Best Low Budget Fly Rods And Reels???

Dean, I'll echo the recommendation of the Redington Classic Trout. They've gone up to $189 now, but are still a terrific deal for a medium action trout rod. And if it interests you, I can send you a 9' 5 wt Ordella - it's built on a Rainshadow blank and similar to the CT but I no longer use it.

I don't know of any real bargains on quality fly reels. But cheap, reliable line holders abound on Ebay. Lots of old school cheapos going for around $35.
 
All I can say is WOW to the numerous generous offers when all I was looking for was suggestions.
This is truly an amazing community!!!
I've always been more of a giver than a receiver but I will send DM's to those that offered equipment.
By spring I hope that most of this insurance stuff is resolved and we can get on with life.

Again, thanks to all,
Dean
 
Salmo_g said:
I don't know of any real bargains on quality fly reels. But cheap, reliable line holders abound on Ebay. Lots of old school cheapos going for around $35.
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After losing a Sage LL that I built to the depths of one of our local lakes I came to the realization that cheap is a better option when fishing lakes. That said, Buzzy has razzed me many times about the cheap Cabela's Combo that sailed out of my pram and ended up at the bottom of Amber. It spent the winter there and was pulled up and posted on the forum by a Moses Lake angler. It lived again to catch numerous fish until it was lost in the fire.
 
Ya know, I was just mentally running through what I've got. If a 7.5' 6/7wt glass tickles your fancy lmk, and I'll figure out a way to get it to you. It's a Berkley Gowdy & it's simply an outstanding rod. I fishes really great with a 5-7wt standard weight line (also throws a 240gr micro skagit VERY well). It's just a tad short for the 90% of where I would use it. Only a 2pc, so I'd rather not ship, but if you're interested, I'm sure we could figure something out.

If it helps, it's got trout mojo, steelhead mojo, carp mojo and smallie mojo on it....
 
Just got home last week but I’ll pile on. Fly tying supplies galore if your eyes are still fine, flies, lines, a 7.5 /
4 wt glass that’s as much fun as you can have with your clothes on near water. Let us know.
 
Sorry for your loss of gear and possessions. My family had a fire experience in Oregon, and I know how long insurance can take.

Are you looking for a 4wt rod? I have a lightly used 490 TFO Pro 2 4-piece that I'm more than happy to send to you. Feel free to DM me if you're interested.
 
If you need to move up to a heavier gear in the future, I've got an old-school reel you can have for an 'old kid'. It's a vintage early 50's L.W. Holmes Salmon reel. It's got a funky clutchless, bidirectional drag and doesn't have an exposed spool so unfortunately you can't palm it. But I added a carbon fiber disk in the drag assembly and it served me well when I used it on my switch rod for several years.
 
Old406Kid said:
I'm not looking for a pity party but I lost all of my quality rods/reels, etc. in the recent Spokane fires other than a special Powell that I built for my wife and a 11' Meiser switch that I also built.
At 77 years old I just can't justify replacing a lifetime collection of Sages, Orvis, Powell, Loomis, Echo, and even some decent Cabela's rods and reels with stuff of equal quality. We lost everything we owned so there are a lot of higher priority items that need to be replaced before toys.
Right now I can't focus on fishing but I'm looking for a couple of budget friendly 5 and 6 wt. rod and reel suggestions.
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Late to the discussion...

First, so sorry for your loss. A lot of memories gone. I hope you didn't lose too much more in the fire.

I am a huge fan of the TFO, Echo, Redington, and Orvis 'affordable' rods with lifetime warranties. Echo perhaps offers the best bang for the buck out of this group, although I own many more of the other brands. However, in my opinion, for pure value in the budget rod and reel realm, the Cabela's combos are the best bargain in fly fishing. You can get a fly rod that is both decent casting and decent looking and of good quality, with a reel that works just fine, supplied with a line, for under $100. Heck, that is less than what it costs to ship a name quality rod off for repairs (shipping and repair fee). Seriously, the Cabelas rods are dang good values, and the combos even better values,.

At 77, you might be able to justify that you 'deserve' to own and fish a premium rod and reel; on the reverse, at 77, how often are you realistically, the next year and for the 5-10 years, get out and fish it/them? In the not-so-distant future you may looking are rehoming your tackle. My dad just turned 80, and he's an outdoor machine. He owned for 25+ years a hunting and fishing store in NE Nevada, and after retirement he has spent a lot of time out and about hunting and fishing. Up until this last year, during quail season, he spent at least two days a week out walking about for quail. Now, he gets out maybe once a week. One, his dog has gotten old and two, my dad doesn't have as much get up and go as he did, along with some other issues that happen with advanced age. This year he started the process of slimming down the herd of both his firearms and fishing tackle, both of which inventory is substantial by anyone's measure (my late mother last year counted them dad had just over 100 fishing shirts).

Just a few thoughts and perspectives for you.
 
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