be patient with yourself. don’t worry about mechanical timing or positioning— feel for the rod loading. if you absolutely have to have positioning cues, make your back cast to the sun, not to the horizon behind you. Like literally stop at 12. Then make your cast just a bit forward like 10, and accelerate to a stop like you’re flicking paint off a brush and onto a wall. you will feel it if you’re patient, and it comes faster than you think. Knots are fine. Tangles are fine. Just accept it and work through them.
Beyond the rod, reel, line, here are the things I think you need. Vest, sling pack, or backpack Net, rubber netting best 9 ft 4x leaders 4x, 5x tippet - nylon for now Snips or fingernail clippers on a zinger Fly box Flies - Big Y Fly. I'd start with tungsten beadhead prince (12,14), pheasant tail (14,16,18), pat's rubber legs (6,8), parachute adams (14,16), Elk hair caddis (14,16), Stimulator yellow or orange (12), and maybe a black wooly bugger in 8,10,or 12 Indicators - I'd start with airlock Fly floatant - gink Good polarized sunglasses. Costas or Smiths are best, but cheaper will work too. Copper lenses are best for rivers. Other items that are nice to have, not necessary Hemostats Lead shot - I no longer use since I use tungsten beads or unweighted nymphs Orvis learning center videos are your friend. Watch as many as you can. Change your depth or presentation before you change your fly. Moving your feet to get in a better position is better than a hero cast. If you get caught in a tree, try not to tug at first. Get a little bit of slack and bounce/jiggle the line. Can often times get you loose. For attaching the fly, a clinch or orvis knot are good. Connecting tippet to leader, either a blood or double surgeons knot. Look these up and practice at home with rope, string, or cheap fishing line.
I started from zero myself. Don’t know if it would help you or not but I tied a bright piece of yarn on the end of a leader and casted toward a target on dry ground until I got the feel for how the rod loaded and how it would land. Then I tormented bluegills on ponds. Then go pay for a guide, bug this shit out of em with questions and enjoy that you get lessons while you catch fish. Humblebrag: Been using the same guide in Colorado for 5 or 6 years. First year my buddy and I were idiots. This year, he goes “You guys know what you’re doing. You can go catch fish anywhere, you wanted to learn and you did.” Fucking swelled with pride. Edit: To add on to billdozer: All of that. And some Copper Johns and a few San Juan worms if you’re not too proud. Don’t be too proud. Zebra midges 16-20. I don’t know what they’re like back east but the purple parachutes and purple princes seem to get a reaction out west. The hero casting is for the elite or idiots. Roll casts, 25 ft casts, and halfassed flicks are where you make it.
i have learned i dont like sling packs. maybe some aren’t as clumsy and the umpqua i used for 6 years, but every one that i tried was less comfortable than the orvis backpack i now use. if you plan to do some hiking to fish, it is worth a little research.
I had thought about adding copper johns or hare's ear, but I thought it was better to keep it simple to start out since the prince and pheasant tail cover the same thing. I've tied up a bunch of purple hazes and different purple nymphs, but I haven't noticed a big difference in performance. Of course, it's hard to tell why a fly works or doesn't without a lot of run time or direct comparison. Purple chubbies and hippie stompers did pretty well for me.
I've been happy with the patagonia front sling so far. Maybe could be a little bit bigger in the back, but having the vest size pockets in front for a big fly box makes it a winner for me.
Thanks for the tips Iron Mickey billdozer panchoswanson and HOOSINSC . I'm going to go google all of these words to try and decipher your posts.
Any jug fishermen in here? I just bought 6 'Jugs by Bert' for my son and I to use while we're kayaking/fishing. Figure we can toss them out and let them sit while we're paddling around. Kinda pricey, but seems like a cool concept. And I was on the fence until I looked at their website and saw that they are 'The Finest in Flotation Fishing' https://www.jugsbybert.com/
I had needed better/more storage for lunch and water than my vest could do, but still wanted the easy access of the fly box upfront. It's worked out really well for me. So far this year, I've covered the entire stretch of river between Cassidy Bridge and Hellhole.
no shit? I think the furthest i've gone was last spring when I went half way. i have gotten so lazy about hiking nowadays.
Listening to an interview with the owner of the Tackle Shop. He said most of the reds were still covered. There was only a 3-4 mile stretch impacted. They got the water working again yesterday. Said his guys saved a bunch in the 24" range.
I was on the MTB in Pisgah yesterday and stopped to check out my favorite hole in the Davidson. It is completely different now, not even a hole. Kind of depressing.
i was thinking about going to the D today. was wondering where to even start though. feel like i will have to find some spots all over again.
Yeah, I went after the storm and areas that had been good to me were really shallow now. Even the rivers around me are like that. Silt and sand have made what used to be good holes flat and shallow.
A bit flabbergasted. Brother's not a big fisherman. Tried getting him into fly and bass. First time ice fisher this morning. First fish caught. Don't know if I'm more jealous or happy for him.
have a similar story. my uncle was a guide, my dad actively fished every weekend, I was extremely active fishing with them. my brother never fished a day in his life, comes home from college and goes out with us for the first time ever, and catches a monster. this was almost 20 years ago and I'm definitely over it.
Same vein. Pops and I wade for smallmouth every year as a Father's day tradition. I'm up to my neck Boulder hopping to get into the deep holes, he's standing ankle deep, in the shade, slinging them in. You wouldn't think the water was deep enough for a 2 pounder to stay wet in, and yet, there he is, all smiles. Love that guy, and hope he keeps outfishing me for another 20 years.
I'm in fishing purgatory. Hasn't been cold enough for safe ice yet but cold enough everything is cantankerous and not giving a fuck. Did get a ice fishing combo from my brother for an early Christmas gift. I just need to find a shack now. Supposed to be almost 60 Thursday. Might go throw some shit and see if I can get lucky.
Another cold morning. Was in the 20s and 30s. They were feeding on the surface in those conditions, so I went with nymphs just 2 ft under the indicator and caught four on the next four casts.
Not sure how I’ve never stumbled on the Cornelius Catfish Channel before. The hook sets are dynamite. On my 3rd episode
After being told they were stocked but unable to catch any during the spring/summer We now have confirmation Perch
Had to try out my new line spooling tool tonight. Not gunna lie, big fan. https://www.piscifun.com/collection...-winder-spooler-fishing-line-spooling-station