I have always longed for the classic, parabolic action of a cane rod but I don't think I would be comfortable using one - it's like being afraid of falling and damaging a precious 28 gauge CHE with 30" barrels. I am quite happy with my graphite Thomas & Thomas rods and my Winstons.... and they come with a guarantee - not so with a Parker Hawes.

As long as your line and rod are matched (balanced for each other) they will become an an extension of your body... an instrument of art, so to speak.

Very true. I already broke one rod this season too.

My ace in the hole is a friend who now lives down here but lived in Brevard for about 10 years and fished a lot. He knows all the secret places and is not afraid to reveal them. My guide asked where I was going the rest of the week and when I told him, he got shocked and said "shhh not so loud"

He's right... secret trout streams are as precious as our favorite woodcock coverts. :nono:

Go ahead and buy all that fancy stuff. If you don't look like you belong on the cover of a fly-fishing rag, you're not really fly-fishing.:banghead:

IMHO. learning to make an accurate 20'-25' cast that doesn't smack your leader/tippet/fly on the water is the most important thing you can do starting out. Learn that and most everything else will come along with time spent on the water.

The stream I fish most often here in SC PA is a great place to take newbies. The water is Gin clear which allows you to see how the fish react to how different flies are presented along with being able to see them as they feed on natural sources of food. It's been a great aid to me over the years.

Thanks for all the advice. I like buying quality gear.

Give Grass A Try
 

Mills and Dean, despite great improvements in graphite rod action and technology, for the size streams Mills pictured he was fishing bamboo is by far the ultimate material for rod construction, followed by quality epoxy glass. Graphite continues to close the gap but is still in third place. Give it a try, you will never go back to plastic for small streams. Add a balanced reel and silk line and you may find you never want to let the fly actually land on the water where one of those pesky fish would waste some of your valuable casting time.:)