New to Fly Fishing

[Ebacon]

I am very new to Fly Fishing and to fishing in general. I went fly fishing late last fall in Yellowstone National Park and I fell in love with it very fast. I recently bought a beginner fly rod and real set and I am wondering if anyone can tell me if i made a good choice. I purchased a Redington Crosswater No. 5 line 9'. The rod also came with a crosswater 4/5/6 reel. The reel that came with the set seems like it is made of plastic, but seems like it is good enough to learn with I hope. Also wondering if anyone knows any good websites about knots for tying fly to leader and leader to fly? Pretty much I am so new that any tips or any info would be much appriciated.

[westay]

For a beginner the setup is fine. Sign up for a class at one of the local fly shops, they are great people and very helpful. Also, their local school districts have classes on casting, reading the water, insects, etc. that I found very useful when I was first starting. Lots of people on the site are willing to go out with you and give you a few pointers. There are fly tying groups in most of the metropolitan areas. Meet up with them and you'll meet some good friends.
Search on fly fishing knots on line and most of them teach the same knots. Find the sight that teaches the way you like to learn. Most people end up with just two or three knots.
Most of all, get out on the river and have fun.

[Ebacon]

Thank you both for the info. I will post on bigfishtackle.com as well and see if I can get help on that site as well. I will also look for casting classes and see abpit possible joining a fly tying group. I dont have any friends in the area that fly fish so that might be a good way to find people to go out on the river with. Thanks agian for the help. It is very appriciated.

[mattharrison]

Browse YouTube, you can learn a lot on there. Tons of info about casting basics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLfJBTctA4Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AcG4...feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eSKa...feature=relmfu

Just search anything you want to learn about - knots, leaders, mending, casting, fly presentation, whatever you want...

Easy starter knots you will use every time on the water:
Clinch or improved clinch (tippet to fly)
double surgeons knot (tippet to tippet / leader construction) - move it up to a blood knot when you are more comfortable with knots

It really is something that comes by putting in the time on and off the water

[walter]

curtis creek manifesto is an excellent book to peruse if you're just getting started...

[cardiac]

I am very new to Fly Fishing and to fishing in general. I went fly fishing late last fall in Yellowstone National Park and I fell in love with it very fast. I recently bought a beginner fly rod and real set and I am wondering if anyone can tell me if i made a good choice. I purchased a Redington Crosswater No. 5 line 9'. The rod also came with a crosswater 4/5/6 reel. The reel that came with the set seems like it is made of plastic, but seems like it is good enough to learn with I hope. Also wondering if anyone knows any good websites about knots for tying fly to leader and leader to fly? Pretty much I am so new that any tips or any info would be much appriciated.

You made a good choice for a beginner setup. And stick around. You will learn something here from these loosers.
For knots, google it up or as mentioned before, YouTube is great for knots and ff'ing tips.

[chazbart]

Really.. Erased?

[Cary]

You should have a few hundred posts before you try and be a smartass. I thought it was funny though

[travis182]

I strongly suggest you sign up for the beginner fly fishing class with Mike Navidomskis at http://www.wildtrouts.com/index.html. I have taken his beginner/intermediate class and it was awesome, I can’t say enough good things about Mike, his guys and his shop! I’m taking his advanced class this Fall. I learned tons of great stuff from Mike and his guys, he is an awesome guy and excellent teacher. His class consists of 5 class room lectures, a night of casting out on the grass and 3 river trips. One thing that really makes his classes stand out is that he has “red hats” which are his helpers that come out on the river. When I was in his class we had 30 students and 22 red hats. You could spend a lifetime reading books and forums and not learn some of the stuff Mike can teach you in a few short weeks. Not sure where you are located but it is worth the drive, we had guys that would drive for an hour or two just to come to our class.

[Jason]

I strongly suggest you sign up for the beginner fly fishing class with Mike Navidomskis at http://www.wildtrouts.com/index.html. I have taken his beginner/intermediate class and it was awesome, I can’t say enough good things about Mike, his guys and his shop! I’m taking his advanced class this Fall. I learned tons of great stuff from Mike and his guys, he is an awesome guy and excellent teacher. His class consists of 5 class room lectures, a night of casting out on the grass and 3 river trips. One thing that really makes his classes stand out is that he has “red hats” which are his helpers that come out on the river. When I was in his class we had 30 students and 22 red hats. You could spend a lifetime reading books and forums and not learn some of the stuff Mike can teach you in a few short weeks. Not sure where you are located but it is worth the drive, we had guys that would drive for an hour or two just to come to our class.

I beg to differ. Mike is what's wrong with guiding in this state. 30 students on the river at once? Pfft. Hire a real guide/teacher and get some one on one attention without the crowds...and you'll learn a lot more.

[Garth]

Sorry Jason. 30 students, 22 red hats to support on the river. 1.36 guides per student.

Now, the quality of a red hat, versus one on one coaching from a professional guide. is something else.

If what was stated is true, we should have some red hats on this board, who can comment.

[Cary]

I beg to differ. Mike is what's wrong with guiding in this state. 30 students on the river at once? Pfft. Hire a real guide/teacher and get some one on one attention without the crowds...and you'll learn a lot more.

Sure as hell hope he leased out falcons or something like that, would be an absolute shame if some yokel was allowed to use a public water as his whore.

[Troutbum47]

Sure as hell hope he leased out falcons or something like that, would be an absolute shame if some yokel was allowed to use a public water as his whore.

He shoves it in public waters shithole!!! I was driving to fish the upper weber one day and he had his class in Croyden rest stop. Looked like the fuckin Kenai during the chinook run! I went in his shop one day and had the pleasure of meeting him... What an arrogant douche!

[Cha Cha]

Red hats scare fish!!!

[RAW]

I think it's closer to .733 guides per student if you have 30 students and 22 red hats. I know a few people who have taken his classes and most felt it was worth it. It would be a little disheartening to travel to a spot only to find a class in the area. I find it disheartening to find just one person in the area I want to fish, but then I'm an antisocial bohemian.