Fly Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Sport Fishing and Fishing Gear    

New to Fly Fishing? Do Your Homework!

So you have decided to take up fly fishing. Where do you start? Having just gone through the process myself I have found it to be quite a journey. I thought that decades of spin fishing would prepare me for an easy transition to the “art” of fishing with the fly rod. In reality this is not the case.

I found that the various aspects of fly fishing each involve a fair bit of research and/or hands on training. Before you can even begin fishing you have to buy the equipment, learn casting/fishing techniques and gain at least a basic knowledge of fly selection for the fish you want to catch. This takes dedication and many hours of research, training and practice. Furthermore, becoming a proficient fly fisherman could take years of practice and experience.

As tedious as that all sounds it actually has been a lot of fun. Many people make the mistake of trying to teach themselves how to cast which in many cases just leads to bad habits. Like anything learning the right way from the beginning is always better than trying to break a bad habit after a year or two of frustration.

A beginning fly fishing lesson from your local fly shop or association is a good place to start. Not only will learn the basics in casting but a general knowledge of fly types, equipment, knot tying and fishing techniques and strategies for your area. Many times you will also be able to demo the various types and weights of fly rods. This will enable you to make more educated equipment purchases and ensure you get the right rod for the lowest price.

Once you have your lesson and have picked up the gear it’s time to get out there, right! Wrong. Now you have to get the right fly for the water you are fishing for that particular time of year. This is where I recommend going to a reputable fly shop in your area that can help you pick out the right fly for that particular time of year for that particular lake or river. Finding someone to mentor you is an even better way to learn as you can compress the learning curve by drawing on your mentor’s knowledge.

More and more anglers are taking up fly fishing because of the pleasure it brings. Not only is there a lot of enjoyment in executing a nice cast, but it’s a type of fishing in which you can learn as much as you want, or maybe just a little and have a good time. Anglers are also learning that a fish on a fly rod fights much better than one on a bait rod and that lots of species of fish in either salt or fresh water take artificial flies. Some get into it deeply, learning names of all the insects and tying their own flies, while others are content with simply casting a fly out and seeing a fish rise and take the offering. There is no gender or age discrimination in fly fishing, anyone can do it and with a little practice they can do it very well. Happy fishing.