fly fishing

H

hawkpatriot

Joined
Jul 20, 2004
Messages
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I've never fly-fished before, but I want to get started. I have no idea where to start with the gear and rod weights and line and stuff. I'll be fishing for trout in small streams and bass on ponds. Whats a good rod weight and line to start with?

Gadgets and gear?
 
Casting this one to Gadgets & Gear.
 
Having grown up in the fly fishing industry, I'll give this one a whirl :)

My dad and I started a fly shop when I was 9 years old. I worked with him in the shop for about 20 years. He's still doing it, I went off to college then into high tech, but still love the sport.

For smaller ponds, I'd suggest a 5-weight. A lot of folks fish a 7-weight for Bass but I think that's overkill, and prefer things on the light side.

Sage is pretty much the top of the line in rods, and there's so many top of the line reels that I can't begin to list them all. You can spend a little, or a whole lot.

I would stay away from the package deals if you think you might be interested in the hobby for any amount of time. A good quality line (Scientific Anglers) is very important as well.

A 5-weight is also a good all-around trout size, but if you think you'll be doing more trout fishing, I like a 4-weight personally.

I'm happy to help more, just not sure what you wanna know at this point :)

Have fun!
 
I thought about it some years ago and did some research but never got into it, there's this little local tackle shop that I often visit and the owner took me out to the parking lot with a rod and line to show me how to cast, I got it pretty fast. For trout most people here in Mexico use a 5 or 6 line and streamers or wet flies which they tie themselves, I guess fly tying is part of the fun.

I've also lurked around Spanish speaking fishing forums and the people are a very friendly bunch, I assume they would be the same in English speaking forums

You may want to take a look around here:

http://www.flyfish.com/.

They seem to have plenty of info, tips, articles, links and forums.

Luis
 
I see you are in Maryland. The BassPro shop is oofering free two casting lessons in the weeks to come give them a call. Larry Coburn runs the fly shop there and can help you get set with a reasonable starter package. A 5WT out is perfect for most flywater in MD.
 
I havn't fished for years, but when I was a kid I was into it heavily. My dream was to become a writer for the big three outdoor publications available at the time. (Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and Sports Afield).
That was in the late 50s and early 60s, and it was still possible to buy silk fly lines that you had to smear with grease (dressing) all the time so they'd float, and that wouldn't last very long. Common practice to carry two loaded reels, so you could dry one out...

A split-bamboo fly rod from Orvis cost a lordly 100 bucks back then, as out of reach for a 15 year-old then as for myself today!

You could still buy "gut" leaders (and guitar strings), and the only way to make a tapered leader was to tie hunks of different weights together laboriously with blood knots.
Great fun, though. I loved fishing small Missouri streams with dry flies and popping bugs, taking panfish, smallmouth and white bass, and the occasional channel cat.
Got into fly-tying as well, and had to order all my supplies from the entertaining old Herter's catalogue, as there was virtually nothing available locally.
 
A few years ago, my uncle's father (my dad's brother-in-law's father) passed away. He was an avid fly fisher, and the summer before he died I was talking fishing with him. He told me that to enjoy fishing at it's best you should fly fish, and he told me I should start it. So here I am, thank you all so for the information.
 
I got into fly fishing about 5 years ago. I fell in love with it. I also use a regular spinning rod for walleye, so I'm pretty varied right now.

The main thing about fly fishing is that it is actually easier than it seems. Up here in Quebec, there's quite a bit of snobism regarding fly fishing. The old timers insist on matching the hatch and delicately depositing the right fly at the right time to lure those frightened trout :rolleyes: I may go that route eventually, but I great results with trout using simple muddlers, mickey finns and rough mayflys ;)

Also bear in mind that fly fishing also works great for Bass and Pike (I use an 8-weight for those). It doesn't require as much finesse and they're pretty easy to catch.

All in all, a lot of fun, and don't let the presumed learning curve stop you! I started off with a few hours with a good fly caster buddy of mine in a park, then a few hours on a river, and I was already catching fish :D

Guy
 
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