Best Fly Fishing Starter Kits for Getting Into Fly Fishing
- Deluxe Fly Fishing Combo | 5 Weight | 9 ft - This is the kit that turns "I've always wanted to try fly fishing" into "I can't believe I just landed that!" $164 saves you $186 vs buying separately. You get 32 flies (not the sad 18-pack budget kits give you), a CNC machined fly reel with buttery-smooth drag, and real Rio mainstream fly line that actually floats. Perfect for beginners who don't want to show up at the stream borrowing flies.
- Standard Fly Fishing Kit | 5wt Rod and Reel Combo - The best-selling beginner fly rod combo at $114 - stupid cheap for gear that actually catches fish. Consistently top-rated by anglers because it just works. You get 18 battle-tested flies, a die-cast fly reel with 20-lb backing already spooled, and a 9 ft graphite fly rod that breaks down for travel. This is the entry level kit that doesn't feel entry level.
- CNC Reel Fly Fishing Combo | Upgraded - Premium components without the brand-name tax. $175 gets you CNC aluminum precision (the reel is a beast), anodized reel seat that won't corrode, and 24 flies covering every situation. This fly rod and fly reel package performs like comparable Orvis or Redington combos costing $300+.
Beginner Fly Fishing Rod Weight Should to Buy
Start with a 5wt 9 ft rod - it crushes 80% of fishing situations. Casts flies from #12 to #6, fights trout up to 6 pounds, handles big bass under 4 pounds. It's the pickup truck of fly rods.
Here's the breakdown:
- 3 weight = Your nimble creek machine for water under 15 feet wide. Perfect for technical streams where finesse matters. The beginner fly rod for tight spaces.
- 5wt = The workhorse. Handles creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes. This is why most starter combos center on 5 weight - it's the sweet spot that covers the most ground without specialization. If you're only buying one rod, make it a 5wt.
- 7/8wt = Your steelhead slayer. These beasts turn over weighted nymphs and 3-inch streamers, fight fish that make 50-yard runs, and won't quit when big fish punch you in the gut.
- 9/10wt = The heavy artillery for salmon, stripers, and saltwater. Fights fish that'll take 100+ yards of backing and test every knot you tied.
What's Inside Wild Water Fly Fishing Kits
Every combo kit arrives ready to fish with pre-matched components:
The core fly fishing gear:
- 4-piece IM8 graphite fly rod - Breaks down to 28 inches so it fits in your trunk. No more choosing between fishing and running errands.
- Die-cast or CNC machined reel - Sized to your rod weight (5wt rod gets 5/6wt fly reel). The reel seat fits snug - zero wobble.
- Pre-spooled weight forward floating fly line - Rio mainstream quality, matched to your rod weight, already installed with proper knots. You won't spend Saturday watching YouTube knot videos.
- 20-lb Dacron backing - 100+ yards of bright orange visibility, connected with nail knots that won't slip.
- 9 ft tapered leader - 4X-6X tippet sized for your flies. No guessing games.
Your ready-to-fish arsenal:
- 18-32 flies in 4 killer categories - Dry flies (Adams, Elk Hair Caddis), nymphs (Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail), streamers (Woolly Bugger in 3 colors), attractors (Stimulator). Standard kits pack 18 flies; deluxe kits load you up with 32.
- Protective hard-shell case - Keeps your graphite fly rod safe during transport. Broken tips ruin fishing trips.
- Stainless steel forceps - Deluxe kits add nipper tool for cutting tippet.
The fly rod and reel combo shows up balanced and tested together. Skip the 3-hour research spiral about backing capacity and line weight matching that frustrates every angler trying to get into fly fishing.
Fly Fishing Kit vs Buying Gear Separately
Here's what happens when you buy piece by piece: You drop $350+ for components, spend 3 hours on YouTube learning knots, your line won't load the rod right because weights don't match, and you false cast 15 times spooking every fish in the pool. We've watched it 1,000 times.
Our kits? Everything shows up matched, spooled, and tested. $114-$180 vs $280-$450 buying separately.
What You Pay Buying Components Separately:
- 4-piece graphite fly rod: $90-$150
- Aluminum fly reel: $45-$80
- Weight forward fly line: $40-$70
- Backing, leader, tippet: $15-$25
- Flies (18-32) with fly box: $30-$50
- Rod case and forceps: $20-$35
Separate Component Total: $240-$410
Complete Kit Price: $114-$180
Your Savings: $126-$230
Still deciding? Call 585-967-3474 - we've guided thousands of beginners to their first catch. We'll get you sorted fast.