter kit however if I had the budget I would get the Orvis Clearwater. It’s a great all-rounder round and can cover so many situations. Ideal for someone starting out but it is a bit more expensive than the others. Second choice would be the K&E Combo.
I like how you show all different types of rod and reels that there are for beginner fly fishers. I never knew there were so many of them. You have great information on all the different rob and reels. I am going fishing next weekend. The rod and gun club I belong to opens next weekend. I cant wait to go.
I am in the market for a fly rod for my teenage son. I kind of have my eye on either Temple Fork NXT or the Redington Path. Most of our fishing is on smaller lakes as well as rivers in the mountains. Is there an option you would recommend for a teenager? He has some experience fishing with my fly rod, but he is still pretty green. I am hoping to keep it in the $200 range for starting out, but willing to pay more if this is a rod he can grow into. Thanks for this very thorough review, I appreciate it.
As a teenager I’m assuming he is big enough to cast a 9 ft 5 weight. With that thought you have picked out 2 great options, either would serve him well however the Path is slightly better in the review ratings from the customers.
I have been looking for a fly fishing combo set. I did not want to spend a ton of money because I have only tried it once and that was with one of my buddies rods. I am glad that I came upon your site so I can find a good price on a combo set. What one would you recommend for a beginner?
Hey Paul as the post suggest they are all great for the beginner, that’s really what combo deals are all about getting beginners into the sport of fly fishing.
The guide is broken into three categories good, better and best combos for the money. It really comes down to budget and how much you feel you can spend on your new hobby.
Some of the better combos have better gear and accessories but you can get into the sport of fly fishing for less than $100 if you really wanted to.
This is great because my boyfriend and I have been wanting to try fly fishing, but the thought of getting the right gear has always been very intimidating. Your combos make it very easy for a beginner to jump in and get a starter set. And with all of the reviews, it will be simple to find a setup that works for our needs. I’m glad I read this. 🙂
Good to hear Shannon, yes I know as a beginner it can be difficult to work out all the little pieces that make up a fly fishing setup. You could go into your local tackle store and ask them to get you sorted but it depends on what gear they promote as to what you can receive. Some stores are better than others at helping so a webpost like this one can take a bit of the guesswork out of it.
Hi Mark,
Awesome article!
I can say that there is plenty of choices, which make it a bit difficult to choose especially when you don’t know anything about fishing:) My husband is a fisherman, and the only thing I know is that he practices the fly fishing. Soon it’s going to be his birthday and I really want to buy him a nice present for fly fishing. As I said, he is a professional fisherman, so I would like to know which of these combos would be best for him?
Thank you for this excellent post!
Daniella, its kind of difficult to buy to a man who is a professional fly angler without knowing make type of fly fishing he enjoys the most and what gear he already has.
However a combo setup is always a good addition to any anglers arsenal as it can be used to give to a client or buddy who wants to go fishing with him and doesn’t have their own gear.
With that in mind I believe the Orvis Clearwater Combo Kit is a good allrounder covering many option fairly well.
Let’s pretend, if you will, that the only thing I know about fly fishing is what I’ve seen in the movies. Because the only thing I know about fly fishing is what I’ve seen in the movies. I’m not a total landlubber. I always liked fishing as a kid. I had a Zebco 202 Reel and that sucker could cast. Great reel For a kid. I always suspected that actual fly fishing was an intricate sport but your site blew my mind. I was reading some of the rod reviews and I started to get suspicious that we weren’t in Zebco Land. When I jumped over to the instructional page I found it fascinating. I think I’d like to try it. I am living right now one block from the Atlantic Ocean and about six blocks from the bay. Can you fly fish in the ocean? My dad and I used to use squid back in the day. Somehow I cant imagine a piece of squid dangling on a fly line or needing even the most rudimentary of those skills you were writing about while hanging it off a pier. Just wondering.
Hey John, you can indeed fly fish in the ocean, you can fish for all sorts of species. You can do it from the pier, from kayaks to larger craft. You can do it in shallow water and further out in deeper water. All you need to do is work out what your after and change the rig accordingly. I envy you living so close to the shore I wouldn’t get much work done if that was me..:-)
Grate info. I’m an avid fisherman myself. Mostly Freshwater Bass. I have yet to try Fly fishing. Your site has helped a grate deal on deciding what set up’s to use. Would like to get your opinion on which brand has best quality in $150 – $200 price range?
Hey Jack both Orvis and Redington have good options in this price range, the Orvis Encounter and the Redington Path are two good combos at that price point. Going for Bass you may want to get an 8 weight as they can get big and the lures uses to catch them are big and heavy also.
Thank you for all the great reviews. I am originally from Minnesota land of 10000 lakes. Fishing is in my blood and families blood. I will be sharing this review with all my family. I had no idea there was so many different options to use. They will enjoy reading this and I can see that this a passion for you. Thank you for all this information!
Hey man there are hundreds if not thousands of fly fishing combos on the market. I have only picked a small sample of ones that seem to be of decent quality, divided them up into three price points for easy options. Thanks for stopping by.
Hey there! Always love coming to your site…so much great information. Saves me a ton of time when I don’t have to do all the research. (Time I could better spend fishing!)
I can’t believe there are so many great starter sets for really….under $80. I’m looking to get a set as a graduation gift for my son. We live at the coast, so the Sougayilang Fly Fishing Combo looks to be the perfect match! Looking on Amazon I see there are some good reviews. Awesome!
Again, thanks for saving me a ton of time!
Hi, the Sougayilang Fly Fishing Combo will be a great graduation gift, after all that time studying it will be great to get out into the open and check out that fresh air, not to mention catch a few fish on his new combo.