For those interested in the ancient art of fly fishing, the long movements of the cast line and the constant effort by the fisherman may seem a little daunting at first.  However, fly fishing is not as difficult as it looks! While it isn’t a skill for very young children (five or younger), youth, teenagers and adults alike can enjoy this easy to learn, yet challenging sport. Unlike standard shore fishing or trolling, you are constantly exercising your body while you fish.

The first step in learning how to fly fish is acquiring the proper gear.  Fly fishing uses rods, reels, lines and flies unique to fly fishing. Unfortunately, this means a lot of the fishing gear you already own may not be suitable for this sport! Don’t worry, though. Fly fishing gear does not have to be expensive, especially for a beginner.

Your first piece of gear is your rod and reel. For a fly fishing beginner, you want a rod that is inexpensive. There is a wide selection of 7 to 9 foot fishing rods available for purchases that cater to those who are inexperienced. While more expensive, longer rods allow for further casts, but are more tiring on your arms. To begin with, you will want a shorter rod to practice casting your line with. Don’t worry if you can’t cast far to begin with. Fly fishing takes time to master! Beginner rods range from $40.00 to $150.00.

Next, you will need a fly reel. Many of the beginner kits come with the most basic fly reels. These are excellent to learn on, as they teach you the traditional method of fly fishing and reel palming. These tend to be simple spools that allow you to store your uncast line. Do not be fooled into purchasing a $200.00 reel. As a beginner, simple and cheap offers benefit of proper learning!

Now, you need your line and tackle. Unlike shore fishing, the fly (your hook!) is light in comparison to the line. There are no sinkers to assist in throwing the line out for distance. This difference is made up in the type of line used. You cannot use standard test line to fly fish with. You need special line that weighs more than the standard test, so it can be cast correctly. This line is almost always coated with plastic, to assist in giving you the extra weight you need to throw the line properly. Originally, these lines were made of woven horse hair, which gave it enough weight to be used for the cast. Now, synthetic materials or silk is used, which give the flexibility and weight needed to successfully keep your line in motion.

Finally, you need the fly.  When you are selecting your fly, you need to know what type of fish that you are hunting for. As many fishers know, fish are picky creatures, and have preferences on the type of food they eat. Flies come in two types: natural and flashy. Natural flies take after bugs, insects and other creatures that may be found at the surface of the water. Flashy fly lures use bright colors to attract the attention of the fish.

Now that you know the basic pieces of gear, there are some other items that you should take with you when you are fly fishing. First, you will need a tackle box. You can use your old tackle box if you already have one, just bag your shore tackle and keep it separate from your fly fishing tackle. Your tackle box should contain extra line, your spare flies, a knife, a flashlight, your fishing license, your local rules book, a small first aid kit and other odds and ends. As a lot of fly fishing occurs away from civilization, make sure you go prepared with everything you may need.

Welcome to the world of fly fishing!