Fly Fishing - How to Get Started

There is a widespread conception out there that fly fishing is more exclusive than other methods of fishing -- a sport for the wealthy. While it is true that you could spend several fortunes on equipment and travel (honestly though, that just describes any fishing these days-- have you bought a Rapala lately?), that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give fly fishing a try if you don’t own a vacation home on a blue ribbon trout river. If you can afford the gas to get to your fishing spot, you can afford to fly fish.

A high mountain golden trout caught by the author, Seth Ewing

The real exclusivity of fly fishing has nothing to do with socioeconomics, it has to do with the additional skills needed and the limitations that fly tackle imposes on the angler. Fly fishing is a little bit like choosing to use a muzzle loader instead of a rifle to hunt elk. The fly angler often has to work a bit harder, get closer to the target, and pay even closer attention to the environment than anglers using other tackle. In most, but not all, situations fly fishing isn’t the most effective method to catch fish. It isn’t an accident that tournament anglers aren’t primarily pursuing bass and walleye with flies. Even in the small rivers and streams that are tailor-made for fly anglers, fly fishing isn’t as user friendly as throwing a spinner because the presentation of a fly is easily ruined by the currents. So, if you are looking for the easiest method to catch fish, if you are looking to catch the most and biggest fish in the widest variety of environments; then fly fishing probably isn’t for you.

But perhaps you are after something other than pure efficiency and effectiveness. There is an unmatched satisfaction to be found in the simplicity of standing knee deep in cold, clear free flowing water, feeling the rhythm and poetry of fly casting. There is magic when you read the water to determine exactly where the most aggressive trout is going to be, perfectly drift your fly to it working with the current, and then the fish you knew would be there takes your fly and the fight is on! I’m not a fly fishing snob. I personally use baitcasting, spinning, and fly fishing equipment depending on what makes the most sense on the day; but if I got to only fish one day a year, you’d find me deep in the mountains wading a river pursuing trout with my fly rod. There’s truly nothing like it. If you are interested in fly fishing, you are in for a treat. It takes some extra work, but the experiences are definitely worth the investment! 

Seth Ewing with an Idaho Rainbow Trout

Prospective fly anglers are often advised to start by hiring a guide. That’s great if you have hundreds or thousands of dollars to burn, but for many of us that isn’t possible or responsible. It’s also a fair assumption that if you are reading this blog post you don’t have a fly fishing friend willing to lend you gear and teach you how to use it. So how can you become a self-taught fly angler?  

The first step to your journey into fly fishing is to think about what kind of fish you want to pursue and what kind of initial investment you are willing to make in buying gear. If your dream is to catch a northern pike on a fly (and if it isn’t, why not? https://youtu.be/cb2iw8P2Ekc) you will want a very different setup from what you would use to target trout in alpine lakes. Your target species may impact how much you need to spend to acquire adequate gear. If you are wanting to catch bluegill at your local pond you will be able to get away with budget gear that would fail if confronted with a monster pike. 

As a beginner, consider buying a fly rod-reel combo pre-spooled with backing, weight forward floating fly line matching the weight of the rod, and a tapered leader. If you intend to backpack with your flyrod or take it along on hunting trips, get a 3 or 4 piece rod with a carrying case. Most outdoor retailers will carry at least a couple of combo options, but they are easily obtainable online if your local store doesn’t stock what you need. You can also choose to mix and match by purchasing the components separately, but until you begin to master the basics of fly fishing you will likely be overwhelmed by the choices. Combos generally have beginners in mind. If you do choose to customize your set up, it may be worth talking to a fly shop. Go into this conversation with your hard-capped budget or risk overspending on gear that you won’t be able to appreciate. There’s a good chance you won’t be able to tell the difference between a $50 rod and one costing three times that much until you have mastered your cast and spent a season or two actually fishing, at which point you can evaluate whether better gear is necessary for you as an angler.

In general:

If you are going to target panfish or trout in streams and small rivers, buy a 5 or 6 weight rod.

If your primary target will be bass or large trout, consider a 7 weight.

If you are targeting pike or other big game buy an 8 weight or heavier.

You will also want to purchase a couple spare tapered leaders with line strength matched to your target species. One or two leaders should be plenty for starting. You should buy a spool of tippet. Tippet is the line that gets tied onto the monofilament leader when it gets too short. You can buy fly fishing specific tippet that is relatively expensive, or you can buy a small spool of Trilene which tends to be tougher and tie better knots than any fly fishing specific product I have ever used. The tippet should have close to the same break strain rating as your tapered leader. I like to keep things simple, and find that I can happily get away with 4 pound test tippet for everything from panfish to 18 inch class trout in strong current.

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