Was thinking about giving fly fishing a go this year. I'm just not sure where to start. Primary target would be bluegill but if course there are bass in the lakes as well. Would prefer some kind of combo that comes with everything needed. Hoping to find a combo under $100. Thanks for your input

1 hour ago, digitalvoid said:

Was thinking about giving fly fishing a go this year. I'm just not sure where to start. Primary target would be bluegill but if course there are bass in the lakes as well. Would prefer some kind of combo that comes with everything needed. Hoping to find a combo under $100. Thanks for your input

I have a diawa Algonquin fly rod, retails for 50$ and is stunning...

 

I have a Amazon reel called a croch, is also stunning for the price of 19.99

 

Finally my go to reel is a piscifun sword II and it's like 60 but is completely overkill for trout and bluegill, but it's comparable to many 200$ reels

 

(P.S the fly fishing industry is scummy and overpriced all equiptment from rods and reels to flies and tackle, If you want to know where to buy cheaper stuff DM me, so i dont clog up the forum, don't buy from the standard fly fishing brand names unless you want to pay a premium. Also flies on ebay are dirt cheap and really good quality, I can give you a few people to buy from, final note, anything buggy will catch fish patterns have never mattered for me even in the most pressured creeks in the world, color shade matters more and you only need 3-4 different fly types

 

I use scientific anglers wf line and it retails for like 24 or something, it's excellent line too. I use SF fishing backing and it's really good quality. They also have great quality tapered leaders

 

Under $100 is gonan be tough for quality gear.  The reel in 99% of freshwater fish is just to balance the rod really.  A quality line and rod will make a huge difference.  
 

I would go to your local fly shop and talk to them.  They will help you out and get you set up and many offer a free initial casting lesson as well which will shorten the learning curve considerably.  I would bump up the budget if at all possible as well as you will be happier in the long run.  

 

As far as flies go, cheap ones work but the hook quality is usually garbage and they are not as durable.  For panfish flies if i don't feel like tying them myself I always keep an eye at www.sierra.com as they have closeouts of good brands like umpqua for cheap or I go to www.breambugs.com.  Have fun with it and I don't think there is a better way to chase panfish than on a fly rod.  I was out this morning with my 6 year old daughter and was using my glass 3wt and it was a lot of fun.
 

Maybe I'll just forget it then. I made the mistake of doing the same thing with a baitcaster setup and then ended up selling it for a loss. Not gonna do it again

Finding a "decent" fly fishing set up under $100 is going to be almost impossible, short of finding something on FB Marketplace, Craigslist, or at a garage sale.

That said:  for bass and bluegills, I'd not not drop below a 6 wt.  While it's possible to catch bass with lighter rods, trying to throw larger streamers and poppers with line that light is difficult and frustrating.

If you're in the same "Chippewa Valley" I am in, shoot me a message and I'll be happy to meet you and show you some set ups for exactly what you're talking about, and can probably set you up with a loaner to play with a bit.

The closest fly shop to us is over in River Falls - Lund's Fly Shop - and is owned by a friend.  He's got everything you need, and he's very good at putting together a budget focused system, as well as providing guidance on what flies to get for our area.