GEAR - A great adult beginner's fly rod for this area, that can be used in rivers, streams, and ponds, would be a 9 foot, 5 or 6 weight rod like the Echo Lift. For very young children (ages 6 - 11) an 8 foot, 4 or 5 weight rod is a good choice. Beginning about age 12, an 8 1/2 foot rod can usually be easily handled. For all beginners, a "weight forward floating fly line" is the best, most versatile choice.
At the end of the line, the most common leader is a 9'. We usually suggest folks start with a 4X, but the "X" you buy depends on the size flies you fish. We'll help you out with that at the store. Once you cut off too many flies, you need to tie on "tippet" which, like the leader, should match the size fly you are using.
For beginners, we like to keep things simple. Add a few flies and a pair of nippers (like fingernail clippers) and you are ready to head to the water.
That being said, once an angler has experience, there are many options. We have dozens of customers who love shorter rods (6 - 7 1/2 foot) that are 2, 3, or 4 weight - especially for exploring small streams. On the other hand, those who love nymph fishing often choose a 10 foot rod in a 3, 4, or 5 weight. Those who troll flies on the lakes use 6 - 8 weight rods. If you like to troll, you have to check out our collections of tandem trolling streamers and #2 8xl streamers.
FLIES - Wooly buggers, hornbergs, doodle bugs, and klinkhamers are a great few flies with which to begin. We offer a small collection of streamers, dry flies, and nymphs to get any beginner off to a good start in our area. Black ghost, gray ghost, and mickey finn are other popular streamers in this area. Elk hair caddis, parachute Adams, and Royal Wulff are other frequently used dry flies. For those ready to nymph fish, you can get lots of fishing out of pheasant tails, prince, and caddis larva. Given their life cycle, stoneflies are almost always found in moving waters in Maine.