Fly Fishing

[PBEAN]

Hi, I am just getting into fly fishing. Can anyone give me any tips oor suggestions. I recieved new fly reel and rod for Christmas, and I am anxious to get started. Any tips would be great.

Thanks
Pbean

[mtwalleye]

The line you buy is critical. Make sure your fly line is matched to your rod -- that's the most important thing. For example, if you've got an eight-weight rod, get eight-weight line, six-weight for six-weight, etc. Weight-forward fly line (as opposed to double-taper line) generally makes it easier for long casts. If you've got any other questions, don't hesitate to give me a holler at: walleyes@walleyesunlimited.com.

In Montana, a lot of guys are switch-hitters -- fly fishing the rivers for trout and hitting the reservoirs for walleyes. -- mark
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Walleyes Unlimited
www.walleyesunlimited.com

[Gumbo]

Take your outfit into a good, local fly shop and get their help to set you up. A good, trusted fly shop can give you equipment tips, set you up in a class or two, and give you where's and on-what's once you're spending time on the water.

[biofish]

If you haven't bought all your equipment yet, I might be able to help set you up. I used to own a fly shop in Colorado. I shut it down, and just got a bunch of stuff sent out to me. I'd give you a great deal, It will be out here today, so I wont know excactly what I've got until this afternoot. But I do agree that the most important piece of equipment is the line.-bio

[Neal/CO]

Learn your bugs!!!! You will be amazed at how many elitest yuppy """"heads you meet out on the water who can't wait to tell you how much they spent on their equipment, but are clueless as to what the trout are actually eating.

Second don't get caught up in the mystique of fly fishing. It is a blast but so is casting cranks for Pike and Walleye's. I got caught up in it for about a decade and forgot how much fun throwing hardware for warm water fish is. Learn both and you will always have someplace to fish!

[Steve(MI)]

Flyfishing is a blast! Best place to start is probably your local library. For sure they've got books. Odds are they'll have excellent videos as well. Practice casting in the yard or a field to improve your rythmn. Learn how to cast to a target. Learn the couple required knots in the living room. Starting out on panfish can be a lot of fun because you'll catch fish immediatly. For trout - if they are in your area - you may want to spring for a guide to help get you started. They're pretty easy to catch once you learn a few things.

#1 thing to remember - don't over-complicate it. Flyfishing is easy.
#2 For trout - learn to fish nymphs - you'll catch way more.

[Steve(CO)]

I have been a fly fisherman for almost 50 years. Far and away the best advice is to find someone to take you under their wing , so to speak, and give you some basic instruction. If not a friend, then do go to your local fly shop. Not only can they help outfit you correctly, but can often supply classes etc. You don't say where you live. If you are in trout country, join (or at least attend a few meetings) of orgs like Trout Unlimited. The Federation of Fly Fishers has groups that span the country and target all cold and warmwater fish. You won't find a better place to make new friends who will help you along than in those groups. Flies are NOT just for trout. I love casting bugs for bass and panfish, streamers for pike, fishing all the various trout and salmon species, as well as saltwater denizens. Pick up copies of Fly Fisherman and Fly Rod and Reel magazines. They are both good pubs with lots of worthwhile information. Have fun. You will never regret taking the plunge.

[Neal/CO]

Steve have you ever fished the Miracle Mile before?

[Steve(CO)]

Yes, I have but I can't say that my experience was a resounding success. It seems to be very much a hit or miss proposition. When it's good, it's very,very good, but when it's bad...yech! I consider myself an expert fly fisher - a far better trout bum than a walleye fisherman (in truth, I am much less capable on 'eyes). Even then, the Mile has stumped me but it's only been a couple of trips. I haven't been there for quite a few years now.

[MIke2]

I was going to get into fly fishing but I came up with a few problems.

First, those long whippy rods look like they would bend in half when you hook a board unto the line.

Second, the diameter of the line is so thick that I think your crankbaits wouldn't get down very far.

Third, those short little nets would be a real problem when you are trying to net a fish over the transom.

Fourth, with the reel setting so far back on the rod, how do you get it to stay in a rod holder?

I am sure there are answers to all of these questions because it seems to me that lots of people like this fly fishing stuff. Any suggestions, please let me know.

MIke

[MtWALLEYGUY]

LMAO!