MRT56TK

Perfect for the beginner!

I bought it for a cheap combo to take out with me to the creek where I like to swim, it doesn't cast as good as my other rods, but I'm no pro by any means, I'm creek fishing and it does the job perfectly for what I need, Im attaching 2 pics of fish I caught with it today, this was the first time I took this one out and I instantly decided I should write a review, REMEMBER it's cheap and designed to get you to go out and fish and have fun, it's not about the quality of the items it's the quality of the time you have. I definitely recommend it for beginners.

This was my starter fly rod/reel when I got it a couple years ago. I haven't upgraded yet. The only real issues I have had with it would be the rod sections occasionally separating.

To learn to fly fish, you won’t find a better Rod and Real for the price. Make sure to seat the rod properly and snug when putting together, or it will crack where they come together. It has held up to some great trout. It’s obviously not an Orvis, and you will need better flys and midges.

It will catch fish for sure. The flies included are decent. Reel is pretty basic but it’s all you need to get a line out and hook a fish. Only giving it a three star because the biggest rod at the connection point failed my first time out. I’m just going to upgrade my rod and keep on fishing with the reel and flies though. Definitely worth a shot for an entry level fly setup!

I typically use a spinning reel and sometimes a baitcaster and noticed a guy fly fishing at the local urban pond near my house. He was catching plenty small bass so I thought I would give fly fishing a try. I didn't want to break the bank as I wasn't sure I would like fly fishing. After some research I saw this Martin combo on sale with everything I need, except a case but that wasn't a deal breaker. I have only used it about 4 times now and some of my casts are better than others, but I have caught about 20 panfish (bluegill/sunfish) and 4 small bass so far. I figure I already have gotten my money's worth from this purchase. Some reviews complained about the 3-piece rod separating but that has not been an issue for me. I haven't even bothered to check it. I did notice it was a tight fit between sections when putting the rod together, so maybe Martin (e.g. Zebco) has addressed this. I also saw at least one complaint about only having 5 flies instead of 6. The yarn without a hook is for newbies like me to practice in the backyard. Since most reviews mentioned the quality of the flies was iffy, I did buy assorted mix of flies, that were cheap as well, as I figure I'll be losing flies in trees, etc. I have caught on the included popper, the included wooly bugger looking fly, and a couple of flies from the other collection I bought. As I have only had this combo a few weeks, I really can't speak to the long-term durability. Also, as this is my first fly fishing set up, I don't have comparative experience with other combos. However, I have been able to cast, catch fish, and have had a fun time doing it. I will keep using this combo for now and decide after I've used it a bit more if I want to step up to a nice set up.

For the price you can’t beat what you get. Everything is all set up and ready to go once you receive the rod. The flies work pretty well for the most part, the click and pawl reel is a bit old school but honestly it’s worth buying the kit just for that. The reel is fairly solid quality and the rod does what it’s suppose to do. It’s perfect for the budget conscious consumer and those not wanting to drop $300 for a fly set up. The price point is perfect alone for beginners, kids, or just as an option to keep in your car for those unexpected fishing needs. This kit doesn’t include backing but it’s not much of a problem with how much fly line is included. The phone handle can become a little skippering when constantly soaked with water. The click and pawl system doesn’t really provide much drag but the audible click is satisfying to hear when you hook a fish. Overall it’s a fantastic kit at a wonderful price point.

My goodness I think my days of fishing with sinker and worms are over. After practicing for a couple days with the practice ribbon included, I took out my set up today and used the red fly included. It still took some work to get a good cast because of user error but once I got into it I was catching little blue gill left and right at the local pond. Fly fishing is my new hobby thanks for the inexpensive learners kit. The only problem was the tape used to hold the leader in place I ended up with a devils knot and lost about 1 foot of leader because of having to cut it, still catches fish though. The rod is questionable but for the price its already paid me back in fun.