How to get started

[nekayak]

Hi,

I'm new to the area and to fly fishing. I live in Burlington and would like to fish the Farmington.

Any help would be appreciated.

Leigh

[The Patriot]

Welcome! To CT, to fly fishing, to the Farmington, and to the site!

There is a Newbie forum at the bottom, which is probably the best place for your inquiries. Don't be surprised if Flyaddict moves this there.

That's a very open question. Hmmm......

Can you narrow it down a bit? Do you have any equipment yet? Have you fished for trout before with other tackle?

A little more info about your fishing experience and how far you have gone with flyfishing so far would help us tailor our answers.

Best of luck!

Jim

[The Fisherman]

This is probably the best advice you're going to get (and certainly the shortest):

Go visit Grady at UpCountry Sportfishing in Pine Meadow.

[pvansch1]

Leigh,
Would agree with give us a little more info, have gear? If so, what do you have? There is a lot to it.
Visting Grady at Upcountry is great advice!!
If you have never cast a flyrod, take a lesson or two and do a guided trip.
Wish I had, taught myself to cast and it shows, taught myself to catch fish and it shows!! Get skunked alot.
Read what you can find on this forum or any other. Also offered as a freeby found at most Fly Shops is a little but hioghly valuable magazine called Fly Fish America, I learned more reading that than some of the nationally popular paid for magazines.
Pete

[nekayak]

I have a rod, some waders and a handful of flies that were given to me. I probably should get some lessons.

I have been fishing since I was a kid, both fresh and saltwater.

I will visit Grady this weekend.

Thanks,

Leigh

[The Patriot]

What length and weight is your rod?

Floating line?

The Farmington can be fished with anything from a 1 weight to a 6 weight, 7ft to 10 ft. I've even used a 10 ft 7 wt. A 9' 5wt is the gold standard. A floating line is probably your best bet for starting off.

Definitely see Grady, lessons are a great idea.

You might try starting out with weighted Wooly Buggers, Streamers, Bead Head nymphs, wet flies, and soft hackles. You can basically fish them like you would worms. Streamers and Buggers can be stripped to impart action, like retrieving a lure.

For dry fly fishing, you have to float the fly on the surface for the most part drag free, which means the fly drifts at the same speed as the current, with no lateral drift. If your fly is speeding along, leaving a wake, or drifting side ways across the current, it's "dragging".

Good general patterns to start off with include Adams, Adams Parachutes, Elk Hair Caddis, Royal Wulffs, and Stimulators. Beyond that, especially on the Farmington, it's match the hatch. Upcountry or Classic and Custom can tell you what is hatching and what to use to imitate it.

The next hatches we'll see include tan caddis size 14 to 18, Pale Evening Duns, size 14 to 16, and Sulphurs size 16 to 18. We may or may not see a hatch of March Browns, size 12 or so. Some years we get a few, some years we don't, and alot depends on which pool you're in. If we get them we'll see them just before or at the same time as PED.

The other hatch we usually see mid May is a tiny green micro caddis, that is difficult to fish, even for veterans. I have heard Dave from Classic and Custom recommend throwing rocks at the fish, as it is just as effective as trying to catch them during that hatch! ;)

Anyway, I've probably already overwhelmed and confused you.... I tend to do that..... :roll: :oops:

Best of luck!

Jim

[Troutfitter]

I have a rod, some waders and a handful of flies that were given to me. I probably should get some lessons.

I have been fishing since I was a kid, both fresh and saltwater.

I will visit Grady this weekend.

Thanks,

Leigh

Leigh,

Stop by the store and introduce yourself. I will do my best to help you. This weekend will not be the best for fishing though. The river is going to rise incredibly due to the rain.