Author: Frank Ross

Jordan Ross tries his hand with the Genesis Combo.

Throwing caution to the wind, I ignored the obvious ramifications and set out for some riffles with Cabela's Genesis combo, son in tow and a firm grip on my fly boxes.

After talking with Cabela's fly-fishing expert, Monte Malzahn, about the pending introduction, the obvious gear selection was simple - Cabela's Genesis combo is designed for beginners.

"Our basic concept for the Genesis combo is to provide all of the gear for an angler who wants to take up fly-fishing. This package contains most of the usual items needed to start fly-fishing. This combo will get any angler started out on the right foot, and at a great price," Malzahn noted.

In addition to the rod of your choice and Genesis reel, the Genesis Combo includes Scientific Anglers' Head-start® weight-forward fly line, 100 yards of backing, flotant, floatant holder, two tapered leaders, nippers, forceps, two small retractors, strike indicators, split-shot assortment a small chestpack and an assortment of flies. Fly selection varies with the weight of rod you select. Rods up to 6-weight come with an assortment of two-dozen flies suitable for trout, and the 8-weight rod comes with a popper assortment and other flies suitable for warm water species.

For beginners the Genesis combo takes all of the guesswork out of selecting the right rod and matching it with the appropriate reel, line and accessories. The line provided, Scientific Anglers Head-start weight-forward, is great for beginners learning to cast for the first time. The Genesis combo is offered in four different length rods or weights from a light 4-weight, 7'6" to three options of 5, 6, and 8-weights in a 9-foot length. I chose the 9-foot, 6-weight rod because the extra length would help him keep his fly out of the water on his back cast, and I also wanted him to have the flexibility to fish a variety of species. To me the heavier line is easier to learn with. Also, I wanted a new 6-wt rod, and if he doesn't stick with it the Genesis rod will make a nice addition to my own gear.

Jordan Ross shows off a nice trout caught with the Genesis.

We began at home with a length of yarn for a practice fly. After an hour of practicing it appeared that he would be able to lay out enough line to catch a fish so we tied on leader and tippet and set out the next morning filled with great expectation.

He was obviously very excited with the whole expedition. Wearing waders for the first time and getting to try out a float tube while learning to fly-fish was enough to paste a permanent wide grin on his face. He spent most of the first hour relearning what he had tried on dry land the night before, and learning how to handle the flippers. Throwing him into two new things at once was probably more than was reasonable, but in short order he mastered the boat.

At times he looked more like a bear cub wrestling with a bowling ball than an angler practicing the fine art of fly-fishing, but by day's end was laying out his line fairly well and enjoying it immensely. He's not double hauling yet, but wants to learn.

After lunch I tried my own hand to see how the Genesis handled. The graphite rod's moderate-fast action and 9-foot length helped me to raise the line quickly and with a few false casts I presented a fly at a respectable distance. The balance of the rod is very good and the rod's handle is genuine cork for a nice feel. The composite reel seat provides a solid base to anchor any fish battle. The Genesis reel is a sturdy workhorse made of lightweight die-cast aluminum and features a disc drag with a large knob for ease of adjustment. The knob is easy to find and its diameter makes for quick adjustments. To accommodate any angler's preference, it is easily changed from right to left-hand retrieve.

All of the Genesis combo rods are two-piece, set off with double-foot chrome snake guides, which will serve well for many years to come. This is a first-class rod, combined with a high quality reel that will satisfy any beginning angler and a lot of veterans.

To be sure, you'll want to add flies and more tippets, landing net, a sinking line or two and a few other accessories, but this combo is a great package to start with. Once an angler catches their first fish on a fly rod it's pretty sure bet that they'll want to continue. From that point, selecting and expanding fly selections and other accessories is the part of fly-fishing that keeps anglers interested when not on the water. Gathering more gear is half the fun!

Click this link to see all of Cabela's Genesie Fly-Fishing Kits.