Customer Reviews

Wild Water Fly Fishing Complete 5/6 Starter Package

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I just got my combo today and I'm very happy with it. I needed to replace a rod that I broke and I didn't want to spend a lot. I chose Wild Water because of the price and the warranty. The shipping was free and super fast (UPS to Hawaii) which was great. Looks wise the rod is very basic, black wraps on dark grey, single stripping guide. Shiny metal (steel?) reel seat is a nice touch though. The reel is also very entry level but it's large arbor entry level which is nice. I took the setup out on a small stream for smallmouth and the thing was like butta. The casting was smooth and almost effortless. Full disclosure: I don't own any high end rods so I can't tell you "Casts better than my Winston (Loomis, Orvis, Sage, whatever)" but it sure casts better than my previous rod which was part of a Cabelas starter kit. The fly was going where I wanted it way more often than I'm used to. The slow action on this rod is said to be good for beginners, so I'll use this one to teach my sons to fly cast. I ordered a med/fast action for bigger water and windier days. I got both this combo and the 2nd rod for less than I was going to spend on just a starter rod/reel combo from a better known company. The 4 piece design is great for travel and the included case is solid. I know I've only had the stuff for a day, but it was a good day. I caught (and released) 6 bass including the 2 biggest I've ever got out of that particular stream. This outfit is a great place to start for a first timer, a great place to continue for kinda broke guys like me, and a can't-go-wrong backup for anyone else.

I just retired and have always wanted to learn fly fishing. I looked around and after much checking decided on this starter package. It has everything you need to get going. Not knowing much about the equipment myself, I asked the guys at the anglers club that I had joined. They all agreed that it was a pretty good deal. I did want a spare spool for the reel and called Wild Water directly. I actually spoke with Eric Dodds, the owner, who was a great help. He sent me a spare spool at a reasonable price. I would highly recommend this package.

I didn't want to spend more than a $100 for a portable fly rod & reel, so after researching, I selected the Wild Water Fly Fishing Complete Black Starter HX6-090-4 package. Good quality rod, reel, and case. The storage case also includes a small zippered side pocket for fly box storage. Great for hiking. Received excellent service from both Amazon and Wild Water. Fast shipping. Very satisfied.

"I have been teaching fly fishing for many years and have always been asked "what is a good starter set for beginners?". I have always had reservations about starter sets, as most are junk. I had some experience with Wild Water so I gave these a try. They are in my opinion the best starter sets I have used. Several of my students have purchased them either as a 1st rod, or as a replacement for another manufacturers starter set and all have been very pleased. They should have the term "just add water" with them as they are complete. Anyone starting the sport or wanting an affordable set for a family member should grab this."

I've happily owned this outfit for almost 2 years now. This is a starter kit, so it does have a slower action to make it easier to cast. The reel is decent, not a $500 piece of artwork but it is easy to use, untangle (the spool is removable), and the drag is smooth and easy to adjust. The weight is light enough that I can backpack and cast all day long. The 4-piece design makes it simple to pack into the deep woods, yet the ferrules do not take away from the action. I now own 3 rods from Wild Water because the cost/quality cannot be beat! My son always chooses this rod even though he can choose from other faster action rods.

I am a Fly Fishing Merit Badge counselor and have found this rod to be perfect with the scouts. The action is just right for learning. Unfortunately, my son took it to college with him this year so I will have to use my faster-action Wild Water rod (model HXF-090-4) this year.

The support and warranty is great - I broke my tip section a day before camping. When I contacted them they called right back and told me how to fix it in time for the trip (they couldn't mail it in time). When I got back they replaced it with no questions asked.

Finally, my son caught a 31" rainbow with this kit last summer in the Rocky Mountains (Spinney Mtn) - this was his first huge fish and this rod/reel allowed him to fight that fish like a champ for more than 15 minutes. Nobody else was catching anything, proving it can accurately present flies to wily old fish!

i'm new to fly fishing so i took a 2-hour lesson with a professional guide and decided to not rush into the fly fishing shop to hand over my monthly mortgage payment for all the 'stuff' you 'need.'
did some online research and found lots of good reviews for Wild Water as a company and for this combo kit specifically. took it with me on a family vacation in VT where they had a two catch&release ponds stocked with trout (i think i scared the fish with all my practicing, which was ok in my book since just the casting alone was fun). very compact size with a sturdy case makes this ideal for travel by car or plane. appreciate the 3 flies that came with it as well as the spooled up reel. overall, i've used it more than a dozen times in less than 3 weeks and i'm loving the experience. free shipping and no tax is always an Amazon best bet!

well, I was looking for a decent replacement rod without a major cash outlay when I ran across this combo package. the other reviews were prett good so I figured it was worth a shot. here's my two cents:

The rod as others have said is pretty basic in appearance, but clean and quite functional, the rod loading when casting is pretty decent. perhaps it's my casting style but unlike me previous rods, my line is catching on the rod butt during casts. The reel however was a disappointment in my book. plastic through and through. the line catches between the spool and the housing regularly. the drag is very unpredictable, meaning on full drag, sometimes it works, sometimes it does nothing.

so while I may keep the rod, it WILL be getting a new reel installed.

in the end, I should have just bought the rod separately and put the difference towards a less fisher price like reel.

I've wanted to transition over to fly-fishing, and have been looking at starter kits for some time. While I'm not an expert in fly-fishing equipment, I do know fishing gear in general, and the starter kit is good quality; the rod is good quality, and despite the mediocre criticism that the reel received, I would say that it has exceeded my expectations too.

The starter kits I've looked at have either been below $70 or right around $200, and of the latter I did not see the quality associated with the price. The pole has a lifetime warranty, and is made of IM6 graphite which is considered a good standard. As I understand it, the resin used with the graphite is just as important a factor in rod performance, but little information is available.

Focusing solely on the reel, it's aluminum and operates smoothly on its bearings. The drag has a wide range of adjustment compared to my spin-cast and spinning reels. In the hand it feels like a finely machined instrument although it's die-cast.
This starter package has "hit the spot" for my fly-fishing needs. If Sage is the "Dewalt" of fly-fishing, then Wild Water is the "Craftsman" equivalent, to put things in perspective. The bottom line is that I'm very happy with this purchase and I recommend it.
Good fishing!

This is a very, very well priced and legit starter fly rod combo. The fly rod and reel case itself is nearly worth it, rugged reinforced and thick embroidered "Wild Water" logo. Classy. The rod is clean, balanced and responsive. The ferules have very deep sockets that fit snug. The four piece keeps things small for the hike in to any riffle, run or pool you might be headed to. The reel has a solid aluminum body, with black nylon bearing caps. It spins silently on the reel, and the drag feels right and adjusts in easy click increments. The three flies and fly case are a fun little cherry on top. And all of this with a lifetime guarantee. Great!

On a personal note, I like cottage industries. After being impressed after receiving this combo I looked into the Wild Water company a bit more. It seems to me that this is a small business run by a guy who has a passion for fly fishing and wanted to provide the market with something that the big outdoor hunting and fishing chain stores couldn't; a good deal. I have a feeling that the owner Erik Dodds, personally assembles the combos and ships them from his garage or something. I don't know about you, but I like that.

Update: My reel seized up. I am technically inclined and pulled the reel apart. It is actually a decent reel, but the drag mechanism can be loosened off too far which allows debris to wash in, and components to wash out if dropped in the water. Also there are screws which have rusted. I contacted Wild Water and admitted that it may have been my fault, they offered a fix or replace if I shipped it with 25 dollars. I will not take them up on that offer as I can guarantee a new comparable reel (Pflueger Purist) with new line and not have to ship anything around. If you have a new combo, and if you are technically inclined, be sure that you occasionally grease the reel seat, and do NOT unscrew the drag excessively. I believe that is what caused mine to fault. I still give this product a five star, although Wild Water's reel fix/replace reel policy feels a bit like a 'Take a hike buddy'. Good idea, I'm going for a hike over to an upgrade in reel and rod, and putting a cheap reel on the Wild Water rod, as a back-up.

In most situations the fly rod is most important part to sucessful fly fishing. This combo package gets it right, great rod, good line, good carry case (ridgid)with an average reel. This is a "go fishing" combo that will give the new fly fisherman the right tools to start. I'm not new to freshwater fly fishing, and find myself these days spending most of my time saltwater fishing, but I recall those "quiter" times on rivers and streams chasing trout. I now have those opportunities again and will be spending my quiet times fishing in the Smokies.

Tried the outfit out in my pond and I'm very pleased with the purchase.