Question for you fly folk - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ProfessorLongArms · 11-15-2020, 01:10 PM

It's end of the year, and I'm taking stock/planning for next year...
I've been getting a sense of the seasonal rhythm of Southern California.

I've noticed a pretty decent fly fishing contingent on here over time. Though I've been doing a bit of research, but figured it'd make for fun conversation here as well.
As I'm getting back to work and my disposable income appears on the horizon again, I'm remembering how much I loved Fly Fishing growing up in the south.
Mostly river fishing in GA for rainbows and browns, and pond/Lake fishing in AL for Bass, Panfish.

Fun story: My grandfather always kept a stocked pond full of catfish. Every evening he'd drive the truck down with a 3 gallon bucket full of feed. The catfish would come up and just cruise the surface hoovering it up.
My dad and I tied little brown half sized woolybuggers for feeding time, and it was a bit like freshwater cobia fishing on the fly. They made for the best runs I've ever had on a fly reel.

My house burned my Sophomore year and I never got around to replacing most of my fishing gear.

I'm thinking I want to get back into it.... Play in the streams up in Eastern Sierra.... Possibly add an element of challenge to my saltwater fishing from time to time. . . I'm also stoked to have a casting pond in the Pasadena Arroyo just around the corner form my house.

I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna grab an Orvis Clearwater outfit...
I like the look of the reel and I like the 25 year policy.
I always used Orvis gear when I was a kid, though I understand there are a lot more options these days.

First question: Would I be mistaken to go any cheaper? Anything else "entry level" you'd recommend?

Second question: If I wanted to start traveling north for something more substantial like steelhead, would I want to start out with something more than a 5 weight? Would it be a mistake to go up to a 6 or 7 on my first rod if I'm likely to start out in lakes and streams for trout?

dgarland10 · 11-15-2020, 03:44 PM

I would recommend getting the best rod and lines you can afford and anything for a reel. Reels largely are just to hold line. My problem with the entry level sets is that they include cheap fly lines which does a huge dis-service to the the fly fisherman. For streams/rivers I would recommend a 5wt setup, but if you are getting into steelhead you are going to want a completely different setup. Most of those guys are using spey rods which is a whole new ballgame. If I were getting started around So Cal and thought about fishing the Sierras and local salt I would get a 5wt and an 8 wt setup.

DanaPT · 11-16-2020, 09:24 AM

I have a bunch of ff gear that I wish I'd use more. Problem with the ocean fish... teeth are considerable different than their fresh water cousins.

I've used larger sized tippets, but then hooking up on even a large sized mackeral will give you a fun fight.

Good luck!

FoodGeekFish · 11-16-2020, 02:47 PM

The only challenge I foresee (other than the future drain on your bank account) is that you're talking about two very different end results, so one outfit is not going to cut it.

For Eastern Sierras, 4 wt is about as heavy as I would go other than for big waters. On the flip side, for bay fishing for spotted bass, etc, I'd start at a 6 wt. and work up. Your bay outfit will want an intermediate or full sink line, while your trout outfit will need a floating line and others as dictated by fishing style.

If you're just "testing the waters" of getting back in, a 5 wt will meet neither need ideally, but will keep your entry cost low. The Clearwater kits are solid enough, I'd suggest adding a spare spool with a full sink line as well, and then swapping out for trout vs salt. Once you get outside the bay, that 5wt is going to feel awfully noodley, awfully quick, though.

ProfessorLongArms · 11-16-2020, 03:10 PM

OK cool. Thanks all. This def gives me a good frame of reference for starting.

I think I'm gonna stick to the 5wt and cut my teeth again on river/stream fishing and see if that's enough to start a siphon on my wallet

I seem to have a knack for taking an interest in stuff right as it's end of the season...

Fair to say the whole Owens/Bishop area is completely shut down at this point, or is there actually decent winter fishing anywhere near there? (or god forbid, southern california?)

Fishon14 · 11-16-2020, 04:31 PM

I believe that the Owens river is open year around

11-15-2020, 01:10 PM	#1
ProfessorLongArms Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 401	Question for you fly folk It's end of the year, and I'm taking stock/planning for next year... I've been getting a sense of the seasonal rhythm of Southern California. I've noticed a pretty decent fly fishing contingent on here over time. Though I've been doing a bit of research, but figured it'd make for fun conversation here as well. As I'm getting back to work and my disposable income appears on the horizon again, I'm remembering how much I loved Fly Fishing growing up in the south. Mostly river fishing in GA for rainbows and browns, and pond/Lake fishing in AL for Bass, Panfish. Fun story: My grandfather always kept a stocked pond full of catfish. Every evening he'd drive the truck down with a 3 gallon bucket full of feed. The catfish would come up and just cruise the surface hoovering it up. My dad and I tied little brown half sized woolybuggers for feeding time, and it was a bit like freshwater cobia fishing on the fly. They made for the best runs I've ever had on a fly reel. My house burned my Sophomore year and I never got around to replacing most of my fishing gear. I'm thinking I want to get back into it.... Play in the streams up in Eastern Sierra.... Possibly add an element of challenge to my saltwater fishing from time to time. . . I'm also stoked to have a casting pond in the Pasadena Arroyo just around the corner form my house. I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna grab an Orvis Clearwater outfit... I like the look of the reel and I like the 25 year policy. I always used Orvis gear when I was a kid, though I understand there are a lot more options these days. First question: Would I be mistaken to go any cheaper? Anything else "entry level" you'd recommend? Second question: If I wanted to start traveling north for something more substantial like steelhead, would I want to start out with something more than a 5 weight? Would it be a mistake to go up to a 6 or 7 on my first rod if I'm likely to start out in lakes and streams for trout? __________________ We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars https://www.youtube.com/user/MrSpencerallen https://www.instagram.com/el_spencerino

11-16-2020, 03:10 PM	#5
ProfessorLongArms Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 401	OK cool. Thanks all. This def gives me a good frame of reference for starting. I think I'm gonna stick to the 5wt and cut my teeth again on river/stream fishing and see if that's enough to start a siphon on my wallet I seem to have a knack for taking an interest in stuff right as it's end of the season... Fair to say the whole Owens/Bishop area is completely shut down at this point, or is there actually decent winter fishing anywhere near there? (or god forbid, southern california?) __________________ We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars https://www.youtube.com/user/MrSpencerallen https://www.instagram.com/el_spencerino

11-15-2020, 03:44 PM	#2
dgarland10 Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Long Beach Posts: 56	I would recommend getting the best rod and lines you can afford and anything for a reel. Reels largely are just to hold line. My problem with the entry level sets is that they include cheap fly lines which does a huge dis-service to the the fly fisherman. For streams/rivers I would recommend a 5wt setup, but if you are getting into steelhead you are going to want a completely different setup. Most of those guys are using spey rods which is a whole new ballgame. If I were getting started around So Cal and thought about fishing the Sierras and local salt I would get a 5wt and an 8 wt setup.

11-16-2020, 09:24 AM	#3
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,606	I have a bunch of ff gear that I wish I'd use more. Problem with the ocean fish... teeth are considerable different than their fresh water cousins. I've used larger sized tippets, but then hooking up on even a large sized mackeral will give you a fun fight. Good luck!

11-16-2020, 02:47 PM	#4
FoodGeekFish Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 321	The only challenge I foresee (other than the future drain on your bank account) is that you're talking about two very different end results, so one outfit is not going to cut it. For Eastern Sierras, 4 wt is about as heavy as I would go other than for big waters. On the flip side, for bay fishing for spotted bass, etc, I'd start at a 6 wt. and work up. Your bay outfit will want an intermediate or full sink line, while your trout outfit will need a floating line and others as dictated by fishing style. If you're just "testing the waters" of getting back in, a 5 wt will meet neither need ideally, but will keep your entry cost low. The Clearwater kits are solid enough, I'd suggest adding a spare spool with a full sink line as well, and then swapping out for trout vs salt. Once you get outside the bay, that 5wt is going to feel awfully noodley, awfully quick, though.

11-16-2020, 04:31 PM	#6
Fishon14 Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 50	I believe that the Owens river is open year around