Interested in Fly Fishing

[polarbear]

Hey there, was wondering if anyone around the forums knows much about fly fishing... I've always been a spinning man myself, but I've seen too many of these little Alberta stocked trout ponds and would like to find out about it before I run out and buy a bunch of expensive gear. Any help is appreciated.

[GG_20_to_3]

Flyfishing is tons of fun. For me now, I prefer to fish for trout with fly gear for some reason.

You dont have to pay tons to get started either. Like everything, you can pay an arm and a leg for top end gear.

If you're curious, perhaps a cheaper 5/6 weight rod and a reel with a sink-tip line on it will get you started for not too much. Easier to cast a sinking line and fishing sinking flies is always productive. If you love it, you get get more indepth with it and the starter gear you have will always be handy as you can never have too many rods and reels (and guns).

Oh yea, make sure you buy a couple royal coachman flies in about size #10 or so for your arsenal. Im not sure what they're supposed to imitate (probably just an 'attractor' pattern) but they work well. When I visited Alberta I did well on that fly!

Im sure others will have good suggestions as well.

Good luck!

[polarbear]

Well, I did order a couple books, and a Russell's catalog that just showed up... they've got a couple package deals that are interesting, for between $125 and $175 you get a rod, reel, 20-lb backing and fly line on it, and leader, one's from St. Croix, comes with rod case, one is a Redington, and a couple others... and then there's one for $25 that includes all of that, and flies and some other stuff... From what I recall, Redington and St. Croix are fairly well-known names, if I do go for it, I may choose one of those 2. Any opinions on 2 or 4-pce rods?

Also, where in blazes can a person find waders that fit someone with a 62-inch waist (I, unfortunately, am not kidding.... I need more exercise )

[srupp]

Polarbear..you ONLY need one book on flyfishing "THE GILLY " highly recomended..hmmm St. Croix .....will be a beginners rod...for the price..

Depends on the species..nymphs (underwater fishfood ...) will be the best bet..5-6 weight rod is a good start.. fish spend 90% of their feeding UNDERWATER so sinking line is the place to start..full sink...

damsels, dragons.. leeches...wooly buggers..and some different DOC spratleys will be a fine start...


I have flyfished for 34 years and its the only way I fish for trout...I tie my own flies, studied entemology (studly of bugs= fishfood) and even make my own fly boxes and roll top fly tying desk....

STEVEN

[mountainman]

I got into flyfishing about 15years ago and then moved to Grande Prairie where there are very few trout streams and rivers. But I think it is time now that I got back into it again.
Polarbear you are going to want to stay away from neopreane waders!!!
Are you going to be lake or river fishing mainly? For the rivers again stay to wet flies I always liked a Hares ear caught some really nice rainbows out of the Crowsnest on that.
Steven you might just know too much for your own good . I am getting into making rods myself so you never know what might show up at your house one day If my wrapper ever gets here

[srupp]

Mountainman...I KNOW your good when you can wrap up a SAGE...LOL..

hope all is well..

I have an old bamboo fly rod that does need rewrapping however...

Steven

[krazy]

If you are talking about stillwater fishing (lakes) and trout do what srupp said and read "the gilly". Pay particular attention to the section on chironomids! You also may want to consider a floating line to go with your sinker. If you can only get one line go with the floater - much more versitile, easier to cast and by varying your leader length you can control the depth you want your fly at much better than with a sinker. If your plan is to troll however, then a full sink is prob better. Good luck!

[Matt]

If I was starting out and didn't want to invest a lot I would get a 6wt rod with a cassette style reel. Dragonfly and TFO make good entry level rods.
My first line would be a clear intermediate sinker. For flies, a few different coloured leeches, wooly buggers and spratelys in a few different colours and your good to go.

As you learn to flyfish you'll probably do a lot more trolling that casting. You troll a wooly bugger or leech on a clear intermediate line on most lakes and you'll get fish.

Suggestion; buy your first setup from a local flyshop. When you starting out it's good to have a relationship with a quality shop - these guys will help you with casting technique, fly selection, tips etc and most shops can get you the above gear for under 200 bucks.

[polarbear]

Thanks for the info, guys... my real problem is things are limited up here. The only local place to get hunting and fishing gear has next to nothin' (come up to Peace River and you'll know what I mean), and I might get to GP couple times a year, less now that the in-laws are moving to Cowtown.

The books I ordered were (don't laugh) Fly-Fishing for Dummies(!!) and Flyfishing Alberta... didn't see THE GILLY anywhere (and don't get me started on local bookstores or libraries).

So, leaning towards one of the Russell's packages, the Redington and Scientific Angler deals all include reels with changeable spools, the St. Croix, I don't know... gotta do more research before I order anything up. And, on reflection, I'm not gonna get in a tizzy over waders.... the thought of me in stretchy rubber pants makes me feel queasy.....

Originally Posted by polarbear

Thanks for the info, guys... my real problem is things are limited up here. The only local place to get hunting and fishing gear has next to nothin' (come up to Peace River and you'll know what I mean), and I might get to GP couple times a year, less now that the in-laws are moving to Cowtown.

The books I ordered were (don't laugh) Fly-Fishing for Dummies(!!) and Flyfishing Alberta... didn't see THE GILLY anywhere (and don't get me started on local bookstores or libraries).

So, leaning towards one of the Russell's packages, the Redington and Scientific Angler deals all include reels with changeable spools, the St. Croix, I don't know... gotta do more research before I order anything up. And, on reflection, I'm not gonna get in a tizzy over waders.... the thought of me in stretchy rubber pants makes me feel queasy.....

Redington > Scientific Anglers. The lower end St. Croixs no longer come with a lifetime warranty so they are not much more than a name unless you spend the big $$ to get their highest end rods. For the money and warranty, Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) rods are your best option. Look at a Dragonfly BFR or lower end Ross reel as they will fit your purposes quite nicely.

[krazy]

I would recommend the Redington - great quality and great warrenty (lifetime)! I have used the warrenty on mine twice (don't ask) and both times they sent me brand new rods very quickly!

As PGKris said Dragonfly and Temple Fork are also good rods with lifetime warrenties at a good price.

I don't think BFR makes the Dragonfly cartridge reel any more but I think Dragonfly does make a cartidge style reel similar to the old BFR. (is that confusing or what )