| Fishing is supposed to be fun. Fly fishing is potentially | | | | week or two fishing with this cast, it is imperative that |
| not only a fun activity, but can also be a venue for | | | | you learn to roll cast. If you will ever fish anywhere |
| relaxation as well as a way to help the fisher-person | | | | where there are impediments behind, or you want to |
| get more connected with their natural surroundings. To | | | | get casts under low hanging brush, you have to be |
| allow for these things to happen, follow these tips to | | | | able to use this cast. It is quite easy once you begin |
| get started on the right foot and minimize your | | | | working on it and is quite pleasing to the eye. |
| frustration level. We will include in these steps some | | | | 3. Learn All You Can about the Species You will Fish |
| basics on how to raise your skill level at a reasonable | | | | Fly fishing requires, or at least is greatly enhanced by, a |
| rate, as well as how to get geared up at a reasonable | | | | thorough knowledge of the species you are fishing for, |
| cost. | | | | as well as what they feed upon. This really is where |
| 1. Begin by Identifying a Specific Kind of Fly Fishing | | | | you begin to learn about the flies you will use. It will be |
| There is quite a bit of difference between the kinds of | | | | an ongoing process for as long as you fly fish. As |
| gear and skills you will need to acquire for fly fishing | | | | much as anything I can think of, fly fishing is a process |
| for saltwater species like bone fish and the kind of fly | | | | and not a destination. As soon as you develop a |
| fishing gear and skills you will need for brook trout | | | | strong understanding of one thing, it will raise many |
| fishing. Somewhere along the way, your interests may | | | | new questions in your mind. One of the beautiful things |
| indeed take you in several directions, but for now | | | | about fly fishing is that there is indeed much information |
| choose one thing. If you have been a spin fisherman | | | | out there, but you will likely observe phenomena in |
| prior to becoming interested in fly fishing, it should seem | | | | ways no one ever has. |
| obvious to you that the gear and knowledge required | | | | It is a great idea to obtain books, participate in regional |
| for large mouth bass fishing is quite different than that | | | | online fly fishing forums, etc., but your knowledge will be |
| used for crappie fishing. The same principle applies to | | | | quite irrelevant until it is applied in the field. There is |
| fly fishing. | | | | simply no substitute for field observation of the species |
| If you just want to fly fish and are open minded to the | | | | you are fishing for. |
| type, here is this author's thought on the matter. With a | | | | 4. Keep a Journal |
| fly fishing combo of a 5 wt and 9' length, loaded with | | | | Before learning how important his is, I observed and |
| floating 5 wt line, you can have a pretty good rig for | | | | experienced many things that I later forgot. By keeping |
| everything from brook trout to small mouth bass. This | | | | a journal with dates, locations, flies used, fish caught, |
| is a set up that many fishermen begin with. Fly fishing | | | | etc. I start to observe patterns that are harder to see |
| combos can be had at a very reasonable price, and in | | | | without such a methodical approach. It's kind of the |
| our opinion, staying away from an obscenely | | | | idea of "you cannot see the forest for the trees" |
| expensive set-up is a good idea. At the risk of | | | | unless you occasionally take the time to step back and |
| offending some of the elitists who enjoy the sport (and | | | | look. |
| are otherwise decent folks), you can certainly get the | | | | 5. Develop a Relationship with a Fly Shop |
| kind of set-up I am talking about for less than $150. | | | | Common courtesy dictates that when you visit a fly |
| 2. Adopt a Methodical Approach to Learning to Fly | | | | shop and they give you advice, that you make some |
| Cast | | | | kind of a purchase based on the advice. It does not |
| If you do not wish to spring for a lesson or two, start | | | | have to be a ton of money, but perhaps buy a few |
| by consulting books, videos, and internet resources that | | | | flies based on their advice and some leaders. You will |
| teach fly casting. Many fly fishermen have learned | | | | find that over time, if you consistently follow this |
| without ever taking a lesson. Start in an open grassy | | | | approach, they will share more and better information. |
| area and really get the feel for what you are doing | | | | These folks make their living making their customers |
| before going near water. The resource box below is | | | | happy. There are certainly times where you will make |
| helpful to you in this area. They key is to get where | | | | purchases from discount online retailers, but don't leave |
| you can get 25 or 30 feet of line out consistently | | | | your old buddies at the fly shop totally out of the loop. |
| before you hit the water. | | | | Hopefully these 5 tips will serve you well as you get |
| Once you have learned the basic cast and spent a | | | | started with this awesome "sport. |