newbe questions

On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 04:34:35 -0600, "Rodger"
wrote:

I live in SW Missouri and have access to a number of
ponds loaded with bluegill, crappie, bass and channel
cat, all of which I catch with an inexpensive 6 wt.,8.5 ft.
Bass Pro White River Classic (my first rod) and a
cheap Medalist reel. I agree with a prev. poster on
getting a good WF line.

I didn't see anyone recommend a WF, and speaking for myself, I'd
recommend against it for many, esp. those who plan on limiting it to
bluegill and bass. It's a waste of money. Get a DT, wear one end out
learning, reverse it, and fish away. And when you wear that out, get
another DT.

I rarely use a tapered leader
but instead use plain mono (4 or 6 lb.) and sometimes
tie my own tapered leader for better 'turn over' when
casting.

A lot of folks down South (S. LA, MS, AL, and N. FL) go the "mono
leader" route when fishing with a flyrod for "brim" (bream) and it works
well. If the OP chooses that route, I'd suggest 4lb. Spiderwire for the
bluegills. And a lot of those same folks only use a flyrod for "brim" -
nothing else - but don't really "flyfish" - it's more of cross between
dapping and jigging, so even if one tries true "flyfishing" and doesn't
enjoy that, but does enjoy "brim" fishing, they'd still have a perfectly
usable fishing tool.

WalMart has a pre-made fly that looks like a black
spider....black chenille body, white rubber band legs
and a little tuft of grey squirrel tail hair at the head.
It works great for all the species mentioned above.
I now tie the same fly in various sizes for warm water
fishing everywhere. This is an easy fly to tie, especially
as a 'first fly'. I sometimes (in fact often) weight the
fly with a little lead wire and put a small dot of red
paint on the head to indicate amount of weight...one dot,
two dots, etc.

I suspect we are not far off in latitude so I would expect
the bluegill and other fish to really start turning-on in
about mid April and from then on until mid to late June.
The absolute best time for bluegill is when they are
nesting, indicated by dinner plate sized depressions on
the bottom near the shoreline starting at about 1 ft. of
water...on out and you can usually see the bluegill hanging
out around the nest.

If I might suggest, try a red chenille body. I've caught a fair amount
of "brim" with a Royal Coachman wet. Long story shortened, it happened
to be handy, I discovered it actually worked really well, and so, I tend
not to fix what ain't broke. I don't whip up RCs for bream, but if I
happen upon a bunch of cheap, crappy (not crappie) ones, tyed ala "trout
fly assortment" style on larger hooks, I snag 'em (no pun intended).
Really, though, whatever the fly, I try red first.

As far as casting goes, certainly follow the suggestions
made by the previous posters. I would only add that
if you have any snow at all it makes a pretty good surface
on which to practice as the snow will not abrade your
line,

Um, depending on the snow, it could well abrade the line. That said,
however, so can "grass." If the OP or any other novice splurges on an
expensive line, save it for the water (a big swimming pool can be a good
practice area _IF_ there are _NO_ people around). Cheaper or old lines
make the most economical practice lines, but one newly kitting out has
no choice - IMO, again, the 333.

will not catch your practice fly on grass, etc.,

OK, look - how many ways can it be said?

NEVER, EVER PRACTICE WITH A FLY THAT HAS A HOOK (OR PRACTICE WITHOUT
GLASSES, EVEN WITH WHIFFS)! It's dangerous and it's completely
unnecessary. If you've never been hooked, trust me, you want to keep it
that way, and one in eye is not something with which to tempt fate. You
(probably) don't want to hook yourself, and even if you do, nobody else
wants to have themselves or their stuff hooked by you. When you're
practicing, you're turning your head, watching your line, etc.,
potentially lots of aerial stuff. Anyone, novice or advanced, with any
sense whatsoever knows they aren't going to catch anything, so why use a
hook - NO ****ING HOOKS WHEN PRACTICING.

TC,
R

and
will give at least a little drag on your line as you pick it
up thus allowing your rod to 'load' for the next cast.
If you can beg, borrow or rent a video on basic fly
casting it will help a lot.

Buff