any fly fishing devotees ?

[Ed McG]

Embarassed to say that probably 25 years ago I inherited a fly rod ( 8ft Kumann) I've never learned to use. I've occasionally used it with a popper to catch blue gills but that's about it. Never learned to properly cast and not used any flies. Lately , I've been thinking I need something new to do, so I signed up for a casting class. Today I went to the LL bean store at got new line (#7), leader, a few nymphs and bass flies. Basically took the suggestions of the salesman who was a very nice and seemed like a knowledgeable fellow. I'm studying videos on line. tomorrow a.m. I'm going to a local forest preserve that gets stocked with trout, don't realy expect to catch anything but want to get started. So, any suggestions ? Anybody know Kumann rods ?, the guy at the store never heard of him but said it seemed to like it (but he is a salesman). I live in northern Illinois, not a lot of trout opportunities but wisconsin is close and I have an old book of Wisc trout streams. Looking for tips about simple casts, fishing for brook trout (future), bass and panfish. Anyway long post but you know how it is when you're getting into something new,

Ed

[telleutelleme]

Do a search, there was a lengthy thread on this a few weeks ago.

[Eggbert]

I'm fortunate to live in Manitoba, where we have world class trout Fly fishing withing driving distance of our major city Winnipeg. We have Bows, Browns and Tigers in the 25 - 30" size range and some lovely brookies in the 22"+ and up range.

[DuncanAngus]

If I had one word of wisdom regarding your casting it would be to wait till your backcast straightens out before you forward cast. I remember teaching myself and had the hardest time getting that down. You can just look over your shoulder and watch it until you get to the point that you can feel it in the rod. If you forward cast and hear a 'crack' sound like a tiny bullwhip your backcast hasn't straightened out. You'll also snap off any flies that you may have tied on and that can get costly.

Have fun and don't overthink it, you'll get it. Kinda like your first barre chord, but not nearly as tough!!

[superchicken_VI]

Yeah, as said above you realllllllly need to wait on your backcast. The backcast and forward cast take the same amount of time. Not only do you need to let the line straighten out behind you, but you need to let the rod load. A 25 year-old 7wt is likely to be a relatively slow-action rod, so you probably need to really wait on it. Slow isn't a bad thing, and actually for a beginner it is much easier to cast because it's more forgiving of small errors in your stroke. 7wt is also on the heavy side for trout, especially in streams.

Casting lessons are invaluable. You don't need a lot of instruction, just some basics. If there is an Orvis store nearby, they do "Fly Fishing 101" on Saturday mornings and will teach you how to cast and some basic info for free. They will also give you a bunch of coupons and gift certificates. It's a good program. Bass Pro Shops will also do the same thing. A little instruction goes a very long way.

[Ed McG]

Thanks to all. I will definetely do a search and see what's already up. The rod actually has quite a bit of "whip" to it. I was wondering if a stiffer rod would be easier but got to work with what I've got. Actually a sentimental attachment as it was my father in law's-- a great guy. we would go fishing in tiny little creeks near Viroqua , Wisc. I never caught a thing. he caught dinner. But spent a lot of time together and hardly say a word and really felt no need to. I do think I need a hobby where timing isn't such an issue, but this won't be it. As it was explained to me the 7 wt ought to beeasier to cast as a beginner and the rod was rated 6-7.

[superchicken_VI]

Oh, and a few other things...You can fish with a sz 16 Royal Wulff and catch stocked trout during most seasons in most places. It's a great fly--buoyant, highly visible to you, and looks like a variety of bugs to the fish. If you get into really fast water, try an orange Humpy. A bit of floatant like Gink will help keep the fly on top. Don't get wrapped up too much in entomology for now. Stick to Royal Wulffs for dries, Prince/bead-head Prince for nymphs (sz12or14), and brown Woolly Buggers for streamers (sz8) for the foreseeable future. Buy them by the dozen and don't lose sleep when you lose them. You'll hear people talking about a hopper/dropper rig with your dry and nymph--don't mess with it for now. Too hard for a beginner to effectively cast. If you do choose to nymph, you'll need some strike indicators (basically a bobber for flies).

[Schmikey]

Originally Posted by Eggbert

I'm fortunate to live in Manitoba, where we have world class trout Fly fishing withing driving distance of our major city Winnipeg. We have Bows, Browns and Tigers in the 25 - 30" size range and some lovely brookies in the 22"+ and up range.

+1

I'm a walleye fisherman myself. Can't wait to get out on the water this year. Took my 5 year old daughter to Lockport last year and was landing some cats bigger than her. We honestly don't know how good we have it.

[Bruce J]

Yep, fly fishing is my other passion in addition to guitars. However, I'm mainly a saltwater guy. I go after redfish here in Texas, but also take an annual trip to Florida for tarpon, or to the Bahamas and other places for bonefish. Be careful or you could get hooked deeply!

[banjohabit]

been fly fishing since i was 10 yrs. old and never caught a (freshwater) trout on fly rod 'til 4 yrs. ago ! trout fishing just never clicked for me.

i wade for river smallmouth in freshwater and kayak and wade the creeks, rivers, and shoreline of cheseapeake bay for whatever will hit a fly. which is everything from crabs and mudtoads to speckled trout, striped bass,sharks, croakers, spot, flounder, pompano, rays, and even caught a false albacore once.

i guess i've been fly fishing for 44 yrs. now, but i STILL have to make myself WAIT FOR MY BACKCAST TO STRAIGHTEN, which is what i say to myself as the line goes behind me when i start junkin' up my casts. helps me to actually say it out loud.

you're in for a lot of fun!!

[Stubee]

Duncan Angus & Super Chicken beat me to it on the back cast part.

I had a cabin on a MI great trout stream from 1981-1991 & taught myself how to fly fish there. I was a dry fly guy except at night were I used a big bug I tied myself but let quarter downstream, drag be damned. The strike of a really big brown at 1:00 AM on a 6-wt rod is electrifying. I got away from it past 5 years cuz my fly buddy died but just got a new reel last week to get back into it. It's hard for me to find a guy anymore who's comfortable wading at night.

Keep it simple, get out on a stream & you'll learn. It does not need to be a high tech 'super sport', just fish. A good fly shop will help ya out.

[73Telecaster]

Enjoy! Fly fishing can be sooooo relaxing and calming. It's a great rush setting the hook on your first fish and landing it.

Luckily I can fish Atlantic salmon, landlocked salmon, rainbow, brookies, browns, sea trout, smallmouth, even landed mackerel with a fly rod, all pretty much in my back yard. Farthest I need to travel is about 20km. I hope to do some tuna sometime this summer (not with a fly rod lol).

[Ed McG]

Probably made every rookie mistake possible today. No trout, but caught 4 bluegill (well,3, as i think I caught one fish twice), 3 trees, and one cheek ( no blood drawn, have to be careful retrieving flies snagged in those trees). Never caught a fish with a fly before, so that was a kick. I really enjoyed it once I started to take it slow and easy with modest casting goals (distance), just trying to lay it down easy without too much concern for distance right now. I was impressed that the nymphs the sales guy recommended worked, at least for bluegill. I could have stayed there all day if it weren't for a family party in the afternoon.

Stubee, that night fishing sounds fun, my son who is more a fisherman than me loves to go catfish fishing in the Fox River with his friends at night, I'm afraid I'm going to see him and his buddies lifting 6 ft catfish out of the river on tv someday.

Anyway, once I relaxed a lot of fun today. Heck, its just another one of those things that's a lifetime's work that I came to a little late. Like guitar and my career. No reason not to pursue it. Definetly helped to be checking FOR THAT BACKCAST TO STRAIGHTEN. Not sure it ever did, but working on that. 'hope to get out a couple times before my lesson on Saturday. Thanks to all. This will be fun.

oh yeah, Superchicken, I actually have some Wooly Buggers,'guy said they'd be good for bass.

Ed

[backporch guy]

The good thing about fly casting is that you can do it in your back yard, without lures, hooks or weights. What others have said about letting your back cast straghten out first is good advice. It's mainly about rhythm and tempo. also, it's important to match the fly line to your rod. A 7 wt fly line will not work very well with a 4 or 5 wt rod.

[superchicken_VI]

Remember that you will typically catch trout with a 30' cast. Work on casting to a hula hoop at 30'. Lawn casting, as mentioned above, is a great way to practice. Around here, bluegill and trout do not live in the same water. Are you sure you were in the right place?

[RedGuitars]

Been fishing all my life, fly fishing about 12 years.

Do a Google search for local fly fishing clubs and/or forums. Getting to know some of the locals is the best way to get started. Here is a link to a forum I was active in a few years ago prior to a local group starting up. It has sub-forums for different parts of the US.

http://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/index.php

The best advice I can offer is get out a practice at a local lake.

[Stubee]

I'm on a phone so don't see where the OP lives but for northern trout: in daylight I found a box of Adams, BW Olives, Pale Duns, Hendricksons, caddis and a few others to work well. Long & light leaders. I typically resorted to a small (size 18-24) Adams as a searcher for a new stream. They seem to imitate 'trichos' pretty well. Other flies sized to hatch. I only carried two small fly boxes & a bunch of leader material.

I also use ants, hoppers etc later season & nymph is always good but tricky. Streamers & bucktails great too but not my bag; I like drys in daylight.

At night for big browns I use elk hair unweighted Muddler I tied, 6 hook (!) with heavy short leader like 6' 12 lb. Hang on!

Probably more than ya want to know.

[Jakedog]

I've started going every year when I'm out in NM. I have a lifelong friend there who is an AMAZING pro guide.

If you have a guide service in your area, spend the money on a decent guide for one day. You will learn a TON, and you will catch fish.

Fishing with a bonafide pro is not cheap, but it's totally worth it for one day. You'll have a ball.

When I go to NM, we fish high altitude, small, really fast streams. It's a blast. I've been three times now, the only times I've ever tried it, and I can honestly say they were three of the best days of my life.

Last year I took my son (eleven at the time) with us. We went up into the Valle Vidal widerness area to go after Cutthroat. Fastest fiish I've ever been after, in any kind of of fishing. Never had anything hit and back off that quickly. You really have to be on top of things if you want to get 'em out of the water. But with my friend guiding, even my son caught a dozen on his first time out.

A pro guide who really knows his business is worth his weight in gold.

[asatfan]

You guys are making me think about getting out the old fly rod that belonged to my father in law......I've had a tiny bit of experience with it, and this reminded me of how much fun it was. Thanks for the thread!

[TNO]

I have that very rod, it was the first decent rod I bought for myself. It's pretty soft so a 6wt line might work best. They are 100% first generation graphite and were made in Asia and sold in sporting goods stores. The short length and soft action make it a pretty good small stream bass and panfish rod.

As far as casting the best advise I got was to imagine throwing an apple off a sharpened stick.