Buying Equipment

Start with a mid-weight fly rod, fly line of the same weight and an inexpensive fly reel. Look for a beginners package with a rod, reel, line and leader. Beginners kits start between $20 – $60. You can buy fly fishing equipment at outdoors stores or specialty fly fishing shops in your area.

Fly Fishing for the First Time? These tips will get you started with information on equipment, basic casting techniques, how to locate trout in a stream, and ways to take care of your favorite fishing spot.

Additional Instruction:

There are many ways to learn more about fly fishing. There are some great fly fishing books and ebooks out there. Check the authors SIG for their web address. Most fly fishing specialty stores offer fly casting clinics or private lessons. Several books, some for beginners, have been written about fly fishing. Outdoor newspapers and magazines regularly contain fishing and casting tips.

Equipment

Basics:

Mid-weight fly rod, 5 or 6 weight, with fly line to match

Reel

Leader

Extra tippet

Flies

Glasses or sunglasses for safety – polarized sunglasses will help you see fish Underwater

Extras:

Box to store flies – Vest or ***** pack for gear – Waders

Nippers or fingernail clippers to cut line

Forceps or hemostat to unhook fish

Landing net

Fly flotant in paste, oil or spray to keep dry flies afloat

Strike indicators

Small split shot to squeeze on leader to sink flies deeper

Basic Fly Casting:

Fly casting takes a lot of practice. But, you can start to learn the basics in a few hours.

Back And Forward Casts Used when there is plenty of room behind you and when you need to move your fly further out onto the water.

#1 Hold the rod out in front of you and make sure there are no tangles or slack in the line.

#2 Bring the rod tip back in a swift, steady motion, stopping when the rod tip is pointing up and behind you.

#3 Watch your back cast and wait until the line unfurls.

#4 Just before the line straightens out entirely, bring the rod forward again.

Safety Wear sunglasses or other eye wear when fly casting so the hook doesn’t accidentally snag your eye. Polarized sunglasses will help you see fish, too. Go with a buddy and wear a life jacket when fly fishing in lakes or streams. Moving water can be especially dangerous, so always be careful when wading.

Roll Cast Used when there is not room behind you to cast.

#1 Hold the rod out in front of you and make sure there are no tangles in the line.

#2 Bring the rod tip back so that a small segment of line hangs loosely behind your casting shoulder.

#3 Move the rod forward gradually; slowly at first, then speeding up steadily.

#4 Stop when the rod tip is still pointing slightly upward, and watch the loop unfurl.

How to Fish With Flies:

As the fly drifts along with the current, twitch the line while pulling it in. This action brings the fly to life and attracts the trout.

Basic Fly Patterns – There are four artificial lures, or flies, that are typically used when fly fishing for trout. Wet Flies, Streamers And Nymphs.

Wet Flies Sink and do not directly imitate an organism.

Streamers Sink and look like minnows or small fish.

Nymphs Sink and represent underwater forms of aquatic insects.

Dry Flies Float and mimic adult aquatic insects.

Your First Flies – Purchase a small selection of flies that represent live organisms on which stream trout feed. The most critical factors in selection are size, color, and shape. As you grow in your knowledge of your local stream, add flies that are more precisely matched to locally abundant food organisms, thereby “matching the hatch”. Many anglers tie their own flies. There are several good instruction books available if you are interested in learning.

Fishing A Trout Stream:

Approaching Fish – When fishing a stream, cast upstream. This way you can sneak up on the trout, which face upstream. Move slowly and stay low. If a trout sees you, it will dart away.

Surface Fishing – If you see a trout rising to eat insects, cast a dry fly a few feet upstream of where the fish broke the water. This gives the trout a few moments to see your fly as it drifts overhead.

Underwater – If no trout are rising, they are probably feeding underwater on nymphs. Cast a nymph upstream into the fast water and let it drift naturally back toward you. Because it’s hard to see or feel when a trout grabs a nymph, many fly fishers put a small foam bobber, called a strike indicator, on their line. The strike indicator jerks when a trout bites the nymph. Lift the rod to set the hook.

Finding Trout:

Trout swim in cold streams. They feed near fast water. Cast for them below choppy shallow water, called a riffle. Trout rest protected by the current in places called lies, behind a boulder, under a fallen tree, in deep pools or in slow water near a bank, until they spot an insect drifting in the water. Then they can dash into the fast water to grab the food.

Stream Trout and Conservation

Brook Trout average less than 10 inches, although some up to 17 inches are occasionally caught. Because “brookies” will tolerate only the cleanest and clearest water, fishing for this species takes anglers to the most pristine and scenic areas of the midwest.

Brown Trout are the most common of all southeastern trout. They can live in streams that are too warm for brook or rainbow trout. Brown trout of more than 10 inches are common in the midwest. Some exceed five pounds.

Rainbow Trout do not reproduce in most of the midwest states and populations are maintained by stocking. Most rainbow trout are stocked between 9 and 11 inches.

Catch and Release – How you land your catch will determine if the trout is able to survive when you return it to the water. Play the fish quickly and bring it to the bank. Keep the fish in the water and carefully remove the hook with a forceps. Wet your hands before touching or lifting the trout to protect their slime coating. Hold it horizontally above the water for only a short time for viewing. To release trout, carefully hold it in the water heading upstream until it is ready to navigate on its own. If a trout is hooked deeply, but not bleeding, you can cut the line and the hook will eventually dissolve.

Stewardship:

Get permission to cross private lands

Pick up and take trash home

Recycle monofilament line

Follow regulations

Use barbless hooks

There is a lot more you can learn about fly fishing, but the information in this article should get you started.

Once you learn to fly fish, I think you will enjoy it for many years to come.

By: Kermit Ramsey

About the Author:

The Arkansas White River starts as tailwater from Bull Shoals Dam between the towns of Lakeview and Bull Shoals, Arkansas. It is a cold-water river that is an excellent fishery for both rainbow and brown trout. It is heavy stocked with 9″ rainbows that will take anything on a hook. The task for a fly fisherman is to get past these stocked fish and find the true trophy fish that live in these waters. The stocked fish seem to like the current best and thrive in the ripples. The larger fish hide just off the current in pocket water. Your best bet at a trophy fish is to aim for the brown trout that live under cover in still water, although a 20″ rainbow is not uncommon the farther you are from the dam.

The water in the river is easy to wade until the dam turns on the turbines. There is an alert siren that sounds before the water rises. If you are wading exit the water until the new level is established. You should find that the water is still easy wading in spots. Such spot is at the end of the road that runs along what is now the north side of the river. The river widens out here and there is some good pocket water on both banks. When last there were some tree stumps on the north side or left side when facing downstream. On the south or right side there were some gently flowing flats. Both sides yield big trout as I can attest.

Casting a muddler minnow close to the tree stumps and stripping it back medium-fast produced a two-pound brownie that gave a good fight for a brown trout. I released him and he might still be there just larger. In the flats there is over hanging grass. I tried a black PT for a while with no results. So when in doubt go to the hare’s ear. I cast a couple of times but didn’t get the nymph under the over hanging grass. The fourth cast I made was perfect and I watched my indicator for a strike. It came and after a good fight I landed a 18″ rainbow. After releasing the rainbow, I looked at the area I had fished and thought the only thing missing was a “Please Fish Here” sign. There are many places like that on the White River.

There are many resorts on the White River for those fly fishermen who plan to stay a while. One is the White River Inn a couple of miles downstream from the dam, provide everything you need in the way of tackle and gear on the guided trips. There is everything you need for Arkansas White River fly fishing.

By: Craig Petersen

About the Author:

OK. So you have heard about fly fishing and decided you want to have a go at it. But you realized you don’t know the first thing about it! Here is a basic beginner fly fishing lesson, including equipment selection, what flies to use and how to cast..

Equipment for the beginner in fly fishing:

If you are new to the sport, the best way to go would be to purchase a packaged deal that includes reels, lines and rods. You can rest in the knowledge that everything will be matched and balanced properly. Also, it’ll work out a lot cheaper than buying everything individually. Packages can be bought from the internet or from retail tackle shops.

The leader and tippet connect the fly to the end of your line. They are usually made of monofilament or fluorocarbon, which are near-transparent in the water. This means that the fly appears to the fish to be unattached to anything. Fluorocarbon is the newer material, and is much better than monofilament. The leader is around eight or nine feet long, and tapered. The tippet attaches to the end of the leader so that you don’t end up cutting off the leader when you are changing flies.

Waders and wading boots are a must for protection against the weather, the wet, and against slipping on river stones. Fishing vests are very handy for carrying all the bits and pieces you’ll be taking on your day out fishing. Make sure there’s plenty of pockets of all sizes, and that the vest has good ventilation if you’re going to be out in warm weather.

Choosing flies:

If you are new to fly fishing, then being confronted by the thousands of different types of flies available may be a bit overwhelming. If you take a visit to your local fly shop or a sporting goods store, they will be able to recommend the best fly patterns to use in your area. Don’t be shy – ask around to see what patterns are working best that season.

Casting:

Here are some pointers to give you an idea of what is involved in casting. To really get a feel for it, however, it is advisable to get lessons with an experienced instructor. Apart from that, practice! Take the hook off the fly and practice, be it in your backyard, a local park, or out on the water.

Overhead casting is the basic fly cast. You lift your line up off the water in front of you, bring it over your head and behind you, then cast if forward again. It takes practice and skill to land the fly in the place you want it.

The roll cast is simple and highly effective. It is especially useful in windy conditions or when there are a lot of obstructions that prevent you using the overhead cast. Your line should be tight in the water, then you lift the rod vertically up to a point just behind your ear and do a forward cast. This makes the line do a loop and land in the place you point your rod to.

With this information you should now be able to make informed decisions about the equipment you need, how to find out what flies to use and a good under standing on a couple of basic casts.

By: Duncan Mcleod

About the Author:

I took up fly fishing some four years ago. I had always been a keen fisherman, mostly course fishing on rivers, but I wanted a change. I was getting bored for some reason, and as I get older feel less inclined to sit and wait for hours on end! I visited a trout fishery to take a look. Larkwood in Suffolk, England is a very pretty private fishery with two 2 acre lakes. The water is quite deep, 18 feet in places and the banks have trees and undergrowth making fishing a bit of a challenge.

The place is also teeming with wildlife, ducks, kingfishers and deer roam the fishery, so even if you don’t catch anything, it’s a beautiful place to be. So this is my first tip:

Tip 1. Find somewhere that is pleasant to visit as a fishing venue.

When I started fly fishing, I never thought I’d catch anything. I had been several times and always enjoyed it, probably because of tip 1 above. It was also a time of learning to cast properly and this is my second tip:

Tip 2. Have some fly casting lessons.

Casting a fly line is completely different to any other type of casting. It’s not hard, but technique is everything. Bad casting can ruin your pleasure and even put you off altogether. My casting was coming on fine, but I had yet to catch a fish. This brings me to my third tip:

Tip 3. Talk to the other fishermen.

Most fly fishers are friendly sorts. If you see someone catching a fish, go and talk to them and ask them what sort of fly they are using and at what depth they caught the fish. People are only too happy to talk about their success! This way you can learn what methods they use and try them for yourself. This leads me to my fourth tip:

Tip 4. Never give up!

Because I enjoyed the natural beauty of the fishery, I kept going which I might not have done if it was just a hole in the ground, which, let’s face it, some fisheries are. Finally, there is no right or wrong way to fly fish for trout, and this takes me to my final tip:

Tip 5. Try something different.

If you are like me, you will go out and buy all sorts of books about your new sport and try and learn everything you can. This is absolutely the right thing to do, but don’t be afraid to go against the perceived wisdom at times. My first trout was caught on a floating line with a short leader and a bright orange fritz fly. No problem with that, except that it was a freezing cold day, very overcast and dark, conditions which anyone will tell you suit a sinking line and long leader, and a dark fly! Never be afraid to be different in your fly fishing methods, as this can pay huge dividends.

By: Zac Kurtsmier

About the Author:

In my Key Fly Fishing Tips for beginners series I want all that read it to understand that not only is fly fishing one of the most popular sports around but also one of the most fun and relaxing as well. I am really trying to cater to the beginners here. I know that learning to fly fish can be a bit tough but I’m hoping my experience can help all the newbie’s who are interested in the great sport of fly fishing.

1. Casting
The first key fly fishing tip is casting. How to fly cast is probably one of the most important things you need to master in your fly fishing journey. How to fly cast takes practice and patience and will definitely make the difference in becoming successful or just downright perturbed with your fly fishing.

I learned to cast on the outside of my barn in the far pasture. I painted numbers on the side as fly fish strike indicators and spent hours aiming at the different numbers. By doing this you will learn how to fly cast ever so more precisely and efficiently. So fly fishing tip one is casting and the importance. I spent hours learning how to fly cast but even if you spent a few minutes a day your skill level will greatly increase.

I don’t want to scare anyone by telling them that without learning to fly cast you won’t be able to catch fish. I’m just saying that I guarantee you will catch more fish if you follow my key fly fishing tips. So don’t do all your fishing behind the barn. Just use some spare time and practice the techniques.

Watch for the next article on my series on Key Fly Fishing Tips for Beginners. It will get more exciting and get you to the pond quicker than you think.

By: Dale Mazurek

About the Author:

Last month I flew to a remote river in Iceland (Vatnsdals

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If you are new to the great sport of fly fishing, you’ll need lots of fresh tips and ideas. You have probably already learned that this type of fishing is completely different from regular bass or trout fishing. It takes a lot of skill and there is much more to know. The best way to approach this dilemma is to take fly fishing lessons from a professional. However, this can get really expensive. Luckily, you can always turn to the internet for free advice, and there is lots of it. Here’s a good lesson and some great tips for those new to fly fishing.

How To Choose A Rod

Alright, first thing’s first. You’ll need a good rod. Fly fishing rods can get expensive, but there are many good rods at reasonable prices. Here are some things to look for in a new fly rod.

Comfort – Grip all of the rod handles and make sure they are comfortable for you to hold. You should be able to get your whole hand around the rod in a firm grip.

Length – If you are shorter than six feet, you’ll want a rod that is 5.5 to 6.5 feet in length. You’ll want to make sure the rod is comfortable and easy for you to cast for 2-3 hours at a time.

Material – Fiberglass rods are often cheaper, but graphite rods are the best. You may want to spring for a graphite rod because it will last longer and is much more durable and easy to cast.

The Best Bait Choices

The bait is most important in any type of fishing. Here are a few of the most popular baits for beginners to use.

Grubs – Grubs, ironically, are smaller lures that are used to catch larger fish. They are great for areas where the fish have little cover. The grub is sort of like a bare jig head with a plastic body attached to the hook. They work best in clearer waters.

Jigs – Jigs are used in colder water that is clear to murky. The jig is basically a lead-weighted bait that has one hook. You can add a trailer to the end of the hook for better results.

Plastic Worms – Plastic worms are one of the most popular lures, and for good reason. They come in many different colors, and some even sparkle. Their life-like action in the water makes them very effective for catching trophy sized fish.

Artificial Flies – Artificial flies are the staple fly fishing bait. They are small and resemble live flies. They are made from fur, feathers, animal hairs, and colored threads and then bound to a small hook. These are most effective when fly fishing for trout and salmon.

These are some of the basic things that are essential for you to know if you are going to be a successful fisherman. If you can, you may want to take professional fly fishing lessons or pick up some good books on the subject. There are also many free resources available to you online. One thing I would suggest is taking the time to learn the basics such as proper casting and how to tie effective knots. These skills will all help you become an expert fisherman.

By: Christopher Mollo

About the Author:

In this article I’m going to reveal some secrets about both fly fishing lessons and fly fishing tools. Fly fishing is a unique sport in both the fact that you can make some of your own equipment and that it is a sport that no one truly masters.

The unique properties of the sport make it a life long enjoyment for those that fly fish. Unlike other styles of fishing where one has perhaps a favorite lure or bait that always seems to work, fishing with flies is actually a daily experiment that encompasses learning which flies are working, what depth the fish are feeding at, and where exactly should you be casting that day.

If the fly fisher has to figure all of that out every time he hits the water one might wonder why anyone would bother with fly fishing lessons. The answer is quite simple: learn from other’s experience. Even though successful fishing with flies requires making constant changes in your tactics an experience fly fisher can tell you how to narrow down the choices before you to a small selection of techniques that are most likely to work that day.

Good fly fishing lessons should not just cover basics like tying your leaders and at what depth you should start at but also cover how to recognize feeding patterns in the water, where to find the best places to cast and the life cycles of local insects. This style of fishing is truly more of a science than it is a sport, and good fly fishing lessons need to originate from that position.

The scientific aspect is also what draws many fly fishers to creating their own flies. Using fly fishing tools to make your own flies is in some circles considered the mark of a real fly fisher. Just like paying for fly fishing lessons won’t make you an expert fisher, neither will buying fly fishing tools make you an expert fly tier, but there are a few things to be learned before you begin.

First off; quality is way more important than quantity. A few select quality fly tying tools are preferable to an entire box of tools of questionable quality. A great fly tier can do his work with just five items: a vise, scissors, pliers, a bobbin and some epoxy. These five items should be of the highest quality.

Before you can even begin to tie flies you’ll need a good vise. A vise without good clamps will become useless very quickly. Once it is no longer able to hold your hook steady while you add feather, fur and thread it will need replaced. Much better to buy a high quality vise upfront that will last you a life time.

With your hook firmly secured in your vise the fly fishing tool that gets the most work will be your pliers. You’ll want a set of hackle pliers, that remain closed in their normal position, so that they can be used with the least amount of effort. A good pair of hackle pliers can also do the work that many use forceps to do.

To complete your tool kit you’ll need a good pair of scissors and a high quality bobbin. I recommend a 4 or 5 inch pair of scissors and a bobbin with a very smooth tube and adjustable tension. If you’re only buying one pair of scissors initially, you’ll want to make sure they come to a point so they can be used in close work.

There are lots of other tools that you can buy but these basic tools, when bought of good quality, will handle most of the work that needs to be done. Add some good epoxy to keep everything together and you have the making of a very good beginner or even advanced fly tying tool kit.

Even though this style of fishing takes years to master I hope that these few tips will help you get on your way. There is much more to learn, more information than even hundreds of articles like this could hold, but these secrets should get you started in the right direction.

By: Scott Olewiler

About the Author:

My oldest son Ben is an aspiring outdoorsman. His little brother Isaac isn’t far behind, but at 5 years old he’s a work in progress and understandably lacking in the patience department. Ben is 13, and is not into organized sports like basketball and soccer – but if it involves motorcycles, fishing poles, or shooting, he’s all game.

Late this past spring, Ben approached me about fly fishing. I attempted to learn to fly fish in college, but never took the time to practice, and my fly rod ended up in the garage collecting dust. “I don’t know, Ben. It’s a lot of work. There is so much you need to know. Don’t you have enough hobbies?” But he was persistent. Finally, I conceded. I told him if he saved his lawn mowing money and bought the equipment himself, he could give it a try. He had already purchased a pontoon tube with his own money, so there was little doubt Ben would accomplish his goal.

Last week I took my oldest son with $160.00 of hard earned cash stuffed in his pocket to Sportsman’s Warehouse in Twin Falls. John Ostrander, a close family friend, had advised us to purchase a 5-6 weight fly rod with sinking line. The clerk approached, and we told him what we were looking for. He said that his son is 10 years old, and has recently begun learning to fly fish. He told us the larger rod was awkward for his son, and advised purchasing a 6 foot, 3 weight rod. Ben really didn’t want the smaller rod, but understood it would be easier for him to use while he learned. We discussed our options and decided that after he learned to cast a fly, he could use the smaller rod for creeks and purchase a larger rod for lake fishing. The clerk also informed us the Magic Valley Fly Fishing Club was hosting a clinic the following weekend. We checked out, and Ben’s bill came to $140.00 with the fly rod, reel, line, and a small wooden rod rack. When we signed up for the fly fishing clinic, we were surprised to learn it was free of charge.

I envisioned a mob of people lined up to test their wares at the fly fishing school, so I enlisted John to teach Ben the basic principals of the art. The idea was that if Ben had basic awareness, he would learn more at the clinic. We had a barbeque at John’s home the night before the class was to begin, and John worked with Ben for a couple of hours on his lawn, teaching him everything from terminology to knots to casting techniques. One of the pearls of wisdom John offered Ben stuck in my mind. John’s Rule #2: If you are going to learn to fly fish, stick with it. If you are not committed, don’t waste your time.

The next day we traveled to Sportsman’s Warehouse. It must have been 100 degrees in the parking lot where the clinic was held. Much to my surprise, there were only 8 or 9 adults, and 7 children in attendance. The Magic Valley Fly Fishing Club was well represented, with 5 members present to assist with the class. The instructors were helpful, courteous, and insightful.

After more than an hour of instruction, they announced there would be a casting contest. The rules were simple – each contestant was given 3 casts to deliver a fly as close to a cone as possible. We watched closely as the adults competed, and finally it was time for the children’s contest. I told Ben to step up and go first if possible; I didn’t want him to get nervous watching the other kids. Ben stepped up and began feeding line. His first cast was a foot to the left of the cone, his second cast was a few inches left of the cone, and his third cast landed a foot to the right. I was proud he maintained his composure and remained consistent. The other children did equally as well. We sat in the grass and discussed each cast. From our vantage point, we could see 2 other chalk marks within the same proximity as Ben’s closest attempt. Ben said he didn’t think he won, and I told him it was awfully close, and would probably result in a tie. The judge walked up and measured the chalk marks, then looked inquisitively into the crowd and said “… Ben?” My son’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. He couldn’t believe he had won the contest. And if that wasn’t enough, they walked up and presented him with a 5-6 weight fly rod in a protective case. He was on cloud nine.

So what do you do with a boy who wins a fly fishing contest? You take him fishing! We went home and loaded the canoe and pontoon tubes, and ventured down to Dierkes Lake. The parking lot was as full as I have ever seen it and there must have been 100 people on the dock, but as usual there were hardly any boats on the water.

We paddled to the opposite end of the lake, and found the dock vacant. Ben began casting from the dock with no success. It was hot, and soon he became frustrated. My wife and I paddled out and started throwing bass jigs. The fishing was good, and we were getting bites or catching fish with almost every cast. After watching us catch fish, Ben grabbed his spinning rod and paddled out. He fished for a while, got hung up and lost his jig, and got mad. The long, hot, physically demanding day had finally caught up with him. I paddled over to have a talk with him. “What is rule #2?” “I don’t remember.” “If you are going to learn to fly fish, commit yourself and don’t give up. If I were you, I’d just paddle around and practice your casts. I’ll bet you’ll catch a fish.” I paddled off, leaving the frustrated and sullen boy to work through it himself.

Shortly before sunset, my wife and I drifted along the edge of the lake, fishing our way back to the boat ramp. I glanced over my shoulder, and noted Ben paddling around the corner, fly rod in hand. He was lagging back, practicing his casts. I hooked a large bass that embedded itself in the weeds. I was trying to horse the fish free when I heard Ben yell. “Dad!!!” He repeated himself over and over. I told him I had a big fish in the weeds and would be over in a second. I released the fish, and made my way towards Ben’s pontoon. He was grinning ear to ear, holding a bluegill with a fly in its mouth. I took his picture, and congratulated him for his first catch on a fly rod. Then he released the fish.

As we were loading the boats, my son apologized for getting mad. “I had a really great day, dad. I’m sorry I got mad. John was right – I just need to stick with it.” Those days, when lessons are learned and everything comes together, are few and far between. I will forever remember that day – the day my son won a fly fishing competition and caught his first fish on a fly rod. But more importantly, the day my son learned a valuable lesson about commitment and perseverance.

By: M. Wade Lewis

About the Author:

The old myths are shattered. You’ll be introduced to fly fishing in an entirely different way. Fly fishing is no longer considered difficult to learn or expensive to participate in. You’ll soon come to realize that this sport is easy to learn, and will reward your efforts with many fantastic days on the water!

Learning to fly fish is an excellent way to utilize all of the natural resources that are available to everyone — world-wide. Oceans, streams, lakes, bays and estuary’s literally teem with game fish, and are easily accessible . By learning to fly fish, you will enjoy the natural world around you, get some easy exercise, relieve the strain of everyday life, and even better, there are no greens fees or country club dues – no membership tab, and no lines to wait on!

Here’s the list of myths:

1. Fly Fishing is difficult

Fly casting will take a few practice sessions to become proficient enough to hit the water — but that’s all you’ll need to get started. Why not take a look at some online fly fishing lessons (see the resources section at the end of this article) — then practice in a park, your backyard or another private place. Hit a lake or pond, where you won’t find many obstructions behind you to get in the way. Catch a few pan-fish, learn to land fish – now you’re ready for the stream, ocean or wherever you’d like to fly fish!

2. Fly Fishing is expensive

It simply is not. Fly fishing can be expensive if you spend a lot of your hard earned mullah on premier, top of the line (dare say – overpriced?) fly gear. Don’t go bottom of the line either – inexpensive equipment is hard to use because inexpensive materials are heavier and not as stiff as quality graphite. Very inexpensive gear simply does not hold up to rugged fishing use – and we are rugged, aren’t we?

So — look around. There are some great deals on beginner fly fishing outfits — don’t let the word “beginner” scare you away. This gear is not only fairly priced, but the rods are specifically designed to be easier to cast and will last a long time if you take care of them. Take this from a fly fisher that broke his very first (and precious!) fly rod in the hatchback of a Toyota Celica! Some fly rod outfits even come complete with a protective rod & reel traveling case!

3. You can only Fly Fish for Trout

You get the picture. Trout stream, pipe in mouth, tweed jacket, leather patches, wicker creel…

Wrong. Today’s fly fishing is so much more exciting than that (but if the above excites you – by all means – knock yourself out!).

I took up fly fishing in my early twenties as the result of a childhood memory of my father and other fly fishers on the famous Beaverkill in Roscoe, NY. Let’s just suffice to say that there was a lot of tweed and wicker in the ’60′s. Today the world has changed! Now — picture this forty-something year old with his wife on the flats in the Florida Keys hunting down barracuda, bonefish and permit. All tropical, all cool, all hot, we were fishing machines — it was everything you’d ask for in the excitement department!

Species: so many – let’s see, OK – trout, bass (large-mouth and small-mouth), carp, pike, pickerel, perch, sunnies, crappies, steelhead, salmon (many varieties – and Lox is not a variety of salmon!), then there’s striped bass, bluefish, false albacore, bonito, weakfish, bonefish, barracuda, permit, mangrove snapper, snook, Spanish mackerel , jack crevalle. Oh the list goes on! But I’ll stop.

4. Fly Fishing has to be done in Exotic Locations

Although the Florida Keys are very nice, as well as New Zealand, Christmas Island, Belize and the like…

There are so many places close to home that can and will provide you with the total fly fishing experience. Your local park probably may have a stocked pond. That pretty little stream with the bridge that you cross every day — may be a trout stream. The beach that you take the dog to for a run — there are fish to catch there! Fly fishing is a great sport in that it enables you to open your eyes and enjoy the world around you.

Then again, a vacation sounds nice too!

Places: rivers, streams, creeks, brooks, tributaries, lakes, ponds, farm ponds, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, bays, estuaries, jetties, flats, reefs…

5. You need a PhD in Biology to Succeed

You won’t need a PhD in any subject to succeed in fly fishing! You might think so after conversing with some fly fishers. The reality is that you can over-complicate this sport as much as you’d like. Yes, here are times that fish are selective (won’t take the fly you’re fishing) — but in most cases you can dupe them with a selection of about two or three flies properly fished.

6. You have to be an Olympic Athlete to Fly Fish

Just as in any other sport, you can participate to the level of your physical abilities and derive complete enjoyment! Groups continue to build handicap access sites on streams and lakes — all over the US (and worldwide), and you can find a location to fly fish right outside your car!

7. You can’t learn to Fly Fish on your own

Many have, and many will. Guides, fly shops, fly fishing schools and the like will try to convince you that you’ll need those expensive lessons to get started. We disagree. And here are the key words — “to get started”. There are so many great resources for the beginner fly fisher — just read a little, online or off, and get out on the water and fly fish!

8. I thought you had to attach a real live fly to the end of the line

Negative. Fly Fishing is all about imitating fish food with a hand-made “fly”, often constructed of fur and feathers, but can also be constructed from man-made materials. The key here is imitating the natural food of the species of fish your are fly fishing for. For instance, saltwater species often feed on small minnows — and saltwater “flies” often imitate small fish or minnows.

9. I can’t do it, I tried once

Here’s the thing about fly casting: You are not casting any weight at the end of the line as with a spin rod. You are casting the fly line itself. Here’s a simple analogy: pretend that you are holding a stick with an apple pushed onto the top. You want to toss the apple across the room to your friend. You would have to swing the stick and abruptly stop the swing to let the apple fly off the top of the stick and hurl across the room to your waiting friend. Just imagine now that the stick is your fly rod, and the apple is actually your fly line. Fly casting is much the same as the analogy: your forward cast will start, just as when you swung the stick, and then stop abruptly to allow the fly line to hurl forward. See the resources at the end of this article for a cool animation that you can view, explaining the basics of fly casting.

10. You have to cast really far to catch fish

Most fish are you’ll be targeting are within 30 ft — or, you can get to within 30 ft of them. To cast to a fish this far away, you only have to be able to cast 21 – 23 ft of fly line, taking into consideration that most leaders (your terminal tackle) are 7.5 to 9 ft. We know, for certain, that with one or two practice sessions — you’ll be casting at least that far!

AnglerUniversity.com [http://www.angleruniversity.com] is an online resource for beginner fly fishers that combines online fly fishing lessons (with animations, video, and photos) with a fly shop that offers fly fishing combos, fly rods, fly reels, and accessories. Check out a couple of the resources below for fly fishing information and gear. When you’re ready to fly fish — make AnglerUniversity.com your first stop on the Internet!

I’ve included a couple of resources for you to check out:

By: John Incantalupo

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