5 Tips to How to Begin Fly Fishing

June 28, 2019 Fishing Guides Views: 2716

How to begin fly fishing ? Fly fishing can be very exciting both as a sport or a relaxing endeavour. Getting started however can be very intimidating. Below are a few tips to help you get started on your fly fishing journey.

1. Get the right fly fishing gear.

A professional setup will cost about $140- $200 for a good rod, reel and most critically the fly line. Fly lines and rods are rated in relation to the weight of the fish you are hoping to catch ranging from 1 to 15. Ordinary trout or bass requires a rating of 4-6 but bigger seawater fish requires something above 9. It is wise to get a good pair of waders, boots and clothes to match the weather.

2. Get a fishing guide.

Many armatures wondering how to begin fly fishing can benefit greatly from a few lessons with a professional. Guides can charge as much as $300 depending on your location and skill level but it will be money well spent. All theoretical lessons about fly fishing learnt in a classroom could never amount to watching a master at work.

3. Identify the right location to start.

Choosing the right location to start fly fishing is not as simple as it sounds. There are a number of factors to keep in mind starting with wind speeds. A novice will not be able to accurately adjust for wind speeds so it is wiser to find a location where things are calm.

Experts can be able to catch fish even in low population areas but for a novice learning how to begin fly fishing this is not possible. It is far wiser to search out locations that are very heavily populated with fish so that your odds of success can increase. A farm pond could be an ideal starting point.

It is also wiser to start in locations with smaller fish because they are easier to handle once they take the bait. History is filled with novices who have been thrust forward into the water because they tried to catch a fish that was just too hot for them to handle.

It is also wise to avoid waters that could be infested with dangerous animals like alligators or sharks which are common in places like Florida. Some waters are also infested with snakes or dangerous bacteria so it is important to research on the right location for a fishing excursion.

4. Practice casting your fly.

The most difficult aspect of fly fishing is casting your fly. This is because unlike conventional fishing where you can weight your bait at the end, in fly fishing the fly is almost weightless which means that you must rely almost entirely on the weight of the line. Learning how to cast the fly and line takes weeks of practice in order to perform accurately especially over long distances. Many fly shops have a designated area where novices can practice their skills so this is a good way to start.

5. Learn basic fly fishing knots.

A good fly fisherman knows how to tie at least three different knots so as to prevent lost catches. Here are a few examples:

Double surgeons loop. This is probably the most popular because it is easy to learn and very effective. Its main use is tying the tippet to the leader.

Nail Knot

This is for tying up mono-filaments that come in different widths.