On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:20:11 -0500, "Don Phillipson"
wrote:

"Mike" wrote in message
.net...

I plan on learing to fly fish this spring and I don't know anyone in this
area that does fly fishes. I ordered some videos and have been buying
magazines. I picked up a 7ft. 4w fly rod at Walmart and plan on learning
fishing for bluegills and I don't know anywhere close that even stock
trout.
I (I'm in southern ILL) What kind of flies etc would you recomend??? From
what I've read WF line would be easier to learn to cast. Any tips &
suggestions would be greatly appreceated.

Your library probably has one of Joe Brooks'
excellent all-round guides. You may find casting
easier with a longer rod, say 8 ft., and size 4 wt.
is best only for very small flies. Panfish and bass
take flies in the range 2 to 14, best cast on a 7wt.
outfit.

Whoa, hang on here...assuming the OP is legit, a 7 ft. 4 wt. is just
fine for bluegill. And the Walmart rod is probably OK, too (no mention
of a reel, but a Walmart reel is fine at this point), BUT get a decent
line. A Cortland 333 would be a decent, inexpensive choice for a
novice. Get some tippet material - many Walmarts carry a selection, and
leaders. Learn to connect everything together. As to bass, a 4 is
pretty light for all but the smallest bass, but get what is often sold
as a 6/7 at Walmart and the like, and it'll make a decent bass rod for
average bass (not Florida-strain monsters).

As to flies, don't get any yet. What you want at this point is
"whiffs," practice flies, etc. - NO HOOKS, NOT EVEN HOOKS CUT OFF
MID-BEND. And wear glasses. If you can't find them, an easy way to
make them is to take some thin, single-strand wire (copper is easiest)
about 2.5" long and fold it in half over something like a wire nail (to
form an eye), grab the ends with a pair of pliers, and twist. Take any
kind of fur - some cat fur, old jacket-hood trim, anything - and wrap a
bunch to the eyed shaft with sewing thread. All you want is, basically,
a ball of fluff with an eye. A couple of drops of Superglue or clear
fingernail polish will do for head cement. When dry, snip any wire not
covered. Look at any flytying website, book, etc. for the general idea
of how a fly is tied. If you decide to use real flies, snip as much
hook as possible and put a drop of Superglue at the stub to help hold
things together. When you're ready for real flies and fishing, when it
comes to bluegill, bream/brim, etc., try red first - any small fly with
red.

As to learning to cast, if lessons from a professional instructor (or a
very knowledgeable amateur) are out, then videos and books are a better
overall tool, IMO, then just books. It helps to see what casting looks
like. Pay attention to the rod and the hands of the caster. If you
have a video camera, tape yourself and compare yourself with the video,
but don't "judge" yourself by it. Flyfishing isn't difficult,
especially for bluegills, but getting into bad habits can cause
frustration as your interest grows. Take it slow, practice, practice,
practice, and don't force it. Flyfishing isn't a particularly effective
fishing method, as (legal) fishing methods go, and even more so for
novices, and if you don't like it, there's nothing wrong with simply
returning to other methods that you do enjoy.

Good luck and enjoy,
R