11-17-2005, 06:36 PM
Hey ocean,
Cool ! You might just learn to love fly fishing !
I agree with HFT on the rod selection - go with 100% graphite as the rod to learn with.
Cheap is relative. But you can get a serviceable rod for around $100-150(maybe even cheaper) - A 5 weight 9 foot is a good starting place. Reels only hold your line so don't spend too much there - $20-30 will get you an adaquate one. Fly line however, is not the place to scrimp money. To learn casting more easily, you should go with a Weight Forward line(I would suggest a floating line) that balances to your rod.
The most effective way to learn casting, would be a class by a professional. A good friend can help, but a teacher can diagnose and explain what you are doing much more effectively and speed up the process alot. Then plan on spending a good deal of time practicing before you hit the water to actually fish(practice in the park or on a lawn or if possible in the water). You can save your self some frustration by practiceing without a hook on you line and by aiming at a target you've set up. At first, watch your line on your back casts to get a feel for the loop that is formed. Also, make sure you give your arms a rest while doing it - if your arm gets tired, stop for a few minutes - sloppy casting techniques can be etched in your muscle memory and have to be un-learned the next time out.
To learn the knots, get a pamphlet or book on fishing knots and sit in you living room with a spool of line and practice a hundred times or two - that's all it takes. BTW - you may already know some serviceable knots - like the improved clinch, surgeons or perfection.
For fly selection - any successful fly fisher that has experience on the water you want to fish will work and they will most likely be willing to help you out, but experience will be your best teacher in this area.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention - ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS wear sunglasses or eye glasses of some kind for eye protection.
Good luck and enjoy !
[signature]
Cool ! You might just learn to love fly fishing !
I agree with HFT on the rod selection - go with 100% graphite as the rod to learn with.
Cheap is relative. But you can get a serviceable rod for around $100-150(maybe even cheaper) - A 5 weight 9 foot is a good starting place. Reels only hold your line so don't spend too much there - $20-30 will get you an adaquate one. Fly line however, is not the place to scrimp money. To learn casting more easily, you should go with a Weight Forward line(I would suggest a floating line) that balances to your rod.
The most effective way to learn casting, would be a class by a professional. A good friend can help, but a teacher can diagnose and explain what you are doing much more effectively and speed up the process alot. Then plan on spending a good deal of time practicing before you hit the water to actually fish(practice in the park or on a lawn or if possible in the water). You can save your self some frustration by practiceing without a hook on you line and by aiming at a target you've set up. At first, watch your line on your back casts to get a feel for the loop that is formed. Also, make sure you give your arms a rest while doing it - if your arm gets tired, stop for a few minutes - sloppy casting techniques can be etched in your muscle memory and have to be un-learned the next time out.
To learn the knots, get a pamphlet or book on fishing knots and sit in you living room with a spool of line and practice a hundred times or two - that's all it takes. BTW - you may already know some serviceable knots - like the improved clinch, surgeons or perfection.
For fly selection - any successful fly fisher that has experience on the water you want to fish will work and they will most likely be willing to help you out, but experience will be your best teacher in this area.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention - ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS wear sunglasses or eye glasses of some kind for eye protection.
Good luck and enjoy !
[signature]