We get this question weekly: “which rod should I get when I’m starting out?”
And our answer almost always is a fly fishing combo.
It’s the best bang for your buck. The combo includes a fly rod, fly reel, and fly line. It’s the essential starter pack. Instead of researching each item – a combo simplifies your search.
And the best fly fishing brands create excellent combos.
We’ve reviewed the best combos in the business and ranked them below. We include the best of the best, the best on a budget, and a couple of honorable mentions.
What is a fly fishing combo?
A fly fishing combo is the best place for a new fly fisherman/woman to start. And a great deal for anyone else. The combo includes the essentials to get you started including a fly rod, fly reel, and fly line.
Some combos include fly rod cases (important for protecting your rod), leaders and tippets, and fly boxes full of flies.
The goal of the fly fishing combo is to simplify entry into the sport. It can be exhausting researching a rod, reel, and fly line separately. Especially if you’re new to fly fishing. You’ll stop before you start.
This is why we recommend all beginner fly fishermen/women start with a fly fishing combo. And we’ve made your job even easier by including the best fly-fishing combos for you below.
What makes a good fly-fishing combo?
Great question, glad you asked.
A good fly fishing combo includes the essentials: fly rod, fly reel, and fly line.
The rest is icing on the cake but I’d dissuade you from using those to sway your decision. We’ll include those items in our roundup but urge you to focus on the meat of the fly fishing experience (rod, reel, and line).
Most fly fishing combos are set up as all-purpose rods meaning they will work for cold and warm water. You’ll be able to fish a trout stream as well as a bass pond. The rod can throw small midge fly patterns just as well as it can throw a large wooly bugger. (You don’t need to worry about those names as of right now – just know midges are small and wooly buggers are large.)
Don’t get caught up in the hype
Fly fishing is not about how much money you can spend. If you’ve done any research before today, you’ve likely seen rods for more than $1,500 and reels with drag systems that can stop a Ford Focus.
But it’s not about the money.
It’s not about how much it costs, it’s how you use it. (Guys and girls, you understand what I’m saying. Right?)
But seriously. A $1,500 rod will not help you cast better. And a high-end fly reel will not help you hook a fish.
I’ve seen too many people on the water with the latest Orvis rod unable to cast the length of their pole. This says a lot because my 2-year-old daughter can do this.
If you’re anything like me, I prefer outcasting people with rods that cost more than my first car. (Shoutout Saturn Ions.)
And you can do it with some practice. Don’t worry about the most expensive thing, get what you can afford and get out on the water.
There is a thing about too cheap
I’m going to contradict myself a bit here but hold on.
Your local supermarkets (e.g., Walmart) sell fly fishing combos. While they’re not terrible, they are close. If you only have $30 to spend, by all means, get a rod from them and get to fishing.
But what I’m getting at is the separation of quality is light years different from a $30 fly fishing combo to a $100 fly fishing combo.
You’ll notice a much bigger difference between these two price groupings than you would compare a $100 fly rod combo with a $1,500 rod.
Best fly fishing combos for beginners
We separated the best fly fishing combos into three sub-categories: best of the best, best on a budget, and honorable mentions.
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Best Overall
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Runner Up
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Best Budget
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Best for most people
Orvis Encounter Combo
The Orvis Encounter Fly Rod Outfit is a high-quality beginner fly fishing kit perfect for any angler looking to get into the sport of fly fishing. The outfit includes an Orvis Encounter™ Fly Rod, a laminated disc drag Encounter™ Reel, weight-forward floating line, backing, leader, and tippet. The rod is graphite with an anodized aluminum reel seat and stainless steel guides.
The 5/6 weight rod is designed for a variety of different fly fishing techniques and situations with its moderate-fast action. The reel features an easy-to-use disc drag mechanism for greater control and to protect lighter tippets from larger, stronger fish. This kit is a great beginners setup for anyone looking to get into the exciting world of fly fishing.
Catch Co Postfly Ripper Combo
The Catch Co Postfly Ripper Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo Set is designed to offer anglers a reliable and affordable fly fishing experience. This combo set comes with an 8’6” medium-fast action graphite rod, which is highly durable and provides a strong backbone for casting. The reel features a lightweight and smooth drag system, so you can fight big fish with confidence.
The set also includes a line weight indicator, a backing line, a tapered leader, and a premium fly selection to get you started. Plus, the rod and reel come with a protective, padded travel case that keeps everything safe while you travel. The combination of quality components, convenience, and value makes this an appealing combo set for beginner and experienced fly anglers alike.
Redington Path II Combo
The Redington Path II Fly Rod Combo Kit is a great starter kit for beginning fly anglers. It comes with all the essential items to get you started – a 9-foot, 4-piece Path II fly rod, a Path II reel pre-spooled with RIO Mainstream WF floating fly line, an ergonomic rod & reel carrying case, and a Start Fly Fishing brochure.
The rod is lightweight and has a medium-fast action, making it good for trout, panfish, bass, and other light species. The reel is made of die-cast aluminum and has a disc-drag system for smooth operation. The kit also includes a rod sock and a leader wallet to safely store your equipment. Overall, the Path II Fly Rod Combo Kit is an excellent choice for beginners who are looking to get into the sport of fly fishing.
Redington VICE Combo
The Redington VICE Fly Fishing Outfit is a complete fly fishing essentials package. It comes with a VICE rod and reel outfit that is lightweight and durable, a convenient zinger tool for quick and easy line management, and a variety of flies to get you started. It is designed to offer new anglers a complete fly fishing experience, with everything they need to get out to the water and start fishing.
The VICE rod and reel feature a lightweight design and durable construction, allowing for easy transport and long-lasting performance. The zinger tool makes for easy line management without having to fumble with knots, and the included flies provide a great starting point for exploring different types of fishing. Whether it’s your first time fishing or you’re a seasoned fly angler, the Redington VICE Fly Fishing Outfit is a great package to get you started.
Best budget
Aventik Extreme Fly Fishing Combo
The Aventik Extreme Fly Fishing Combo Kit is a great choice for beginner and experienced anglers alike. It includes a high-performance fly rod, reel, and line, as well as an assortment of flies and accessories. The rod is a tour-grade 8-foot, a 4-piece rod made of premium graphite for improved balance, sensitivity, and performance.
The reel is pre-spooled with backing and the line is floating, weight forward, and features a taper for better casts. The included flies range from dry flies, mergers, nymphs, and streamers, making this an excellent kit for trout fishing. Accessories such as leaders, a tippet, and a hook sharpener are also included. This kit is an excellent choice for those looking for an all-in-one fly fishing combo.
MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Extreme Combo
MAXIMUMCATCH’s Extreme Fly Fishing Combo Kit is a comprehensive starter kit with all the essential items you need to get started with fly fishing. The kit includes a 9ft 4/5 weight IM12 graphite rod, a large arbor die-cast aluminum fly reel, a weight-forward floating fly line, a backing, leader and tippet, an assortment of 12 dry flies, 12 nymphs and 12 streamers, a rod case, an adjustable rod stand and more.
The rod and reel are built with the highest quality materials and perform remarkably, while the assortment of flies is tailored to match the most common tactics in fly fishing. All of these items offer great value and performance, making this an ideal kit for beginners and experienced anglers alike.
Honorable mentions
Wild Water Deluxe Combo
The Wild Water Deluxe Fly Fishing Combo Starter Kit is a complete package that includes essential items for the beginner fly fisher. The rod is made of top-quality IM6 graphite with stainless steel guides and a lightweight graphite reel seat, providing a lightweight and sensitive action.
The kit also includes a pre-loaded weight forward floating fly line, backing, leader, a fly box, and a selection of dry and wet flies. It also comes with a leader wallet, forceps, knot-tying tools, and a bonus rod sock for storage.
Wild Water Standard Combo
The Wild Water Standard Fly Fishing Combo Starter Kit is a great choice for beginning fly fishermen. The kit includes all the necessary items and tools to get started fly fishing, including a 4pc, 9ft, medium-fast action graphite fly rod, pre-spooled fly reel with WF5F line and back, rod sock, and an adjustable aluminum rod stand with a foam grip.
The rod and reel are constructed from lightweight and durable materials, making them easy to handle and use in any fishing environment. The kit also includes a large selection of flies, ranging from dry, wet, and nymphs. The kit also includes a tackle box, line clippers, and an adjustable landing net, so anglers are able to catch their catch and store it easily. This kit is a great starter package and great value for money.
Criteria
We take many things into account when reviewing products at Fishing with a Fly.
Financial accessibility
The last thing we want to do is accidentally persuade someone to purchase a rod that’s too expensive for them. Instead, we present the facts and our honest opinion backed by 20 years of fly fishing experience.
When we write about multiple products we always include at least one for the budget conscious. We started out fly fishing with hammy-down fly rods and rods from Walmart. There’s no such thing as a bad place to start and you do not need to pony up a thousand dollars to see if fly fishing is for you. Or even to be a good fly fisherman/woman.
I love seeing people on the water with inexpensive rods outcasting and out-catching others with gear that costs more than my first car.
Versatility and geographic considerations
Many of our recommendations come down to versatility. We base our recommendations on how we approach fly fishing (there are cases when we recommend specific rods for specific fishing environments). And our approach is fly fishing for anything that’s a fish. We fly fish for trout, pike, carp, bass, and catfish. I think you get the point.
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Best Overall
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Runner Up
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Best Budget
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Grab a combo and get fishing
Quick recap. Based on our review, we believe the Orvis Encounter Combo is the best fly fishing combo for beginners. And for those budget conscious, the Aventik Extreme Fly Fishing Combo is affordable and an excellent piece of equipment.
Enjoy your time on the water and check out the below pieces before you leave:
Tight lines!
