Help getting started.
 

My 14 year old son and I would like to try fly fishing. The nearest
fly fishing club is about 50 miles away so there isn't a local place to
go for help (I live in downstate Illinois). There isn't a fly fishing
store near here either. I've picked up a couple of beginner books and
read them, "The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide" and "Fly Fishing for
Beginners" (The Freshwater Angler). And a DVD "Successful Fly Fishing
Strategies" (Gary Lafontaine and Dick Sharon). I've also spent a week
browsing this group.

Are there any other sources that you would recommend we check out to
get started?

It looks like my son and I will need to "learn on our own" how to fly
fish. Can a person learn this from books/DVD's or are we fooling
ourselves? We just want to fish for panfish (Crappie and Bluegill) and
if we can get the hang of it then maybe try for Bass.

From our reading we feel like we now understand what equipment we need
to catch the fish we're targeting. But we need advice on where to get
a decent deal on affordable equipment (like a lot of people we're on a
limited budget). I've read in this group about Cabella's, TFO, Bass
Pro and Orvis being places to check out starter equipment -- and we've
done that. But we were wondering about "used" equipment. Is that a
way to go? I've checked out Ebay, but it looks like a lot of the items
there are selling for top dollar. Is there another (better priced)
place to go for used fly fishing equipment? Or is that pretty much
what we're going to pay regardless?

Thanks in advance for helping us out.

Help getting started.
 

"mdk77" wrote in message
oups.com...
My 14 year old son and I would like to try fly fishing. The nearest
fly fishing club is about 50 miles away so there isn't a local place to
go for help (I live in downstate Illinois). There isn't a fly fishing
store near here either. I've picked up a couple of beginner books and
read them, "The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide" and "Fly Fishing for
Beginners" (The Freshwater Angler). And a DVD "Successful Fly Fishing
Strategies" (Gary Lafontaine and Dick Sharon). I've also spent a week
browsing this group.

Are there any other sources that you would recommend we check out to
get started?

It looks like my son and I will need to "learn on our own" how to fly
fish. Can a person learn this from books/DVD's or are we fooling
ourselves? We just want to fish for panfish (Crappie and Bluegill) and
if we can get the hang of it then maybe try for Bass.

You can learn just about everything you need to know about theory from print
sources, videos, etc. but, obviously, there is no substitute for hands on
experience in practice. Going out with an experienced friend is the best of
all possible worlds, but lessons from a professional teacher or members of a
nearby organization like FFF or Trout Unlimited would also be invaluable.
On the other hand, many of us started out on our own and only later got to
exchange notes with others. A lot of folks (including me) generally prefer
to do things this way. Odds are that the process will be slower and
attended by higher levels of frustration, but the level of eventual
satisfaction that comes with success is correspondingly higher as well. In
short, yes, it CAN be done......you just need to decide whether that's how
YOU want to do it. Either way, targeting panfish in an easy to work
location close to home is an excellent start. They tend to be cooperative
and less easy to spook than most others.

From our reading we feel like we now understand what equipment we need
to catch the fish we're targeting. But we need advice on where to get
a decent deal on affordable equipment (like a lot of people we're on a
limited budget). I've read in this group about Cabella's, TFO, Bass
Pro and Orvis being places to check out starter equipment -- and we've
done that. But we were wondering about "used" equipment. Is that a
way to go? I've checked out Ebay, but it looks like a lot of the items
there are selling for top dollar. Is there another (better priced)
place to go for used fly fishing equipment? Or is that pretty much
what we're going to pay regardless?

Personally, I'd suggest avoiding Ebay until you've got a much better idea of
your own preferences in equipment. Again, there is no substitute for
experience. Take advantage of any opportunity to try someone else's stuff
if you can. If you can't, take the time to travel to some place where you
can look at a variety of rods, reels, and other equipment, and to talk to
someone knowledgeable.

Wolfgang

Help getting started.
 

mdk77 wrote:
My 14 year old son and I would like to try fly fishing.

Good for you. It sounds as though you've done a lot of homework
already.

Are there any other sources that you would recommend we check out to
get started?

If you don't mind separating the wheat from the chaff here, this is a
fine resource. Don't be shy, but don't be thin skinned either. Good
specific questions will get you good information from the group; but
vague questions will not.

It looks like my son and I will need to "learn on our own" how to fly
fish. Can a person learn this from books/DVD's or are we fooling
ourselves?

It's not rocket science, and you should have no problem. Just pay
attention to what the books & DVDs tell you. The toughest part will be
unlearning the mechanics of bait casting; fly casting is different.
The 11 o'clock - 1 o'clock thing you'll see regarding fly casting is
just a crude approximation of the actual action, but it is nonetheless
illustrative of the basics. As you practice more, watch the motion of
your fly line, and learn/feel how the rod changes the shape of the
cast. Don't try to lay out 60' feet of line when you're just starting.
The basics are easy, proficiency takes longer. Watch the line. Feel
the rod. Nananananana.

From our reading we feel like we now understand what equipment we need
to catch the fish we're targeting.

For a novice, I'd recommend staying away from Ebay & the used stuff at
first. Try an inexpensive medium outfit from BPS or Cabelas & see how
it goes. By the time you decide to either chuck the whole mess or move
up to something better, you'll have a much better idea what your needs
and preferences are.

Your rod choice isn't so much aimed at the fish you want to catch, but
more at the flies you'll need to throw to catch them. For poppers &
minnow imitations for bass & panfish, you're probably better off with a
6 wt., but a 5 wt. is also a great all-around rod & should toss the
smaller stuff okay IF you get proficient at it. Personally, I think a
5 wt. is a great weight to learn with. Bigger bass flies will send you
up to a 7 wt. I'll leave the rod size discussion alone for now. Others
will no doubt be chiming in on that score and proving me wrong. g

Joe F.

Help getting started.
 

mdk77 wrote:
My 14 year old son and I would like to try fly fishing. The nearest
fly fishing club is about 50 miles away so there isn't a local place to
go for help (I live in downstate Illinois). There isn't a fly fishing
store near here either.

Near or far a fly shop is your best bet for gear and advice.

http://www.midwesttroutfishing.com/i...isAllShops.asp

I've never been to Fly Fisher's Outfit in Springfield but I've
visited their booth at Outdoors Shows here and they know their
stuff. There's a couple of fly shops in St. Louis that are good,

http://www.feather-craft.com/flyshop.asp

and

http://www.thargrove.com/

snip
From our reading we feel like we now understand what equipment we need
to catch the fish we're targeting. But we need advice on where to get
a decent deal on affordable equipment (like a lot of people we're on a
limited budget). I've read in this group about Cabella's, TFO, Bass
Pro and Orvis being places to check out starter equipment -- and we've
done that. But we were wondering about "used" equipment. Is that a
way to go?

Forget the used stuff until you know what you like.

It will be well worth the trip for you and your son to visit a
fly shop at least once before you take the plunge. If the sales
staff tries to talk you into the expensive stuff you can walk
out no worse for the wear but you stand a better chance of being
able to glean a lot of info in a short amount of time in a fly
shop than by reading books or watching videos.

My $.02, and worth every penny. ;-)

Oh, be sure to get sunglasses for the both of you and never cast
a fly line with a hook attached without wearing them.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Help getting started.
 

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Oh, be sure to get sunglasses for the both of you and never cast
a fly line with a hook attached without wearing them.

Probably the best advice thus far. In fact, I'd go so far as to delete
"with a hook attached".

Joe F.

Help getting started.
 

"rb608" wrote in news:1164751918.821499.318990@
80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com:

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Oh, be sure to get sunglasses for the both of you and never cast
a fly line with a hook attached without wearing them.

Probably the best advice thus far. In fact, I'd go so far as to delete
"with a hook attached".

Joe F.




If you keep deleting your attached hooks, you won't catch very many fish.
You certainly wouldn't have caught anything like the nice Steelie I
caught on Sunday!

In all seriousness, this can be a good forum, but it's nowhere near as
good as direct in person instruction.

Regardless of the approach you take, you'll eventually learn. If you
can't find a local organization offering a beginners course, the next
best fastest shortcut, would be to buy a functionable new rig in about a
4 or 5 weight line, and book yourself a guide on the nearest
"destination"-type stream you have. Be absolutely sure to tell the guide
before you book him that you have zero flyfishing experience, and that
you would like the outing to be an on-stream getting started lesson. If
the guide isn't interested in entertaining this, he'll let you know then.


--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

Help getting started.
 

"Ken Fortenberry"

Forget the used stuff until you know what you like.


umm...that's about the only part I'd disagree with. Many folks get into
flyfishing and upgrade. That means there are good deals on beginner outfits
on ebay, club bulliten boards and the like.

A biginner outfit is often a good way to go...even used.

Then, patronize your local fly shop for the rod. Search the net more...look
in the local shops...they may seem to be a 'bass' shop but if it is the
local type with the coffee pot brewing you can bet flyfishers frequent
there....

john

Help getting started.
 

Oh, be sure to get sunglasses for the both of you and never cast
a fly line with a hook attached without wearing them.

Excellent advice, but be sure to get *polaroids*. You can see *into*
the water much better.

vince norris

Help getting started.
 

"vincent p. norris" wrote ...
Oh, be sure to get sunglasses for the both of you and never cast
a fly line with a hook attached without wearing them.

Excellent advice, but be sure to get *polaroids*. You can see *into*
the water much better.

Umm... "polarized" me thinks.

Dan
....tho polaroids can be lots of fun, too.

Help getting started.
 

Daniel-San wrote:
"vincent p. norris" wrote ...
Oh, be sure to get sunglasses for the both of you and never cast
a fly line with a hook attached without wearing them.
Excellent advice, but be sure to get *polaroids*. You can see *into*
the water much better.

Umm... "polarized" me thinks.

Vince is showing his age. The first polarized sunglasses on
the mass market were called polaroids. So it's like calling
a copy machine the Xerox machine or paper tissue a Kleenex.
Folks know what you mean.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Help getting started.
 

Thanks to everyone who took the time to help us out. My son and I will
be taking a "road trip" to a fly shop first (probably a long trip but
sounds like it will be well worth it). We will stay away from Ebay and
buy new, but modestly priced equipment -- maybe at the fly shop we
visit or from another source.

I am curious. There are reasonably priced combination outfits targeted
at beginners like my son and I. The ones that I found online were in a
fairly consistent price range that we could afford. Are any of these
better than others? Or any that we should stay away from?

Redington Crosswater Series
Orvis Streamline Series
Cabella's Genesis
Bass Pro - Hobb's Creek
Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) -- NXT outfit

Help getting started.
 

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote ...
Daniel-San wrote:
"vincent p. norris" wrote ...
Oh, be sure to get sunglasses for the both of you and never cast
a fly line with a hook attached without wearing them.
Excellent advice, but be sure to get *polaroids*. You can see *into*
the water much better.

Umm... "polarized" me thinks.

Vince is showing his age. The first polarized sunglasses on
the mass market were called polaroids.

Shows you what I know, eh?

So it's like calling
a copy machine the Xerox machine or paper tissue a Kleenex.
Folks know what you mean.

I get Kleenex, Xerox, Jell-O, and most others, but had no idea that the
first polarized glasses were made by Polaroid. Figured it was a typo. Like I
said, shows you what I know.

Dan
....who is perhaps showing his own age?

Help getting started.
 

Daniel-San wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote ...

Daniel-San wrote:

"vincent p. norris" wrote ...

Oh, be sure to get sunglasses for the both of you and never cast
a fly line with a hook attached without wearing them.

Excellent advice, but be sure to get *polaroids*. You can see *into*
the water much better.

Umm... "polarized" me thinks.

Vince is showing his age. The first polarized sunglasses on
the mass market were called polaroids.


Shows you what I know, eh?

So it's like calling

a copy machine the Xerox machine or paper tissue a Kleenex.
Folks know what you mean.


I get Kleenex, Xerox, Jell-O, and most others, but had no idea that the
first polarized glasses were made by Polaroid. Figured it was a typo. Like I
said, shows you what I know.

Dan
...who is perhaps showing his own age?

Ray Ban introduced the first polarized sunglasses in 1936. The Polaroid
Corporation wasn't founded until 1937.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Help getting started.
 

Daniel-San (Rot13) wrote:
I get Kleenex, Xerox, Jell-O, and most others, but had no idea that the
first polarized glasses were made by Polaroid. Figured it was a typo. Like I
said, shows you what I know.

Oh yeah, "Cool Ray Polaroid" shades. They came with a little tag that
had a small 1/2" dot of polarized material in the middle. You could
turn the tag 90 degrees to see the polarizing effect.

FWIW, that's still the best way to pick out polarized sunglasses from a
rack where they're mixed in with regular shades. Pick up an ugly pair,
turn them sideways, then select a better looking pair from the ones on
the rack that go opaque.

Joe F.

Help getting started.
 

"mdk77" wrote in message
oups.com...

There are reasonably priced combination outfits targeted
at beginners like my son and I. The ones that I found online were in a
fairly consistent price range that we could afford. Are any of these
better than others? Or any that we should stay away from?

Redington Crosswater Series
Orvis Streamline Series
Cabella's Genesis
Bass Pro - Hobb's Creek
Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) -- NXT outfit

I don't know Bass Pro but do know Cortland and
L.L. Bean (and the others) as suppliers. All offer
starter outfits at two or three prices. All are probably
competitively i.e. fairly priced. But consider also:

1. It is worth more than a few bucks to choose
a fishing rod that you simply like, even if you
cannot say exactly why -- therefore more desirable
to choose in a store from an array of rods you can
wave about and perhaps dry-cast with.

2. It is more enjoyable to get started as soon
as the weather permits than to spend a month
hesitating about how to save $20.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Help getting started.
 

mdk77 typed:
snip
Cabella's Genesis

Check out the Three Forks series rods, as well.

Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) -- NXT outfit

I've heard good things about the TFO rods, but haven't tried any myself.
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

Help getting started.
 

On 11/29/06 2:02 PM, in article , "Tim J."
wrote:

mdk77 typed:
snip
Cabella's Genesis

Check out the Three Forks series rods, as well.

Troll.

:-)

Bill

Help getting started.
 

William Claspy typed:
On 11/29/06 2:02 PM, in article ,
"Tim J." wrote:

mdk77 typed:
snip
Cabella's Genesis

Check out the Three Forks series rods, as well.

Troll.

Yeah, I thought about that prior to the post, but the truth must be told.
;-)
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

Help getting started.
 

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 15:38:09 GMT, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:

Daniel-San wrote:
"vincent p. norris" wrote ...
Oh, be sure to get sunglasses for the both of you and never cast
a fly line with a hook attached without wearing them.
Excellent advice, but be sure to get *polaroids*. You can see *into*
the water much better.

Umm... "polarized" me thinks.

Vince is showing his age.

I have so damn much of it, it's hard to conceal.

The first polarized sunglasses on
the mass market were called polaroids. So it's like calling
a copy machine the Xerox machine or paper tissue a Kleenex.

Yep, I do that too. But I don't refer to any camera as a "Kodak," as
many grownups did when I was a kid. I don't recall ever saying
"horseless carriage," either.

vince

Help getting started.
 

I get Kleenex, Xerox, Jell-O, and most others, but had no idea that the
first polarized glasses were made by Polaroid. Figured it was a typo. Like I
said, shows you what I know.

Yer fergiven, Dan. I was young once; and sometimes, I can almost
remember what it was like.

vince

Help getting started.
 

mdk77 wrote:

My 14 year old son and I would like to try fly fishing.

For complete starter outfits, you might try.....

A little more than $200: http://www.ezflyfish.com/ezflyfiou1.html

A little less than $200: http://www.ezflyfish.com/tfonxtflyrod.html

When it comes to books, you can't go wrong with The Curtis Creek
Manifesto. Good information presented elegantly and entertainingly.

http://tinyurl.com/yl83mh

- JR

Help getting started.
 

For complete starter outfits, you might try.....

A little less than $200: http://www.ezflyfish.com/tfonxtflyrod.html

Unlike JR, I'm cheap, cheap, cheap ! After I read several favorable
comments in this newsgroup about Cabela's Three Forks fly rods, I
bought one-- a 7'6" 3-wt. Two of my friends bought them, too.

Normally $59, they were on sale for $39. I also bought a Cabela's
reel for about the same price, and a weight-forward line, again for
about $39. Total cost, barely over a hundred bucks.

I liked it so well I also bought a 5 wt.

In the current Cabela's catalog, you can buy a Three Forks rod for
$49; or a rod AND a reel for as little as $79; a Cabela's line will
cost you another $36.

If you and your son discover you don't like fly fishing, you won't be
out very much. If you do, you can buy "better" rods. But I often catch
one of the above-mentioned friends, who owns several Sage and Orvis
rods, using his cheapie Cabela's rod instead.

vince

Help getting started.
 

On 29 Nov 2006 09:45:25 -0800, "mdk77" wrote:

Thanks to everyone who took the time to help us out. My son and I will
be taking a "road trip" to a fly shop first (probably a long trip but
sounds like it will be well worth it). We will stay away from Ebay and
buy new, but modestly priced equipment -- maybe at the fly shop we
visit or from another source.

I am curious. There are reasonably priced combination outfits targeted
at beginners like my son and I. The ones that I found online were in a
fairly consistent price range that we could afford. Are any of these
better than others? Or any that we should stay away from?

Redington Crosswater Series
Orvis Streamline Series
Cabella's Genesis
Bass Pro - Hobb's Creek
Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) -- NXT outfit

There's really no such thing as a "bad" flyrod, at least as far as
what's readily available in fiberglass or graphite and made in the last
40 or so years, either new or used, assuming that 1., the rod isn't
physically damaged, and 2., your definition of "bad" is a rod that
simply cannot objectively function as a fishing tool. Secondly, there's
really no way for anyone to tell you what you'll _like_ - it's much the
same as asking someone if you'll like some food you've never tried. It's
purely subjective.

As to "used" gear, IMO, there's nothing wrong with used fishing gear. It
doesn't even make sense to say there is - the minute the gear is, um,
well, used, it's "used." What I suspect those advising against "used"
are attempting to convey is that buying used gear can be an iffy
proposition for someone who likely isn't familiar enough with the gear
to know merely used from abused or damaged. A nicked graphite rod that
looks fine to an untrained eye can shatter on the first cast and from
many companies, if the warranty would cover such, it only covers the
original purchaser. OTOH, buying used can save quite a bit, and if the
seller can be trusted, IMO, weigh your options and if the economics say
it's a good deal, go for it with your eyes open.

As to specific rods, TFO is gonna be hard to beat for a "starter" rod -
YMMV

TC and have fun,
R

Help getting started.
 

"vincent p. norris" wrote in message
...
For complete starter outfits, you might try.....
After I read several favorable
comments in this newsgroup about Cabela's Three Forks fly rods, I
bought one-- a 7'6" 3-wt. Two of my friends bought them, too.

Normally $59, they were on sale for $39. I also bought a Cabela's
reel for about the same price, and a weight-forward line, again for
about $39. Total cost, barely over a hundred bucks.

I liked it so well I also bought a 5 wt.

In the current Cabela's catalog, you can buy a Three Forks rod for
$49; or a rod AND a reel for as little as $79; a Cabela's line will
cost you another $36.

If you and your son discover you don't like fly fishing, you won't be
out very much. If you do, you can buy "better" rods. But I often catch
one of the above-mentioned friends, who owns several Sage and Orvis
rods, using his cheapie Cabela's rod instead.

Like your friends, although I own Sage, G. Loomis, and St. Croix rods (among
others), I find my self doing most of my trout fishing with my 7'6" Three
Forks 3 wt.
with the Cabela's reel. However under no circumstances would I recommend
getting the Cabela's brand line.

I bought my Three Forks as a package - rod, reel, line, backing, & tapered
leader - for $89 IIRC. I threw the line away after only a couple of uses.
Even the $20 Aquanova line made in Canada (avail @ several sites on the
Web) is far superior to the Cabela's line.

Bob Weinberger

Help getting started.
 

Like your friends, although I own Sage, G. Loomis, and St. Croix rods (among
others), I find my self doing most of my trout fishing with my 7'6" Three
Forks 3 wt. with the Cabela's reel.

Glad to hear some confirmation!

However under no circumstances would I recommend
getting the Cabela's brand line.

I bought my Three Forks as a package - rod, reel, line, backing, & tapered
leader - for $89 IIRC. I threw the line away after only a couple of uses.

Sorry to hear you had back luck with the line, Bob. I've been using
my 3 wt. line for several years and an 8 wt for even longer, with no
problems.

Even the $20 Aquanova line made in Canada (avail @ several sites on the
Web) is far superior to the Cabela's line.

Thanks for posting that info, Bob. I'm glad to know about that, and
I'm sure others are too. When I need a line, I'll give Aquanova a
try.

vince

Help getting started.
 

vincent p. norris wrote in
:

Like your friends, although I own Sage, G. Loomis, and St. Croix rods
(among others), I find my self doing most of my trout fishing with my
7'6" Three Forks 3 wt. with the Cabela's reel.

Glad to hear some confirmation!

However under no circumstances would I recommend
getting the Cabela's brand line.

I bought my Three Forks as a package - rod, reel, line, backing, &
tapered leader - for $89 IIRC. I threw the line away after only a
couple of uses.

Sorry to hear you had back luck with the line, Bob. I've been using
my 3 wt. line for several years and an 8 wt for even longer, with no
problems.

Even the $20 Aquanova line made in Canada (avail @ several sites on
the Web) is far superior to the Cabela's line.

Thanks for posting that info, Bob. I'm glad to know about that, and
I'm sure others are too. When I need a line, I'll give Aquanova a
try.

....I had the same experience with the Cabelas line, threw it away and
bought their 25 dollar line, good stuff, probably on a par with Cortland
333 line. One thing I have not seen mentioned when recommending the 3
Forks rods (any weight it seems) their slow to medium action is preferred
over faster action for someone learning to cast. I love all my 3 Forks
rods for that reason. A suggestion, if you're going to go for the Three
Forks, the 8' 5 wt is a light, sweet rod for use on gills/crappie yet
will handle the occasional bass that comes along. This assumes you're not
fishing in thick weeds or a stump field. ;-)

Frank Sr.
Freaked out in Fremont