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Author Topic: Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help  (Read 5271 times)

The Fish Hunter

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Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help
« on: June 23, 2011, 12:30:56 PM »

Ok...

I am experienced in Lake/River fishing with baitcasting and spin casting but now I think it is time to have a go at Fly Fishing.... I have a Fly Rod and reel and it is all spooled up.... I was just wondering if anyone could tell me how to properly choose a fly and what fly will work where..... Example I am going up to Manning Park next week and I thought I would give the similkameen river a shot. I bought some flys that look like they would flying around a river lol..... as you can see I am a little clueless when it comes to fly fishing.

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JAwrey

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Re: Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2011, 01:41:59 PM »

Well a really good idea, if you can, is to take a preliminary trip to the river to see what is hatching/present.  If you can't a good selection of flies always includes some generic nymphs, dries and terrestrials - if I remember correctly, grasshoppers are fairly prominent round those parts, yeah??  Take a couple Dave's hoppers with you, they're one of my favorites.  Take some dry flies like royal coachmen, standard Adams, parachute Adams, quill Gordons, some caddis patterns.  I have had really good luck fishing very small (18-24) serendipity's as my searching pattern, with a red body and bleached hair...very buggy looking, I guess!!

Take lots of flies, and do your research as far as what will be hatching at that time.  Also, make sure you have some floatant/sinking agent with you - these often forgotten items are indispensable!!  I never leave home without a bottle of each.

Also, welcome to the wonderful world of fly fishing  ;D  And say goodbye to the wonderful world of financial prosperity while you're at it  ::)
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Speychucker

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Re: Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2011, 07:48:42 AM »

The Similkameen is quite high still and had a fair bit of color on Wednesday morning when I went by it.
Don't forget your warm jammies , still snow lying under trees at Allison Pass.
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andrew5

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Re: Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2011, 08:39:07 PM »

Congrats on trying out fly Fishing! As a guy that has only been in it for a couple years, I will tell you what has brought my the most success in various streams... nymphing. Everyone says that trout do 80 to 90 percent of tier eating sub surface. My personal favorite, and the fly that I have had the most success with is called the copper john (image link below). I am just getting on to it, but I am pretty sure using an indicator will help too. The inidcator will float faster than the nymph, because the water on top flows faster than the sub surface water. just watch for the indicator to stop, slow down or do somethign funny and then set the hook! Other patterns are the black and red micro leech (more for lakes). This one (even moreso than the wolly bugger) has given me a lot of success as well.

Leech pattern:
http://www.thechronicflyfisher.com/Microblk.HTML

copper john:
http://midcurrent.com/flies/tying-the-original-copper-john/

For rivers, i have yet to be skunked with the copper john. They come in copper, and green copper as well.
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marmot

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Re: Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2011, 03:52:43 PM »

Get yourself a copy of "the gilly" by Alf Davy and read it cover to cover.
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Damien

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Re: Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help
« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2011, 09:53:49 AM »

I will add, head into a local fly shot and ask what tends to be hot in the neighbourhood.  Support them, and they will support you.
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JAwrey

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Re: Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2011, 10:07:37 AM »

Congrats on trying out fly Fishing! As a guy that has only been in it for a couple years, I will tell you what has brought my the most success in various streams... nymphing. Everyone says that trout do 80 to 90 percent of tier eating sub surface. My personal favorite, and the fly that I have had the most success with is called the copper john (image link below). I am just getting on to it, but I am pretty sure using an indicator will help too. The inidcator will float faster than the nymph, because the water on top flows faster than the sub surface water. just watch for the indicator to stop, slow down or do somethign funny and then set the hook! Other patterns are the black and red micro leech (more for lakes). This one (even moreso than the wolly bugger) has given me a lot of success as well.

Leech pattern:
http://www.thechronicflyfisher.com/Microblk.HTML

copper john:
http://midcurrent.com/flies/tying-the-original-copper-john/

For rivers, i have yet to be skunked with the copper john. They come in copper, and green copper as well.

Good advice, +1

Also, check out Czech-Nymphing.  I really like using this technique in faster, deeper water.   I prefer it because of the very direct connection with the fly.

John
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jimmywits

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Re: Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help
« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2011, 05:04:40 PM »

Get yourself a copy of "the gilly" by Alf Davy and read it cover to cover.

This is the best advice you could get in my opinion, only study it cover to cover. I have as many notes in my copies margins as prose on the page.
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firstlight

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Re: Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2011, 03:24:24 PM »

I am fairly new to the fly side of things as well and have found Chans Stillwater Strategies book very helpfull when out on lakes.
Gives you the bugs and there timing with pics etc.
Even tells you how to fish some of them.
It wasnt cheap when i bought it and is over double that now if you can find one but i would highly recommend it for any new lake fly fisher.
It comes in the boat with me,every time on a lake.

I hope you have as much fun as i am having with it.
Just wish i could get up to the Interior more frequently.
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JAwrey

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Re: Newbie to the fly fishing world.... Please Help
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2011, 03:55:37 PM »

Also, as you progress, a good idea is to get a water-proof journal, and take detailed notes of your fishing adventures every time you go out.  When I fish with eggs for trout, I always record the time of day, the water temperature, the flies/tackle used, as well as the type of flow I had success in.  In addition, I record what I think I could have done better before I leave the river - seeing my post-fishing insight the next day, season or several seasons is very helpful.

J
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