How many people here are into fly fishing? I have just started this year and I’m already falling head first down this rabbit hole with two combos (one TFO and a St. Croix), waders, Korkers, several packs, and several other things. I knew this journey would be expensive (Lurch warned me beforehand), but I’m having a lot of fun. I’m still working on my form and I’ve made many mistakes along the way, but it’s been so worth it. If you have any advice, stories, or you just want to share your top secret fishing holes (kidding), please post up.
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I am a die hard fisherman and fly fishing is one of my favorites. It's an expensive hobby but worth buying decent stuff, don't skimp. Biggest mistake I made when I was new was being too cheap to buy quality line. I used budget or mid grade stuff forever. My buddy finally made me invest in high quality line and my casting improved dramatically. Bite the bullet and buy good line......
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I used to fly fish (when I had the time). My father-in-law got me by first reel and I picked up a 2 piece rod. I didn’t do too much with trout, only hit the river a few times. There was a great little bass pond I used to practice at the place I boarded my horses (.5-1.5 lb large mouth) that was great to practice casts and fight fish.
I also had an old Mongoose vice so I could tie my own flys. I mostly did poppers and streamers for the bass pond. I loved it (tying flies was my therapy), I’ve been wanting to get back into it for a while now….maybe this thread will help me!!Comment
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So far, I’ve caught mostly bluegill and crappie on flies, but I did manage to pull in a nice largemouth on a fly a while back. I’ll typically fish my local lake, but I have ventured out to the creek once already. One of the mistakes I mentioned was slipping and falling on my rod, snapping it. I got it replaced under warranty (plus a fee) and learned real fast to have another rod as a backup.
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Fly fisherman checking in. Yea I’ve been at since I could fish. My dad taught me and he’s still at it at 80.
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Just got back into it after doing it as a kid. Don't get out much but its always a good time. Just wait until you try a Spey rod (if there is a big river near you I highly recommend it). Its insanely fun, but holy cow does it make it even more expensive.Comment
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I'm likely going to dedicate one rod to throwing 5wt sinking tip line and one to floating line. I'm looking at a roll of Scientific Anglers Frequency for the sink tip line. Has anyone here used this line before? If so, how well does it cast?Comment
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I have Scientific Angler Mastery floating line on one real and it casts great, absolutely love it. I have not tried frequencyComment
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Honestly I will use a bead head fly or small split shot if your looking to sink. If the hatch calls for a dry then you tie in a dry. The rivers I fish up here in Connecticut are not that strong flowing. Two lines are totally an ok choice but I never find it necessary. I use a 5 wt Orvis setup for trout and pan fish and 12 wt for the occasional trip for Schooly Strippers.Comment
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Makes sense. It sounds like I'm better off putting a better floating line on my TFO rod than a sinking line for versatility's sake. It's not like I'd want to hike all the way back to the car and swap out rods, nor would I want to carry another rod with me. My TFO rod is probably better suited as a backup or loaner to my St. Croix setup in that case.Comment
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A fisherman and a fly fisherman checking in as well. Several years ago while living in the Los Angeles area, I decided to finally commit to learning about fly fishing. Took a few classes, went to the Orvis shop close, which was the one closest to me, in Pasadena, CA. They got me started. I have a Clearwater 9' 5wt and it is great. I will eventually get a Helios 9wt for my bucket list of a striper on a fly. Fast forward to 2016 and moving to the DFW area. Since moving here, I have fly fished a lot more in Texas than I ever did in California. I have since learned it is not all about trout, granted trout on a fly rod is fun, but just about any fish on well any rod is fun. I am so into fly fishing and ultralight fishing, that my EDC pack include a 7' ultralight rod that converts into either an ultralight spin rig, or a 4wt fly rod.
I still make mistakes. My casting is not exactly pretty, and my technique is more than likely cringe worthy, but I am having fun and occasionally I catch fish.
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I like having a sinking line for pulling streamers in bigger rivers/lakes. I find it fishes better than trying to add the extra weight to my line.Comment
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I use a full sinking lineComment
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I got my first roll of good line today and spooled up the reel on my new St. Croix rod. Here I thought all along that my casting technique was just bad. It turns out that the line on my TFO rod really is complete garbage. Practicing in the yard, all my casts were clean and accurate with the Rio gold. I’ll most definitely be replacing the stock line on that rod. The difference is night and day.Comment
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Yup, I did the same thing for years I got decent at using average line and thought that's how fly-fishing was supposed to be. One day my buddy handed me his rod and when I started casting it I was blown away how much better it was. Lesson was you are already spending so much money on this hobby why try to save a few bucks with cheap line when it's one of the most important pieces.
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Well, crap. I got my brand new St. Croix to the water this past weekend and discovered a defect in one of the snake guides. I contacted the manufacturer, who advised me to simply return it. Bass Pro didn't have any more available, so I'm now the owner of a new 9' 5wt Orvis Clearwater, which is actually a bit of an upgrade over the St. Croix. So, all is well again. Just in time for vacation too.Comment
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