Author Topic: Cheap Fly Fishing gear (Read 4650 times)

Mark Hanes · « **on:** October 15, 2009, 01:39:17 PM »

So here goes lets post up stuff to save money on equiment anything is game. Post away.

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2009, 02:10:38 PM »

This is what I have found so far, I don't claim to have discovered any of this, I just spent a lot of time googling...

A Frog's Fanny alternative that has been tested and approved is called Hydrophobic Fumed Silica. The hydroPHOBIC part is the important part as there is a hydroPHYLLIC type which absorbs water (does not a good floatant make). You can find it here:

http://www.epoxyusa.com/fumed_silica_p/ft02.htm

By the way, 3 quarts (the size of the above package) is enough to fill one of the big coffee cans. It will refill the frog's fanny bottle over 100 times per my calculations.

A good alternative for "Gink" type floatants is something you find in the makeup isle of a pharmacy. It is called "Albolene". I have found it hard to come by but I ended up finding a container of it at Rite Aid. For about 10 bucks I have enough of it for about 15 refills of my original Gink container. I have found that Albolene is a bit thicker than gink, especially in the cold, but it works just the same.

For cheap fly tying stuff, I have been ordering from a couple websites, one has cheap materials, and the other has cheap hooks.

Materials: www.flytyersdungeon.com

Hooks: www.thefishguy.net

That is everything I can think of at the moment, if anything else comes to mind I'll post it.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2009, 02:21:04 PM »

Nice finds there!

So what are your feelings on the hooks?? I need to get some bulk hooks for some of my popular patterns.

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2009, 02:35:27 PM »

Hooks from thefishguy.net are very nice. I have been using them pretty much exclusively for a few years now and have no complaints other than once in a while you get a hook with a goofy shaped eye or a strange kink in the wire but it is very rare (I can count the times I tossed a bad hook on one hand).

If you get on his mailing list, he sends occasional emails with hooks at a great price. Last email special he had "scud" hooks $5.00 for 100. I use these hooks for all my caddis and egg patterns and have not had any trouble with them yet. Well I haven't had a chance to try the egg patterns out yet (I will this weekend HOPEFULLY

), but I have 100% confidence in them.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2009, 04:13:15 PM »

This has been discussed at length in this thread:
http://troutlegend.com/forum/fips-mouche-tech-talk-37/flouro-alternatives/

FLUOROCARBON TIPPET:

"Mainline" 100% Fluorocarbon Lines such as Seagur Invizx and Abarzx, and many similar competing brands are just as good as your expensive fly shop "Tippet" offerings.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2009, 04:17:18 PM »

MACRAME CORD
http://carolsrugs.com/fly_fishing_cord.htm

Tons of colors, costs almost nothing, floats like a cork. Spend 25 bucks and you'll have enough yarn to last you a life time. Great for Yarn Indies, Posts, Bodies, and 1000 other uses!

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2009, 04:32:47 PM »

Macrame nice!

I might stop and see if i can get a couple of colors on my way home. I have heard brushed out it is great for baitfish patterns. That might be just the ticket for the emerald shinner pattern i have been wanting to come up with!

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #7 on:** October 15, 2009, 05:58:44 PM »

RODS.

TFO - I think any "cheap gear" thread would be remiss not to mention TFO rods. You'll have fly shop guys looking down their long nose's if you mention them, but fact is they make a really large line of affordable rods many under 2bills. No frills - just really decent starter and backup sticks.

Kalvin Kaloz · « **Reply #8 on:** October 15, 2009, 06:11:01 PM »

I would through out Lamson Konic reels! Same drag through the line up $500-120. Best reel on the market IMO!

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2009, 09:15:29 AM »

Adam nice find on that hook dealer they are made by a well know high in Japenese company. I order a few that i needed.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2009, 09:24:40 AM »

Ebay!! I have found more good deals on ebay than anywhere. Just last week I bought 24 packs of Prism dubbing for $19. You really can't beat it for less than a dollar a pack of dubbing. You just have to be careful of who you are buying from but for the most part I have had any issues.

You may see me posting some good deal that I find to share the wealth. I also have a guy out of south dakota that I buy all my pheasant tails from cheap on ebay.

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #11 on:** October 16, 2009, 09:32:57 AM »

FFPA, Get on thefishguy's mailing list, or email him to see if he will forward you the last special. The hooks are way cheaper during his specials.

Here is something that I have thought of but not had the chance to try...

For the people that put "egg veil" on their glo bugs, try buying a bag of that spider web stuff that people use for Halloween decorations. It looks very similar. Also, their is a Glow-in-the-dark version of that spider web stuff. That might be cool to try too.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #12 on:** October 16, 2009, 09:52:59 AM »

Nice a lifetime supply for under 5 bucks!! I did get on the mailing list so its all taken care of.

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #13 on:** October 16, 2009, 10:19:03 AM »

You'll be very happy with those Kobe` hooks. They are as advertised. The Econo dry fly hooks listed at the bottom of the page are kinda cheesy though.

The brass beads that is on thefishguy's website are pretty nice too, especially for the price.

I still haven't moved to the world of tungsten beads yet, but there are people listing the tungsten beads for a good price online. One already listed on this board is http://www.performanceflies.com (KevCompton). The tungsten beads are so damn expensive compared to brass, it is hard for me personally to make the switch.

Daniel Vuono · « **Reply #14 on:** October 16, 2009, 10:31:45 AM »

Even though I'm the young guy Im going to sound like the old timer. Ordering on the internet, I am guilty as charged but I do try to get out to fly shops as frequently as possible for my needs. Sure you pay a premium but in my experience the fly shops treat you well and can offer you information that deal-buster websites cannot. This doesn't mean I am not ordering stuff from some above mentioned sites (because I am) but I was curious what you guys think about fly shops. Once all the brick and mortar shops are gone, or you have to drive across a whole state, I think we would all really miss them.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #15 on:** October 16, 2009, 10:37:45 AM »

Don't worry Danny I spend enough where i keep a couple if the shops I go to in PA in business most of the stuff I buy online is too good of a deal to pass up or stuff I just can't find in shops.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #16 on:** October 16, 2009, 10:50:33 AM »

There is not a good one near me until I get to State College. Lots of small ones here that carry a handfull of stuff.

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #17 on:** October 16, 2009, 11:20:56 AM »

Even though I do quite a bit of shopping online, I tend to only buy the "little stuff" from the internet. I will shop at the local fly shop when I am in the market for a new fly line, or a vise or something substantial. I find that seeing something first hand at a shop, or bouncing some ideas off of the shop employee about line types, etc. will help to get the best product for your personal needs.

Robert Jordan · « **Reply #18 on:** October 16, 2009, 11:37:13 AM »

Quote from: DannyV on October 16, 2009, 10:31:45 AM

Even though I'm the young guy Im going to sound like the old timer. Ordering on the internet, I am guilty as charged but I do try to get out to fly shops as frequently as possible for my needs. Sure you pay a premium but in my experience the fly shops treat you well and can offer you information that deal-buster websites cannot. This doesn't mean I am not ordering stuff from some above mentioned sites (because I am) but I was curious what you guys think about fly shops. Once all the brick and mortar shops are gone, or you have to drive across a whole state, I think we would all really miss them.

that is true Danny. I don't really buy a bunch of big stuff anymore but I tend to buy some small stuff (tippet, etc) at the local places ... as I told you I used to work for Orvis so I still have a soft spot for them and I will drive out to the Orvis store (about 25 mins from my house) to buy something I need or an impulse buy.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #19 on:** October 16, 2009, 10:33:55 PM »

wait a minute there in no fly shop in Buffalo? Wow that is a big market that you really could make some money in.

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #20 on:** October 17, 2009, 08:55:38 AM »

Quote from: Dejon Hamann on October 16, 2009, 10:59:22 PM

Quote from: FlyFisherPA on October 16, 2009, 10:33:55 PM
wait a minute there in no fly shop in Buffalo? Wow that is a big market that you really could make some money in.

None. Sad but true.

Wow this thread really went places..... I am truly disappointed. I thought the "Fly Shop Wars" would be over by now Dejon...

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #21 on:** October 17, 2009, 10:45:41 AM »

You're truly correct about 1 thing... let's get back on topic. (my bad)

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #22 on:** October 19, 2009, 03:11:42 PM »

A decent reel for the price is the Albright "Bugati" reel, they are available online only. I picked up 2 (one for my brother, and one for me) to try out. The drag is excellent, steelhead approved. The reel is definitely not as nice as higher end reels, but for 35 bucks, it'll do.

**edit**
See post below, I don't want to say something is good if I haven't put a season on it. I will hold off on saying it is a good reel until next season.

Chris Michels · « **Reply #23 on:** October 19, 2009, 03:16:20 PM »

I had a bugatti blow up on me last winter. I used it for about 3 months before it seized up on me. I'm not too hard on my gear, but I don't baby it either.

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #24 on:** October 19, 2009, 03:25:02 PM »

Quote from: RipnLips on October 19, 2009, 03:16:20 PM

I had a bugatti blow up on me last winter. I used it for about 3 months before it seized up on me. I'm not too hard on my gear, but I don't baby it either.

Dang, I hope mine stays together for a while. If it has any issues, I'll report back about it.

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