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i love fly fishing around on ponds and the river, but do not really know what i need for reds. i have been told a 9 weight to start off with. does everybody agree or disagree with this? and any help on what kind of flys work best.

I'd disagree...Knowing proper technique and how to use your tool is the key...I use a 7 wt, fixing to get a Dan Craft 9 wt only for tossing larger flies though...for a realisitc day of fly tossing on the flats a 7 or 8 wt would be my choice for a single first rod set up. This is only my opinion though.

Chalk wrote:I'd disagree...Knowing proper technique and how to use your tool is the key...I use a 7 wt, fixing to get a Dan Craft 9 wt only for tossing larger flies though...for a realisitc day of fly tossing on the flats a 7 or 8 wt would be my choice for a single first rod set up. This is only my opinion though.

Agreed, 9's too much inshore. If I could get out more I'd use my 8 a lot but when I haven't fished for 2 MONTHS I go with the spin gear to make sure I catch fish. Eventually I'll learn enough to leave the spinning gear home. I'd actually like to get a 6wt because I like to use the lightest gear I can. Reds would be fun on that.

Chalk and Capt Ron are right on target...start out with a #7 or #8. Learn and practice some basic casting techniques, too. Salt water fly fishing is considerably different from most fresh water applications in that the winds usually blow much stronger on a constant, daily basis. As well, the fish can be tough on equipment, never mind the elements such as structure (oyster bars), etc. In calmer conditions, the experienced fly angler can get away with fly rods and equipment in the #5 or #6 categories. You might want to start out with a good quality floating, weight forward fly line that matches the rod weight. Later on, obtain a sink-tip fly line of choice to better able you to get a fly down deeper towards the bottom structure. Buy good quality fly leaders in 6-9' lengths, and learn to tie a short, 12-16" piece of #20-#30 shock tippet on the end of the leaders to save your expensive flies from being cut off by those fish's sharp teeth or sharp bottom obstructions! Basically, find someone (a friend or guide) that is experienced to take you on that first trip or two for inshore fly fishing. You can learn a lot from experienced, helpful fly fishermen. Good luck!

I carry a six, seven, eight and nine on board. I use the six and eight almost exclusively. If I had to use one rod, it would be the eight simply to deal with the wind which is almost always a factor. But, the six is waaayyy more fun.

Hey, Yellow Dog - I forgot to answer another of your questions from last report - that one about the kinds of flies to use! Well, sir, there are many varieties to choose from and all fly fishermen have "favorites" that produce results. I will run down the list that has worked for me and others may join in to add to the confusion in terms of their selections. Actually, there really is no one fly that reigns supreme, especially this time of year, but pick out a few that you can afford and go give them a try:
1. Deep Clouser Minnow - minnow-like fly tied on shorter hooks in sizes 4, 2, & 1/0, in any number of flavors (red, orange, pink, silver, brown or other color combinations there in); materials used to tie it are bucktail deer hair, chenile body wraps, feathers or synthetic fibers, Krystal Flash, etc.; the head of the fly is weighted with "bead-chain eyes" or "lead bar bells", depending on how deeply you wish to fish the fly.
2. Deciever Streamer - another minnow-like fly tied on a longer hook, usually in sizes 2, 1/0, 2/0, & 3/0; materials are in combination of brightly colored feathers, bucktail deer hair, and other ingredients like the clouser minnow; the hook is generally weighted with small lead wraps along the "hook shank" prior to a body tied on to facilitate getting it down deeper in the water colume.
3. Shrimp - immitation fly tied on longer hooks in sizes 6, 4, 2, and 1/0, in natural colors or florescent materials as an attractant; flies are generally created using an epoxy shell base to give the fly "durability" from those nasty teeth.
4. Whistler Streamer - this is a "Seaducer" style fly tied using "bead-chain eyes" or lead "bar-bell" eyes to give it weight to rapidly sink the immitation down deeper; the "Seaducer" fly is tied on a long hook, with colored feather mixtures in the tail and wrapped around in front of the tail feathers as a collar in sizes 1/0, 2/0, & 3/0 hooks.
5. Bend-back Streamer - tied on a long hook, with a special bend placed in the hook to make it "weedless"; uses body materials like fuzzy yarns and feathers or buck tail deer hair as an "over-wing"; the fly is weighted with lead wraps along the hook shank to make it sink.

For pictures of these flies and tons of other choices, consult your friendly Cabela's catalog or other fly fishing references and you will see a world of choices. At any rate, these are some of my favorites and, like I said earlier, I am sure there are plenty of other fly fishermen out there that will advise you on their productive designs!
Good fly fishing.

well i got a challenger 8 wt. and i like the way it feels looking forward to getting back out on the water and try it out.