actually i just picked up my first fly outfit from there and so far it feels worth it...i got the pre-rigged 8/9 weight on sale for $50...grabbed 30yrds of tippet for $4 (so that way you're not cutting away at the $4 6ft tapered leader every time you change flies. i didn't get mine in time to get the fly casting lessons but after being out on the water a few times i wish i'd started earlier. also looking at grabbing a lighter outfit for trout and panfish, the one i have now is more for pike and bass. If they're not offering casting lessons you can find tons on youtube. Remember be patient and repeat the basics over and over again, best of luck!

yea just caught my first 3 fish on it yesterday and you do feel it, might go out today for a 5wt. I would really like to feel the fight of even a small fish. Almost had a few fat bass take the wooly bugger which would have been fun, but it took half a day for a small chub and 2 tiny bass that couldn't fight too hard against a stiff rod. really can't wait to get out on the water for fall steelhead here in NY...

looking for classes in NY there's quite a few here around the fingerlakes, not really going to act like i know what i'm talking about taking tidbits of any info i get and applying it, just want to get better for the steelhead and the salmon here. Finances kept me pretty limited to my rod choice so i stuck with what i was going to be fishing for eventually

Go big or go home, pix to come!

jlverdugo951,
I like your attitude!
My first rod was an Okuma 8wt, first steelhead on the flyrod is my account pic...it can, and is, done often. (starting big)
My best advise would be to just fish as often as you can and don't worry too much about impressing the purists, after all, it's YOUR enjoyment that counts.

Sayfu has no pix whatsoever and has thousands of rants on this site so obviously spends more time ridiculing people when he can actually peel himself away from his daily paradise of internet porn, so maybe when his credit card runs out he'll get out on the water for once. Not discouraged period.

Thanks for the encouragement Hoski! Already brought in a few small, and i mean record setting small, black bass...rock bass, perch, chub, bluegill...the chain pickeral like to chase but aren't taking to the fly like they do a Red & White #3 Mepps. I have a primo spot for pike can't wait til one takes!! Speaking of which...time to go fishing

I can't speak directly from experience with their rods but we all know they are a good company and have been in the fly fishing market for a while. I have owned their waders (which haven't lasted as long as I'd like-more my fault I think). That said, they like any other 'outfitter' will market combos to get you started. Some will argue that these combos are too cheap and will not help you learn proper casting form. I think that's more or less true. But, you will catch fish...probably not the fish in areas that require more technical/experienced casting. If you're just getting into it you will most likely upgrade at some point. From my research, I've found the combos aren't going to have the best materials as far as durability. A reel with plastic parts will have trouble surviving a fall on a rock. The rod probably won't be the lightest (how much it weighs)—I don't really know how much a light rod will matter unless you have some difficulty holding/casting hundreds of times. One thing you can't beat with an LL Bean brand rod is the guarantee. I'm sure it's lifetime, no questions asked. And that would make the combo worth it.

Do yourself a favor and get a TFO. I picked my first rod up for $200 and it was ready to fish. From their, you will have a quality enough rod to throw some line, and you can learn whether you need a higher end rod or a faster rod if you prefer.