I wasn't going to say much about this until I was on the NF Still today thinking about fly fishing while standing in my Cabela's neoprenes with my flies in Fox Box fly boxes, with my WW Grigg rod in my hand with an Okuma Sierra reel on it.
Then I thought about the crap that I have gotten from shops, and other idiots that I have encountered. I have had a dunderhead on a lake this spring tell me how my rod was only suitable for trolling, and that he used only Sage rods. He thought I should try one. Heck, I've fished all day with them. Then the time my favorite shop owner was both selling Okuma Sierras and panning them as I asked for a spare spool for my Sierra. And then I think about how a shop that I have decided to no longer frequent starts their rods out with a low end $300 model. And the reels start at around $150. No wonder this is considered a yuppie sport. $450 to invest for a beginning fly fisher? You gotta be kidding. I started fly fishing in 1975 with an old Cortland rod that flexed all the way into the handle. I caught my first steelie on an 8' Berkley rod with a Cortland 333 Multiplying reel. I caught others on a Martin single action click pawl reel. The Cortland rod was given to me, the Berkley rod and Martin reel were bought on a paper boy's wages. Compared to what I fished with then, my new gear is far superior. And of the combo that I mentioned, the line is the most expensive part. Many of my friends fish with equipment that is not too different, and word about how nice Rob's WW Grigg rod is getting out. Not to mention how reasonable the price is for the Okuma reels. And that's even from the guys that fish Sage, Orvis and the like. Personally, I think that there is too much emphasis on high end gear in fly fishing. But I understand, the fly shops probably couldn't stay in business if it weren't for unknowing folks buying gear that is far more spendy than necessary. Now this is not to say that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs shouldn't ante up to buy a custom Thomas and Thomas Spey rod with an Abel tie-dyed reel. I just hope they don't get to mad when I cast as well, if not better, than they do. There. I finally got that rant off my chest. Thanks. Rob -- Rob Blomquist Kirkland, WA
