Post By: willsanddeals Posted: 6/10/2012 12:07:45 AM Points: 31
Whats up man? I have seen alot of your posts regaurding fly fishing the river and see alot of pics of some beautiful trout of all types. I also see many terms about flies and hatching stages and other things I do not understand. I have always wanted to learn to fly fish and just never commited. I have very minimal knowledge at best when it comes to fly fishing.
My wife purchased a beginners fly rod/reel combo with line, tapered leader, and some flies. She had been hearing me talk so much about it lately and all the shows I watch on TV and youtube about fly fishing so she got this for me. So I tried for like 2 hours to tie the dam "bloodknot" to get the fly line and leader to connect and no matter how correct I felt I was doing it, it just wouldn't work and kept slipping. I ended up using a double anchor knot (i think) but it hold very well and I tugged and pulled very hard and seems to hold very well.
So now I am at the point where I am excited to get out on the river and try it out. Problem is obviously my lack of experience. So based on your friendly posts, sharing of info, and success on the water, I wanted to ask you if you would help me out. my email is wills_and_deals@yahoo.com anything you can help me out with would be greatful and appriciated man. I am going to try and look up any info on the cpu that I can find that might help in the meantime. I am heading out sunday morning first thing in the am. and try my best with what I have. It is an 8ft rod with floating line I believe and the flies weren't named. Just a variety of 5-6 that look like small flying bugs. I also have a green pistol pete and a few other flies that I used int he past for water bobber fishing. Thanks
Reply by: RockyMtnHigh Posted: 6/10/2012 12:19:18 AM Points: 51
Teaching yourself flyfishing can be done, but it's really good to try to get some hands-on pointers regarding tying knots, what type of water to fish, etc. It would be very cool if you had a buddy who fishes who could show you some of the basics. Sorry, but I'm not able to personally help you out. :-( You could certainly hire a guide (and this would be enormously helpful), but this is pretty pricey.
At the very least, stop by one of the local fly shops before going out. They will gladly sell you some of the most appropriate flies for the river and give you general suggestions where to go. You can also get some pointers about how to tie your knots and rig up your line, and such things as how deep to fish and whether you'll need extra weight between your fly and strike indicator.
And then, with the appropriate fly and setup, just go out there and have some fun! Cast to all sorts of different water, and see where other people are fishing. Just go out there and enjoy the fact that you have an adult excuse for going out and playing in and near a river.
Reply by: LittleFlyBigFish Posted: 6/10/2012 8:47:14 AM Points: 2231
Will, I'll try my best to help you out. I'll be at the Res all day today, but I can shoot you some info this evening. My email is midgefly@hotmail.com, so send me an email when you get this with your questions. Good luck buddy. The Drift Fly Shop is also an awesome resource for fly fishing, excellent staff and guides, and no BS. Check 'em out.
Reply by: tbblom Posted: 6/10/2012 9:52:15 AM Points: 211
You might want to check out a fly fishing specific website like 'the north american fly fishing forum'. Not so much specific fly talk here, more like access and reports. Good luck out there! There are good videos online for casting instruction. [log in for link]
I use an albright knot (8 wraps) instead of a nail knot or blood knot for fly line to leader, Or just use some loop to loop connectors.
What are you fishing for? You probably want some tippet spools in 1x-6x (~13lb-3lb.) line. For trout, 4x-6x are used most unless they are big. For bass or carp you'll want 2x or heavier.
Using a big easy to see dry fly like a hopper will be the easiest to manage at first. Then start adding a suspended nymph underneath once you get some casting confidence. Good colorado flies: Streamers- wooly bugger (black, white, olive, burgundy) small crayfish patterns (especially if you get a 6wt) leeches (black/brown/tan) Dries- Elk hair caddis, PMX, Stimulator Pale morning Dun (PMD) Bluewing Olive (BWO Yellow sally beetles, crickets, hoppers, and spiders (foam body to hang nymphs under) Nymphs- copper john (black, red, olive, gold) prince nymph Pheasant tail (PT) Hares ear Caddis pupae mercury midge zebra midge rainbow warrior stone flies For bass or carp- backstaber carp flies, small crayfish, bluegill patterns.
I taught myself pretty much, but I wish I had taken a lesson or two in my first year to save some time. It took me 3 weeks to catch my first trout on a fly (although it was high water and I had no clue at the time). If I get skunked now I am seriously disappointed... Just remember you are outside trying to relax, the fish will happen if you stick with it. PS, welcome to the addiction :)
Reply by: Browns Hunter Posted: 6/10/2012 11:39:09 AM Points: 3070
Many of the fly shops offer casting lessons and general fly fishing lessons. Knot lessons, too. A blood knot isn't what you want to tie the leader to the fly line. I'd use a nail knot. This site has a number of the knots displayed, along with usage:
And, for casting practice, you don't need to go to a lake. your lawn will work, just fine. You don't need a lot of line initially, just get a hang of how it feels to cast the line, not casting the lure or a weight. That's really the big difference between fly fishing and spin fishing.
[Wear sunglasses, too. Protect your eyes from flying, sharp pointy objects!]
Reply by: Kim Ciara Posted: 6/10/2012 6:50:36 PM Points: 55
Look on YouTube... there are lots of really good "how to" videos on knots, casting, basic entomology, fly selection, and fishing techniques! Orvis also has some great instructional articles you need to check out. Here's the link: [log in for link]
Reply by: DaveMyster Posted: 6/11/2012 12:12:44 AM Points: 20
Like stated above, Its not about catching fish, its about the experience of being outside and enjoying what fine beauties this world has to offer. Below is my first fish on a fly last april on clear creek. No monster of a fish, but this little guy sparked what I may call a lifestyle.
Reply by: RockyMtnHigh Posted: 6/11/2012 5:01:30 AM Points: 51
Some call it a lifestyle. For others of us it is closer to an obsession, or even an addiction. Either way… it's all good (fishing is one of the cheapest and safest things I've ever been addicted to).
To the original poster: One other factor to keep in mind is that river levels go up and down based upon time of the year, and when they get high they can be harder to fish. At this time of the year, usually most rivers are in run-off (so they are high with snow-melt). However, this is an unusual year in Colorado because there's really no snow left in the mountains to melt. Also, the Arkansas river in Pueblo is a tailwater, meaning the flow is completely controlled by what is let out of the dam. Flows are much lower than usual, but I would guess that they will start ramping them up soon to get the water to the farmers in the lower Arkansas valley. When they do so, the river here becomes pretty much unfishable.
Here's where you can check the flow: [log in for link]
Reply by: LittleFlyBigFish Posted: 6/11/2012 7:57:18 AM Points: 2231
That first fish on the fly is a priceless moment that creates an addiction for weeks and months to come. I have two friends that are constantly asking me to go out with them after they hooked their first fish on a nymph rig. Chasin' those trout is always in the back of my mind, but hey, I'm not harming anyone besides those fish. It's a lifestyle and an obsession like the guys described, and I cannot see myself ever giving it up. Never take it for granted though as tomorrow is never given.
Anyway, CFS does play a huge factor on our tail water, and the link provided is an excellent source making sure waters are safe to wade in. Will, focus on nymph rigs on this river - caddis, mayflies, and midges. Most of my fish are caught on nymph rigs, either in the riffle or in deep pools. With summer's early arrival, fish will be found in deeper pools throughout most of the day, but do not overlook fishing shallow riffles (1-2 ft) either.
What it comes down to though is your fly selection (matching the hatch) and presentation. Double nymph or triple nymph rigs are the ideal nymph setup. Midges are in abundance down here and usually I see strong hatches of these invertebrates early morning. Throughout winter, the trout on our river feed almost exclusively on these tiny flies. Overcast days usually brings strong mayfly hatches, tricos and BWOs. Caddis from what I have seen on the river lately, hatch during the non-overcast, hot days of early summer. With all that said, I've seen hatches of those flies at times where conditions are not ideal for their emergence. Look in the water and see what hanging out, this will give you the best clue at what the fish are eating, what size to use, and what form the insect is currently in.
Will, I'm looking forward to the pics of the fish you are going to be catching on our amazing Arkansas River. If you see fish rising, use an emerger form of whatever is hatching, but if you see no activity up top, make sure and get those flies down low on the river bottom.
Reply by: masteroftheloch Posted: 6/11/2012 9:08:09 AM Points: 409
@ willsanddeals..... I can appreciate your interest in flyfishing and willingness to learn. The nail-knot is a prime example of the difficulties involved with the sport/hobby that make flyfishing a true challenge. If I could offer you a little advice, i would reccommend you purchase a knot-fast tool. It is a tool designed to help you tie the nail-knot. You only tie the fly line to your backing using the nail-knot once on your initial set up of your rod....but you'll probably end up using that knot over and over when you change leaders. Some guys like a loop to loop connection for attatching leaders to fly line.... I personally prefer to use a nail-knot every time i change leaders. Go to any reputable fly shop, and ask the guy behind the counter to teach you how to tie the knot when you go to buy the tool. You'll find that once you have a little proper instruction you'll be tying that knot with as much ease as if you were tying your shoes.
