General Fly Fishing Thread

[EricTheAngler]

Today was my 17th birthday and I received a orvis encounter outfit 5wt. Also I got some panfish flies. Any tips from senor fly fishermen. I watched some videos on casting and have that partially down. Any links and first hand tips would be nice. Im targeting bluegill and small bass in ponds. 

[Ratherbfishing]

That leaves it WIDE open-which may mean a lot of responses or none at all.  Do you have some specific questions?

[EricTheAngler]

2 hours ago, Ratherbfishing said:

That leaves it WIDE open-which may mean a lot of responses or none at all.  Do you have some specific questions?

I have basic casting down. I have a few questions. What flies should I use for blue gill and bass? Also what is the difference between a tippet and a leader?

[Dillo]

google orvis how to flyfish- Tons of great videos. If possible, go out with someone who knows what they are doing- whether its a professional guide or you uncle.

For bass and bluegill, try some wooly buggers, hares ear nymphs, prince nymphs, elk hair caddis, parachute adams, small stimulators, hoppers, and ants/ beetles. the leader is the tapered line that helps transfer energy from the line to the fly in order to turn it over gently. Tippet is straight mono or flouro that you use to rebuild or extend your leader. You will burn through leaders like crazy and that adds up- check these out: http://www.orvis.com/news/fly-fishing/tuesday-tip-how-to-use-a-tippet-ring-and-perhaps-join-the-dark-side/

http://www.rioproducts.com/fly-fishing-gear/extras/tippet-rings/

[WdyCrankbait]

^ What he said.  Right on the $$.

The biggest problem you are going to face, well I think all of us fly fisherman is line management.  Learn to pay attention to where, or much line you have out.  Especially if you start fishing on a river! 

Bluegills can be a lot of fun.  I wouldn't use a fly smaller then a size 10 for them.  They can really suck a fly down if that want it enough.  Fly fishing for bluegills is pretty basic, find shaded shallow water, or throw against a bush in the water. 

Also, since you got an Orvis package you have the braided loop at the end of the fly line.  If you are forced to buy a straight end leader, just make a loop through the butt of the leader and you're set to go!

[flyfisher]

What do you mean you have basic casting down?  Are you talking about lawn casting or actual on the water as they are somewhat different.  I'll also echo to go out with a good teacher and not just someone who says they are good.  When i used to guide i would have guys come to me and say they were proficient casters and their technique was all off and since they learned incorrectly, it made it more difficult for them to get back to a proficient stroke. 

Take time with your casting and start short.  I used to tell people to get a hula hoop and practice casting to that at about 20 feet away.  Once you can nail that with both roll casts and conventional overhead, use something smaller but at the same distance.  Then go smaller than that to like a 5 gallon bucket lid.  Once you get that down, move it out about 10' further and repeat the process.  I rarely cast longer than 40-50' so accuracy and a soft landing combine with nice tight loops is more important than distance. 

if you find your self having difficulty casting weighted flies practice those too, you can cut off the hook if you want.  Casting weighted flies is an entirely different ballgame

All that being said, fishing for sunnies is a blast and you can have a ton of fun and don't be surprised to catch a few bass in the process.  Last year on of the largest largemouth i caught on the fly rod was when i was going out for sunnies with my 3 wt  

[EricTheAngler]

I have the idea of lawn casting down as in I know what to look for and am still practicing.

[flytying]

small popers are one of the best for panfish, and large popers are great for bass.

 

[Ratherbfishing]

Tippet versus leader:  It could be perceived that they are two separate entities but, in the beginning (at least), they are one piece of material.  The tippet is basically the skinny end of the leader which you tie your fly to.  When you first purchase them, most (if not all) leaders taper down and "consummate" in a skinny tippet.  As time and ties/reties add up, your leader/tippet will become shorter and shorter and, unless you want to replace the entire leader/tippet, you can tie on new tippet material to extend the length and the life of the leader.  If you fish around a LOT of vegetation and algae, however, any knots between the fly and the line will tend to grab onto pieces of algae and plant life (which can be really annoying) so I personally don't like that extra knot. Even if you DO use replacement tippet material, after awhile even THAT will shorten the length of the leader (after enough reties) and EVENTUALLY you'll need to replace the whole leader.  But it's all for the sake of the game.

Bass and, especially, bluegill are not all that sophisticated and each will USUALLY take fairly simple offerings-with bass just requiring (sometimes) larger versions than the other.  For bluegill, I like spider flies and poppers a lot.  For bass-i like larger poppers and grasshopper imitators.  I mostly fish the top surface film so I'm less qualified to speak on subsurface offerings but there are subsurface flies (such as wolly buggers) which will work for that.

One of the blessings of these two fish is that they do not seem to mind when a fly or popper makes a loud "splat" on the surface-in fact, sometimes the fish seem to WANT some noise.  I'd avoid it with the line itself but with the fly, it is isn't critical.  This is especially convenient for beginning fly fishermen.

For the MOST part, the reel is mostly to hold line.  The majority of the time, you will take in and feed out line through your fingers.  A larger fish may necessitate and/or "allow" you to use the reel in a manner more customary with other types of fishing but don't think you HAVE to reel from the reel (if that makes sense).  Having a LOT of extra line in front of you or in loops can be a pain but you will get a knack for knowing how much line to strip out and take in.

ENTIRE volumes have been written on the subject but these are some thoughts.

[dave]

I don't fly fish but,  I have a good deal of flies of all sorts.(over 100+ midges alone)  I am trying to sell the stuff for a very good price.  I have pictures that I can send.

I also have a St. Coix 5/6 WT and two White River reels.  All priced to go.  

I need this stuff gone.

[EricTheAngler]

1 hour ago, dave said:

I don't fly fish but,  I have a good deal of flies of all sorts.(over 100+ midges alone)  I am trying to sell the stuff for a very good price.  I have pictures that I can send.

I also have a St. Coix 5/6 WT and two White River reels.  All priced to go.  

I need this stuff gone.

Can you pm me the flies?

[dave]

I'll send pics.  I have to resize them for the site unless you have an email that you'd rather use.

[EricTheAngler]

Just now, dave said:

I'll send pics.  I have to resize them for the site unless you have an email that you'd rather use.

Ill pm you.

[dave]

Email sent

[EricTheAngler]

11 minutes ago, dave said:

Email sent

Thanks, how much for like 5 bass flys?

[dave]

Are talking about the large hair bugs?

[EricTheAngler]

Just now, dave said:

Are talking about the large hair bugs?

Im talking about any smallish bass flies. 

[dave]

Which picture so I can see which you are talking about?

PM sent.  

You'll have to be specific about the flies you want because I am not the best resource other than I know the hairbugs work for bass.

[mrmacwvu1]

buy the book

the Curtis Creek Manifesto