How To Start Fly Fishing?
March 5th, 2009 | Fly Fish Lessons | 7 Comments »I want to start fly fishing but do not know how. What is all the gear I will need to start. Is there any where I can take lessons in SE PA or any other ways I can learn. Also wear should I go fishing?
Big question, hope I can help.
1) I would get a good book – "Fly Fishing, Learn from a Master by Bill Mason is an excellent book to get you started. It will explain all the gear, casting, flies, knots,
how fish feed, how to read water, and much more.
2) In SE PA I would advise that your fisrt rod be
a 8' 5wt, moderate / moderate fast action. St Croix and Reddington both make decent rods for under $100
You can get a decent flyreel (Cabela'a Prestige Plus,
Pflueger Trion, for example for under $100)
Flyline: I would advise Scientific Anglers Mastery Headstart ($ 44) in weight forward – this is a good beginning flyline with more weight up front so you get a better feel of the rod loading.
3) You do have resources available – here is a link to your Trout Unlimited Chapter:
070 – Little Lehigh
Chapter President: Stacy Reed
240 Northampton St.
Hellertown, PA 18055
Phone: 610-703-9447
Email: st.reed@rcn.com
Website: http://www.littlelehightu.org/
Also, there is a flyshop on the Little Lehigh,
(off of Hatchery Road in Emmaus).The fellows who run it may be able to give you some good advice.
Cabela's in Hamburg and Nestor's in Quakertown
are 2 places worth visiting, most employees in the fly area are fly fishermen and will take time to help you
in selecting your gear, and answering your questions – classes may even be available.
Some good streams in the area include the Little Lehigh in the Allentown area, Tulpahocken in the Reading Area, Falling Springs near Chambersburg.
Good Luck to you, and may I say, that most fly fishermen that I have run across over the course of many years are always willing to help a new fellow out.
Try getting in touch with Orvis they are expensive but they know their stuff. Ask for Dean in Manchester,N.H.
References :
Wow Fisher_King, great answer! only one thing i would like to add, go with a medium to fast action-not a straight through fast action rod, a fast/tip action rod can cause a few problems when your just starting out! lol
As for rod choices i would look seriously hard into the Sage launch, a 6wt is the most common, for most beginners, being that its suited to lakes and larger rivers, the Launch is often described as fast action, but when ive fished my sons, its more a medium to fast action rod.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431-cat600591_TGP&rid=&indexId=cat600591&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat600591&id=0029862
Fly fishing info
http://www.hooked-on-flies.com/
Fly casting info-dont let the name stop you it is fly fishing
http://www.sexyloops.com/beginners/index.shtml
http://www.freewebs.com/troutandsea/
*Update*
For heavier lines a tip action rod would suit, yes, but for lighter lines as one other poster mentioned a medium to fast action would suit better, as they correctly said they allow good dampening. When choosing either a double-handed spey rod, or a heavier saltwater rod a fast action would suit as you so rightly said. Tight lines!
I would also like to point out, that the talk of Abel and Lamson etc seem to me to just be examples of why a drag is needed, lol. For small rivers nothing, beats the orvis battenkill reels, they are light and vented and IF the drag is needed, they will stand up to a lot of damage, heat, water and still function fully.
References :
You should check with a local retailer of fly fishing gear. They usually sponsor day classes to get your started. In NC, the local community colleges also have fly fishing beginner and intermediate classes and fly tying classes. That’s a great way to get started. I took my first class (had never held a fly rod) from a local retail shop, went to a nearby lake and practiced for a year or so and then went back and took the same 8 hour class again. The second time it didn’t feel like I was drinking water from a fire hydrant! You will learn everything that you need to know about getting started in a beginner class. The Orvis website has some very good videos too!
References :
Buying your first Fly Rod, made from Glass, Boron, Graphite.
Quality and first time is of the most
importance. Poor quality equipment will end up collecting dust in a corner. Your Fly Rod can cost around $200-$300 USD.
Custom Fly Rod can run upward of $1700 USD for Graphite Blank, more for Bamboo.
Faster action the least forgiving it will be when an error is made. A fast action Rod tip reacts very quickly not letting you correct incase an error was made. I make this point as another answer was given incorrectly.
It's a poor example for anyone to term a Fly Reel as only a
"storage facility" there would be no reason for Abel, Tibor, SeaMaster and many more.
As with a fine watch so is a Fly Reel, just take apart a Fin-Nor No. 2 Wedding Cake or a Seamaster and you will understand.
Fly Reel is a precision piece of equipment the more in tune it runs the better the cast as with retrieval, to name a few aspects. Espect to pay around $100 and upward for a good, better, best Fly Reel.
Your best bet is to contact someone in your district who specializes in Fly Fishing to help you decide
on your most valuable selection your First Fly Rod and Reel. It's possible that your Fly Shop has Classes and will let you learn with your new Rod and in the case you change your mind another Rod maybe exchanged for the one that has been used, not all Fly Shops do this. So make yourself aware and tight lines.
A Contact in your area, see below
Golden Witch Technologies, Inc
Contact Russ or Erica Gooding
Phone: 717-738-7330 Hopeland, PA
http://www.goldenwitch.com/
References :
http://www.goldenwitch.com/
Here's a couple of decent rods for your money.
http://www.kmdtackle.com/scientific-anglers-pre-rigged-trout-outfit.html
http://www.kmdtackle.com/redington-crosswater-fly-fishing-outfit.html
Both come pre rigged with Backing, Weight Forward Floating Fly Line, and a Leader . The Scientific Anglers also comes with a DVD and a few flies to get you started.
Not too shabby if you ask me. I wish these were around when I started fly fishing.
I do however suggest that you purchase a Fly Rod Case to protect your new fly rod. Most accidental breakages occur during transport to and from your fishing destination and thats never pleasant.Here's a link to that also.
http://www.kmdtackle.com/scientific-anglers-fly-rod-case.html
Any questions, feel free to drop me a line…lol (pun intended).
References :
I am interested in starting fly fishing myself. It seems that most fly fisherman I have talked to are a bit testy,as in some of the answers that precede me. I do not understand what a “common person” has to do with the sport. Is it for royalty? With that said, I am starting out by teaching myself. By watching other people fly fish, going to sporting goods stores and asking questions, “playing” with the Equipment,and talking to other customers. I have found that www. youtube.com is helpful. I picked up a fly rod at a yard sale ($20) so I could try casting to see if it suited me before I pay $100 plus for a rod & and ditto for a reel. Your local Wal-Mart sells a complete starter set for $80. It is only a matter of opinion on what to buy and how much to spend when you are first starting out. After I see that I enjoy the sport and want to get into it “whole hog” is when I will invest big money in it. Anywhere there is a body of water with fish in it is a good place to go. LOL I have learned in my watching, talking, and youtubing that you can catch about any fish fly fishing. Just give yourself plenty of room.
I guess I’m just an under-common person!!! LOL Good Luck!!!
References :
Big question, hope I can help.
1) I would get a good book – "Fly Fishing, Learn from a Master by Bill Mason is an excellent book to get you started. It will explain all the gear, casting, flies, knots,
how fish feed, how to read water, and much more.
2) In SE PA I would advise that your fisrt rod be
a 8' 5wt, moderate / moderate fast action. St Croix and Reddington both make decent rods for under $100
You can get a decent flyreel (Cabela'a Prestige Plus,
Pflueger Trion, for example for under $100)
Flyline: I would advise Scientific Anglers Mastery Headstart ($ 44) in weight forward – this is a good beginning flyline with more weight up front so you get a better feel of the rod loading.
3) You do have resources available – here is a link to your Trout Unlimited Chapter:
070 – Little Lehigh
Chapter President: Stacy Reed
240 Northampton St.
Hellertown, PA 18055
Phone: 610-703-9447
Email: st.reed@rcn.com
Website: http://www.littlelehightu.org/
Also, there is a flyshop on the Little Lehigh,
(off of Hatchery Road in Emmaus).The fellows who run it may be able to give you some good advice.
Cabela's in Hamburg and Nestor's in Quakertown
are 2 places worth visiting, most employees in the fly area are fly fishermen and will take time to help you
in selecting your gear, and answering your questions – classes may even be available.
Some good streams in the area include the Little Lehigh in the Allentown area, Tulpahocken in the Reading Area, Falling Springs near Chambersburg.
Good Luck to you, and may I say, that most fly fishermen that I have run across over the course of many years are always willing to help a new fellow out.
References :