The question that I am most asked is what do I need to become a fly fisherman. The first thing that you will need is a good quality fly rod. This will be your most important investment when it comes to all of your fly fishing gear and, therefore, do not skimp on the price. Your fly fishing rod will be doing most of the work, and it is important to find a rod that has both finesse and power.
Fly fisherman who begin should use a faster fly rod because it will not be as clumsy and will allow you to cast your line with more power. The term fast about a fly fishing rod means stiff but without a lot of give in the bottom portion of the rod. A soft tip will be important to prevent any of your tied flies from breaking off when using a light leader.
Most beginning fly fisherman have a few bad habits when it comes to casting. These bad habits have probably been learned while casting traditional spinning rods. The worst and by far the biggest bad habit for any beginner is that they “break” their wrist. An experienced fly fisherman will have his wrist locked and allow his arm to do the casting.
If you break your wrist, it will cause your cast to go all over the place, which will result in frustration. It will also cause your line to become tangled more often. This experience alone can hasten your fast exit from the sport of fly fishing. After all, who would enjoy a sport where the majority of the time is spent untying knots?
A good type of fly rod to choose would be a rod that breaks down into four pieces. True, there are many rods that only breakdown into two pieces but both are equally durable. Your four piece rod, however, will be more convenient to carry into hard-to-reach fishing spots. It should cost you an extra $30, but it will be well worth it.
Also, a four piece rod will be easier to bring on an airplane, pack into your car trunk, strap onto a backpack, or slide into a motorcycle saddlebag. You can purchase a four piece, nine foot fly rod for beginners with a 5 weight for about $200. This type of rod will usually have a lifetime warranty. There may be a few rods available like this for $100 but they will not come with a lifetime warranty.
The next important purchase will be a fly rod reel. Reels can vary in price from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. Choose a reel that is balanced in weight with your entire fishing outfit. Reels that are too heavy can cause serious fatigue at the end of the day. Lighter reels are more expensive, but you should be able to get a decent real between $30 and $100.
After that, all you need are some of the basics such as a tippet, some light leaders, and a variety of flies. Now, you are all prepared to begin your career as a fly fisherman. Later, after you have learned the art of fly fishing you can venture into fly tying. Fly tying in itself is a wonderful hobby that will complement your fly fishing experience.
Tying your own flies will allow you to choose the perfect fly at every lakeside or river location. You will simply need to observe what type of flies or insects the fish are biting on and then tie a similar type of bait. It will add a whole new dimension to your fly fishing adventure.
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