Hello Gents,

I am an avid crappie fisherman that ventured up to Broken Bow lake recently and now have the bug. I am wanting to learn how to fly fish. After driving thru Beavers Bend I dont see how anybody wouldn't want to learn? What is the best way for me to learn the basics of fly fishing, as I have zero experience. I have been doing a little reading on the web to find out that this is going to take a while to get the hang of. I have no idea what to get, or how to use it, plus I am not wanting to spend a fortune just to get into the sport. I am mainly wanting to return to Beavers Bend and fish the LMF , and enjoy the area.


Thanks,
Jake

I too am new to fly fishing (I just got my rod today).

I got my rod from wal-mart.... $20.

Vanboom is trying to help me with my casting and sent me these youtube videos...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2SgcCw6I8M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6h5Gd2CKEM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eduCfwQLdTY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o8ty08EBhY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNjWnZw4yA4


Hope this helps!
GG

I went to Hawk Ridge Fly Casting Clinic in Glen Rose. Al Crise (a Master Caster) owns and operates it. It is a Sat Sun clinic for $100. I highly recommend it.

Good Morning Jake

You are near some wonderful fly fishing right where you are. No need to drive all the way to Broken Bow. However it is a fantastic destination.

Right there in Murchison, Tyler, are some of the best fly anglers in the world. Head on over to http://www.texasflyreport.com log on and ask and some of these guys might volunteer up. There are also plenty of us who fish Cedar Creek and Purtis Creek.

I'd say, let us know what weight and brand rod you have, what line and then we can at least get you out on the water being dangerous until you can hook up with someone to give some pointers.

I'll leave it at that and we can move forward from here.

Fly fishing is an addicting passion, as is any angling. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Ghost,
Jerry gave you great advice about Al Crise - he can do in hours what otrhers need in days to help you.
That said, Robin's also right, try yo get someome to watch you try to cast and coach you along. The roll cast video is my favorite, because when I show my friends how to cast the roll is best for beginners.
Les

It is great advice.... but I'm only a kid and my parents aren't going to drive me way up north texas to learn how to fly cast.

GG

Jake,

All of this is good, solid advice. Instruction is the key to learning the basics and then practice, practice, practice! A lot of guides/teachers I have taken lessons from have said that if you get the basic feel of the cast with 30 minutes a day of practice for 1 week you can learn to fly cast. And I feel that is really true. That being said seek out all the instruction you can and take advantage of it.

Are they still doing the free casting lessons at Bass Pro Shops on Saturday mornings? I know Ken Cole and possibly some others were going up there and teaching/demonstrating on Saturday mornings. I have taken lessons from Ken and he is a GREAT teacher. You will learn from Ken and feel better about your casting. That reminds me, I need to call and get some lessons from Ken. Thanks!

Also, The Dallas Fly Fishers are a wonderful club that can help you with your quest. They have a huge resource and love to help people get into the sport.

Next, everybody has heard me hammer this about Broken Bow and any new water, getting a guide for a new stretch of water when you go can be very beneficial. I feel especially for people just getting into the sport it is really best. Guides will really help you and "guide" you along as you fish. When you hit a new piece of water and are not used to fly fishing for trout you can get turned off very easily. There are a million variables to success when doing this. Which fly, proper presentation, where to cast to, how to set the hook properly, playing the fish without breaking him off and a million more. Guides know where they are taking you and take all of these variables out of the equation. If you have fun, and catch fish, you are more likely to go a second time.

Also, once you get the hang of it, find a place close to practice. I spend a lot of time during the week chasing bluegill/perch/sunfish to keep the feel of what I can do up to date. This way when I make it to LMF or any of the area lakes for whatever fish I am chasing I can get right to fishing, not breaking fish off or missing strikes altogether.

ANother thing to consider is when you get the hang of it go to the TFFC in Athens, they have a "Zebco pond" that will have trout in it from about 12/1 til 3/1 or so. This is great practice for setting the hook and feeling strikes, plus a lot of fun if you take your kids with you. Plus you can keep 5 trout a day if you want to get some dinner on the cheap. It is $5 per day or $15 for a 1 year pass.

Hope all this long winded info has helped. Good luck with your new pursuit.

eric

I'll just add one thing - in most angling its the bait or lure that is being thrown, it's a ballistics thing of throwing something and a line attached with which to retrieve. But in fly casting the lure is not a part of the equation, its the line itself that is being cast and which gets the attention. making a sweet loop.

Here is a website to browse a while http://www.sexyloops.com/

There are also some good instructional videos out there that contain lots of helpful info. I am also new to fly fishing. I purchased a video called "Fly Fishing Made Easy" put out by Scientific Angler. They have detailed instruction on how to set up your equipment, knots, casting, etc. In fact, I watched it again last night because I'm headed to Broken Bow in December and I'm still trying to improve my skills.

Jake,
Just fish and often! Even the guys that have been doing it for years will still occasionally wreck a cast or two and wrap it up real bad too! Accuracy, distance and consistency all come with practice and time. Start cheap and you will learn what it is that we all appreciate about our equipment and the sport. Just yesterday evening while fishing a stock tank I hung up on the back cast at least ten times, so it can be frustrating to say the least, but the rewards are greater IMHO when you can catch something with a fly especially if you tied it yourself and on a fly rod that you built as well Yes I am in way over my head, but still treading water

Thanks for all the info guys. I will look into the videos as that seems to be the cheapest resource that would give the most insight at this time. I see that there are several fly fishing clubs around that get together and share info and fish, but do yall get together as a group (TFF) and hold these similar events, maybe as the TFF Fly Fishers? I would be interseted in metting, learning, and fishing if yall do these. I regurlarly fish Cedar Creek, but also fish Athens, Purtis Creek, Richland and Fairfield.

As I stated earlier I am as green as it gets on fly fishing. What would you recommend for a beginner that mainly fishes for crappie, but would like to get into the stream fishing for trout later as well?

Again Thanks for all the help

Jake

get a 5 weight rod and you can fish just about for any species in freshwater

Wow Evil! Being on call must be as tough as staying home with my sick wife- lots of honey do's and no fishing.
Les

you got that right I have mopped the house, dusted, did yard work and put up Halloween decorations. No calls yet (knock on wood) but been very busy none the less. I was going to try to go fishing early this morning but the bed was to hard to get out of. Tomorrow I am fishing all day barring any calls

Thanks for the help guys.

Jake