03-11-2012, 04:26 PM
I am no expert, but my wife and I started fly fishing together after a guided trip on the Green River in May. Just my two cents of what helped us move from total newbies to catching trout on a fly on a reasonably regular basis.
First, hire a guide to take you out for a day or half day. Yes, it’s relatively expensive, but nothing will jump start your local fly fishing knowledge more than letting a good guide show you the ropes and get you excited about catching fish on a fly. My wife gave me the guide trip for my birthday, and I took her and my 24-year old daughter over Memorial Day. None of us had ever really fly fished before, but our guide showed us how to rig, how to cast, and most of all how to catch fish – each of us caught more 20 fish that day. He guided us from 8:00 a.m.to 5:30 p.m., and in my mind more than earned his money with 3 newbies. Not only did we learn the very basics of nymph fishing, but the trip became the highlight of the year for my family (see attached photos).
Second, we went out again as soon as possible to practice what we learned, starting at Bell’s Canyon Reservoir, then Mtn Dell, then Current Creek Reservoir and below the dam. The rig remained the same for each trip (a San Juan Worm and a beaded nymph on an indicator). We even took a trip to Yellowstone and fished the Firehole, where my wife fell in and got totally wet, but the hatch was coming on and instead of going back to the car, she left her pants on a rock to dry, put on her waders, and kept on fishing (what a woman!) We always caught at least a few fish, which was more than enough to keep us trying.
Third, and my favorite, we spent a lot of time at the small mountain lakes and reservoirs of the Uintas where we learned how to cast and present a dry fly. We started catching lots of fish (most in the 10-14 inch range) with Elk Hair Caddis, parachute Adams, and later in the summer grasshoppers. We both were having a blast watching trout hit our floating fly.
Fourth, in the fall we bought a two-person raft from Dave Scadden and started fishing Wooly Buggers and other streamers at Strawberry. We were now regularly catching fish, including some in the 20+ inch range (with my wife beating me as often as not).
Needless to say, both of us can’t wait for the ice to come off Strawberry and then to spend many wonderful hours in the Unitas. I hope you find equal success and satisfaction.
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First, hire a guide to take you out for a day or half day. Yes, it’s relatively expensive, but nothing will jump start your local fly fishing knowledge more than letting a good guide show you the ropes and get you excited about catching fish on a fly. My wife gave me the guide trip for my birthday, and I took her and my 24-year old daughter over Memorial Day. None of us had ever really fly fished before, but our guide showed us how to rig, how to cast, and most of all how to catch fish – each of us caught more 20 fish that day. He guided us from 8:00 a.m.to 5:30 p.m., and in my mind more than earned his money with 3 newbies. Not only did we learn the very basics of nymph fishing, but the trip became the highlight of the year for my family (see attached photos).
Second, we went out again as soon as possible to practice what we learned, starting at Bell’s Canyon Reservoir, then Mtn Dell, then Current Creek Reservoir and below the dam. The rig remained the same for each trip (a San Juan Worm and a beaded nymph on an indicator). We even took a trip to Yellowstone and fished the Firehole, where my wife fell in and got totally wet, but the hatch was coming on and instead of going back to the car, she left her pants on a rock to dry, put on her waders, and kept on fishing (what a woman!) We always caught at least a few fish, which was more than enough to keep us trying.
Third, and my favorite, we spent a lot of time at the small mountain lakes and reservoirs of the Uintas where we learned how to cast and present a dry fly. We started catching lots of fish (most in the 10-14 inch range) with Elk Hair Caddis, parachute Adams, and later in the summer grasshoppers. We both were having a blast watching trout hit our floating fly.
Fourth, in the fall we bought a two-person raft from Dave Scadden and started fishing Wooly Buggers and other streamers at Strawberry. We were now regularly catching fish, including some in the 20+ inch range (with my wife beating me as often as not).
Needless to say, both of us can’t wait for the ice to come off Strawberry and then to spend many wonderful hours in the Unitas. I hope you find equal success and satisfaction.
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