Advice For Beginning Fly Fishermen

[Keith Ritter]

I recently added fly fishing to my arsenal for catching Bluegill, so I need all the help I can get and I thought others might need some too. So all you fly guys please give me your best tips for beginning fly fishermen. Knots, leaders, tippets, flies, line and basic techniques or what ever a new fly fisherman needs to know. Thanks in advance for your information.

[jim cosgrove]

never had doubt you would be flinging flies in no time keith.no way is it an easy way to fish but it is a blast when you figure it out.all it is getting the fly in front of the fish.hopefully the fish eats it.nothing i enjoy more than a warm evening taking a walk with the flyrod and casting.catching fish is not as important as it used to be.i am a much better gear fisherman than flyfisher.just got sick of all the latest gear hype.am gonna mainly fish with gear that is at least 50years old this summer.like driving a classic car.

[carl hendrix]

KEITH;; THATS A NICE HAND SIZE GILL BUDDY !  BRING YOUR FLY ROD TO THE RENDEVOU;; ILL TRY TO SHOW YOU HOW I ROLL CAST;; ALSO HOW TO MAKE IT TURN SIDE WAYS SO YOU CAN MAKE SOME CAST; UNDERNEATH OVER HANGING TREE LIMBS !

[Keith Ritter]

I like that idea Jim, you can tell I like the older stuff too. I have a  bamboo fly rod that I'm looking for a vintage reel to pair with it. I don't know the age of it but guessing early '50s.

[Mike Cooper]

I like a 2 or 3wt rod and weight forward lines. I usually shop eBay for lines and seldom pay more than $20 for a new line. For leaders I like to make my own "furled" leaders using the method I found on YouTube.

making furled leaders without jigs or tools

For a 2 or 3wt leader I use 8# mono and start with about 20' of line. It can be a frustrating mess if you let the loose ends tangle when twisting, so be careful when twisting it up! I like to separate the ends with my body and slowly walk across the lawn as I twist to keep tangles at a minimum. In the video he ties a surgeon's knot, but I just tie a simple overhand knot (less bulk) and have never had one break. I end up with about a 5-6' twisted leader, add 18" of 8# line, then 18"-2' of 3X tippet.  These leaders have almost completely eliminated wind knots for me, and applying floatant to it will keep it on top when fishing dry flies.

[Keith Ritter]

I have a 5wt and the Heddon is a 8wt. I have been wondering where to find affordable fly line. Have you tried the fly line from Alibaba since most line is probably made in China anyway?

[carl hendrix]

KEITH !!!!!!  GO TO ACADEMY SPORTS;; GET THE SUPER FLY LINE !!!!!!  WT FORWARD FLOATING LINE !!!1  IT COSTS AROUND 20 DOLLARS;; BEST LINE I HAVE FOUND !!      IVE BEEN USING IT ; SEVERAL YEARS NOW;; ;; ITS BETTER THAN SCIENTIFIC ANGLER;; OR COURTLAND;; IN MY OPPINION !!  ITS WHAT I USED;; WHEN WE WERE AT  REELFOOT !!   IF YOU CANT FIND IT ; CLOSE TO YOU; LET ME KNOW;  I CAN GET IT FOR YOU !!

[Keith Ritter]

That is Super Fly line pictured Carl. I just found a source for factory over run fly line for $11.50

[carl hendrix]

KEITH;; IF YO UFOUND SOME FOR 11 DOLLARS;; YOU BETTER GET IT !!  DO THEY HAVE ANY 4 WT LINE ?? I NEED 2 OF THEM !!

[Keith Ritter]

I learned something yesterday while fishing in windy conditions. I have been using mono of two different colors for leaders and tippets and it really helps when un tangling wind knots that are going to happen in those conditions. I hope the things I'm learning are helping other newbies like me.

[Keith Ritter]

Here it is Tracy.