I've never really bothered to take up fly fishing... until yesterday! I found a perfectly-good fly rod and reel in my neighbor's garbage. Now, how do I use it?

:Chuckles: Fly fishing to me is one of things that you're not just going to pick up and be proficient with. I would suggest getting in contact with a local fly shop if you have one and get some casting lessons and some advice. The shop I go to frequently has helped me out a ton and one in particular has gone out with me on the river and shown me many things from different streamer techniques, swinging flies, dry fly and nymphs, and how to properly read the river's runs and what not. Once you get into it I think you'll have a blast and it can become quite addicting.

Tight Lines,

Jacob

I'd start by trying to find a local instructor for a few lessons. Better to learn right the from the start than to unlearn a bad habit. It will also shorten your learning curve. There are LOTS of books and videos on casting, but it is pretty hard to watch yourself cast even if you knew what to look for in your casting stroke.

I bought my first flyrod from a small shop. Paid on time, and got lessons from the owner every time I went down to make a payment.

EDIT: Okay, Jacob posted while I was s-l-o-w-l-y typing.

There is a site that gives you a state by state guide of certified instructors with their name, location, email address, etc. Can't find the link.

Check if there is a " Trout Unlimited " or " Federation of Fly Fisherman " chapter in your area. These guys are great in helping to learn flyfishing. If you don't, try their web sites, they usually have vidios. Good luck, it's a great sport that isn't limited to just trout..

Ok, this is looking a little more expensive than it seemed earlier. If there is a fly fishing shop in my area, will they carry the flies if I don't want to tie them my self?

Many thanks.

Absolutely. There are plenty of online stores that sell ready made flies. Also a few guys on flyfishing forums that sell. However, it is always nice to support local stores. Hard to walk into an online store and shoot the breeze for a couple hours. Flyfishing ain't cheap. Have you priced top of the line vices? Or how much it costs to buy enough materials to get started tying your own? Fly tying is a fascinating hobby in itself. There are some who flyfish just so they can tie more flies.

One more thing, I noticed that there are several types of lines for fly fishing. What do y'all think would be a good basic choice?

Thank you all very much.

Weight forward which some call a bass taper or rocket taper. It will be easier to cast because the heaviest part of the line is in the first 30 feet. Plus it will turn over bass flies much easier (in my case anyway ). Double tapers allow a more delicate presentation, and can be reversed when the first side wears out. I made a mistake and bought a double taper for my new 3 wt. rod. Weight of the line is what loads the rod. Having only ever used an 8 wt. fast taper, moving to a 3 wt s-l-o-w taper required me to learn to cast all over again. I feel that the double taper line only added to the problem. My timing sucked big time with that slow rod.

EDIT: Also that 8 wt can be powered with no problem. The 3 wt. requires finesse to cast. Now I'm not saying I am a bull in a China shop.

you have to buy the line weight to match your rod,don't just go out and pick up a random line. the rod should be marked similar to a bass rod ratings on the blank. [9' 6 weight[#] ,7'6" 3#,etc..]

you can over power you rod by uplining a weight to shoot out some large flys,or buy/make a shooting head for chucking small rodents! [if your rod can handle it]

What do you mean by " if my rod can handle it."?

What do you mean by " if my rod can handle it."?

Say your rod is labeled 6 wt. That means it was designed with the idea of being efficient with a 6 wt line. "Overlining" is using one line wt over the rod's designated line weight...7 wt in this case. Some rods can do a pretty good job throwing one line size heavier than they were made for. Some can't. This allows you to cast heavier flies with the same rod, or allow you to cast into the wind better.

Just what new2BC said..i will "overline" my sage rplx 10# with a 12# int. line for stripers when throwing big flys..it "loads" the rod easier and has the ability to throw a 4/0 snake fly in the surf.

Now,if you are hunting trout in a gin clear spring creek,you may want to choose a stealthy approach over a double-haul chuck & duck..

Is there a brand name that is good for a beginner to use?

Here are a few sites you might want to peruse. Shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

http://www.theflyfis...rum.com/forums/

http://www.danblanton.com/

http://www.warmfly.com/smf/

http://flyanglersonline.com/

http://www.flytyingforum.com/

http://www.yellowsto...mpleforkBVK.asp

http://www.madrivero...aboutstore.aspx

http://www.bigyflyco...s/Bass/list.htm

http://www.millersfl...vlet/StoreFront

http://pondbass.webs.com/

http://www.clouserflyfishing.com/

http://www.riverbum.com/Bass-Flies/

http://www.smallmouthbassflies.com/

http://flybass.com/h...es___stuff.html

http://www.madrivero...berg-diver.aspx

http://www.centralfl...worm-flies.html

http://www.flyfisher...dahlberg-diver/

http://www.warmwaterflytyer.com/

http://www.flyangler...ying/beginners/

http://www.warmwater...pwater-Bite.pdf

http://www.jjsjigs.c...482f2d38-p.html

http://www.deneki.co...-web-directory/

http://www.bigyflyco...thstreamers.asp

http://www.flyfishoh...ses_summary.htm

http://www.virtualfl.../essentials.htm

http://www.theflyfishingguide.com/

http://texasfishingf...ies#Post4968906 Post with more links

and the freshwater flyfishing forum on TTF

http://texasfishingf...ter_Fly_Fishing

Fly casting video.

http://www.tightline...hop.com/?cat=17

From here you can find plenty of fly tying videos.

!

He is a question What rod brand and model do you have? The reason I ask is if you know I would be able to make a better line recommendation for you. Some fly lines are made for faster action rods and some are for slower action rods. Also what you plan on fishing for will determine line type as well.

Since you are just getting started go to a flyshop. But do some research first. Don't let them tell you that you need to spend $1000 just to catch some bass on a popper or streamer. To start get Cortland 333 weight forward floating line to get started Use any of the premade tapered leaders that just about everyone sells, anywhere from a 1X to 3X or 4X. Since you have the rod and reel already, you should be able to get plenty to catch fish for under a "hundy". Of course you can easily spend 10 times that amount, it's all in what you want. Good Luck.

Mike

As you are just starting I recommend that you stay away the fly lines that are cheaper, when I say cheaper I mean $15-20 that you can get at most smaller non-fly fishing specific stores. Where the cost is going to be tempting casting with it is more difficult. I personally recommend a Double taper line. Simular to a weight forward, when the line gets to the point where it starts to sink and no longer wants to stay up in current, you can strip the line and flip it around and get double the use. As both sides of the line is fishable. There are some people this doesn't work for though, for those who can cast 65-75' or into their backing. But, starting out it should work. Essentially, giving you twice the fishability and saving you $$.

I also recommend using a fly rod that has a moderate action starting out. It will be easier to cast and control your line in the back cast. As you get better you can then change actions to help casting in windy conditions.

The below link has some very good free casting videos and fly tying videos.

http://www.tightlinesflyshop.com/

And probably the most important bit of info I can give is not to get frustrated. Fly casting comes easy to some and others it can take awhile. But, once you figure it out it is addicting.

Good luck!

If you plan on fishing mostly warm water species like bass and pan fish I highly recommend the Rio mainstream bass pike pan fish line. It has a shorter front taper which helps throwing those bigger bass type flies as compared to your standard weight forward or double taper line. It retails for about $40.00.