M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Extreme Fishing Combo Kit 3/5/6/8 Weight, Starter Rod and Reel Outfit, with a Protective Travel Case (5wt 9‘0“ 4pc Rod,5/6 Reel)

This is the perfect solution for those who have no fly fishing supplies. With this set you will need for nothing else before you go fishing. I was very happy to see the reel already had all of the lines set up. For a novice it is a bit daunting when you have to tie the backing to the fly line and to the leader. Very happy to see this was all done for me. All you really need to do is tie your fly. The case is awesome, it fits everything you need for the rod and you can keep the reel attached and it offers solid protection. I wasn't sure what the quality would be like judging by the photos, but in person you can see the quality and detail so much better. I chose to go with the 5wt as I doubt I would make use of the 8wt. I think the 5wt is a better all around rod for the lakes and streams near me. The rod is very durable and light. Most importantly the rod is very well balanced, I'd say perfectly balanced since it feels like you are holding nothing in your hand. For those who are particular about their drag, there is a turn dial drag adjuster on the reel, it has a smooth action and makes adjusting drag very easy. You do get a free reel key chain which you can reel and feels very well made. I have been using it since I got it, it is nice they added this. So far I am loving the Maxcatch brand.

UPDATE JUNE 2020: after a year of use, the cork handle is coming loose and I have to repair it. Bit of a bummer because I’m mostly enjoying the rod. I bought the 3wt 8'4" kit and after several outings, here's my impressions: -the rod is solid. My only issue is the length - 8'4" is neither great for tightline/euro-nymphing, nor small brushy streams. It's kind of this weird middle area. I'd like to see it either in the 7'-7'6" range for small streams or 10' for euro-nymphing. it's just kind of in this odd middle size. It's also a really fast rod, and if you're used to a heavier weight it's tricky to learn it. Overline the rod if you can, especially for smaller streams. Way easier to cast and control with a 4wt. I was having difficulty casting any weighted nymphs/streamers or fluffy air-resistant dries at size 12 or larger without the larger line. -the reel is just ok. The drag works, it's cast out of medium-quality material and balances the rod well. But there's some wider-than-usual gaps where the leader easily slips through the spool and gets stuck in between the spool and the reel. Really only a problem when winding it down for storage if your leader is still on, but still annoying. The neoprene reel bag it comes with is a nice touch. I've dunked the reel a few times while wading and after leaving it out to dry I've had no noticeable change in performance. -extra points for the awesome rod/reel case. I've got all 3 of my rods and reels in there, and there's probably room for a 4th. -The fly line/backing is...fine. There's no microloop at the end of the fly line, so either tie your own, get a braided one, or (my recommendation if you're getting this for small streams) get a decent 4wt line...or even a 5wt for those tiny tiny streams where you've only got half a rod length of fly line out the tip. -the leader is worthless, as is the nail knot that came pre-tied. Take it off and throw it away. It breaks SUPER easy. -the flies are only useful if you're cutting off the point as using them to practice casting. They're too big for the 3wt and the ties are really sloppy. They're also incredibly cheap hooks. -the fly box is solid. I haven't dunked it yet, but it does have a waterproofing seal on it. It's a bit bulky, but that lets you throw in fluffy streamers or dries without messing up the material. -the zinger is fine (it's a zinger, don't overthink it!). the nippers are not great. Not terribly sharp and take a lot of pressure to cut tippet. , but you'll have an easier time using a pair of 99-cent-store nail clippers. They're nice throw-ins if you don't have any but I'd replace them with something better. The nail knot tier on the nipper is nice. Overall the kit is somewhere between a 3 and a 4 star. I'm keeping mine, mostly because I'm past the return date. if you can spring for their slightly higher-end ultra-light rods, the sizing is better-suited to the 3wt size. The reel is fine...unless you're fishing for BIG fish or stillwater fishing, the reel is really just a line storage device. But if you're looking for this as a "complete" starter kit, you'll still need to get leaders, tippet, and decent properly-sized flies before you can take it to the stream. TL;DR version: PROS: -decent rod -decent reel -fly line is useable -accessories are mostly nice, especially the rod case CONS: -the flies and leader are bad quality -Not a true "starter" all-in-one kit, IMO - still need to get some other stuff...decent leader, decent flies, tippet spool -rod length isn't great for either 3wt specialty fishing situations -no micro-loop on the fly line ADVICE: -overline the 3wt rod with 4wt line for better casting control. -if you want the 3wt, get their higher-end ultra-light rods for the proper size for small streams -get rid of that leader! UPDATE - turns out they overline the rod when they sell it to you. I just weighed the line that came with the rod, and it's actually a 4wt line on a 3wt rod.

9ft/5wt. GREAT Beginner outfit. It has everything you need. Gets you started on the water, so you can enjoy and decide whether you want to really invest in the hobby longterm. I haven't used the flies (i use much smaller flies). I would buy this again and recommend to new hobbyists. Easy to cast and set up. Very portable and light weight.

I did all the research, took a few rods out for a test drive and had absolutely loved the Eco Lift starter combo, but balked at the price. Based on a number of reviews and articles I read, I took a gamble on this Maxcatch combo and have NOT been disappointed. The accessories it comes with are great and good for getting started right out the gate - but the really win is the rod itself. Very well balanced, light, flexible, and easy to work. I've spent 4 months fishing with it and it continues to feel great, casts easy, and is simply a lot of fun. My father in law is a VETERAN fly fisherman and was quite impressed with this combo when he borrowed it, so it's not just my novice opinion here. Only critique is that the reel sometimes struggles to seat in the cradle, and then once seated can be difficult to unseat. I solve for this by leaving the reel and base section of the rod assembled. Pick it up, take it for a spin. You'll be glad you did.

The rod is a medium fast action and casts well. Case is fine. The reel is the problem. They have a good inexpensive reel, the Tino, for about $10 more. The Tino in better constructed and has a little more capacity for the same size (5/6 in this case). The lower capacity reel that comes with it barely holds the backing and line. I had to remove some of the backing and part of the back end of the fly line (20 feet) to leave plenty of free space on reel so it won't bind when rolled to loosely. I also put a braided loop on the front end of fly line. Nail knots are a pain. I would have been better off to buy the components separately and put it together myself. It is to be a gift for my grandson. The flies aren't much but the fly box is nice. Maximumcatch (Maxcatch) is a good company and have some good equipment like their rods and some of the reels so I don't want to sell them too short here. A little upgrade of the package would have made it perfect for a starter or gift. Also alignment dots on the rod would be nice.