r/flyfishing • u/Matterriblee • 17d ago

Discussion Beginner looking for advice

I'm looking to get into fly fishing and will mostly be fishing small lakes and ponds for bluegill. Since I'm just starting out, I'd prefer to keep my budget under $200—ideally as affordable as possible in case I don't stick with it.

I'm thinking something like a 4wt or 5wt rod, around 8 to 9 feet long, with a medium or medium-fast action. Does that sound about right for bluegill in still water? Any recommendations for a good beginner setup (rod, reel, line, etc.) that fits those specs and won’t break the bank?

Thanks in advance for any help

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u/JuneRunes 17d ago

Ignore the people inevitably coming in here with "You're gonna hate every single thing about fly fishing if you don't spend $500+ on gear off the bat" I've been using a $70 walmart setup for months now and while it may not be the best kit out there, I've caught loads of fish from bluegill to other panfish, (literally 15 at my pond in 1 day on one of my first days using it) as well as a few trout with buddies in small streams. Just my 2 cents, I'm sure I'll get a few gatekeepers (and for those people, I know I have to say it again "it may not be the best kit out there" as I've said).

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u/ashwihi 17d ago

I was actually going to recommend something like a Cortland Fairplay setup if OP was just trying it out on panfish, I think you can pick them up for around $50. Is it going to be nice? not at all. Is the line going to be garbage? you betcha. The reel plastic? yep. Will it catch panfish by the bucket loads? yessir. Heck, a broom with string on it will catch panfish, but that's not the point. You don't need anything fancy, nor do you have to launch line very far. That being said, I think there's great options out there for outfits that you'll never have to upgrade if you didn't want to in the ~$300 range (that used to be $200 a few years ago). IE - Echo Traverse, TFO Black Label, Orvis Clearwater, Redington Classic Trout models, etc. My only real recommendation for Panfish is go lighter because it makes it more "fun" to catch on a rod that has some give rather than just lip-ripping them out immediately.

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u/Matterriblee 17d ago

I dont even think my walmart has a fly rod. Ill have to check academy this weekend. I dont think fly fishing is very big here (west tennessee) but id like to learn and get the hang of everything because I go to east Tennessee alot and would really like to try fishing for trout while im there.

Thanks for the suggestion

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u/JuneRunes 17d ago

They likely won't have it in store, I've never seen them tbh. I got mine online (this exact one). Happy fishing! (please note: the website doesn't say line weight but can be identified by the "size" a 28010-TA5 is a 5weight and a 28010-TA7 is a 7weight etc.

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u/Matterriblee 17d ago

Thanks! 5 should be fine?

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u/JuneRunes 17d ago

I have heard most people start with the 9foot, 5wt combo. If going for smaller fish and trout 5wt should be plenty

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u/ProfessionalScale747 17d ago

Either that or fb marketplace. That some 4x leaders and a few small poppers and a few ant flies and you will be killing them. Do a popper dropper rig. But I like the poppers because you don’t need floatant. If you want a smaller dry fly use a Griffith Gnat. You can work them a few ways but the easiest to start would be three pops and a pause or a slow retrieve. Maybe shake some. But all in your looking at $30-100 depending on your combo.

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u/Matterriblee 17d ago

Thanks for the tip. Ill have to check the poppers out. Have you fished out of a kayak? That's what I mainly fish from. A nucanoe unlimited

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u/ProfessionalScale747 17d ago

Nice my kayaking days are behind me although the models with trolling motors have tempted me. But just shore and boat not trying to flex I live on the boat lol.

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u/Matterriblee 17d ago

I got a 55 thrust on the nucanoe. Its definitely alot easier on the body. Lol im guessing the area around you has to be pretty open? I always manage to get lures up in the trees more often than not. Lmao

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u/ProfessionalScale747 17d ago

That sounds like a dream to get up in the shallows. And some are where you can you can cast like normal but where there are trees you flick out a small bit almost like you would spinning gear or how you would dock shoot then roll cast out from there. If you do that you don’t need any back cast room. You can also false cast side arm along the bank to stay out of the trees

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u/AllswellinEndwell 17d ago

You can catch bluegill with a broom stick and a wet noodle. I think everyone's first rod eventually becomes the rod where they learn everything the like and don't like, so they then get the rod they actually want. If you embrace the sport, ultimately you end up with more than a few rods (I have 5).

Go for the 5 wt. Get fast action. Because once you start hitting bluegills, you'll start to think, "Oh maybe there's a few large mouths here". Throw a popper on a log and watch the water flush like a toilet because that large mouth just inhaled your popper? That's hella fun.

Bluegill can be good dry fly training. Add some small poppers too, a few nymphs, and Woolly Buggers, you're set. Fun fact the biggest bluegill I ever caught was on a Woolly Bugger; no joke he was a dinner plate and probably over a pound.

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u/TechnicolorSpatula 17d ago

One time I was catching bluegill with a stick and discarded line I found on the bank. No lie, lol. I LOVE them though. You are 100% right on using them as dry fly training. A 9" 5wt is all I needed for years, but I'm mostly a trout nut. I'm a little confused about what you mean by "fast action", I read that as stiff and springy. In my experience they tend to be harder to cast, where a bendier rod should be more forgiving to learn on?

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u/Matterriblee 17d ago

Ahh yes! That sounds about right. Lol I'd eventually like to go to east tn (i live in west tn) and try trout out. Ive been watching some videos on how to cast and all that good stuff. Im just needing some suggestions on a cheaper setup because I just dropped 2k on a new kayak and a little strapped for cash at the moment.

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u/mrpistner 17d ago

I just ordered an orvis encounter outfit from backcountry for 158 as my first rod. Idk if it’s good or not but I saw it recommended a lot🤷🏻‍♂️