My family was dirt poor. I was given a battered flyrod as a young man and I grew up tying my own flies. I used chicken feathers, deer hair, yarn, and whatever I could muster up. I did not copy the patterns of others, because I had none to copy, although some of my flies turned out looking like the old standards. Getting strikes on my own flies and designing new ones to reflect what I saw in the stream, was and still is, as exciting as the catch. Tying flies is a vicarious way of enjoying the sport when you just can't get out there. I have been tying for 70 years. My first ones looked like wind blown sparrows but they caught fish. I have given thousands of my better flies away and accepted hundreds as gifts. When using those flies I feel as if I am fishing with the friend who gave them to me. Years from now, you will remember the idyllic little streams, lovely rivers, and serene lakes, and the flies you caught fish on, as much as you remember the fish you caught. When Its time to fish, take a few of the flies you feel will be appropriate for the water and leave the rest in the truck. No need to look like an Orvis representative, fish don't read labels.
Very well presented .. You spent most of your presentation, possibly in the same stream in the woods, a lot of wood debris, Small, slow, moving trout stream with beautiful brookies ..number five could’ve been elaborated on just a little bit more in what rod ? Would you have recommended and possibly something like 7 1/2 foot length medium to fast action with the weight forward floating number five weight line?? thank you
Not specifically a rule, but I wish the disappointment of fly fishing was talked about more. You can have some awesome days but you’ll have some days where you feel like you’re just learning again or things just don’t go right no matter what. The payoff is huge sometimes even just for that one fish you’ve been after, but get used to the other times as well and learn to be content with just being out there.
Amen to that. Most days I go out, I get skunked. But there are ENOUGH days when I catch fish that it keeps me coming back and always enjoy being out there "standing in a river, waving a stick." It's kinda like golf when you just suck all day but then you sink a long putt or chip it in and get all excited -- you remember that moment lots more than the disappointing ones!
@@hardmanfishing Many years ago a very good friend, Papa Cruiz, came upon me fishing up a creek in the Florida panhandle. At that moment I was snagged in a tree as the creek wasnt 10 feet wide. In a very slow southern drawl he told me there was a game warden coming and I better have my squirrel permit or face getting a fine.
This comment is completely inaccurate in the fact that the disappointment comes in EVERY style of fishing, from dry fly to deep sea salmon. And personally I have been disappointed more often with throwing a lure than a fly
Glad you mentioned wet hands. There's so many vids on fishing out there that never talk about this. I've seen fish with the imprint of a hand effectively burned into their bodies because of poor handling. This is a great vid for beginners and also more experienced fishers who may have become a bit lazy. Hello from Scotland.
A tip from another fly fishing channel - use tippet rings. Every time you tie a knot you lose a bit of line. Tying a ring in your leader and tying a tippet to that means no more shortening of the leader.
So true. Rod and line are everything. Reel is far less important unless you need drag. Tried to learn for 8 years until finally a club took me in that wasnt a bunch of snobs. Two years later I was nearly at their level in casting proficiency but always finding new things to learn. Now fishing Northern Michigan and gold medal rivers in Colorado. So rewarding! We need to teach the next generation and not be witholding.
You can really dial in what style of fly you want and it’s extremely enjoyable when you don’t have the chance to leave the house. It’s another layer of awesome when you catch fish on your own design
As someone brand new to fly fishing, I can honestly say out of the dozens and dozens of videos I’ve watched trying to learn, this is the best by far. Thank you for this video!
Thanks so much for your comments. We try to portray the real experience of fly fishing, including fish less days, missed and lost fish and breaking fish off….we all have been there.
I took up fly fishing in 1996. I have always been a Bass fisherman since I was 3 years old. It took me 39 outings to finally hook up with a trout on a hares ear! Once netted, I never looked back and not only enjoy the sport. I enjoy the river, water, nature, wildlife and more. It soothes my soul and takes me away from the work and home stresses in life. I now teach my son-in-law on the rivers and watch his frustration while snagged in an overhead branch or tangled rigs from poor cadence! He finally caught his first rainbow on a fly rod and it did not take him 39 outings. Great video and tips. Thank you....
I just bought my first rod and some flies and I'm stoked to get to the water! I was completely overwhelmed looking at all the different flies and wondering how I would ever pick the right one for the right spot. Thanks for imparting your knowledge, it is greatly appreciated!
I grew up in high country Colorado. My grandfather gave me an old split bamboo fly rod that I used well into my 20s. He taught me to make streamers out of almost any material in the cabin. I caught more fish on blue Jean streamers than anything I've purchased outright.
Been fly fishing for over 50 years and the greatest joy to me is teaching kids - even if they already fish with spin gear, they always prefer fly. And you can find used tackle at garage sales for next to norhing!
As a previous Fly shop owner, it always was interesting to me when peoples gear and the amount of gear they had outweigh their ability to make a simple cast! Make sure that you are proficient casting and targeting where you wanna cast before you worry about $700 rod or $500 reel, get your basics down with your $50 or $25 Walmart Rod and then move forward with gear that will allow you to improve better than having a truckload of stuff and a wheelbarrow load of experience!
Amen to that. Besides fishing (and recently fly fishing) I also play the guitar and make electronic music. I'm also a craftsman by trade (bookbinder). You need to practice on affordable gear until you're proficient enough to tell the difference between the quality of your skills and the quality of the gear you use. In this era of affordable, quality gear you don't need to spend a lot to learn the skills. IMO of course.
1. Learn your knots (practice) 2. Practice your casting (parks with open area are good) 3.Learn a little bit on insects in your area and find what times to use them. 4. Check spider webs or foam under rocks to see what the fish are probably eating. 5. Get on the internet to see the different setups for using dries or nymphs.
I only have 1 tidbit of advice- wish I had started this journey when I was a teenager. Such a great hobby and sport. You will discover that even when people aren’t catching fish around you, it possible to have a blast catching small aggressive panfish. Enjoy the minimalist hobby- throw a box of flies in your pocket and a flyrod and walk the lake, pond or river. Tough to beat.
My 2nd time fly fishing i ran into a older fisherman that told me your best bet to match nymphs was to pickup the rock's and look under them. Thanks Fred!
From a absolute noob, not only did i get some good basic tips( i thought i needed a 300$ reel) but you showed how beautiful walking up a small creek and fly fishing is. Thanks man.
My tip was I struggled with being overwhelmed with knots and not tying them correctly and lost a number of the first real good fish I hooked into. You don’t need to know how to tie more than 1-3 knots and tie them well and you’ll have much better success early on!
After buying a beginner kit, and you have fished for awhile. Before you upgrade to a better rod, consider upgrading your line to a nicer fly line. The kits typically come with cheap line, and that simple change makes more difference than some would think.
Thanks for the video. As a 63 year beginner fisherman AND beginner fly fisherman this was encouraging!! Helps with some of the overwhelmed feeling as I begin to learn.
I'm 63 as well, going on my first trip to North Carolina.I don't no a nymph fly from a Greenie Weenie and seriously wonder if I'm a day late and a dollar short.But like the brother said, it's more important to get the fly in front of the fish than to overthink it.And above all, enjoy creation and the serenity that it brings, that should be reason enough to get in the water.
I'm with you. . . .I'm 62 and a spinning reel fisherman in Florida. Haven't thrown a fly in over 50+ years and never caught a trout! Now, my wife and I am moving to North Georgia. I want to get back in the sport so I can enjoy my retirement years living the Mountain Life and this video has helped me get over the nerves of starting again. . . .I learned a lot, thank you!
I like this guy, You DONT need an expensive reel. I use Medalists, old etc most all the time. I have Gunisson and all sorts of reels. For salt water you need a decent reel. For fresh water, you use it only to spool the line. Line is a great item to spend decent money on. Take care of em and they last a long time. Tippet is good for small fish, stream, and precise presentation. Mostly enjoy yourself, and forget the expensive but unnecessary things. There are a lot of thing which catch a lot of Fisherman. Al Brewster's quote.
I have been fly fishing since I was around 5, I'm 48 now. A life long obsession. I have guided and taught many. I will say, the most common issues I run into are people not fishing the fly like what it is. If you are throwing an ant fly, it moves very slow. If you are using a crayfish, make sure it acts like one. Same goes for all flies. Beyond that, fish every cast, even bad casts. Do not recast for the extra 5ft. Just work the fly back and recast. You will scare less fish and even pick up a few extras.
Couple thing I would have added are, when casting keep your fly in or on the water more than false casting. The more you false cast, the less time you have at catching a fish. Spot on with the reel info. For the rod and line, don’t skimp out on the line. Personally that is the most important piece of the fly rod. For instance, I can take a great fly line and put it on an ok fly rod. By doing so, I made that ok fly rod so much better. Take a great fly rod and put ok fly line on it, now that fly rod is a good fly rod now. Hope it made sense.
Presentation of the fly is everything. Do everything you can to make sure your fly has a natural drift. Mend your line upstream and avoid split shot and strike indicators if you can. Only use split shot if your nymph isnt getting down deep enough and only use indicators in really fast or cloudly water.
Great video! Fly fishing isn’t just for trout! Learning that you can tie a perfection loop on regular monofilament changed fly fishing for me! I now through streamers and mouse patterns on 6ft piece of 8lb mono for all kinds of fish. Up that to 20-30lb for salt and your good to go!
Great job breaking down fly fishing for folks new to the sport! Biggest challenge for me when starting out was being overwhelmed by all the terms, options and gear. No replacement for getting out there and trying different flies and techniques to see what works and what doesn't! A big game changer for me was knowing when to use some split shot to help get those wet flies down in the strike zone quicker. Thanks again for another great video!
Great little video. Thank you. New guy here. Been spin fish over 40 years. Fly fishing about ten times, and really starting to get hooked on it. The tippet explanation was excellent. I'm going with patience being high on the learning curve list for me. Seems the same for a pair of buddies that are on the same journey with me. Slow your roll has become the mantra. 🤘🏼😆🤘🏼
You are the first American angler I watched, that actually cares and knows how to treat a fish you release. All others I have watched don't care and quite frankly shouldn't be allowed to fish.
I am 57 years old , I was born in Charleston W. Va. , at 1 year old my parents moved to the North Georgia area and been a here all my life , my wife and I go camping / fishing the beautiful Cranberry river and the Williams river , we love it up there , I live at the foothills of the Cohutta WMA , and probably fished waters you visited as well , I have a suggestion for you to try , in Reliance Tennessee is the hawassee river , it’s some great fishing with a variety and holds monster trout , I have fished Colorado , and up in Wyoming , and I would have to say that the hawassee was s my most favorite river , so if you wanting to hit some big water I know you would enjoy , go above the power house , if they are running water the river will be to deep to wade , above power house is some awesome deep holes and harbor huge fish and some large small mouth to boot , good fishing young man
Love the section about fish safety (which is too often skipped)! they are so fragile, we all shall be very careful and respectful with these lovely companions. Without them, no fishing :)
I just got into the "weekend warrior" class of anglers. The two things I cant stress enough are practicing your casts and asking questions. When I started there where so many fish I didn't catch because I learned how to do an alright 20 foot cast but I kept practicing and I started getting more fish. Also asking questions in person to someone at a fly shop or wherever you are fishing is in my opinion crucial. You gain local knowledge along with learning about different tools and techniques. It took me a month to learn what tippet was because I was too embarrassed to ask the guy at my local tackle shop and too busy watching fishing films to look it up. Don't be embarrassed, everyone was once a beginner too.
Bro I love all your videos. Even though some of this may seem so obvious and easy to you, it helps me out big time. I’m just starting out fly fishing, and honestly watching and listening to you is all I have to go off. It’s such a huge help for me. And your a big inspiration for me. Love these videos 🖤
I tried fishing years ago. I caught fish but wasn't good at casting. A few years back I bought a cheap Eagle Claw 3w 6'6" Telescopic Combo. I initially tried a 3w line. I ended up putting a 7w line on it. I ran short 6' tapered leaders. I could really feel the rod load up and got where I could really bomb that tiny rod out there. That improved my technique. I started really catching fish and became obsessed with fly fishing. Currently I am using that same rod with a 4w line and 7.5" tapered leaders. In still clear water I am catching more fish with the longer leader and lighter line. But still carry a spare reel with 7w and short leader for windy days or if I want to throw something heavy. So, for me if you are having trouble with your cast. Step up a couple of sizes or more on your line and shorten up your leader. That in my opinion will have you casting like a pro in no time. After that you can lighten up your line and lengthen your leader.
I am self taught at fly fishing. Been fly fishing for about 12 years now. My biggest tip is, don't overthink the casting. Find a field, and practice without a hook on the end. You'll find it's fairly easy to do! The grass semi mimics water. It's what I did when I was a kid and it really helped me.
Been watching you for years the one thing I would have mentioned , either buy barbless flies or bend your barbs for ease of unhooking and health of the fish!
I agree, but I think for new anglers that could lead to frustration. It’s better off to just use whatever you want in the beginning, and then as you go and feel more confident you can switch to barbless. I’ve taken new fly anglers fishing with barbless hooks and had them struggle to land anything (not the greatest line management).
Wow dude! You literally quoted swiss fishing regulations on how to treat fishes in a thoughtful way! We are very strict about ethical fishing back here. I appreciate your contribution!
This has to be one of the best tutorials ever and one of the best videos you've ever made. Newcomers will use this over and over again while experienced anglers will be reminded by the good ethics in this video. I know I was. Egwa skgi means big thanks in my language and always tight lines. Tony Walkingstick
1. Go to bass pro or some local shop and talk to the attendant there. At bass pro you could get somebody who doesn’t know anything but at my local bass pro is a guy who used to work for Orvis. 2. It is not as expensive as you would think, don’t get sold into buying a 400 reel and 600 rod. Bighorn and dogwood are surprisingly great and especially for the price of 79.99 atm. 3. Sunglasses that are polarized for the water you want to fish is where I would put my money. Seeing the fish rise up to hit your fly and being able to see between rocks is fantastic. I bought smiths but I am sure there are budget options as mine were 230.
Good advice. I'm NOT a pro by any means, but I've learned that presentation is important, especially when fishing streams. Study the insects floating on the stream, and try to mimic the way they land and move. One of the things so addicting is that there is great satisfaction in catching a fish but always something new to learn.
1. Best thing I learned was how to read the water for trout and it changed fly fishing for me. Riffles are where the food (bugs) are most productive and get dislodged to emerge the most, so downstream of riffles is where it’s at. Deep pools are important when it’s cold or hot, so dredge those whenever you see one. And try anything. You never know. 2. You don’t need to carry much to have a good day fishing. Don’t worry about every contingency. Those contingencies are what costs people so much money and mental fatigue. The basics do just fine 99% of the time. 3. Sight is important in fly fishing. You need to get used to being able to follow your fly to see a fish rise on it or see that something is sipping your nymph. Bobbers or wool are great for this reason when your fly is under water. 4. Related to 3, get decent sunglasses that are polarized. I like copper lenses that help me see fish and wade safely. 5. Also related to 3, you don’t need to cast far, just accurately. Casting 12-15 feet with wet fly or 20 with a dry is plenty of distance for most trout fishing situations. Fish every cast. Even the bad ones. Better than spooking the fish and you never know.
I wish I would of learned the roll cast right away so that I did not have to get my line tangled behind me, best cast to know if you are fishing in small streams with a lot of branches/trees behind you.
I wish I knew about: fly threaders, hemostat knots, throwing line to release a snag, and moving quicker from hole to hole (which you do well by the way. Oh yea, and tenkara.
I've been fishing for 16 years, 11 in TN/NC and 5 in Idaho and still check out videos like this cause you are never too experienced to learn! I remember exactly when I started catching bigger fish and more often. There were two MAJOR things that finally clicked for me. 1. Generally speaking, you want a perfect drift, one that matches the speed and direction of the flow of water. Focus on and practice this constantly. The tiniest unnatural movement will turn off a fish. 2. Drift as long as possible! This was a big one for me. Very often, especially out west, the fish will follow the fly way longer downstream than you would assume, especially for larger meals like hoppers. Resist the urge to pick up and cast again and milk the drift as much as you can. If the fish follows it down, gets ready to commit, and you rip it out of the water, he will for sure not even look at it the next time. I also echo what Hardman said about trash flies. I throw squirmy worms all the time when the fishing goes south cause they almost always catch fish and that is better than getting skunked. Also, back in the day, we hadn't heard of euro nymphying but we were kindaaa doing it by high-sticking with an indicator. Great way to catch a lot of fish starting out. Good stuff!
I'm just getting to this- went to a school last week and had my first lesson. I caught a bunch of brookies as the instructor taught a roll cast then a false cast. Then we went to streams and he put on nymph and later a squirmy worm with a bobber ;) It was so fun. We used a 7ft 3 weight but at the end of class I bought a kit which is a 9 ft 5 weight combo. I tried to cast on my lawn and it was vastly different even tho we casted on their pond at the school. this is a great video. I searched beginners fly fishing. Thanks!
First class advice and video. Thank you. If fishing in inclement weather a good jacket is an investment. If using waders, cheap waders can be really good.
Great video! I think it would be good to do a video on terminology of the fly rod so new guys see the difference between leader and tippet and stuff like that! When I was new I heard those terms but didn’t know what they were and didn’t wanna ask due to being afraid to be made fun of. Great videos buddy keep them up!!
With tippet, I would agree with just buying normal mono or fluoro fishing line working just fine, to a point. When you’re late into the summer and water clarity is extremely good, tippet shyness certainly is real. But you can get away with really only needing 1-2 sizes for your local waters. Streamers are excluded from that statement- use normal fishing line. Also with reels it’s for the most part true what you said. But most nicer reels actually balance rods much better than cheaper reels(doesn’t matter for a beginner-go cheap) Also to add yo to what you were saying.. you don’t need a reel with a good drag system until you start getting into 4+ lb fish. If you’re just starting out, going cheap on the rod and reel is fine but the better line will just make it a better overall experience for any fisherman. Enjoyed the video. Keep teachin!
24 and i just decided to give fly fishing a try. Ive done some fishing before, but not with a fly rod, and not for trout. Just moved midwest. Honestly not sure what im doing but im trying to teach myself and see what advice others like you have for beginners. Thanks
#6 to bounce off leaders and tippet, FURLED LEADERS! With a tippet ring. Save so much time knot tying and headaches when your learning your knots. That being said I encourage learning the square knot to connect regular leader to tippet, BUT once I’ve tried a furled leader I haven’t gone back to normal tapered line leaders, as a beginner trying to catch fish the furled leader is the way to go! I use the blue line/small stream leader on my 7ft6in 3wt for natives and stockies from Appalachian leader company. Attach roughly 30-36inches of tippet to the tippet ring with a regular fishing knot then use the same knot to attach your fly. Simplifies the game so much! I encourage getting the combo pack because it comes with wax to make your leader float if using dries. I’ve had my furled leader on my rod for 3-4 years and will replace it soon. They are about 15 dollars. Compared to spending 8-15$ multiple times a year on the basic tapered line leaders. SERIOUSLY A GAME CHANGER! DONT SLEEP ON IT!
Well done! You’ve provided quite an important and helpful service here - this will remain valuable to newcomers to the sport for a long time to come. New fly fishers owe you a nod of thanks!
Ive never fished and wanted to learn so I started watching a variety of random videos, you are the first I've seen to talk about how to make sure the fish survive after you release them. Not sure if thats unique to this type of fish but I thought that was nice.
I learned to fly fish as a very young kid and was taught the art by my grandfather on a cane rod. One of the most important lessons my grandfather taught was to keep moving. Start at the top of the riffle and work slowly downstream. This is true whether alone or with multiple people fishing the same riffle. When you reach the end of the riffle, get out, walk back to the top of the riffle (avoiding the trajectory of other fly lines) and start over. This way everyone gets to fish the same water. This is the unwritten rule of fly fishing streamers on the big waters of the Rogue River.
Great video. I am still learning but fish with my father-in-law who is an old pro. A few things we like to do is first if fish are rising, try the dry flies first. I prefer catching fish off a dry fly than nymphing. Another thing we do is break off the barb on your fly with your forceps after tying it on. It makes it easier to undo a hook and is better for the fish to recover after release.
Something that helped me tremendously up at spring creek is to talk to the people who fish there regularly. Find a club or group online and learn from them
"Foam/Food/Fish" and "Fly First". When you see a "Foam" line on the water, that is where there is usually "Food" for the "Fish". Put you fly there in the foam line. Cast in a manner that puts the "fly" on the water "first", NOT the line. You'll spook fewer fish and greatly increase your chances of catching fish.
One other tip Remember if you are fishing in spring and the water is really high... USE WEIGTH, You can put weigth shot on the tipet And dont be afraid to put too much its not going to harm your rod it just makes casting little bit more hard. I cougth yesterday 2 1,4kg rainbows with orange streamer and like 3gram lead shot on the tippet (In finland) And my first fish with a fly rod took me a year and a half, Remeber its hard but it is not really.
Good video! 1. Greenie Weenie dropped under a small foam caddis. (great for brookies) 2. Buy moderate priced waders. (They will all leak.) 3. Buy higher priced boots. ( Comfort is important) 4. Don't worry if you suck!! (keep trying!) Tightlines!
Over a couple decades exclusively fishing the small creeks of Southern California and the Eastern Sierra all I really need for a great summer/fall day are some #14-18 elk hair caddis, some #14-16 beadhead prince nymphs, maybe a few #16 red humphies and as a last resort a black ant pattern. That and a small creek and I'm set! The older I've gotten the less distance I'm able to cover so these days it's not unheard of to spend 3-4 hours exhaustively working a 200 yard stretch of creek. Hit every pocket. I spend more time observing and executing my presentation than I do actual fishing. Nothing beats planning out a presentation, noting surface and subsurface obstacles, determining the prime drift zone, how to get my fly in there, and where am I going to land the fish? Nine times out of ten I don't pull it off but that one time makes all the effort worth it. Tight lines.
I recommend wetting hands on any fish you catch that’s below average size doesn’t matter the species as they all have issues with slime coat being removed any fish that reaches a good size will be able to recover their slime coat as they have experience recovering their slime coating from spawning
A lot of my buddies are accomplished drift boaters or always chasing big trout and as a newbie it can be stressful (especially when you are tangled up floating over prime water). Going after brooks on small streams where you can sit and observe a hole has its merits. Same as hitting the panfish pond to practice casting with usually open back cast areas. A pile of small fish is still a good day!
One thing I wish I’d known when I started, was that a quality rod can I handle your fishing experience. I spent a lot of money on cheaper rods and reels when I began and I finally spent some money on a decent rod after a few years. Even just spending $300 on a decent rod/reel combo will feel better. Now. I’m not saying go buy the newest rod or anything, if your beginning, get yourself a rod you can afford. Learn the basics, and with that experience you get from that , you’ll learn more about what you like and don’t like and what works for you. Then when you’re ready, look for something a level up. Don’t pass up second hand either. Can get some good quality stuff second hand. I find deals often and I use them often. If you have some friends that will let you use theirs, try as many out as you can. Make that few hundred dolllars you’re gonna spend worth it. I spent money on stuff that if I’d waited a while to buy, I never would’ve bought. Goodluck. Keep fishing, and remember, a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work. Also. Do go buying all these flies just to have a bunch. Get a few of each kind in some neutral colors and you’ll do just fine. I have many flies and streamers and no matter where I fish, the same ones end up getting used. I have flies that r never touched water. Have fun
I started fly fishing when I was about 10. With an old fiberglass rod, a monkey ward reel and level line (and wondering why I couldn't cast worth a darn) A janitor in high school taught me how to tie flies and gave me my first stand (which I still use today). Start fishing for fish that are plentiful in your area , such as bluegill. A popper tied about 12 inches above a nymph makes a deadly combination as well as giving you a strike indicator. I agree, keep it simple and you will have more fun!
Fly reels are mostly for line storage, also be a line watcher, when nymphing always stay focused on the tip of your flyline. I never use an indicator, it has always worked well for me. Enjoyed watching. 👍
@@jamesgeorge6290 where your leader meets your flyline. Watch for any kind of different movement that is different from your drift. This is for nymph fishing, not dry fly fishing.
@@warrenc50 I partially agree with you, I catch a lot of big fish, I would be fishing a lot different if we had salmon or steelhead, in my neck of the woods we don't have that, so it depends on your resources. We have big trout here, I fished yesterday 10-25 caught a 16 inch 3 pound brown, 6and a half foot 3wt. No indicator. Fished a size 14 nymph casting upstream as you would a dry. As I mentioned I've been doing this a long time, it works for me.
I really enjoyed this video and agree with all the points you make. My own advice would be to reiterate the importance of buying commercially available fly leaders. Also, if your fishing a dry dropper, tie the tippet off the bend of the dry fly; it is so much easier than messing around with surgeons knots and you can re-tie to vary the depth more easily. Oh, and fish barbless hooks or smoosh the barb down.
My first fly rod was Shakespeare Wonderod. Its tip was short a couple inches (practically from day one). I used level, mis-matched fly line and cheap mono. I probably caught more fish (and more species of fish) with that rod than anything else I’ve ever owned. I learned to catch brookies in rhododendron-choked creeks on my own - best daggum classroom in the world😁👍
Great video. I liked how you started by saying fly fishing can be simple and even praising “trash flies.” When I started, there were only books and Flyfisherman magazine which were elitist and emphasized all the minutia.
I wish I took casting lessons before I started. I wasted years learning to cast. Still a newbie. But I switch from PIN, SPIN and fly. I suck the most at fly fishing lol. But still love it.
Good stuff! I think possibly the biggest thing is simply to learn fundamental casting mechanics. When I’ve worked with new folks or kids, I found that taking a minute to explain the differentiation between casting the weighted flyline vs casting a traditionally weighted bait was helpful. So many wanted to wrist flick and try to muscle the fly out there like casting a spin setup and it’s just not going to work! So, my biggest first focus when trying to help get someone started quickly is learn the mechanics of a simple cast. I like to try and prompt thought about current drifts and delivery during that first little time too because it impacts where we need to target the casts so it’s a good time to do that. Well done on this, sir. You covered some good stuff!
So it's interesting... for me I was never taught how to properly cast and my biggest issue was line management when I first started. But I think someone telling me how to cast right off the bat probably would've gotten me a lot better a lot quicker. So I like this one a lot even though I didn't really use it.
if I can add something to this, it's usually best to consult any sort of local resource. if there's a store in the area that even remotely deals in fly fishing, go in there and ask if there's anything they can recommend for someone new to the area. Be prepared for them to be a little nonspecific, they probably won't tell you exact locations or presentations, but you'd be surprised by how helpful they can be when it comes to patterns and equipment. Of course there's salespeople that just want to sell, but a lot of people genuinely want to help new anglers for the love of the sport.
I love trash flies! Been fly fishing for 10+ years and catch most of my fish (500+; no exaggeraration!) on "trash flies." Sqwirmy worms, mop flies, sucker spawn eggs.
At least for me, I've caught more trout when the dry fly is skating across the water at the end of the drift when the line is dragging than I have during the drag-free drift at the start of the drift. I used to worry about trying to mend the line because everything you read says that a drag-free drift is extremely important. Not any more, I simply cast and wait for the strike. :-)
When I started getting into dryfly fishing I wish I knew how much I'd be sitting on my ass drinking coffee waiting for fish to start rising, especially in forest/mountain lakes. I'm not complaining of course
I just bought my fly fishing gear (didn't try it yet) still trying to get some experience by wathcing videos at youtube, so far i cathced many trouts with straight fishing rod by using living nymphs, trouts are crazy for nymphs and i also find bees at their stomach so i bought flies that imitate nymphs and bees.
Super helpful video! I watched your Walmart fly fishing video and it got me intrigued. Now I have found my new favorite hobby. I would love to see a specific trout fly gear guide video on budget. Say I was brand new and wanted to get on the water but with good budget gear. Stuff that a year from now if I love the sport I would not feel the need to replace. There are videos that either focus on cheap ways to get into fly fishing or people that say now that you have got the cheap stuff it is time for you to buy a $500 rod. I would love to see a gear video that is focused on budget quality fly fishing for trout. From rod and reel all the way down to essential accessories that you need (indicators, net, sling pack, fly flotant, the things you need but often do not realize when you buy your first outfit). I think this would have been helpful when starting out. Thanks for all your hard work!
I can add multiple things. Get to the feeding zone whether nymphing or dry fly fishing. Learn where to drift and where fish tend to feed, and if you try getting into it yourself go someplace where you believe you have a high probability of catching a fish. That first hook up can change your life but if you go say someplace like falling springs here in pa close to me to try and learn you could end up strongly discouraged. But you hit a lot of awesome points Jon. Agreed with everything you spoke of. The big one that impressed me was the tippet comment. I have met many people on the water and all use tippet. I explained what you did and it’s saved them some money. But on 4lb low vis flouro I’ve had no issues spooking fish. It’s been all I run on all occasions on my 4 weight
Yep tippet I've always had a love hate relationship with tippet! I think it's necessary in some instances but also overrated. I've had more fish break me on tippet than regular fishing line by a huge margin. Which makes since when you consider the thin diameter. So when I fish I'm always thinking about how spooky I think the fish are because (especially for big fish) I'm not a fan... Or I'm using like 2 or 3x while nymphing. It's also a big money saver
Nice video. I’d like to add my 2 cents, though. I agree that we shouldn’t be too zealous when it comes to which flies to use, but… here’s an antidote: having a bad day with a friend on Lost Cove in western NC, summer time. Tried everything except terrestrials. My friend fishing well ahead of me out of sight came back with good news. “Tie an ant on, they’re killing it.” I did. It worked the rest of the day. So we can’t simply write off experimenting with what to tie on.
The only advise I can give on a reel is trying to get something that has an enclosed drag and bearing. That way, if it gets wet or dirty, it will still handle great.
I fished lures growing up too, until a neighbor got me into fly fishing. The only thing I wish I’d known is: take a weekend casting lesson. Until I really learned the technique you can pick up in a few hours with a teacher, I was just flailing and missing 95% of the fun. If there’s one thing I’d convey to a beginning fisher though, it would be to fish the close water first. I’ve seen so many people lured to a beautiful deep cut or seam on the far shore stomp right through great fishy water to get there. I’ve made casts from 15 feet back from the first water I approached on the day and taken fish 2 feet from shore. It’s just a bonus before you get out into the water.
I have used flies for panfish in the past. But always with a water bobber on a spinning rod. I am just getting into fly tying to do the same. I think I might just go this weekend and pick up my first fly rod. Thanks for the very informative video. Definitely subbing your page.
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My family was dirt poor. I was given a battered flyrod as a young man and I grew up tying my own flies. I used chicken feathers, deer hair, yarn, and whatever I could muster up. I did not copy the patterns of others, because I had none to copy, although some of my flies turned out looking like the old standards. Getting strikes on my own flies and designing new ones to reflect what I saw in the stream, was and still is, as exciting as the catch. Tying flies is a vicarious way of enjoying the sport when you just can't get out there. I have been tying for 70 years. My first ones looked like wind blown sparrows but they caught fish. I have given thousands of my better flies away and accepted hundreds as gifts. When using those flies I feel as if I am fishing with the friend who gave them to me. Years from now, you will remember the idyllic little streams, lovely rivers, and serene lakes, and the flies you caught fish on, as much as you remember the fish you caught. When Its time to fish, take a few of the flies you feel will be appropriate for the water and leave the rest in the truck. No need to look like an Orvis representative, fish don't read labels.
Loved the comment. Got a late start, but can identify with in many memorable ways.
Very well presented .. You spent most of your presentation, possibly in the same stream in the woods, a lot of wood debris, Small, slow, moving trout stream with beautiful brookies ..number five could’ve been elaborated on just a little bit more in what rod ? Would you have recommended and possibly something like 7 1/2 foot length medium to fast action with the weight forward floating number five weight line?? thank you
That was the most beautiful piece of writing I have read on the Internet.
@@gkeic Thank you. It was from the heart.
This comment should be the intro to a fly fishing / tying book. Wish you well!
Not specifically a rule, but I wish the disappointment of fly fishing was talked about more. You can have some awesome days but you’ll have some days where you feel like you’re just learning again or things just don’t go right no matter what. The payoff is huge sometimes even just for that one fish you’ve been after, but get used to the other times as well and learn to be content with just being out there.
I love it!! I think especially at the beginning you spend half your time in a tree or a bush. It's just part of it.
Amen to that. Most days I go out, I get skunked. But there are ENOUGH days when I catch fish that it keeps me coming back and always enjoy being out there "standing in a river, waving a stick." It's kinda like golf when you just suck all day but then you sink a long putt or chip it in and get all excited -- you remember that moment lots more than the disappointing ones!
@@hardmanfishing Many years ago a very good friend, Papa Cruiz, came upon me fishing up a creek in the Florida panhandle. At that moment I was snagged in a tree as the creek wasnt 10 feet wide. In a very slow southern drawl he told me there was a game warden coming and I better have my squirrel permit or face getting a fine.
This comment is completely inaccurate in the fact that the disappointment comes in EVERY style of fishing, from dry fly to deep sea salmon. And personally I have been disappointed more often with throwing a lure than a fly
@@ltcreed8911 lol sorry for the sadness I guess?
Glad you mentioned wet hands. There's so many vids on fishing out there that never talk about this. I've seen fish with the imprint of a hand effectively burned into their bodies because of poor handling. This is a great vid for beginners and also more experienced fishers who may have become a bit lazy. Hello from Scotland.
Glad to know it’s not the flies just the fisherman, feeling humbled
A tip from another fly fishing channel - use tippet rings. Every time you tie a knot you lose a bit of line. Tying a ring in your leader and tying a tippet to that means no more shortening of the leader.
So true. Rod and line are everything. Reel is far less important unless you need drag. Tried to learn for 8 years until finally a club took me in that wasnt a bunch of snobs. Two years later I was nearly at their level in casting proficiency but always finding new things to learn. Now fishing Northern Michigan and gold medal rivers in Colorado. So rewarding! We need to teach the next generation and not be witholding.
Another thing I found out is that learning to tie your own flies also teaches you a lot about fly fishing in general
You can really dial in what style of fly you want and it’s extremely enjoyable when you don’t have the chance to leave the house. It’s another layer of awesome when you catch fish on your own design
I agree, I think it made a massive difference and makes you more confident/knowledgeable
As someone brand new to fly fishing, I can honestly say out of the dozens and dozens of videos I’ve watched trying to learn, this is the best by far. Thank you for this video!
Same here. I’m just getting started and I just learned a lot
Thanks so much for your comments. We try to portray the real experience of fly fishing, including fish less days, missed and lost fish and breaking fish off….we all have been there.
I took up fly fishing in 1996. I have always been a Bass fisherman since I was 3 years old. It took me 39 outings to finally hook up with a trout on a hares ear! Once netted, I never looked back and not only enjoy the sport. I enjoy the river, water, nature, wildlife and more. It soothes my soul and takes me away from the work and home stresses in life. I now teach my son-in-law on the rivers and watch his frustration while snagged in an overhead branch or tangled rigs from poor cadence! He finally caught his first rainbow on a fly rod and it did not take him 39 outings. Great video and tips. Thank you....
I just bought my first rod and some flies and I'm stoked to get to the water! I was completely overwhelmed looking at all the different flies and wondering how I would ever pick the right one for the right spot. Thanks for imparting your knowledge, it is greatly appreciated!
I grew up in high country Colorado. My grandfather gave me an old split bamboo fly rod that I used well into my 20s. He taught me to make streamers out of almost any material in the cabin. I caught more fish on blue Jean streamers than anything I've purchased outright.
Been fly fishing for over 50 years and the greatest joy to me is teaching kids - even if they already fish with spin gear, they always prefer fly. And you can find used tackle at garage sales for next to norhing!
As a previous Fly shop owner, it always was interesting to me when peoples gear and the amount of gear they had outweigh their ability to make a simple cast! Make sure that you are proficient casting and targeting where you wanna cast before you worry about $700 rod or $500 reel, get your basics down with your $50 or $25 Walmart Rod and then move forward with gear that will allow you to improve better than having a truckload of stuff and a wheelbarrow load of experience!
Amen to that.
Besides fishing (and recently fly fishing) I also play the guitar and make electronic music. I'm also a craftsman by trade (bookbinder).
You need to practice on affordable gear until you're proficient enough to tell the difference between the quality of your skills and the quality of the gear you use.
In this era of affordable, quality gear you don't need to spend a lot to learn the skills.
IMO of course.
1. Learn your knots (practice)
2. Practice your casting (parks with open area are good)
3.Learn a little bit on insects in your area and find what times to use them.
4. Check spider webs or foam under rocks to see what the fish are probably eating.
5. Get on the internet to see the different setups for using dries or nymphs.
I only have 1 tidbit of advice- wish I had started this journey when I was a teenager. Such a great hobby and sport. You will discover that even when people aren’t catching fish around you, it possible to have a blast catching small aggressive panfish. Enjoy the minimalist hobby- throw a box of flies in your pocket and a flyrod and walk the lake, pond or river. Tough to beat.
Bluegills are fun to catch on fly rod. There’s a foam fly called a predator they attack it.
My 2nd time fly fishing i ran into a older fisherman that told me your best bet to match nymphs was to pickup the rock's and look under them. Thanks Fred!
From a absolute noob, not only did i get some good basic tips( i thought i needed a 300$ reel) but you showed how beautiful walking up a small creek and fly fishing is. Thanks man.
My tip was I struggled with being overwhelmed with knots and not tying them correctly and lost a number of the first real good fish I hooked into. You don’t need to know how to tie more than 1-3 knots and tie them well and you’ll have much better success early on!
I agree..i use a davy and double surgeon for about everything..
Double Davy and Palomar are my favorites.
After buying a beginner kit, and you have fished for awhile. Before you upgrade to a better rod, consider upgrading your line to a nicer fly line. The kits typically come with cheap line, and that simple change makes more difference than some would think.
Add the Elk Hair Caddis out west and you're golden
Thanks for the video. As a 63 year beginner fisherman AND beginner fly fisherman this was encouraging!! Helps with some of the overwhelmed feeling as I begin to learn.
I'm 63 as well, going on my first trip to North Carolina.I don't no a nymph fly from a Greenie Weenie and seriously wonder if I'm a day late and a dollar short.But like the brother said, it's more important to get the fly in front of the fish than to overthink it.And above all, enjoy creation and the serenity that it brings, that should be reason enough to get in the water.
I'm with you. . . .I'm 62 and a spinning reel fisherman in Florida. Haven't thrown a fly in over 50+ years and never caught a trout! Now, my wife and I am moving to North Georgia. I want to get back in the sport so I can enjoy my retirement years living the Mountain Life and this video has helped me get over the nerves of starting again. . . .I learned a lot, thank you!
I am currently in Cherokee NC and caught my first Rainbow Trout yesterday. So pumped !!! lol.
I like this guy, You DONT need an expensive reel. I use Medalists, old etc most all the time. I have Gunisson and all sorts of reels. For salt water you need a decent reel. For fresh water, you use it only to spool the line. Line is a great item to spend decent money on. Take care of em and they last a long time. Tippet is good for small fish, stream, and precise presentation. Mostly enjoy yourself, and forget the expensive but unnecessary things. There are a lot of thing which catch a lot of Fisherman. Al Brewster's quote.
Freshwater where I live you'll need a good reel. They'll take you for a ride trying to hand line here
I have been fly fishing since I was around 5, I'm 48 now. A life long obsession. I have guided and taught many. I will say, the most common issues I run into are people not fishing the fly like what it is. If you are throwing an ant fly, it moves very slow. If you are using a crayfish, make sure it acts like one. Same goes for all flies. Beyond that, fish every cast, even bad casts. Do not recast for the extra 5ft. Just work the fly back and recast. You will scare less fish and even pick up a few extras.
That good advice, Rudy. Fish the fly like what it is and fish every cast... I'll remember that.
Couple thing I would have added are, when casting keep your fly in or on the water more than false casting. The more you false cast, the less time you have at catching a fish. Spot on with the reel info. For the rod and line, don’t skimp out on the line. Personally that is the most important piece of the fly rod. For instance, I can take a great fly line and put it on an ok fly rod. By doing so, I made that ok fly rod so much better. Take a great fly rod and put ok fly line on it, now that fly rod is a good fly rod now. Hope it made sense.
What's the best fly line you've come across?
Presentation of the fly is everything. Do everything you can to make sure your fly has a natural drift. Mend your line upstream and avoid split shot and strike indicators if you can. Only use split shot if your nymph isnt getting down deep enough and only use indicators in really fast or cloudly water.
Great video! Fly fishing isn’t just for trout! Learning that you can tie a perfection loop on regular monofilament changed fly fishing for me! I now through streamers and mouse patterns on 6ft piece of 8lb mono for all kinds of fish. Up that to 20-30lb for salt and your good to go!
Your work is truly a labor of love.
Great job breaking down fly fishing for folks new to the sport! Biggest challenge for me when starting out was being overwhelmed by all the terms, options and gear. No replacement for getting out there and trying different flies and techniques to see what works and what doesn't! A big game changer for me was knowing when to use some split shot to help get those wet flies down in the strike zone quicker. Thanks again for another great video!
Great little video. Thank you. New guy here. Been spin fish over 40 years. Fly fishing about ten times, and really starting to get hooked on it. The tippet explanation was excellent. I'm going with patience being high on the learning curve list for me. Seems the same for a pair of buddies that are on the same journey with me. Slow your roll has become the mantra. 🤘🏼😆🤘🏼
You are the first American angler I watched, that actually cares and knows how to treat a fish you release.
All others I have watched don't care and quite frankly shouldn't be allowed to fish.
I am 57 years old , I was born in Charleston W. Va. , at 1 year old my parents moved to the North Georgia area and been a here all my life , my wife and I go camping / fishing the beautiful Cranberry river and the Williams river , we love it up there , I live at the foothills of the Cohutta WMA , and probably fished waters you visited as well , I have a suggestion for you to try , in Reliance Tennessee is the hawassee river , it’s some great fishing with a variety and holds monster trout , I have fished Colorado , and up in Wyoming , and I would have to say that the hawassee was s my most favorite river , so if you wanting to hit some big water I know you would enjoy , go above the power house , if they are running water the river will be to deep to wade , above power house is some awesome deep holes and harbor huge fish and some large small mouth to boot , good fishing young man
Love the section about fish safety (which is too often skipped)! they are so fragile, we all shall be very careful and respectful with these lovely companions. Without them, no fishing :)
I just got into the "weekend warrior" class of anglers. The two things I cant stress enough are practicing your casts and asking questions. When I started there where so many fish I didn't catch because I learned how to do an alright 20 foot cast but I kept practicing and I started getting more fish. Also asking questions in person to someone at a fly shop or wherever you are fishing is in my opinion crucial. You gain local knowledge along with learning about different tools and techniques. It took me a month to learn what tippet was because I was too embarrassed to ask the guy at my local tackle shop and too busy watching fishing films to look it up. Don't be embarrassed, everyone was once a beginner too.
Bro I love all your videos. Even though some of this may seem so obvious and easy to you, it helps me out big time. I’m just starting out fly fishing, and honestly watching and listening to you is all I have to go off. It’s such a huge help for me. And your a big inspiration for me. Love these videos 🖤
I'm glad you enjoy them!! Thank you for the kind words
I tried fishing years ago. I caught fish but wasn't good at casting. A few years back I bought a cheap Eagle Claw 3w 6'6" Telescopic Combo. I initially tried a 3w line. I ended up putting a 7w line on it. I ran short 6' tapered leaders. I could really feel the rod load up and got where I could really bomb that tiny rod out there. That improved my technique. I started really catching fish and became obsessed with fly fishing. Currently I am using that same rod with a 4w line and 7.5" tapered leaders. In still clear water I am catching more fish with the longer leader and lighter line. But still carry a spare reel with 7w and short leader for windy days or if I want to throw something heavy. So, for me if you are having trouble with your cast. Step up a couple of sizes or more on your line and shorten up your leader. That in my opinion will have you casting like a pro in no time. After that you can lighten up your line and lengthen your leader.
Wet flies are often overlooked. Similar technique to nymphing. Some days swinging wet flies is the magic bullet. Lots of fun.
always keep a few wet flies but i also do a lot of salt water where they are more common
This is one of the best videos I've ever seen
I am self taught at fly fishing. Been fly fishing for about 12 years now. My biggest tip is, don't overthink the casting. Find a field, and practice without a hook on the end. You'll find it's fairly easy to do! The grass semi mimics water. It's what I did when I was a kid and it really helped me.
Been watching you for years the one thing I would have mentioned , either buy barbless flies or bend your barbs for ease of unhooking and health of the fish!
I agree, but I think for new anglers that could lead to frustration. It’s better off to just use whatever you want in the beginning, and then as you go and feel more confident you can switch to barbless. I’ve taken new fly anglers fishing with barbless hooks and had them struggle to land anything (not the greatest line management).
Wow dude! You literally quoted swiss fishing regulations on how to treat fishes in a thoughtful way!
We are very strict about ethical fishing back here. I appreciate your contribution!
This has to be one of the best tutorials ever and one of the best videos you've ever made. Newcomers will use this over and over again while experienced anglers will be reminded by the good ethics in this video. I know I was. Egwa skgi means big thanks in my language and always tight lines. Tony Walkingstick
Thank you so much!! Glad you enjoyed it.
You are correct about the reel. I have used the same reel for 33 years and it's still going strong. I did break down recently and bought a new one.
1. Go to bass pro or some local shop and talk to the attendant there. At bass pro you could get somebody who doesn’t know anything but at my local bass pro is a guy who used to work for Orvis.
2. It is not as expensive as you would think, don’t get sold into buying a 400 reel and 600 rod. Bighorn and dogwood are surprisingly great and especially for the price of 79.99 atm.
3. Sunglasses that are polarized for the water you want to fish is where I would put my money. Seeing the fish rise up to hit your fly and being able to see between rocks is fantastic. I bought smiths but I am sure there are budget options as mine were 230.
Good advice. I'm NOT a pro by any means, but I've learned that presentation is important, especially when fishing streams. Study the insects floating on the stream, and try to mimic the way they land and move. One of the things so addicting is that there is great satisfaction in catching a fish but always something new to learn.
1. Best thing I learned was how to read the water for trout and it changed fly fishing for me. Riffles are where the food (bugs) are most productive and get dislodged to emerge the most, so downstream of riffles is where it’s at. Deep pools are important when it’s cold or hot, so dredge those whenever you see one. And try anything. You never know.
2. You don’t need to carry much to have a good day fishing. Don’t worry about every contingency. Those contingencies are what costs people so much money and mental fatigue. The basics do just fine 99% of the time.
3. Sight is important in fly fishing. You need to get used to being able to follow your fly to see a fish rise on it or see that something is sipping your nymph. Bobbers or wool are great for this reason when your fly is under water.
4. Related to 3, get decent sunglasses that are polarized. I like copper lenses that help me see fish and wade safely.
5. Also related to 3, you don’t need to cast far, just accurately. Casting 12-15 feet with wet fly or 20 with a dry is plenty of distance for most trout fishing situations. Fish every cast. Even the bad ones. Better than spooking the fish and you never know.
I wish I would of learned the roll cast right away so that I did not have to get my line tangled behind me, best cast to know if you are fishing in small streams with a lot of branches/trees behind you.
I’m very new to fly fishing, this might be the best advice I’ve got in the 20+ hours of videos and guided trip in Montana I took. Thanks
That's pretty sweet! Glad the video was able to teach you a thing or two.
I wish I knew about: fly threaders, hemostat knots, throwing line to release a snag, and moving quicker from hole to hole (which you do well by the way. Oh yea, and tenkara.
I've been fishing for 16 years, 11 in TN/NC and 5 in Idaho and still check out videos like this cause you are never too experienced to learn! I remember exactly when I started catching bigger fish and more often. There were two MAJOR things that finally clicked for me.
1. Generally speaking, you want a perfect drift, one that matches the speed and direction of the flow of water. Focus on and practice this constantly. The tiniest unnatural movement will turn off a fish.
2. Drift as long as possible! This was a big one for me. Very often, especially out west, the fish will follow the fly way longer downstream than you would assume, especially for larger meals like hoppers. Resist the urge to pick up and cast again and milk the drift as much as you can. If the fish follows it down, gets ready to commit, and you rip it out of the water, he will for sure not even look at it the next time.
I also echo what Hardman said about trash flies. I throw squirmy worms all the time when the fishing goes south cause they almost always catch fish and that is better than getting skunked. Also, back in the day, we hadn't heard of euro nymphying but we were kindaaa doing it by high-sticking with an indicator. Great way to catch a lot of fish starting out. Good stuff!
What is "high sticking"?
I'm just getting to this- went to a school last week and had my first lesson. I caught a bunch of brookies as the instructor taught a roll cast then a false cast. Then we went to streams and he put on nymph and later a squirmy worm with a bobber ;) It was so fun. We used a 7ft 3 weight but at the end of class I bought a kit which is a 9 ft 5 weight combo. I tried to cast on my lawn and it was vastly different even tho we casted on their pond at the school. this is a great video. I searched beginners fly fishing. Thanks!
First class advice and video. Thank you.
If fishing in inclement weather a good jacket is an investment. If using waders, cheap waders can be really good.
Great video! I think it would be good to do a video on terminology of the fly rod so new guys see the difference between leader and tippet and stuff like that! When I was new I heard those terms but didn’t know what they were and didn’t wanna ask due to being afraid to be made fun of. Great videos buddy keep them up!!
Total agree on line and rod. Wish I would have bought some decent waders sooner. Thanks for posting.
With tippet, I would agree with just buying normal mono or fluoro fishing line working just fine, to a point. When you’re late into the summer and water clarity is extremely good, tippet shyness certainly is real. But you can get away with really only needing 1-2 sizes for your local waters. Streamers are excluded from that statement- use normal fishing line. Also with reels it’s for the most part true what you said. But most nicer reels actually balance rods much better than cheaper reels(doesn’t matter for a beginner-go cheap) Also to add yo to what you were saying.. you don’t need a reel with a good drag system until you start getting into 4+ lb fish. If you’re just starting out, going cheap on the rod and reel is fine but the better line will just make it a better overall experience for any fisherman. Enjoyed the video. Keep teachin!
24 and i just decided to give fly fishing a try. Ive done some fishing before, but not with a fly rod, and not for trout. Just moved midwest. Honestly not sure what im doing but im trying to teach myself and see what advice others like you have for beginners. Thanks
#6 to bounce off leaders and tippet, FURLED LEADERS! With a tippet ring. Save so much time knot tying and headaches when your learning your knots. That being said I encourage learning the square knot to connect regular leader to tippet, BUT once I’ve tried a furled leader I haven’t gone back to normal tapered line leaders, as a beginner trying to catch fish the furled leader is the way to go! I use the blue line/small stream leader on my 7ft6in 3wt for natives and stockies from Appalachian leader company. Attach roughly 30-36inches of tippet to the tippet ring with a regular fishing knot then use the same knot to attach your fly. Simplifies the game so much! I encourage getting the combo pack because it comes with wax to make your leader float if using dries. I’ve had my furled leader on my rod for 3-4 years and will replace it soon. They are about 15 dollars. Compared to spending 8-15$ multiple times a year on the basic tapered line leaders. SERIOUSLY A GAME CHANGER! DONT SLEEP ON IT!
I like it!! I used them for a long time myself!! Great tip that I didn't even think about.
Well done! You’ve provided quite an important and helpful service here - this will remain valuable to newcomers to the sport for a long time to come. New fly fishers owe you a nod of thanks!
Thank you!!
Ive never fished and wanted to learn so I started watching a variety of random videos, you are the first I've seen to talk about how to make sure the fish survive after you release them. Not sure if thats unique to this type of fish but I thought that was nice.
Really good, thinking of getting back into fly fishing in my seventies after a long hiatus
I learned to fly fish as a very young kid and was taught the art by my grandfather on a cane rod. One of the most important lessons my grandfather taught was to keep moving. Start at the top of the riffle and work slowly downstream. This is true whether alone or with multiple people fishing the same riffle. When you reach the end of the riffle, get out, walk back to the top of the riffle (avoiding the trajectory of other fly lines) and start over. This way everyone gets to fish the same water. This is the unwritten rule of fly fishing streamers on the big waters of the Rogue River.
What a great video. I wish I would have had this 3 years ago when I started.
Great video. I am still learning but fish with my father-in-law who is an old pro. A few things we like to do is first if fish are rising, try the dry flies first. I prefer catching fish off a dry fly than nymphing. Another thing we do is break off the barb on your fly with your forceps after tying it on. It makes it easier to undo a hook and is better for the fish to recover after release.
Something that helped me tremendously up at spring creek is to talk to the people who fish there regularly. Find a club or group online and learn from them
Same. I’ve been fly fishing for a few months. And I found I will not go back to other fishing types.
Ya the main thing I wish I knew is that it would take all my money😂. But I still love it
LOL "You WILL be broke for the remainder of your life" is honestly a hilarious answer
I am just getting into fly fishing and this video has given me good orientation to start in. Thank you.
Glad it helped you!!
"Foam/Food/Fish" and "Fly First". When you see a "Foam" line on the water, that is where there is usually "Food" for the "Fish". Put you fly there in the foam line. Cast in a manner that puts the "fly" on the water "first", NOT the line. You'll spook fewer fish and greatly increase your chances of catching fish.
One other tip Remember if you are fishing in spring and the water is really high... USE WEIGTH, You can put weigth shot on the tipet And dont be afraid to put too much its not going to harm your rod it just makes casting little bit more hard. I cougth yesterday 2 1,4kg rainbows with orange streamer and like 3gram lead shot on the tippet (In finland) And my first fish with a fly rod took me a year and a half, Remeber its hard but it is not really.
i've watched a BUNCH of fly fish vids as a newbie and this was the most informative!!! THANK YOU, SUBBED!!!
Good video! 1. Greenie Weenie dropped under a small foam caddis. (great for brookies) 2. Buy moderate priced waders. (They will all leak.) 3. Buy higher priced boots. ( Comfort is important) 4. Don't worry if you suck!! (keep trying!) Tightlines!
Great no nonsense video my man. I think this will legit be helpful to a lot of newcomers. Good idea.
Thanks buddy!!
Over a couple decades exclusively fishing the small creeks of Southern California and the Eastern Sierra all I really need for a great summer/fall day are some #14-18 elk hair caddis, some #14-16 beadhead prince nymphs, maybe a few #16 red humphies and as a last resort a black ant pattern. That and a small creek and I'm set! The older I've gotten the less distance I'm able to cover so these days it's not unheard of to spend 3-4 hours exhaustively working a 200 yard stretch of creek. Hit every pocket. I spend more time observing and executing my presentation than I do actual fishing. Nothing beats planning out a presentation, noting surface and subsurface obstacles, determining the prime drift zone, how to get my fly in there, and where am I going to land the fish? Nine times out of ten I don't pull it off but that one time makes all the effort worth it. Tight lines.
I recommend wetting hands on any fish you catch that’s below average size doesn’t matter the species as they all have issues with slime coat being removed any fish that reaches a good size will be able to recover their slime coat as they have experience recovering their slime coating from spawning
A lot of my buddies are accomplished drift boaters or always chasing big trout and as a newbie it can be stressful (especially when you are tangled up floating over prime water). Going after brooks on small streams where you can sit and observe a hole has its merits. Same as hitting the panfish pond to practice casting with usually open back cast areas. A pile of small fish is still a good day!
Learn all you can from locals or people who fish the water alot. Even if they aren't fly fishermen, their knowledge is VALUABLE!
Thanks a lot for all your great tips , knowledge and information, much appreciated, continue the great work.😊
Dry flies are the most fun to catch fish with!!!!!
One thing I wish I’d known when I started, was that a quality rod can I handle your fishing experience. I spent a lot of money on cheaper rods and reels when I began and I finally spent some money on a decent rod after a few years. Even just spending $300 on a decent rod/reel combo will feel better. Now. I’m not saying go buy the newest rod or anything, if your beginning, get yourself a rod you can afford. Learn the basics, and with that experience you get from that , you’ll learn more about what you like and don’t like and what works for you. Then when you’re ready, look for something a level up. Don’t pass up second hand either. Can get some good quality stuff second hand. I find deals often and I use them often. If you have some friends that will let you use theirs, try as many out as you can. Make that few hundred dolllars you’re gonna spend worth it. I spent money on stuff that if I’d waited a while to buy, I never would’ve bought. Goodluck. Keep fishing, and remember, a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work. Also. Do go buying all these flies just to have a bunch. Get a few of each kind in some neutral colors and you’ll do just fine. I have many flies and streamers and no matter where I fish, the same ones end up getting used. I have flies that r never touched water. Have fun
I started fly fishing when I was about 10. With an old fiberglass rod, a monkey ward reel and level line (and wondering why I couldn't cast worth a darn) A janitor in high school taught me how to tie flies and gave me my first stand (which I still use today). Start fishing for fish that are plentiful in your area , such as bluegill. A popper tied about 12 inches above a nymph makes a deadly combination as well as giving you a strike indicator. I agree, keep it simple and you will have more fun!
Fly reels are mostly for line storage, also be a line watcher, when nymphing always stay focused on the tip of your flyline. I never use an indicator, it has always worked well for me. Enjoyed watching. 👍
Quick question, when you say stay focused on the tip of your fly line do you mean where the line goes into the water? Or something else? Thanks
@@jamesgeorge6290 where your leader meets your flyline. Watch for any kind of different movement that is different from your drift. This is for nymph fishing, not dry fly fishing.
I take it you don't catch a lot of big fish? Reels are important when you consistently hook big fish. Especially big salmon
@@warrenc50 I partially agree with you, I catch a lot of big fish, I would be fishing a lot different if we had salmon or steelhead, in my neck of the woods we don't have that, so it depends on your resources. We have big trout here, I fished yesterday 10-25 caught a 16 inch 3 pound brown, 6and a half foot 3wt. No indicator. Fished a size 14 nymph casting upstream as you would a dry. As I mentioned I've been doing this a long time, it works for me.
I really enjoyed this video and agree with all the points you make. My own advice would be to reiterate the importance of buying commercially available fly leaders. Also, if your fishing a dry dropper, tie the tippet off the bend of the dry fly; it is so much easier than messing around with surgeons knots and you can re-tie to vary the depth more easily. Oh, and fish barbless hooks or smoosh the barb down.
Cool video, I love fishing these little streams , great brook trout fishing 👍🏼
My first fly rod was Shakespeare Wonderod. Its tip was short a couple inches (practically from day one). I used level, mis-matched fly line and cheap mono. I probably caught more fish (and more species of fish) with that rod than anything else I’ve ever owned. I learned to catch brookies in rhododendron-choked creeks on my own - best daggum classroom in the world😁👍
Great video. I liked how you started by saying fly fishing can be simple and even praising “trash flies.” When I started, there were only books and Flyfisherman magazine which were elitist and emphasized all the minutia.
Great video, thanks for the info, quite a few good tips. As always, I really enjoy your videos.
I wish I took casting lessons before I started. I wasted years learning to cast. Still a newbie. But I switch from PIN, SPIN and fly. I suck the most at fly fishing lol. But still love it.
I never took lessons but I’m sure it would’ve helped
Amazing tips, I have yet to get into fly fishing for trout, but this video is sure to help my journey when I make it. Great Video and tutorial
Good stuff! I think possibly the biggest thing is simply to learn fundamental casting mechanics. When I’ve worked with new folks or kids, I found that taking a minute to explain the differentiation between casting the weighted flyline vs casting a traditionally weighted bait was helpful. So many wanted to wrist flick and try to muscle the fly out there like casting a spin setup and it’s just not going to work! So, my biggest first focus when trying to help get someone started quickly is learn the mechanics of a simple cast. I like to try and prompt thought about current drifts and delivery during that first little time too because it impacts where we need to target the casts so it’s a good time to do that. Well done on this, sir. You covered some good stuff!
So it's interesting... for me I was never taught how to properly cast and my biggest issue was line management when I first started. But I think someone telling me how to cast right off the bat probably would've gotten me a lot better a lot quicker. So I like this one a lot even though I didn't really use it.
if I can add something to this, it's usually best to consult any sort of local resource.
if there's a store in the area that even remotely deals in fly fishing, go in there and ask if there's anything they can recommend for someone new to the area.
Be prepared for them to be a little nonspecific, they probably won't tell you exact locations or presentations, but you'd be surprised by how helpful they can be when it comes to patterns and equipment. Of course there's salespeople that just want to sell, but a lot of people genuinely want to help new anglers for the love of the sport.
I love trash flies! Been fly fishing for 10+ years and catch most of my fish (500+; no exaggeraration!) on "trash flies." Sqwirmy worms, mop flies, sucker spawn eggs.
At least for me, I've caught more trout when the dry fly is skating across the water at the end of the drift when the line is dragging than I have during the drag-free drift at the start of the drift. I used to worry about trying to mend the line because everything you read says that a drag-free drift is extremely important. Not any more, I simply cast and wait for the strike. :-)
When I started getting into dryfly fishing I wish I knew how much I'd be sitting on my ass drinking coffee waiting for fish to start rising, especially in forest/mountain lakes. I'm not complaining of course
I just bought my fly fishing gear (didn't try it yet) still trying to get some experience by wathcing videos at youtube, so far i cathced many trouts with straight fishing rod by using living nymphs, trouts are crazy for nymphs and i also find bees at their stomach so i bought flies that imitate nymphs and bees.
Super helpful video! I watched your Walmart fly fishing video and it got me intrigued. Now I have found my new favorite hobby. I would love to see a specific trout fly gear guide video on budget. Say I was brand new and wanted to get on the water but with good budget gear. Stuff that a year from now if I love the sport I would not feel the need to replace. There are videos that either focus on cheap ways to get into fly fishing or people that say now that you have got the cheap stuff it is time for you to buy a $500 rod. I would love to see a gear video that is focused on budget quality fly fishing for trout. From rod and reel all the way down to essential accessories that you need (indicators, net, sling pack, fly flotant, the things you need but often do not realize when you buy your first outfit). I think this would have been helpful when starting out. Thanks for all your hard work!
I can add multiple things. Get to the feeding zone whether nymphing or dry fly fishing. Learn where to drift and where fish tend to feed, and if you try getting into it yourself go someplace where you believe you have a high probability of catching a fish. That first hook up can change your life but if you go say someplace like falling springs here in pa close to me to try and learn you could end up strongly discouraged. But you hit a lot of awesome points Jon. Agreed with everything you spoke of. The big one that impressed me was the tippet comment. I have met many people on the water and all use tippet. I explained what you did and it’s saved them some money. But on 4lb low vis flouro I’ve had no issues spooking fish. It’s been all I run on all occasions on my 4 weight
Yep tippet I've always had a love hate relationship with tippet! I think it's necessary in some instances but also overrated. I've had more fish break me on tippet than regular fishing line by a huge margin. Which makes since when you consider the thin diameter. So when I fish I'm always thinking about how spooky I think the fish are because (especially for big fish) I'm not a fan... Or I'm using like 2 or 3x while nymphing. It's also a big money saver
Best tip on the releasing healthy fish topic. Too many muppets have no clue they are killing fish whilst playing the hero:P
Nice video. I’d like to add my 2 cents, though. I agree that we shouldn’t be too zealous when it comes to which flies to use, but… here’s an antidote: having a bad day with a friend on Lost Cove in western NC, summer time. Tried everything except terrestrials. My friend fishing well ahead of me out of sight came back with good news. “Tie an ant on, they’re killing it.” I did. It worked the rest of the day. So we can’t simply write off experimenting with what to tie on.
The only advise I can give on a reel is trying to get something that has an enclosed drag and bearing. That way, if it gets wet or dirty, it will still handle great.
I fished lures growing up too, until a neighbor got me into fly fishing. The only thing I wish I’d known is: take a weekend casting lesson. Until I really learned the technique you can pick up in a few hours with a teacher, I was just flailing and missing 95% of the fun.
If there’s one thing I’d convey to a beginning fisher though, it would be to fish the close water first. I’ve seen so many people lured to a beautiful deep cut or seam on the far shore stomp right through great fishy water to get there. I’ve made casts from 15 feet back from the first water I approached on the day and taken fish 2 feet from shore. It’s just a bonus before you get out into the water.
I have used flies for panfish in the past. But always with a water bobber on a spinning rod. I am just getting into fly tying to do the same. I think I might just go this weekend and pick up my first fly rod. Thanks for the very informative video. Definitely subbing your page.