Best Fly Fishing Combo Under 200 (Super Affordable)
If you are new to fly fishing then a rod and reel combo is a great way to buy your first setup. You’ll save a bit of cash and everything will be weighted correctly from the get-go.
At A Glance: Top 3 Fly Fishing Combos
- Redington Path II Outfit Fishing Rod with Crosswater ReelBest Overall Combo
- FISHINGSIR Fly Fishing Rod and Reel ComboBest All Rounder
- Wakeman Charter Series Fly Fishing ComboBest Budget Combo
There are a lot of options to chose from and that is the only part which can become a tad confusing. How do you know which one is the best to go for? Luckily for you, we have put together a review to help you find the best fly fishing combo under $200.
OUR TOP PICKS
Best Overall Combo Redington Path II Outfit Fishing Rod with Crosswater Reel
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Best All Rounder FISHINGSIR Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
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Sougayilang Saltwater Freshwater Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo Kit
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Best Budget Combo Wakeman Charter Series Fly Fishing Combo
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Redington Fly Fishing Combo Kit 590-4
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KastKing Anglers of Honor Fly Fishing Combos
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Orvis Encounter 5-Weight 8'6" Fly Rod Outfit
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NetAngler Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
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MAXIMUMCATCH Extreme Fly Fishing Combo Kit
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Top Fly Fishing Combos under $200
Redington Path II Outfit Fishing Rod with Crosswater Reel
This is one of my favorite fly fishing combos from Reddington. They make good products and they have really thought about this combo. This is a quality graphite rod, is medium-fast action, offering classic performance for all levels of anglers. They come in a good range of sizes and the 7 weights and above feature a full-wells grip with durable anodized aluminum reel seat that is ready for salt or freshwater conditions.
The reel is of high quality as well. The large arbor allows for an easier and quicker retrieve. It is made from durable polymer and a reliable disc-drag system that stops fish. The spool easily converts to right or left-hand retrieves and it is good for salt and freshwater.
This fishing combo comes with backing, fly line, and leader. The fly line is not the best quality but perfect for a beginner.
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- Good quality rod
- Good quality fly reel
- Comes with fly line, backing, and leader
- Fresh & saltwater options
Cons
- Flyline is not the best
- A little expensive
FISHINGSIR Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
A great value fly fishing combo and it comes with everything you can think of. The rod is good quality and both 3/4 and 5/6 weight options have mid-flex, medium action design. It suits a wide range of abilities and techniques and is especially good for starters.
The reel is made from die-cast aluminum and comes in a large arbor. The spool can be easily removed from the frame with a quick-release tab and is easy to switch from left to right-hand retrieve. The drag is a Teflon disk drag design and will stop fish.
The kit comes with a weight forward fly line, 9FT tapered leader, 55YDS 20LB orange backing, 24 flies and a carry case for it all. It is great for trout, small bass, crappies and bluegill fishing in both freshwater and saltwater.
Pros
- Good value
- Good rod
- Good reel
- Includes fly line, backing, leader and flies
Cons
- Flyline is not the best
Sougayilang Saltwater Freshwater Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo Kit
This rod and reel combo includes everything that you will need to start fly fishing, and it all fits in a convenient zippered case.
The rod comes in only a 5/6wt option which is about right for most freshwater situations. It is made of carbon fiber so is super lightweight and good to cast with.
The reel is made from die-cast aluminum and is easy to switch from left to right-hand retrieve. It has a one-way clutch bearing for a smooth click intermediate drag, and a comfy cork handle.
The package really does come with everything, including fly line, backing, tapered leader, Braided Loop Connectors, 12 flies, and a fly box. It is a great beginner fishing combo but you will have to upgrade the line and flies.
Pros
- 1-year warranty
- Good value
- Nice rod
- Nice reel
- Includes fly line, backing, leader, flies & fly box
Cons
- Not the best fly line
- Low-quality flies
- Comes in 1 size
Wakeman Charter Series Fly Fishing Combo
This fly fishing combo is what you would expect for $30. The fly rod is a 5/6wt and is actually quite nice, the reel is poor quality, but nevertheless, it will get the job done and comes with a fly line.
There are no details of the materials the kit is made from, but for the price range, I’m assuming low-quality ones. It is a great combo for a beginner or a kid to try out and either break it, hate it or love it and then upgrade.
Pros
- Great Value
- Rood is nice
Cons
- Low-quality reel
- Not the best fly line
- Not for saltwater
Redington Fly Fishing Combo Kit 590-4
Another quality combo from Redington. The rod is an easy-to-cast, medium-fast action graphite fly rod, ideal for the new fly angler. It comes in 2-piece and 4-piece models giving you the flexibility to be on the go.
The reel comes pre-spooled with a fly line and is made from a durable polymer. It has a reliable disc-drag system that will stop fish. The package includes a durable tube designed to hold 2-piece or 4-piece fly rods and reel combo. This case features plastic reinforced caps at the ends to ensure your travel case will last through many fishing adventures.
A great quality starter kit but it is a bit on the expensive side.
Pros
- 1-year warranty
- Sizes 4-9wt available
- Good quality rod
- Good quality reel
- Comes with fly line
- fresh & saltwater options
Cons
- Expensive
- The line is not the best
KastKing Anglers of Honor Fly Fishing Combos
This combo was made as a gift to wounded veterans as they work toward their recovery with the Anglers of Honor team. The combo is for sale to anyone interested and KastKing will donate part of the sales price back to the Anglers of Honor team to support their recovery efforts.
The rod is medium-fast action and comes in 4 pieces, great for traveling. It is made with high quality and is perfect for most fly-fishing styles from nymphing to delicate dry flies and even streamers.
The reel is made from CNC machined aluminum making it durable and light. It includes a graphite disc drag system. The reel is pre-spooled with 20 lb. dacron backing and Propel weight-forward floating fly line. These combos are ready to fish as soon as you take it out of its case.
A protective travel case is included and allows you to store and transport the rod with the reel on the handle for quick use when you arrive.
It is a great rod and reel combo and for a good cause.
Pros
- Each buy supports veterans
- Good Rod
- Good Reel
- Comes with backing & fly line
Cons
- A little expensive
- Fly line is not the best
- Not for saltwater
Orvis Encounter 5-Weight 8'6" Fly Rod Outfit
This is a well-made combo from Orvis and includes and Encounter graphite construction fly rod blank, Encounter reel, weight-forward trout fly line, backing, and a leader, professionally rigged and loaded to fish. Instead of the term “entry-level,” Orvis would rather call the combo “affordable awesomeness”, that is saying something right there. This is built for a serious angler but priced as a high-quality entry-level product.
The rod casts extremely well and the reel is large arbor and aluminum although neither is made for saltwater. The line is great, which is a first in all the combos, and the combo comes with a travel case.
This is a great rod and reel combo for the beginner that wants to progress. It is a bit expensive but you are paying for the quality.
Pros
- High Quality
- Good Rod
- Good Reel
- Good Line
- Warranty
Cons
- Expensive
- Not for saltwater
NetAngler Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
This is an awesome starter package for a good price. You get everything you need to start fishing and the quality is not compromised.
The rod comes in 4 pieces and is made from carbon fiber making it very light and durable. It is a pleasure to cast and loads well. It comes with a spare tip which is so useful, I don’t know why we do not see this more.
The reel is large arbor and is made from die-cast aluminum. It won’t corrode and the large arbor will make it easy to pick your retrieve. There is a drag on the reel, made up of a Teflon disc system. The reel comes pre-spooled with backing and fly line.
The combo only comes in a 5wt option, perfect for any freshwater activities but not for any saltwater ones. A carry case is included, plus a fly box and flies. The flies are not the best though.
Pros
- Good Value
- Includes a spare rod tip
- Great fly rod
- Good fly reel
- Includes fly line, backing, flies & fly box
Cons
- Low-quality flies
- Not for saltwater
MAXIMUMCATCH Extreme Fly Fishing Combo Kit
This combo comes with everything you need to start fishing, at a great price with lifetime repair warranty. Once you upgrade this can still be your backup for life.
The rod is excellent and casts well. It is made of carbon fiber. It includes 5 layers of mixed carbon including reinforced muscle carbon for a 20% increase in strength. It is a fast action rod, which may be a step up for a beginner.
The reel is made from aluminum and is lightweight. It comes with drag although it is not very smooth. The real also seems a bit small. This is where this combo falls down, unfortunately. The reel is pre-spooled with backing, fly line and a tapered leader.
The package also includes a travel case, reel cover and 12 hand-tied flies in a waterproof fly box, the flies are nothing special but work well.
Overall a good starter package and you can swap the reel out at a later date.
Pros
- 1-year Warranty
- Lifetime Repair Warranty
- Sizes 3-8wt available
- Good Rod
- Includes fly line, backing, flies & fly box
- Good value
Cons
- Ok Reel
What To Look For
There are a few key things to consider when you are buying a rod and reel combo. Luckily the rod and reel will already be matched for you in terms of weight but one of the hardest things is to make sure you get a good rod and a good reel, rather than one or the other.
What are you trying to catch?
This is important. Do you want a combo for a specific species or do you want a one that you can use for many species and in multiple environments? This will have quite a big influence on the size and type of combo that you buy.
If you are going for trout, you will not need a combo that can handle a 20kg fish or one that will handle saltwater, a simple freshwater setup will do. If you want a reel you can catch a trout with today and striped bass with tomorrow, you’re going to need something a little sturdier.
The Most Important Factor – Corrosion & Durability
Each combo will have its little differences to get to know when you first start using them. The more you use them, the more you may end up loving them.
If your combo is not built with corrosion and durability in mind, it will need a lot of maintenance. You could suffer from a lot of issues meaning you won’t get to use it very often. It should be made of quality corrosion-resistant materials and should be protected.
The Rod
The rod should be made of some kind of graphite, carbon or fiberglass, which all the rods mentioned in this article are. This means they will work in the elements and last a long time. There are some options out there in terms of weight and action, be sure to get a rod that matches your ability and what you want to catch, whether it is one or a multiple of species of fish. Then there is the choice of 2/4 piece rods, they all work well, but the rule is the fewer pieces the better it will be for casting. However, a 4-piece rod is far easier to store and travel with, so you need to weigh up your options here.
The Reel
All the real mentioned above are corrosion resistant but what we are talking about here is the drag. If you are fishing in freshwater it is nothing to worry about but if it’s for saltwater, you want to make sure the reel is made for the salt and the drag can handle a big fish.
Our Favourites
Ok, here is the worst combo but it fits a purpose. It is only $30 so if it is for a kid who doesn’t quite know if they like fishing yet, they can break it, hate it or love it for $30. The rod is actually not bad, so if they do get into it, you just need to buy a reel to upgrade.
- FLY FISHING POLE AND REEL COMBO - This fishing rod travel case comes with an 8-foot 3-piece fly rod, graphite reel seat with stainless-steel guides, 5/6 fly fishing reel, 45-feet of line, 9-feet of Nylon 4x tapered leader, 2 dry flies, and a carry case.
- QUALITY AND COMFORT - This fishing rod and reel combo includes an easy-cast 6/7 weight fly rod with a fiberglass body and an EVA Foam handle, giving anglers a comfortable and secure grip. The fly rod also features a built-in hook keeper for added safety.
The allrounder is this guy. It is a good quality combo all around for great value. A perfect setup that will last a while and you’ll enjoy using.
The winner is the Redington package. It covers everything from salt to freshwater, a lifetime warranty and each product in the combo is pretty amazing.
- REDINGTON FLY FISHING COMBOS: No matter where you find yourself casting a line, look no further than our fly fishing combos. Each combo is curated to your angling needs and ready to meet the demands of any fishery. Just add water.
- MEDIUM-FAST ACTION: The PATH rod is a smooth-casting, medium-fast action graphite fly rod, offering classic performance for all levels of anglers and suitable for both fresh and saltwater fishing.