Try Lake Ogallala for rainbows always worth a try, where there is overflow on the diversion dams below the lake fished the flow, trout congregate around the faster flow of water. Canal is tougher to fish but a record rainbow might be possible.

Praire View is correct.

Try Praire Wind west of Bennington, the weeds are out from the shore line. Easy to fish off the dikes. My preferred method is using a float tube but fly fishing off the dikes works. Favorite flies is both black ice chenille and purple ice chenille woollies.

Looking at Harbor Freight at their folding trailer, plenty of You Tube videos of rigging it for kayak use. Better answer than pulling muscles.

If you are talking fly fishing, before you leap what’s your target fish that determines rod weight. Example for trout a 9’ 5wt combo would work. Largemouth and or smallmouth a 9’ 6 or 7 wt. A cheap combo for starters and if you grow to like fly fishing then you can go nuts and start investing in 4pc rods ranging from 3 wt up to 10wt all for a specific purpose ranging from $600 to a $1000 in cost on set up.
Just don’t till your wife.

If you can afford it go with a foot pedal kayak. Lots of reasons for having one.

Spring crappie the best on a fly rod while they hug the shoreline. Go get em!

That’s the beauty of fly tying. Hook size depends on target fish. Trout - small is best, panfish couple sizes bigger, bass bigger yet, pike bigger still. What your doing is trying to match sizes to give you the best chance to catch the target fish your going after.

Last time I’ve talked to Orvis the purposely add extra to a weight forward line so a 3 wt go with a 3 wt line.
Next rod all depends on your target fish. My all purpose rod is a 6 wt. it can handle pretty much anything. If I go after pike then I go up to 8 or 9 wt rods. Bigger flys, dealing with more wind you need that extra punch these rods will deliver.

Fishing in general is just getting outside and enjoy what’s around you. Find a mentor that you think would best suit your style. Mine is fly fishing, understand if it swims you can catch it on a fly rod. I use depending on size of pond: float tube, or a kick boat, or a Kayak. You are constantly working the shoreline so your not bored by just sitting there your active pursuing your target fish. Pike, bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish for warm water. Trout, salmon for cold water just go for it.

If you shore fish the above suggestions are great. For small waters I used a float tube working the shore line with a fly rod for bass and panfish. Catfish will hit a streamer or nymph especially early season.
A hook up on a catfish that’s over 3 lbs is a blast.

Find a local fly club in your area chances are they will more than happy to help without you spending any money. Once you gain some experience take the next step in buying your set up. By than you will be getting right fly rod for your target fishing.

Yes there’s a Y bone remove it and you have some nice fillets to eat just as good as any walleye.

Most of my fishing is working the shore line either from a float tube or a kayak. I want a fast action rod which allows me to pick up the floating line easily, allow the rod to load which then you bring the rod forward it automatically creates that loup releasing the line a 10 o’clock. The line will shoot back out and at the same time turning over your leader and fly.
The coiling comes from going past 1 o’clock on your take up which unloads the rod. You lost your power with the line now when you go forward with the rod everything lands in a pile.
Fly casting takes practice but there’s nothing better than a master angler fish of any kind on a fly rod. Go get em!

Before you buy your outfit determine your target fish-panfish, trout consider a 5 wt; largemouth bass, smallmouth bass consider a 6 or 7 wt; master-angler bass, northern pike then a heavier rod that can handle large flies and wind consider 8 or 9 wt; ocean fishing 9wt or a 10wt. I hope that helps plus consider Dave Whitlock’s LLBean Fly Fishing Handbook. It’s all there!