i talked to a guide that said he could probably put me on a texas record for fly fishing. only problem is that i dont know how to fly fish. i have family that does this , but they all live in okie land. how can i learn this technique? what gear do i need to use? i must admit this is my first foray into the flyfishing part of the forum, but i hope its not my last.

Good morning dazed

Flyfishing, be careful or you might wind up addicted

I recommend getting a decent set up, don't spend more than $100 for rod and reel. There are many good sources, BassPro has a nice fly shop at the Grapevine store. Their lowest level of fly fishing gear is completely good enough for getting started and for a long time after that as well.

If you can, avoid the 29.95 shrink-wrapped kits. But if that's how you have to go, then go for it.

A great place to go for a wealth of information is http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/101/

Keep us posted, we'd like to hear about your pursuit of a record.

Oh yeah, what area are you in? There is probably a club nearby.

Hey Dazed,

Do not purchase anything until you first join a Fly Fishing Club and learn some of the basics of this sport. The fly rod is the 6th thing down the list of importance when it comes to purchacing an "outfit".

Come to Athens, Texas, on the 23rd of this month to attend the Fly Fish 2002 and watch my slide show. You will have a better idea about how to choose your equipment.

Al Wilkie
Senior Advisor, FFF

thanks big al and rhyne. i live in watauga,but i am about to move to euless. i would really have liked to come down to athens, but i have a job to start in new mexico starting this sunday. to bad i didnt know how to fly fish before i started this job.

Al,

I defer to your experience. But would it not be OK for our friend here to pick up some sort of rig and at least get to wet a line in N Mexico? My humble opinion is that something is better than nothing and to at least give it a go. How do you view it?

Best

Robin
RRhyne56

You're absolutely right Robin. There is no reason to join a club first last or anywhere in between. The reply that you gave about the purchase of equipment was right on the money.

Now before anyone takes this as confrontational, let me say that it's not. Yes, it is nice to belong to a club for all the apparent reasons but is not needed to learn how to cast, tie flies or to fish. I was casting, tying and catching long before I joined the DFF. A club will broaden your horizons and provide fellowship with like minded people and I always recomend to people that I meet to join a club. But Al is a little off base on this one.

Roger

Hi Roger,

My comments about how to get into Fly Fishing was based on my personal experience. You see, I went out and bought the materials to build my first fly rod from Bullard in 1977. After that I went down to Hunter Bradlee Co. to get a reel and fly line for my newly crafted fly rod.

I found a book that described the fly cast and with that book and my "outfit" I found an open area in the Village Apts. and began to learn how to cast. I taught myself how to cast and fish with a fly rod.

My comments to Dazed were not to belittle him, but to provide him with some information that might keep him from making the same mistakes that I made.

After I found the Dallas Fly Fishers in January, 1978, I found out just how wrong I had been in selecting and purchasing my "outfit". I still have that first fly rod, but I haven't used it in 22 years.

My suggestion to anybody who is interested in getting involved in any hobby is to read every thing you can get your hands on, before you buy anything. First find out how somebody else did it and the mistakes they made and then profit from them.

I have been around fly fishing for a long time. I served the Dallas Fly Fishers as their president in 1983 and 1984. Built the club for a 34 members to 286 in two years. I went on the presidency of the Southern Council of FFF for two terms and then on to serve as president of the International Federation of Fly Fishers for two terms.

I worked as a fly fishing rep for 7 years and I have taught Fly Fishing and Fly Casting for a long time. I am here to share my knowledge with this group and hopefully to keep a newbe from making costly mistakes.

I see he is close to Fort Worth and there is very good club over there. I still strongly suggest that a newbe in this sport first find a fly fishing club and join it. The members of the club will help out in every aspect of selecting the best fly fishing equipment for that person.

Regrads,

Al Wilkie
Senior Advisor, FFF

i appreciate all input from everyone. i was not offended by your reply al. i always defer to people who have more experience than i do in anything. it sounds as if i need you to teach me how to fly fish. i might try and get a rig just for laughs. try it out in NM and thern come back and find out what i did wrong. like my equip. , and technique, or lack of. thanks again everyone.

Hey Al,

First let me state that I hope no one found my reply offensive, it certainly wasn't meant to be that way. If someone took it that way I'm sorry.

Al, I know of you and I know of your extensive time and envolvement in our sport. I also know that you are only trying to help and I applaud you for that. I just felt (and still do) that your advise was a little off base. Joining a club as I said in my post also is great but going out and having a good time is what flyfishing is really all about.

Without going any further let's just agree to disagree on this one.

Roger

Dazed,I'm a relatively new guy here, but if you're gong fishing, I guess the FIRST thing you ought to do is get a NM Fishing License. and any appropriate stamps.

J.B

Please give us a holler, let us know how you do.

------------------
RRhyne56

hello again everyone. man! ive been gone way too long. ive had TFF withdrawl. its going to take me about two weeks to catch up with all the new stuff on the site.
well i wasnt able to do any fishing while in NM. i suppose i should have checked out where i was going a little more closely. clovis new mexico is the arm pit of the united states of america. i dont thinkl there was a fishable river or creek within 500 miles, and when your working 95 hours a week its alittle hard to try and find one anyways. i hope to be able to get in some fishing soon though. with all of this out of town work and now moving for the last week i dont know if i will for a while. besides my fiance says i cant afford it. she also told me not to have that hog head mounted either, but guess what.....its on the wall.

dzd n' cfsd

so have you popped for a fly rig yet? really can get one pretty cheap out at BPS that will completely do a fine job.

If you are anywhere near the Metroplex there are a lot of folks who would be glad to give you a hand. If you are not, go to this link and look for help or post asking for help! http://www.flyanglersonline.com/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=25&SUBMIT=Go

------------------
RRhyne56

[This message has been edited by rrhyne56 (edited 04-14-2002).]

Dear Dazed,

I haven't seen Cabela's mentioned in replies to your flyfishing queries but you should check them out on the web. Redington has a website and they have a nice starter set as well. For good concise but simple explanations to get you started try to find a copy of "The Curtis Creek Manifesto". I've seen copies of it on E-Bay if you can't find it elsewhere. Good Luck and enjoy!

A.W.