fishingkidPA Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 i just got a starter kit for fly fishing. now its winter and i have no idea what fly to use or how to present it. soon it will be spring. I know you have to "match the hatch" for flies but could you just give me the basics on what flies will produce and how to use them, do i let them sink or do i let it set for a couple seconds and recast it. i know how to cast and stuff and i saw how to use the wooley bugger, for nypmths they said you have to use a strike indicator, it looks like a bobber for fly fishing but im unsure. please educate me about using flies and that kind of stuff. thanks!!! Quote
0119 Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Strike indicator is just floating yard or rubber to help you see when you have a delicate bite. For fly fishing advise like you want you'd be best off visiting fly fishing specific forums like warmfly or flyanglersonline. Be careful, fly fishing has its own breed of baitmonkey to haunt you! Quote
bass or bass ? Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 You are requesting a lot of information here. May I suggest the ultimate fly fishing book for bass? The L.L.Bean Fly Fishing for Bass Handbook, second edition, by Dave Whitlock. Everything you will ever need to know about bass fly fishing is in here. You can find a copy for @ $10 on Craig's List. Happy fly fishing! Quote
VTechHokie Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 When I got my fly rod last year I just went to a pond nearby and practiced casting. caught a few nice bass and bluegill with it. you kinda get used to the whole thing with a little practice. you will get the hang of how to retrieve it to get a strike and all. Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted February 10, 2011 Super User Posted February 10, 2011 Just a couple of questions: What's the weight of the rod and length? What do you plan on fishing for (trout, bass, bluegill)? What kind of waters do you plan on fishing in (pond or river)? Quote
Missouribassman95 Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Dry Flies=When they are busting (All you really got to do is match the hatch) When they aren't try a wooly buger. Also, if you're trying for panfish I've has success with a little topwater grasshopper like thing. Quote
WdyCrankbait Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Look up some youtube videos would be my suggestion. What size wooly boogers? Do you know the (times 3 + one rule?) Well, to make sure you have the correct tippet (tippet is the fine/thin end of a leader) material you take the tippet size you want to use say 3X multiple by 3, therefore you get 9, and add 1. Eight, ten and twelve size fly hooks are good for 3X tippet. I recommend using Orvis fly line, it has a braided loop at the fishing end of the line to loop your leader through. If you have not cast a fly rod before just move the rod between 10 and 2 and keep your casting arm's elbow glued to your hip! A #1 mistake I see! Now, if you are fishing ponds with said wolly boogers cast it out let sink say 5 seconds and strip the line in. Use the end of your fly line as a strike indicator. Also, get some hoppers, say size 8 or ten. Fly fishing is a lot of fun, so make it fun do not be intimadated by it. Good luck Quote
WdyCrankbait Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Another thing I would suggest. Go out and get some popper flies from say Walmart and use them first off. Those are cheap and good practice flies, throw aways if you will. After you get good at casting, roll cast, double-haul, etc. go and get some high end flies. Those will last you a lot longer! I got some Adams, Royal Coachmans, plain jane flies from Walmart (thread and feather flies) and they were destroyed after 3 bluegills. Since you are starting out, I would limit my fly sizes to 8-12, thsose are the bigger bluegill size flies. (Plus, you will need only one leader size, 3X) You shouldn't go that much smaller because a hand size bluegill could swallow that size say 14 no problem. (I assume you are fishing for bass and bluegills being on this forum.) After you get say, a couple weeks under your belt the best fly for bluegills I would say is a tan Elkhair wing caddis size 10 or 8. Drop it around trees or brush in the water and just wait. Quote
farmpond1 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 Matching the hatch is really more of a trout fishing technique however, since you didn't say what you were pursuing, it may be applicable. Bass, however, are generally much less discriminating than trout and will eat just about anything that's put in front of them at one time or another. You'll notice I put that last qualifier in there because bass, too, can be picky at times. But generally speaking, you can get by with some surface bugs (terrestrials) and poppers, and some subsurface streamers (such as wooly buggers) to cover the upper part of the water column. Deeper flyfishing requires sinking line and/or heavier flies and is not a good place to begin. You don't need a particularly thin or long leader or tippet for bass and a delicate presentation is rarely necessary. In fact, a good splash from the fly can often pique a basses attention. Strike indicators aren't usually necessary. As WdyCrankbait said, the area where your line meets the leader is usually sufficient as a strike indicator. Watch that. As for streamers-when you take in line, if a bass hits, you'll usually know it. There are many books writing to various skill levels and species. I'd definitely steer clear of those "purist" books marketed for high dollar trout fishermen who spend more on a fly reel than any sensible person would pay for their first used car. Good luck! Quote
Super User J Francho Posted February 17, 2011 Super User Posted February 17, 2011 Pick up a selection of mayflies to throw in April. That's should keep you occupied until the bass move up. Quote
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