Setup
I like an 8 or 9 weight rod and a floating WF line. If you have an 8 weight with a large arbour reel and a floating or even full sinking line, it won't be hard to start throwing these big flies. There are so many good entry level options on the market that it is hard to go wrong. Keep in mind that some rods are quite fast and the beginner angler might not be able to use them to their full ability. I would start off with a medium fast action rod (the Echo base is a wicked entry- level deal) and then graduate to a faster rod with more power for longer casts- such as the Loop Booster rod. For lines and leaders, anything from a WF floating to a type 3 sinking line will work for different applications. I have an 8 weight Velocity rigged up right now while a good friend of mine likes to fish an SA uniform sink type 1 sinking line. 10-15 feet of t-14 can also be a great option if you want a custom sink tip. It all depends on your preference- make it work with what you have.