starting fly fishing
Submitted by schecky on Mon, 2009-03-23 14:45
for all those fly fishos out there i need some starter help
i want to give fly fishing a go and was wondering if anyone has an old fly combo i can buy off them to start with so i can just learn and practice etc.
will use it for practicing in a nearby lake and casting flys for herring, tailor etc just to learn til i buy a better one once i am expierienced.
I dont know anything about the weights or fly terms or slang or anything
so if someone can point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated
cheers,
Reuben
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
Gday schecky just getting
Gday schecky
just getting into it myself mate. Got myself a cheap gillies combo kit from motackle only cost about 120 bucks. The wt refers to the line weight the higher the number the greater the breaking strain so to speak. I got myself a 9wt combo sort for starters in sw aplications
the pack comes with a dvd narrated and demos from peter morse who is a pretty renound fly fisherman.
Had my first crack on the weekend but it was rpetty windy, been practicing my cast a fair bit over the last few days seems like i am starting to get the hang of the shorter casting (up to 5-7 meters)
if you find any good sources of info let me know mate
Ewan and ryan from this site have done a fair bit in the past im sure
cheers
http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
With fly casting, you cast
With fly casting, you cast the line instead of the lure (fly in this case). Weights are basically the weight of the line. Heavier weights (and sinking lines) are easier to cast into a breeze, and have heavier rods. Lighter weights are harder to cast longer distances, but will give a more fun fight.
Lots of different types of lines, but basically either floating or sinking (at various rates) or part/part (floating line, sinking tip).
You have backing on your reel, then the fly line, then a leader, then a tippet then possibly a bite leader, then the fly.
Best to probably go to somewhere they have lots of fly gear and ask some q's.
Keep in mind, unless you are roll or spey casting, it can be a bit hard to cast with something behind you (say at a marina rock wall). You're also unlikely to get any more distance than spin gear, so something to keep in mind.
Reuben, Brad, I'll send you some links i've found useful when I get home. I'm just a beginner, but I do have massive amounts of links :p
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Addicted to jiggingschecky
Posts: 1645
Date Joined: 25/08/08
thanks guysthats some gold
thanks guys
thats some gold info, cheers
ill look in to that gillies combo now
but still if anyone has an old one they dont use that would be goood
what weight would I looking at for my application?
formerly fishoreub
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
8/9wt from what i have
8/9wt from what i have learned in my very very very short fly fishing carreer is a good weight to start with when learning
dont make the mistake i made i got floating line where as i wish i got an intermediate (slow sinking)
http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
floating line is not a mistake (IMO)
It all depends on what you are fishing for. Floating line and popper flies would be ideal in your nick of the woods surely? Queenies, small trevs and so forth.....
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
In regards to casting, its
In regards to casting, its easier. Whether its better for the situation is a different question.
Heard you can use poppers with intermediate lines. Just strip like crazy.
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Addicted to jiggingwade stenhouse
Posts: 132
Date Joined: 06/10/08
hey shecky i have a shimano
hey shecky
i have a shimano biocraft 7/8 weight with 8 weight cortland itermediate sink line
which is matched with a blackridge 7 weight rod both are brand new a have only had a few casts down in the river they have not even caught a fish
would be willing to part with for $160 retail value about $330
just pm me if ur interested cheers
crasny1
Posts: 6990
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Brad
Wt forward sink tip is the easiest to learn on. Just been out last weekend and didnt take the fly rods. Mate wish I did. Parked up shallow for lunch and berlied some old mulies. Would have been a blast with a 8wt, or even the cheap 6wt from NZ on the Trevs etc that turned up. No men in gray suits.
cheers
Neels
Flat seas!!!
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
Righto can anyone send me
Righto can anyone send me some links to a good 8/9wt sink tip line
cransy would be keen to catch up for a few lessons one of these days mate, can trade a few secrets
http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
Flyworld.com.au
And look up Rio Saltwater Intermediate. Big fan of Rio lines.
Also Airflo Ridge was another that people mentioned.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Recommended twice to me by
Recommended twice to me by people who know what they are talking about. Though, determined full intermediate was better suited to what I wanted.
This is the one Huggy is talking about: http://www.rioproducts.com/product.php?recKey=40
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Addicted to jiggingPilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
Cheers fellas yeah float
Cheers fellas
yeah float line is good, i probably just need a second spool of intermediate or sink tip for getting down to those trout etc
http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
schecky
Posts: 1645
Date Joined: 25/08/08
thanks for all the tips
thanks for all the tips guys
pm sent wade
formerly fishoreub
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
6wt or an 8wt - it depends
You can get a fairly decent Redington Crosswater 2 piece combo with line etc for $250 I think from Bluewater? You may need to buy a different line for saltwater, if so budget on another $100 for line. But for now I wouldn't worry too much about that - getting your cast right will be the major hurdle. That will mean a fair bit of time in the park just false casting a lot to get a feel for it and how your loops unfurl etc.
6wt will cover a fair array of fish from trout through to flatties, hezzas and tailor. I found it a little under-gunned for salmon (like +5kg) personally, but that was possibly more to do with drag (or lack thereof) more than anything since I was using a small freshwater trout reel. Plus it is much harder to cast on windier days - you just cant punch it out as easily.
The 8wt would be a better pick if you plan on only doing saltwater fly fishing and are not all that interested in trout. It would be far more versatile and you'd even tangle with queenies etc up north with an 8wt.
Herring would be the easiest "practice" fish - use burley, get them boiling then cast to them. They will take the fly, make no bones about it......
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
schecky
Posts: 1645
Date Joined: 25/08/08
thanks huggy yeah 8wt seems
thanks huggy
yeah 8wt seems the go
i had a feeling herring would be a good starter fish
doesnt fly line have breaking strains? sorry if i sound ignorant haha
formerly fishoreub
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
for an 8wt
look to have 30lb backing. I have no idea what the breaking strains of fly line are to be honest. But it increases as the weight increases (thicker, heavier).
I wouldn't worry too much about it, you have a tippet which is usually 20 - 25lb for an 8wt in saltwater and its under the breaking strain of your line so it breaks in preference to your $100 fly line. To lose that would be heart breaking....unless a ginormous fish spools you - different story.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Rio have breaking strains on
Rio have breaking strains on their website. Is about 30lb for 8/9 weights. I ended up putting 50lb backing on mine, but matrix pro, so its pretty thin (and very cheap at 40% off :D). I'd go 30lb if I did it again.
Do you end up using tapered leaders huggy or just tie your own?
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Addicted to jiggingHuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
Depends Matt
Sometimes I tie my own "tapered" leader of (for a 6wt) 10lb (4 foot long) and 4/6lb (5 foot long) for trouties. I dont bother with a tippet.
In saltwater, I generally run a shorter leader and sometimes it will be just straight 25lb for 3 or 4 foot - longer if the bream are being painful and not playing ball. It depends on how lazy I feel.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
schecky
Posts: 1645
Date Joined: 25/08/08
aw ok thanks huggy do you
aw ok thanks huggy
do you think i should start off with a hardy zane Ti???
formerly fishoreub
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
No
Take that money you would spend on the Ti Zane and give it to me - I'll deck you out and take a small fee.![Wink Wink](/sites/all/modules/tinymce/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif)
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Gillies Fly Kit!
Spot on recomendation Brad, the 8WT Gillies "Kit" is great. I'm happy to supply it for $135 with tuition from myself also. The info in the DVD is good and I fly fished with Peter Morse many years ago up North and was a great experience!
This kit will cover from herring to salmon and Northern fish including boat fishing also. The kit is quality and no need to upgrade after that for some time. The only thing i would replace is the fly line. Its good to start with then after you have the flycasting sorted then upgrade the line to a RIO down the track!
HTH
* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *
Owner of "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South St, O'Connor, Perth Ph 9337 5682
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
ryan
Ryan if you have a good intermediate or sink tip 8wt line in stock mate i am happy to support those who support FW. I wish i had of known you stocked those gillies combos mate i would have picked it up through you
http://fishwrecked-reeltime.com/
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
cool mate!
I stock the basics/limited range Brad due to the minimal fly traffic us tackle stores get so i can understand you/others sourcing elsewhere. Very frustrating for me as I love my flyfishing and do heaps of it. I've got a few days off but i'll check when i'm back & PM ya!
* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *
Owner of "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South St, O'Connor, Perth Ph 9337 5682
schecky
Posts: 1645
Date Joined: 25/08/08
cheers ryan thats a great
cheers ryan
thats a great offer
ill get back to you as soon as i gather some cash
one shift a week....grrr
formerly fishoreub
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
Send a Pm to liquidtension, hes a very keen fly fisherman,
Probably be a great help to you, i bought some 2nd hand gear off him a while ago and he couldnt wait to bring out his pride and joy fly gear to show me.....
Goooooone Fishin!
Gooooone Fishin!