Longtime lurker finally taking the dive into fly fishing

[Chris]

Hi All,

I've been a lurker for quite some time, years even, as I've mostly been a spin fisherman that frequented the many same holes as the fly guys so your information has been very helpful to me as well :)

I've always been interested in fly fishing but I guess it seemed more technical than I was looking for at the time. However my brother has been into fly fishing for awhile and his stories made it quite appealing as well as watching other fly fishermen whenever I was fishing the same waters with them.

Last year I bought a Sage Launch series rod, 9ft, 5wt with a Lamison Konik reel and felt ready to go but then I landed a job in finance in Fairfield County and now I started studying for the CFA. A lot of free time went **POOF**.

But life is too short to waste and I want to brush the dust off my fly rod...

My biggest challenge right now is learning to cast properly or at least in a workable manner and presenting the fly. I'm very good at learning on my own so if anyone knows of any videos/books/articles to help with casting I'm be greatly appreciative.

Secondly I'm not very familiar with what flies to use and when. Right now I'm in Fairfield county and the Norwalk River is the most convenient however I'd like to learn about bugs around the Farmington, Salmon, and Housatonic rivers as well. If there's any resources I should be reading for this info, once again I'd be greatly appreciative.

That's pretty much it, I just wanted to introduce myself and hope to become an active member and poster.

Best,
Chris

[The Fisherman]

Hi Chris,

Welcome aboard. There are tons of internet resources out there for you to scour as far as casting and presentation goes. Practice makes perfect. You could also pal up with an experienced fly angler, take a class, hire an instructor, etc.

Fly fishing can be as easy as you want to make it. You could hit the waters this spring and throw Woolly Buggers and expect to do well. It can also be maddening as heck trying to match the hatch of sz 24 Blue-Winged Olives.

I think wet fly fishing is a great way to learn about hatches and presentations in a way that won't overwhelm a beginner. Check out Dave Hughes' Wet Flies book to get you started.

Above all, have fun. :-)

Steve

[TheRambler]

I am still somewhat of a newbie myself as I have only been fly fishing for 5 years or so now. However, I taught myself everything through trial and error. I remember I picked up a book at Dick's on clearance for like a dollar or two that had some really good information on how to set up your fly rod, how to fish the different types of flies , and most importantly how to cast the most common methods.

After I read about it I set up my fly rod and went out to my backyard. I put a very very small lead weight on the tip of the leader for practicing. Using a fly or other hook will cause it to get snagged on the grass. So start with a lead crimp on weight. I practiced in my backyard for an hour or two one afternoon just to get a basic feel for it and then when the weekend rolled around I went to the Salmon river and gave it a go with much success!

I would practice 3 casts to get somewhat proficient at them. The two main casts you need are the standard overhead cast, and the roll cast. And the 3rd cast that I recommend is the bow and arrow cast. The bow and arrow is not used frequently on larger rivers but can be a very useful tool in the toolbox when needed. I use it all the time on smaller brooks/streams. On the larger rivers the standard and roll cast will be your main casts.

When in your backyard you obviously can't really practice presentation or drifts. But just get the general feel for how your rod loads, and look behind you and watch your line as it loops so you can see when you need to bring the rod forward. It really only took me 30 minutes or so to get a good feel for it.

Best of luck and hope you really enjoy fly fishing, I will never pick up a spinning rod again!

[DA]

These videos will show you how to cast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLfJBTctA4Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AcG4XkgG9c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eSKa6Pt3R0&feature=related

[flygirl]

Welcome to the addiction.....regarding books , you can't go wrong with "Hatch Guide for New England Streams' by Thomas Ames jr. My paperback edition is literally falling apart...wheres Santa when you need him ?

[leadwingcoachman]

I won't recommend a single book but will recommend a valuable resource... your local library. Between it and its affiliated branches you'll find plenty to keep you busy this winter

[redsoxnrock]

I started fly fishing two years ago and this site has been an incredible help. Watch the posts people make for times to go out, methods and flies to use, and good gear to pick up.

For the Farmington, check out Upcountry's website at www.farmingtonriver.com. They post reports on the river multiple times a week and those can help you familiarize yourself with the "hot patterns". You'll find them similar or the same to what works on other rivers as well.

I used youtube a lot when I taught myself how to cast. I watched a ton of different videos and practiced in my backyard before I tried it out on the water. The orvis fly fishing lessons on youtube are pretty good.

Good luck! And don't be afraid to ask questions when you have them (and you will have them)

[dlaffin1]

this website is a wonderful resource. i credit it with most of my progress over the last few years. practice makes perfect!