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

dgarland10 · 11-15-2020, 02:44 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, 08:24 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, 01:47 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, 02:10 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, 03:31 PM

I believe that the Owens river is open year around

dgarland10 · 11-16-2020, 04:26 PM

The Owens, both Upper and Lower, Hot Creek are open year around. Be aware of road conditions if trying to fish the Upper Owens or Hot Creek. A lot of guys snow shoe or snowmobile in during the winter.

tomahawk · 11-16-2020, 10:04 PM

After 45 years of spinners, bait casters, and conventional setups, I tried fly fishing for the first time a few years ago on a trip to Yellowstone. Summer 2019, I got a guide to take me and my wife in Sequoia NP. She had a blast (and so did I). Now we are pretty much hooked but don't really know jack. I was going to take a class in March at the LBCC, recommended by Tigermidge but it cancelled due to COVID. We ended up taking a casting class on the Kern River. We also took a pack train trip to the Kern River right before the SQF fire. A blast but man was I sore from the horses. We have been to many creeks this year with some success mostly tiny fish in the 5 to 7 inch range. In October we took a guided trip on the Lower Owens, I caught between 20 and 25 browns and rainbows between 9 and 16 inches. All on a half day trip. My wife caught about 10 but lost another 10. She had an absolute blast. We went back this past weekend and fished the lower for about 4 hours Saturday and explored looking for other access further south on Sunday. I got 4 browns Saturday 10 to 12 inches. Shut out Sunday. The weather was fantastic, which is why we went Saturday.
My wife found and purchased a used Reddington crosswater 5wt, Rod and Reel for $40.00, didn't even ask me. Before I even had my own fly rod. I found an ECHO Base 5wt on Offer Up for $40 in Pasadena and bought that. I have a ancient Cortland clicker fly reel that someone gave to me 40 years ago. I put line on it and have caught 40 to 50 fish on it. Nothing big but good enough for the type of fishing I am doing. I am going to upgrade to a new reel this Christmas. I know less than zero about fly rods but for what I am doing the gear we have is fine.
I got back yesterday at 5PM and I am already thinking about going back, I got it bad. I think my ideal trip will be 4 to 5 days. Fishing a day on the lower, a day on the upper (never fished there), and a day at hot creek (been there but did not fish). I am really interested in trying a drift trip on the lower too. I am also considering taking a Jeep trip on the south fork of the Kern (more expensive than the pack train). Good thing my wife is hooked too. I have started thinking about trying to complete the heritage trout challenge. I have three of the six needed already, although my picture of my Golden sucks, so I will need to go do that again.
So far I used guides 4 times, Montana, Pack Train, Sequoia NP, and Lower Owens. I have been really happy because I have learned a lot about techniques, things I would never figure out on my own. One really nice thing is with my background, I pick up things quick. I can have the guide set me up and point me in the right direction and then spent 90% of his time showing my wife what to do. Works perfect, I always tell them in advance, "If she has fun I will get to fish more".
Good luck with gear and limiting expenses.
Tom

11-16-2020, 02:10 PM	#4
ProfessorLongArms Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 400	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, 02:44 PM	#1
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, 08:24 AM	#2
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,605	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, 01:47 PM	#3
FoodGeekFish Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 306	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, 03:31 PM	#5
Fishon14 Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 50	I believe that the Owens river is open year around

11-16-2020, 04:26 PM	#6
dgarland10 Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Long Beach Posts: 56	The Owens, both Upper and Lower, Hot Creek are open year around. Be aware of road conditions if trying to fish the Upper Owens or Hot Creek. A lot of guys snow shoe or snowmobile in during the winter.

11-16-2020, 10:04 PM	#7
tomahawk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 109	After 45 years of spinners, bait casters, and conventional setups, I tried fly fishing for the first time a few years ago on a trip to Yellowstone. Summer 2019, I got a guide to take me and my wife in Sequoia NP. She had a blast (and so did I). Now we are pretty much hooked but don't really know jack. I was going to take a class in March at the LBCC, recommended by Tigermidge but it cancelled due to COVID. We ended up taking a casting class on the Kern River. We also took a pack train trip to the Kern River right before the SQF fire. A blast but man was I sore from the horses. We have been to many creeks this year with some success mostly tiny fish in the 5 to 7 inch range. In October we took a guided trip on the Lower Owens, I caught between 20 and 25 browns and rainbows between 9 and 16 inches. All on a half day trip. My wife caught about 10 but lost another 10. She had an absolute blast. We went back this past weekend and fished the lower for about 4 hours Saturday and explored looking for other access further south on Sunday. I got 4 browns Saturday 10 to 12 inches. Shut out Sunday. The weather was fantastic, which is why we went Saturday. My wife found and purchased a used Reddington crosswater 5wt, Rod and Reel for $40.00, didn't even ask me. Before I even had my own fly rod. I found an ECHO Base 5wt on Offer Up for $40 in Pasadena and bought that. I have a ancient Cortland clicker fly reel that someone gave to me 40 years ago. I put line on it and have caught 40 to 50 fish on it. Nothing big but good enough for the type of fishing I am doing. I am going to upgrade to a new reel this Christmas. I know less than zero about fly rods but for what I am doing the gear we have is fine. I got back yesterday at 5PM and I am already thinking about going back, I got it bad. I think my ideal trip will be 4 to 5 days. Fishing a day on the lower, a day on the upper (never fished there), and a day at hot creek (been there but did not fish). I am really interested in trying a drift trip on the lower too. I am also considering taking a Jeep trip on the south fork of the Kern (more expensive than the pack train). Good thing my wife is hooked too. I have started thinking about trying to complete the heritage trout challenge. I have three of the six needed already, although my picture of my Golden sucks, so I will need to go do that again. So far I used guides 4 times, Montana, Pack Train, Sequoia NP, and Lower Owens. I have been really happy because I have learned a lot about techniques, things I would never figure out on my own. One really nice thing is with my background, I pick up things quick. I can have the guide set me up and point me in the right direction and then spent 90% of his time showing my wife what to do. Works perfect, I always tell them in advance, "If she has fun I will get to fish more". Good luck with gear and limiting expenses. Tom