Chuck7

I just bought an el cheapo fly rod from Walmart. It'ts a Martin. If you are right handed ,is the reel handle supposed to be on the right side of the reel or the left..Have mercy here..I"m a beginner compared to most of you.lol

Chuck7

Fixed....I simply turned the reel around...pulled off all the line..mostly backing)-;
And reeled it in with my right hand..I don't plan to more than j4 or 5 times a year...if I get addicted I plan to get a bamboo one off of eBay.

Looks like these reels can go either left or right handed.

Chuck7

I guess I have more questions...

The package came 100 percent ready to fish..

Question..what is a tip pit?

My leader is already skinny at the end..can't I just fish it the way it is?

My line is 5/6 weight...is this good enough for bluegills and 3 pound bass? It's floating line?.i plan to get some quality bass bugs..

I won't be using this until the summer when I'm off ..right now I'll keep

flipping..

Another question...what if you want to fish sinking line..what do you all do?

A.have a second rod with you
B.have a second reel with and just change reel

Another question..

1. What does a nice fly rod feel like..mine feels too flimsy.

2 what are the characteristics of a nice fly reel?

3,Where do you folks buy your bass bugs or poppers..
How much can I expect to pay for a top shelf bass bug..

thanks for your time and knowledge,
Cee seven

JoshKeller

Question..what is a tip pit? TIPPET IS THE END OF THE LEADER. THINK OF USING A FLOURO TIPPET ON BRAIDED LINE.

My leader is already skinny at the end..can't I just fish it the way it is? YOU CAN, BUT THE TIPPET WILL RUN OUT BY CHANGING FLIES. GOOGLE THE LOOP TO LOOP CONNECTION, AND YOU CAN REPLACE YOUR TIPPET WITHOUT CUTTING YOUR LEADER

My line is 5/6 weight...is this good enough for bluegills and 3 pound bass? It's floating line?.i plan to get some quality bass bugs..
THAT WILL WORK

I won't be using this until the summer when I'm off ..right now I'll keep

flipping..

Another question...what if you want to fish sinking line..what do you all do? THEY MAKE SINKING LINE SECTIONS ABOUT 10' LONG THAT ATTACH INT HE SAME WAY AS THE TIPPET QUESTION ABOVE. OR DO AS I DO AND JUST MAKE YOUR LEADER LONGER (10' OR MORE) AND ADD WEIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FLY

A.have a second rod with you
B.have a second reel with and just change reel

Another question..

1. What does a nice fly rod feel like..mine feels too flimsy. FAST AND RESPONSIVE. YOU CAN FEEL THE ROAD LOADING AND TELL INSTANTLY WHERE YOUR LINE IS IN THE BACKCAST

2 what are the characteristics of a nice fly reel? NO PLAY AT ALL, VERY SMOOTH DRAG, NO START UP INERTIA, PERFECTLY BALANCED

3,Where do you folks buy your bass bugs or poppers..
How much can I expect to pay for a top shelf bass bug.. $5 OR SO. YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO A FLY TYING KIT. I CATCH A TON OF BASS AND BLUE GILLS ON WOOLY BUGGERS AND LEACHES, WHICH ARE EASY TO TIE.

IF YOU DECIDE TO GET SERIOUS AND WANT TO UPGRADE, ID SUGGEST AGAINST BAMBOO FOR BASS. BAMBOO REQUIRES A LOT OF MAINTAINANCE. YOU CAN GET A DECENT ROD FOR $120 OR SO. ONE OF MY FAVORITE RODS IS A GREY'S GS2 WHICH RUNS ABOUT $110. I HAVE A FEW $700 RODS, AND THE GREYS FEELS JUST AS NICE, JUST A TINY BIT HEAVIER, WHICH YOU CAN COUNTERACT BY USING A SLIGHTLY HEAVIER REEL TO BALANCE IT.

Chuck7

Thanks Josh..

Josh..have you done any flipping. Cat tails before for bass?...that is a lot of fun.

JoshKeller

Yep. did a ton of flipping hydrilla in texas with a 7'6" xtra heavy rod, shimano castaic reel, and 100 lbs braid.

also, if your primary goal is bass and large sunfish, a 7 to 8 weight will serve you well. 5 or 6 weight will do good for large sunfish and the occasional bass up to 4 or 5 lbs.

Chuck7

Sorry for all the questions just trying to learn..

So..I tie a tippit to the leader to save the leader..can the tippit be a piece of mono..and what kind of knot would you all reccommend?

Thanks ,
chuck

JoshKeller

tie a loop on the end of the leader, and one on the head of the section of tippet your going to use. Then connect with with a loop to loop connection. You can use mono, but actual tippet is thinner than mono for the rated pound.

Chuck7

Thanks Josh..i probably ought to just stop by your house and you can show me..shucks..I'm only 1300 miles away.lol

Hey..I really do appreciate the input..it makes good sense..I don't want to mess up my leader.it't a tapered leader...I bet my rod is garbage..very flimsy..what kind of material do you prefer a fly rod to be made of Josh?

JoshKeller

high modulus graphite. If you have a cabelas nearby, stop in and check out their l tec rods. I had one for steelhead and it was the lightest rod ive ever used. I think they retail around $220.