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.

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

START OUT AS CHEAP AS YA CAN....... SLOW DOWN THE CAST AND STAND AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE LINE AND WATCH THE LOOP FORM.......LOTS OF PRACTICE AND USE AS FREQUENTLY AS YA CAN .....

[Allen Morgan]

If you can, get a fiberglass rod to learn how to cast with.  Much easier to learn with.  You'll actually feel your backcast.  The more popular fast-action graphite can't really do that.

Be advised that if you do get a graphite rod, you may want to go up a line weight to compensate.  Say, you purchase a 5wt rod, get a WF6F line for it.

Weight-forward (WF) lines are easier to learn how to cast.

Carl has a nice fly line that he's been using lately.  I can't remember what the brandname of it is.  Have him tell you about it.

As far as Flies, well, you're in luck there.  Bluegill tend to eat the same things Trout do, INSECTS!  Anything that looks buggy should get eaten.  The one difference between Trout flies and Bluegill flies is that 'gills will key on bright colors, while Trout usually go for natural-looking bugs (I can be very wrong here; I'm not much of a Trout person).

You can do very well with just a few patterns for 'gills.  Poppers and foam grasshoppers for topwater patterns are easy to find and/or tie.  Various nymph patterns will do the job.  Find some patterns that are easy to tie, and fairly durable.  'Gills do have teeth, and they will tear up a fly.

Some basic patterns you'll want are some Bett's Poppers, Gurgle-Pops, and GFA Foam Hoppers for topwater.  Be advised that the Bett's Poppers are a hard material, and will crack when chewed on by fish with pharyngeal teeth, like Shellcrackers and BG x GS Hybrids.  Personally, I prefer the foam patterns.  They're soft, and don't get destroyed after a few Hybrid sunnies chew on them.  They will get roughed up a bit, but survive much longer than the Bett's Poppers.

For "wet" (sub-surface) patterns, I like to use all sorts of patterns.  But, some basic Soft-hackle patterns will do the job, as will anything that mimics dragonfly and/or damselfly nymphs.  The ones I have that really mimic Dragonfly nymphs are Olive Wooly Buggers and Cats-Meow.  I also tie a marabou "Flicted Damsel" nymph pattern that is good, but tends to unravel a bit after a good fishing session.  It still catches, but doesn't look as nice to my eye.  I've got a Mosquito soft-hackle pattern that was catching like crazy last year.  I don't have any, but the classic "Hair's Ear Gold-Ribbed Nymph" (often abbreviated HRGE) is fairly easy to tie, and really buggy looking.  I have yet to actually fish that pattern.

If you have a BPS nearby, they have a White River Fly Shop, and sell flies, as well as tying materials.  Heck, you might actually have a real "fly shop" somewhere around, do a Google Maps search.  And, if push comes to shove, contact some of the tiers here on BBG.  I'm sure we can get you hooked up.

[Slip Sinker]

I enjoyed reading that Allen

[Keith Ritter]

Thanks Allen this is what I'm looking for, I appreciate the time you took to add this. i hope other fly fishing newbies will enjoy It too.

[Keith Ritter]

Thanks for the help guys, Allen I'm kinda stuck with what I got. We have a few stores that sell new stuff but used fly fishing stuff would hard to come by here. 

[Allen Morgan]

Yeah, that sounds about right.  What are you looking at?  What stores near you sell fly fishing gear?

[Keith Ritter]

We have a Gander Mountain and a Dick's sporting goods near here but everything is available online anyway. I have a 5/6 wt Scientific Angler combo and I'm doing pretty good with it. 

[jim cosgrove]

hey keith get one of these EAGLE CLAW FEATHERLIGHT FL300 7' parabolic 5/6 weight.around 27 dollars.i ordered this thru my local tackle shop,they are a eagle claw dealer.i have fly fished for a long time and this rod is great.the easiest casting rod i have ever owned.i have come close to casting the whole flyline with this rod.i have caught about 100 gills so far this year along with many crappies warmouth and  bassgoing after some big carp with it too.it is super light for a glass rod.i am using a 5wt line and an okuma reel i got from tooty.they also have 4/5 wt.ANYONE could learn to cast one of these rods.i know these rods make the high end rod makers cringe.thinking about selling off my graphite fly rods.this modern glass is really something

[Keith Ritter]

There is a store close by that sells close out fishing gear and I know he has some Eagle Claw fly rods, I just never paid any attention to them before. I will check them out next time I'm down there. Thanks Jim.

[carl hendrix]

Keith-- be sure to bring your fly rod to the next rendevou!!   adding a fly rod to your fishing techs. is going to open up a whole new world for you!!  my now preferred fly line is called- super fly line;; cost $20.00 dollars.  i think it out performs courtland 333 and a lot of others !!                                                                                                                                                 personally i dont use ferruled leaders;; or tapered tippets.  i just use regular;; Mr. Crappie mono line. i tie it onto the fly line;; then onto a fly or jig or what ever im using. My preferred rod is a 3 wt tfo; 8ft 6in slow action rod.  with a long rod;; it helps when roll casting quill floats;; or any other float!!   slow action rods; in my oppinion;; are easier to learn with;; better action; but im also prejuidicted to slow action. ( hey;; im a old fart so what do you guys expect??--- LOL  )                                     one very big thing about fly line-- to being able to cast distance;; is keeping the line clean!!  i take the line off the reel;; soak it in luke warm; soapy water;; for say 5 to 10 minuts; then a good rinse;; and as i put it back onto a reel;; i apply a good conditioner;; like armour all;; ( LEO had sent me some stuff that he swears by thats better than armour all) ;; thing is;; you want the line to be slick!! and-- i even apply it to the rod guide eyes.  makes a HUGE difference  keeping your fly line clean;; and slicked.  and generally ;; after several trips fishing;; i just wipe the line down with the armour all type stuff..       hope this might help anybody new to fly fishing !!

[Keith Ritter]

Carl where are you buying that fly line? I cleaned my line and slicked it up before I took it out last time and it did cast better. I used 4# Vicious copolymer as a leader.

[carl hendrix]

hey Keith;; check out academy sports if there is one close to you.  Its where i got mine from;; so far;; i have replaced 3 of my lines with it. you can also contact ; super fly line company if all else fails.  right now at the academy store where i got mine from;; all thats left is for heavy lines;; like a 8 wt.-----    I knew ; sooner or later you would try a fly rod!!  hahahahah   you saw; first hand how I can roll cast  mine;; and;; once you get into a nice 3 or 4 pound;; bass or stripe;; or a kittie fish;; you;ll know why i choose to use a fly rod  most of the time!!