Fly Fishing Newbie seeks ANY advice on getting started!

Hi,
I have been fishing for about 17 years. Im 22 years old. I have been using a spinning reel for the entire time. While fishing one day recently I witnessed a gentleman fly fishing....I stood in awe. It was a beautiful thing to watch. I immediatley said "I hve to learn to do THAT!" So here I am. I'm trying to get some good advice from experienced anglers about beginning in the fly fishing world.
I am currently living in SW Florida. I will be in NY in a few months...Hopefully in time for opening season for trout fishing. I travel back and forth every 6 months. I am used to fishing for Trout, Bluefish, Striped Bass, Snook, Bonefish, Cod and some bass. All of these fish I am interested in persuing in the fly world.
If anyone is interested in helping me out. I would appreciate chatting with you. Thank you very much! Good luck to all!

[welsh wizzard]

welcome to the forum mate

i think smoothie is your man for fly fishing

[wellyfish]

welcome to the forum .... ...old smoothound will point you in the right direction.......enjoy

[fishypaul]

welcome aboard mate

[audiracer]

welcome to the forum mate
old smoothound is the one to talk to

[Ben]

hows your fly fishing going brett?

[nimue4]

Hi there JeepGuy,
I think Smoothie as a fly fishing instructor is the best guy to chat to. I fly fish both coarse and salt and would say there is no miracle involved. A lot of people are put off by the hype of fly fishing. Go to a good tackle shop, tell them what you want to do, buy the gear and go do it....if you have problems with everything landing up at your feet tuck your rod butt into your jacket cuff and suddenly everything works out ok! Stiffness with fluidity....If you've been fishing as long as you say you will find fly fishing fairly easy as you already know all the basics. Go do it, it's great.

Regards, Jules

Jules,
Thanks for that info....I especially like the trick about the butt in the sleave. Those are the kinds of tips I need! Thanks again!

[Old Smoothound]

Hi JeepGuy98 Welcome to the forum

If you are used to handling a rod it makes it so much easier.

Balanced tackle ie. rod, reel and line are very important, get this right and you are halfway there.
The rod is a spring and the line is the means by which to load and bend that spring it is also the medium with which to get your bit of "Fluff" to where the fish are!

If you are going trout and saltwater fly fishing i suggest a #7/8 weight outfit to start, as to a reel, line and rod you will be spoilt for choice in your country but there are some good brands and bad ones. Loomis, Orvis, Daiwa all good brands. Steer clear of really cheap ones, because they are CHEAP!

All i can do is give you some pointers, as to the best way to learn how to cast a fly line, this is by doing it and by having a qualified instructor show you, money very well spent. It will save you hours of frustration and dissappointment

The Basics

Make sure you have the wind coming off your right shoulder as it blows the line away from you.
Imagine a clock face and you are side on to it your feet are at 6 and your head is at 12....

To start the cast by pulling off some line say 15 yards, now lay some line out in front of you say 10 yards.

Keep your thumb on top of the rod butt, in a straight line down the butt towards the tip ring... keep the loose line in the other hand so it does not get in the way.
Tuck your elbow into the side of your body and make sure your wrist does not bend or break during the cast. Jules is right if it does, tuck the rod butt into your coat or shirt sleeve.

After you have done this, we will then go into the start up of the cast...

Lift the rod to 7 o'clock on the imaginary "side on" clock face ......slowly but purposefully lift again to the 10 o'clock position and at this point accelerate the rod back and lift your casting arm up slightly as if "pointing" the rod into the air, this will pick up the line in front of you and send it back high above and over your head and shoulder.

At the 12.30 position on the clock face (about level if with ear) stop the rod momentarily "count 1-2" DO NOT LET YOUR WRIST BREAK OR THE LINE DROP BEHIND YOU...this will "kill" the cast.......then start the forward cast as a nice and smooth movement of the rod forwards as if pushing it away from you, at the 11 o'clock position again stop the rod and the line will "fly past" on its way.

A word of warning DO NOT TRY THIS WITH A FLY ON THE LEADER first time around. Just tie a bit of wool to the leader and this will stop the leader making a "cracking sound" as it breaks the sound barrier! It saves on getting a hook stuck in your ear or head on the first couple of goes!

Repeat this a few times then gradually increase the length of line out of the rod tip.

Remember the line will only go where the rod tip is facing.

Hope this helps to get you started.

Welcome to the World of Fly Fishing!

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Great info