fly fishing help
 

Im new to fly fishing dont have any of the equipment for it yet. im
just wondering the learning curve that fly fishing has. I went fishing
with someone i work with and he fly fished. i was wondering if i would
be able to learn how to fly fish on my own or would it be a good idea
to get someone to show me the basics and what not?? im just trying to
find out all the information about fly fishing i can. all the help,
hints and advice you can give me will be alot of help. Thanks


Outlaw

RE: fly fishing help
 

it is best to learn from some that knows how to fly fish already but you will pick up thier bad habits. But is not hard to learn and you could learn on your but having someone teach you would be better

RE: fly fishing help
 

Outlaw,
Riding someone elses coattails for a while is a good way to pick up the basics for a certain area pretty quickly........if you want to get truly good at it, it just takes time and commitment. When i went thru my " learning curve" phase I basically abandoned all other means of fishing and stuck to the long rod. I ate, slept and dreamt about catching fish on a fly........I tied my own flies, read anything I could get my hands on, and what I think is most important: I fished ALONE.
No pressure to catch fish........only to learn. I fished every chance I could and learned from every new trip.
If you are already a decent fisherman with regular gear , fishing for the same species, believe it or not flyfishing is not THAT much different. Its still fishing.

Now you are throwing the line instead of the weight of a " lure" but a fish doesn' t change its eating habits because you have a flyrod in your hands now.

If you' re serious then bite the bullet (there' s no other way) and get yourself a decent outfit appropriate for the species you intend.........and my personal recommendation? Start FLYTYING as soon as you feel the flyfishing bug bite you. Flytying is one of those areas that allows you complete freedom of patterns, and a real feeling of satisfaction when you take fish on something you made. Its kind of expensive to start, but when you aquire most of the materials and tools you' ll need it starts paying itself off pretty darn quicly. At $2.00 on up for most flies it gets pretty expensive as conditions change and new and different flies are needed.........plus you are gonna lose a BUNCH.:D

Get an outfit, get a book, and learn how to cast...........if you can' t get the fly there in the first place with regularity you' ll either become frustrated.........or it will light a fire as something to be mastered. Casting isn' t everything, and most " fishable" casts aren' t long ones but presentation is a BIG part of flyfishing, and many times its more important than pattern.

Ok I' m getting long winded.........if you have any specifics feel free to ask. I have 22yrs of flyfishing and almost 10 guiding under my belt so I' ll be happy to help if I can.

Oh yeah.........that little guy at the bottom of my post? That' s a good start for what your casting loops and rod position should look like.:D

RE: fly fishing help
 

Matt Isn' t that little guy at the bottom a Cowboy???/ :D

RE: fly fishing help
 

matt helped me alot.....i still have alot of the posts printed out.....and when i get serious again like every year i will be back for more.....i never got into it for trout..this year was the only year i tried seriously....cash could always be used elsewhere instead of a pretty expensive sport i dont know how to do yet..i have tying materials and tools too.....i love fly fishing and tying...i got to get new materials to tie though because i bought all the wrong stuff for waht a i want when i started...probally this winter i will get back into it...i will be driving in sept and as soon as i can i will be hitting the fly fishing only streams! dad doesnt fly fish.....i got into all this myself....theres alot to learn but its one of the funnest ways to fish in my opinion....and catching a fish on a fly you tied has the greatest feeling....and i only caught bluegills and bass that eat anything on my flys.....i cant wait....good luck....id also agree to get with a friend if you can....there so much you can do wrong and never know...its alot better to have the ropes shown to you first.......good luck

RE: fly fishing help
 

I' m 19 years old..been flyfishing since I was around 10. I pretty much taught myself to cast, use the equipment, tie my own leaders and flies. Also, dont overlok the warm water species for flyfishing.. bass, sunfish, crappies, etc all take flies, and are generally less selective than trout. I' ve found that generally, most of my fish have been caught with under 30 feet cast...It offeres better line control, and in my opinion, a better presentation of the fly. Generally, my first pattern to try is a Gold Ribbed Hairs Ear, fished on the bottom with either a small yarn indicator, or just using the end of the line as an indicator. If you have any questions about flyfishing, feel free to ask them here or email me.

RE: fly fishing help
 

Thanks everyone for all the help!!! i will probably get with my friend who fly fishes and ask him if he can help me out with the basics at least!! Matt / PA thanks for the great info on the subject, lots of help!!! sounds like i found a new hobby for the next couple years....lol..:D;)!! Thanks again y' all!!!

outlaw

RE: fly fishing help
 

Matt,
I am just starting to learn how to fly fish. What kind of clothing equipment do you suggest?
Thanks,
Patti .............. sunset...

RE: fly fishing help
 

Patti,
What are you fishing for, what time of year, and where?

RE: fly fishing help
 

Matt,
I am fly fishing in a farm pond, and a nearby river, spring, and summer, maybe early fall, ohio.
In the pond are blue gill and small mouth bass. Not sure about the river.
Also, if I do catch anything out of the river, how will I know it is safe to eat?
There is industry up river. :)
And, I like the little cowboy at the bottom of the message, lol ;)
Thanks for your help,
Patti....... sunset

RE: fly fishing help
 

Patti,
Obviously Bluegills and Smallmouth Bass are 2 different sized, and strength fish..........what will be overkill for Bluegills should be OK for Bass, and what might really make the Bluegills feel fun would most likey be too light for a good sized Smallmouth Bass.
So what we need to do is find a rig that will make both FUN while being appropriate for the intended flies and conditions for both fish........

A good all-around #5 weight rod will be just about right for both as long as you don' t tangle with BIG bass on BIG water in BIG wind conditions.:D

If I knew your budget I could recommend a starting place to look for rods and reels.....and line. Or a complete package.

FLyfishing for these species is not too complicated so you can get away with some bare necessities at first........You will also need:

TAPERED LEADERS: (3X or 4X should be fine for average bass, 2X on occaision if you encounter bigger fish or need to throw bigger flies) 7.5 to 9ft leaders are fine.

SPLIT SHOT: For some of the flies a couple shot added to the line will help get them down to the fish

FLIES::)It helps to have flies if you are flyfishing. Some patterns you will want for Bass.........Wooly Buggers (Black,Olive, Brown colors in sizes #4 or #6) and also some smaller ones in sizes #10-12 for Bluegills
Popping Bugs will work for both , and Attractor Dry Flies will work for Bluegills
If you really want to get serious about the bass look into picking up a few Clouser Minnows and Clouser Crayfish.
With the Wooly Buggers and Clouser Minnows, just cast it out let it sink and bring it back in in strips of varying speed.........that' s a good and brainless way to start catching some fish. If you think the fish are down deep that' s where the split shot come in.
The Dry Flies and Popping bugs are meant for surface fishing and twitching them on a very slow retrieve should send the Bluegills nuts!

BOOKS: There are a BUNCH of good beginner level flyfishing books on the market, get to Borders Books and pick one up. Oh yeah.........read it.;):DYou are gonna need to know a lot of stuff in it.....like KNOTS for instance. A good all around flyfishing book that teaches casting,knots etc, plus a book that targets warmwater fish like Bluegills and bass is another good idea.

NET: ? you might want one........nice Smallmouth Bass can be a handful, so if you actually want to land a nice one a net is a good investment. Get a " Catch and Release" style mesh net.........nylon is HELL on fish that you intend to throw back.

TIPPET MATERIAL: After a few fly changes you will notice that your leader is becoming shorter and shorter........You will need replacement material to attch to your original leader to get it back to it' s original length. How do you do this?........KNOTS. Read that book. Blood Knot, Improved Clinch Knot, Double Surgeon' s Knot etc are all important everyday knots that if you do not know will increase the misery factor for beginners.

TOOLS: Nippers:(to clip the tag ends of knots, and the big fat bird' s nest you will turn your leader into sooner or later)
Hemostats: (To remove the unlucky fish from your hooks or to pinch your barbs down)
Polarized Sunglasses: (You' ll never know how much you were missing under the water' s surface until you use a pair of these.......plus they will save strain on your eyes)

Beyond that we can get pretty complicated and expensive, but this will get you catching fish.........as far as EATING the fish? You' ll definitely want to call your local Fishing and Boating Commission (whatever you guys call them out there) and ask about the safety of eating those specific fish. They may be OK but there might be a consumption limit. I do know that you don' t want to fillet up a bunch of nuclear powered fish.:D

RE: fly fishing help
 

Matt,
Wow, thanks for the book:D!! I sure didn' t expect such a great response!! I will get a good book or two from Borders , (and read it ) ;)
I printed out your response, may even laminate it, and take it with me for quick reference on the water, lol.
I am looking forward to some great fishing, and quiet time on the water!
I really appreciate your great advice.
Patti........... sunset

RE: fly fishing help
 

Sunset..I have quite a few years of flyfishing for bluegills and bass. I personally use a 9' 5 weight rod, with a wf-f line. I use a 5x leader when fishing dries, nymphs, and terrestrials. For streamers, I go with a 3x. My fly selection is generally fairly small for Farm ponds. here are some of the patters that I use.

Bluegills
Hares ear nymph. sizes 10 - 16
Small popping bugs.
Small floating foam spiders and ants.
A small grasshopper pattern
A small cricket pattern.
A few generic dry flies- including Adams, size 12 - 14, Goddard caddis size 12
(can you say unsinkable?)
A few size 10 - 12 wooly bugger patters.
And if im getting short strikes, I switch to a 10 - 12 wooly worm pattern.
And lastly a San Jaun worm.

Bass
All of the above flies will take smaller bass and the occasionally nice bass.
Deer hair mouse (size 6)
Deer hair poppers
Popping bugs.
Crayfish patterns if you' re fishing for smallies.
A generic minnow imitation.
size 6 - 10 White,brown,black,olive wooly buggers (VERSITLE PATTERN!)
and a few muddler minnows.

Hope this helps. This should be enough to fill your first flybox :D

RE: fly fishing help
 

Josh,
Thanks sooooooo much!! I am going to print your post off too. Can I laminate both of these posts, hold a pole, keep my polaroids on[8D], hold a net , catch a fish , and net it all at one time??? LOL. Not sure, but, I am going to give it my very best shot LOL!!:D
Thank you very very much!! I have a lot to work with now. Can' t wait!!
Patti...........sunset

RE: fly fishing help
 

Thats what I keep asking him too....[>:];):D

C-Ya this weekend Matt...;):D

RE: fly fishing help
 

yeah it looks like a cow boy[8D]:D:)

RE: fly fishing help
 

Isn' t this the cowboy round up, and fly fishing forum?? I thought it was by the look of that little guy :D
How do ya cast from your horse?? And, does my horse need waders (spelled it right that time Griz ;))
[8D] Sunset

RE: fly fishing help
 

Hey all,
Ive been wanting to get into fly fishing for quite a while. My question is thie something that would be good for a beginner to learn. Another Question say i want to practice casting out in my back yard how do I do it do i put a junk fly on the line do i practice with a very small wieght? As you can tell im in no mans land of knowing what all to get.


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...ainCatcat20431

RE: fly fishing help
 

Sunset,
I believe you said ohio is where you' ll be fishing. Here is a listing of what bodies of water have fish advisory for them:
limit meals:
http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/fisha...imitmeals.html
Do NOT eat:
http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/fisha.../donoteat.html
Do NOT SWIM OR WADE:
http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/fisha...donotwade.html

RE: fly fishing help
 

Dear Voodoo,
Thank you so much for answering this for me. I will definetly check these sites out!!:)
I have been practicing my cast and may even catch a fish one of these days.:D
Your input is very much appreciated!!
Sunset [8D]

RE: fly fishing help
 

i finally got a fly rod...it is a Shakespeare 8' 5/6# rod. got all the line loaded in it...#6 fly line, weight forward. i have been doing some practice casting in the backyard but i have too much stuff in the way. i hope to go out tomorrow to a larger open area and do some more casting. would it be a good idea to have a fly on the line or without while practicing?? i tyed one on today and well the darn thing broke somehow....the eye broke off, no idea how it happened. cant wait to get out and catch the first fish on the fly rod!!

outlaw

RE: fly fishing help
 

To everyone on here seeking info on flyfishing, pay very close attention to the cowboy. It sounds like he knows a thing or two about this subject. And his single hall looks flawless!

Outlaw,

You deffinetly need to tie on a peice of bright color yarn on the end of your leader or better yet, tippit. Without it the line will make a loud cracking or wip noize and that' s not good. It weekens your leader and will brakes it as well. That cracking noize while false casting is a tell-tale sign that you just lost your fly in a tree or a fish. The second reason for wanting a peice of yarn is so that you can put it down on a target and actually see how your doing. Place a hat or hulihoop about 15' in front of you and start off by pulling off 20' of line and place it at your feet. Work out enough of that line into the air and pratice putting the fly in your target. Don' t do alot of false casting, your just picking the fly(yarn) off the target and placing it back down. On your way there stop at the book store and pick up a few books about the sport. If your serious about getting in you will do this alot, I have over 20 books and they are packed with pricless info. Your next step is to find a local flyshop. Stop by and get to know the owner. This guy can help you with much more than I can do typing.

A friend just stopped by and wants me to go look at a big buck he just spotted in a field we have permission to hunt.......A fly shop owner won' t leave you hangin like that......;):D

Keep the questions coming and know that no question is stupid. Matt is a great teacher through this board. I learned so much from him by picking his brain a few years ago.[:-] I' ll try and help as well.

RE: fly fishing help
 

Outlaw-

Just jumped back into this thread. Mantis said it well. You should absolutely practice with a leader on the line, and either a bit of bright yarn or a easily visible fly with the hook clipped off tied to the end of the tipped for casting. The " whip-crack" is caused by improper timing of the cast - in other words, starting the forward cast before the back cast has had time to lay completely out behind you. One thing that might help is to cast sidearm, and watch the entire casting cycle. That backcast should lay out nicely flat in the air behind you before you start to bring your rod-arm forward.

RE: fly fishing help
 

Getting help from the pros is a good thing. However, there is nothing that I have found more valuable than getting out and experiancing flyfishing on my own. Learning from my own mistakes and successes has been my best teacher