Welcome to my review of the Wild Water Fly Fishing Rod Combo.
This is probably, if not the most popular beginner fly rod combo on Amazon right now.
But is the price of it just too good to be true?
That is what we are going over today.
Is the Wild Water Fly Fishing Rod Combo worth it?
Wild Water Fly Fishing Rod Combo Review
The Wild Water Fly Combo is worth it, if you’re on a budget. It’s a solid starting point for any fly angler to get in to the game at a low price point.
Advantages
- Price
- Action (slow)
- Very easy to control for beginners
- Everything you need to start fly fishing is included
- Accurate at short distances
Disadvantages
- Concerns about durability
- Doesn’t have a ton of power for long ranges
Let’s get this fly rod combo review started.
For the price that you will pay to get the Wild Water Combo, it’s surprisingly good. The quality is decent, the performance is good and the price is great.
This is one the best beginner fly rod and reel combos on the market... while you may not reel in the any sharks with this one, you'll surely have a fun time catching rainbow trout!
Everything you need is included
A big reason that so many people are huge fans of this combo is because everything that you need to start fly fishing right away is included. Fly rod, reel, case, floating line, backing, tapered leader, flies, nippers and a fly box.
To me, that is a lot of fly fishing gear for a little price. Which is why I was so concerned about the quality of it, and I was right – to a degree.
The accessories that are included in the setup aren’t great. You’re going to need some new flies and the leaders are ok, but not the best. I would recommend getting some FlouraFlex leaders if you do get this setup.
There are 9 flies that come in the Wild Water Combo. They’re actually decent flies too. 3 Ants, 3 Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear and 3 Parachute Adams.
A decent combination for beginners.
But, you will need more flies and probably fairly soon. It doesn’t take much to lose a fly. One gets caught under a rock, another on a branch and another on a fish. Bam, you’re already down 3 flies. We have an article here on the most popular flies for Trout if you want to check that out here.
The case included in the Wild Water combo is actually good. It has room for both the rod (which splits into 4 pieces) and the reel, along with little extra pocket for extra fly fishing accessories.
Quality/ Performance
The fly rod and reel aren’t actually as bad as I expected. Yes, it’s not the best fly rod or reel that you can get, but for a beginner they both will work pretty well.
When I started casting around and testing the waters a bit, I was pleasantly impressed. The reel is pretty smooth and can be adjusted to fit both left and right handed dominant people.
The rod is super easy to control and has decent accuracy. Especially at short ranges. You can absolutely nail your target and get your fly in the perfect spot to catch fish within 20 to 30 feet.
At long distances though, it was a different story. It was almost never accurate and it just doesn’t have the power to reach out far distances. Which is fine, considering the price tag and the fact that it’s a slow action rod.
And while this combo doesn’t have the best power out there, it makes up for this by being extremely easy to control. A lot of people that have never touched a fly rod or reel can learn the art of fly fishing almost instantly.
Which is why this fly rod is almost perfect for beginners.
Reel
The reel that is featured in this Wild Water Combo is actually a die cast aluminum reel. Aluminum is the best material for fly reels, but it’s typically CNC machined reels that I suggest getting.
In this case however, you are paying very little for the reel – probably around $20 – $30 in fact.
For an aluminum fly fishing reel, that is very, very good.
Concerns
Which, brings up the durability concern again. There’s no way of telling how long this setup will last, but up to this point it’s been good.
The reel still runs smoothly and the fly rod hasn’t broken.
I already have plenty of flies and leaders, so that was never an issue for me.
There are fly anglers that have broken the rod in this kit, the first time out to the river. I don’t know if the rod was a fluke or what happened, but that is the risk you run with a super low end fly fishing combo.
And then obviously the thing about not having great power.
This is one the best beginner fly rod and reel combos on the market... while you may not reel in the any sharks with this one, you'll surely have a fun time catching rainbow trout!
Wild Water Combo Alternate Option
If you are looking for a more reliable route to the river, get the Cabela’s Prestige Outfit. It’s very similar to the the Wild Water Combo because everything that you need to start fly fishing right away is included. The rod is a medium action and the reel is aluminum. We do have a write-up here if you want to learn more about it!
Our number one rated fly fishing combo for beginners. It's a high quality setup and also has everything you need to start fly fishing right away.
Related: Best Fly Fishing Starter Kits
Wild Water Fly Fishing Rod Combo Conclusion
In the end, if you want a super quick and easy route to the river, the Wild Water fly fishing combo is a good option. It’s not a great option, simply the durability cloud will always be hanging over it, but it’s solid.
It’s super easy to cast and control, the reel is smooth and made of aluminum, and everything you need to start fly fishing right away is included. The price tag is also very inexpensive.
Thank you for reading and hopefully this helped you out.
