Fly Fishing Time again.

This will be my second year fly fishing, and oh how excited I am! I started with a Bass pro dogwood canyon cheap 5 weight 9 foot rod, and a white river kingfisher 5/6 reel poorly spooled with discount fly line and backing. 
 
Let me start by saying, I did learn to cast several ways, and how to control my line and fly. but this is not the best outfit for the beginner, why? seeing as its a value "entry level" priced outfit? Because the poorly manufactured line with nicks and creases is not going to help you at all when it comes to honing your skills. The noodly rod felt noodly, you could hear the line tick through the guides and it was just unpleasant. I am very persistent though, I dealt with it. however after 16 months of research, POST learning how to cast, I now understand I should have paid more attention to line choice (weight and taper), and rod choice (power and action or flex).  DO YOUR RESEARCH! Talk to Orvis techs online, read Tackle shop rod reviews, pay attention to who is raving about a fly line, usually a seasoned angler will stay with a particular series of line for years, along with others who agree. Choose your action or flex according to what conditions you will be facing. READ, READ, READ. Call tackle shops and ask questions. fly shops are even better. It takes a few minutes to ask a simple question, and that simple or "stupid" question could be the difference between a horrible decision, and a fantastic decision. 

This year I am relining my Dogwood Canyon/Kingfisher #5, with Scientific Anglers Mastery GPX With dry tip technology, and Cortland 20lb. Micron Backing.  The GPX line naturally being a half weight heavier than standard lines, the extra weight will aid in loading the rod for casting in tight quarters, where back-casts are unheard of. I will also be trying S.A. Mastery Sink tip line with a clear tip to change up tactics when nymphing/indicators aren't yielding. 

Shortly I will be purchasing a #7 Weight, 10' tip-flex rod, along with a mid to large arbor reel. Also 2 spare spools will be accompanying the combo. 1 spool with #7 Mastery GPX , another spool with #7 Mastery Sink-tip, and another with #8 S.A. Mastery Bass Bug. This rod will cover my needs for river fishing for Steelhead, Browns, Coho and Chinook, as well as stillwater fishing for Pike and Bass. Right now I am considering Gloomis, and orvis as well as researching Amundson, unfortunately TFO does not make the BVK in a 10' model.