Any Fly Fishers Here?

[cosmicfolklore]

I can’t remember a time where I had a fantastic topwater crappie bite

They go on runs here in the Spring. I will use a tiny hook with a cricket, and nothing else on the line, and just pull them hand over fist from the top all afternoon. The trick is hitting them when their on the move. As soon as the run is over, I stop targeting them.

 

[BarrelProof]

They go on runs here in the Spring. I will use a tiny hook with a cricket, and nothing else on the line, and just pull them hand over fist from the top all afternoon. The trick is hitting them when their on the move. As soon as the run is over, I stop targeting them.

Makes sense. Growing up I had so many “secret spots” on various lakes that were just places where we’d dumped piles of Christmas trees that I never really hit them too hard. Whenever we needed to put some in the freezer, we’d just stop fishing for bass or catfish for a few hours, hit a few of the spots, and be set.

Not sure if they ran back in NC, or not. Honestly never paid enough attention to them to know. Only worried about them when stores got low.

 

[BarrelProof]

Now I can spell hoity toty. Good adj. lol

The irony is blinding.

 

[Dan-o$]

I will never understand the catch and release thing. Guys spending tens of thousands on boats and gear to just throw them back. I have a designated deep freeze full of milk jugs that I have cut the tops off of and frozen the fish inside of to eat throughout the year. If I was going to throw them back, why not just play golf? Golf would be a tad cheaper, but the clothes look better.

I mean, I will throw back bream and other trash fish that I don't like to eat, but not bass, crappie, or catfish. Never!

Usually tie in some lead for weight on my streamers, then mend, mend down stream . We catch and release around No. Nv. because it leaves more fish for little Johnny and his dad. For me catch and release is good because really don't care for the taste of a trout. Spendy fly fishing clothing look good too lol

 

[sandollars]

Avid Fly fisherman here. I also tie Flies and it's a blast. There's immense satisfaction in grabbing the attention of a nice Rainbow, Brook, or Brown with something you've tied yourself. Hard to explain. Also, Fly fishing is not limited to Trout. Small and largemouth Bass, Pike, Streelhead, Kokanie, Ocean fish, Salmon etc. Basically if you can catch it with a spinning rod, you can also use a Flyrod.

My home waters are generally Trout species and I catch and release mostly.

My goal in life is to fly fish every single state in the nation.

It doesn't have to be expensive to Fly fish. For $250 bucks, you can get into quite a nice setup with everything you need except the clothes you decide to wear.

Sure you can spend north of a grand for just the rod from brands like Winston, Sage, Loomis, etc. and with the reel, line and all the crap one obtains for human comfort, it's easy to spend another 1-2 grand.

I liken it to automobiles: A $9,000 new car will get you everywhere a $109,000 car will. There are definitely some differences, but they both will get you to your goal.

Has anyone tried Tenkara? I also Tenkara Fly fish. It's the simplest and most intuitive form of fly fishing. A complete Tenkara setup can be anywhere from $50.00 to $300.00. I always have one in my car whenever I even anticipate being close to streams, rivers, or ponds.

 

[shanez]

I love fly fishing and wish I got to do more of it. I always tell people it's more like fish "hunting" rather than fish "fishing". Anyone can put a worm on a hook, cast it out, and wait. Fly fishing is much more interactive and requires a higher level of tactics and skill.

Much like smoking a pipe, there is no need to spend a lot of money on the hobby unless you want to. Even with a cheap setup much enjoyment can be had. In fact I think the push to spend a lot of money on the hobby turns more people off than anything.

When choosing a setup think about what you want it to do rather than the cost. I started with a complete generic setup I purchased from Big 5 for a little money. I eventually broke it and decided to upgrade. I switched to a 5wt Temple Fork Outfitters rod and an Okuma reel and never looked back. I've had this particular setup for almost 20 years now. It's a good "jack-of-all-trades", durable, workhorse. I used this exclusively for about 5 years when I decided to really treat myself and by a setup for a specific type of fishing.

Once I realized one of my favorite things in the world was to fish small mountain steams and lakes where the fish just don't get that big I added a Sage 3wt with a Scierra reel. I also had the ability to save a lot of money on the setup as I had received a "friends and family" invite to Cabelas where I purchased it.

The Sage setup is just beautiful for going after small, native brook trout (as opposed to stocked rainbows). Some of the places I've gone are just never fished (everyone is busy sitting on their collective keesters on the lakes) and I'd swear the fish have never even seen a hook. A 1.5 Lb native brookie feels, and fights, like a shark on the end of the 3 wt setup. I've actually been considering getting a 1wt setup just for stream fishing only.

Speaking of fishing small mountain water, I file the barbs off an hooks or look specifically for flys without barbs so I can release the little fishes back into their home. It's all about the experience. Occasionally one will take a hook wrong and has to be kept since it won't survive upon release. These fish either become an appetizer for a steak dinner or they get smoked and flake out onto a salad. mmmm....

With the 3wt I do more float tube fishing on mountain lakes. It makes for a great day by bobbing in the water while having a good smoke, a cold beer, and chasing those stocked rainbows!

I'm hoping to go after some bass locally with the 5wt which I think will be ideally suited for the task.

 

[Old School 3319]

Never been flyfishing but i used to use a fly reel when I crappie fished. worked great

 

[alaskanpiper]

Been fly fishing as long as I can remember. As Shane said it's completely different than harvesting freezer fish with a spinner, whole different thing, and fun in a completely different way. And to the OP, yes I'll be getting out soon to toss some bugs for Rainbows on the Kenai. Nothing beats fall bead season, but there is just something so much more satisfying about catching them on a dead drift prince nymph than a stupid orange bead.

I do keep salmon I catch on a flyrod though, as they eat just fine and are plentiful here. There is really no sense in keeping most trout, as they do not eat as well, but they are so much smarter, fight so much harder, and and generally just a lot more fun to target.

I truly live in paradise when it comes to options to target with a fly rod. 5 salmon species, rainbow trout, dolly varden, arctic char, grayling, and so much more.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Oh, and as many others have said there are plenty of entry level options that will get you a decent setup. One thing to keep in mind though, is that your average $80 junker is generally a pretty crappy rod. However, There are rods in the $150-$300 that often come with a lifetime warranty. This is important, as once you start fishing enough you WILL break rods. When that happens, simply send it in. Some companies charge $50 or so to replace them, others will do it for free. I have a buddy who is a notorious klutz/aggressive caster who has replaced his sage and loomis rods probably a dozen times in the last few years.

TFO makes decent ones on the low end of that range ($150), and Gloomis/Sage make some great ones on the higher end and beyond. ($300-$1200).

As far as reels go, there are plenty of affordable options out there if you do your research. I personally am a huge fan of waterworks by Lamson.

 

[warren]

Are you getting ready for the spring run off? Do you tie??

Not for a couple of months yet. I do.

 

[shanez]

Another thing to consider when shopping, if you are going after small fish with a lighter weight rod the reel is pretty much a line holder at that point, IMO. No sense on spending $1500 for a reel when you're going to pull most fish in by hand rather than getting them on the reel and cranking. For bigger fish you'll want something better with good adjustable drag settings.

My first ever reel only had a drag and free spool setting. On or off. No adjustment. Still, I keep that old reel in my box as an emergency backup.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Another thing to consider when shopping, if you are going after small fish with a lighter weight rod the reel is pretty much a line holder at that point, IMO. No sense on spending $1500 for a reel when you're going to pull most fish in by hand rather than getting them on the reel and cranking. For bigger fish you'll want something better with good adjustable drag settings.

My first ever reel only had a drag and free spool setting. On or off. No adjustment. Still, I keep that old reel in my box as an emergency backup.

This is a good point. But when you have a full grown sockeye or 30 inch rainbow on the line in big water, you'll want that drag. All of it, hahaha. Been into my backing on the Kenai with an 8wt more times than I can count.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Some fun video I took of my friend playing a red (sockeye) salmon a few years back with his new Sage. At one point the fish damn near hit the gopro underwater, haha. A couple disclaimers, you will notice at times the fish appears played to exhaustion, and that it is landed without a net straight onto the rocks. These are game fish harvested for the freezer and consumption, please be aware we use much more ethical practices including non-barbed hooks, fish friendly nets, and more careful landing practices (including never removing the fish from the water) when catch and release fishing.

 

[stevecourtright]

I love fly fishing and have made my own rods for a while now. Back in about 2015 a few friends from the local Trout Unlimited asked me to help build a Mackenzie Drift Boat. Here it is at the unveiling..

 

[Pondfisher]

I started fly fishing when an old supervisor of mine gifted me a 5 wt rod with some sinking line. Learned to cast via youtube and got hooked (damnit...unintended pun). I found flies to be too expensive so I starting tying flies to save money...yeah that was a mistake. I now have a few drawers full of dead animal fur/hair/feathers and various synthetic materials.

I also like to fish traditional spinning tackle using senkos and ned rigs. Often, I will get the ponds with both in my kayak and have at it. Fly fishing is not a superior way to fish..its just another way to fish. There are times that it can land you more fish...but the reverse can also be true.

 

[haparnold]

I'm a fly fisherman, but I don't tie. Fly fishing vs. bait fishing is a lot like pipes vs. cigars. Similar, but one is more contemplative than the other, as well as a little more "fiddly:.

For me, the appeal of fly fishing (I never bait fish) is, as Shane said, the interactive element of it. When I used to fish with a cane pole as a kid, it was really passive. Fly fishing (in the waters I fish, anyways) requires you to determine what insect species are hatching, requires a lot of observation of the water to see where you'd expect a fish to be, and requires some precision in putting a fly right where the fish is.

To me, there's no better thrill out there than sight fishing, where you observe a fish in the water and know exactly where it is, and try to convince it to take your fly.

Oh, and on a day it's warm enough to wade in a pair of shorts, I usually go to the river with a very minimal set-up. Beyond the pain of buying a fairly nice rod and an entry-level reel, it's not an expensive hobby for me.

 

[sandollars]

Another thing to consider when shopping, if you are going after small fish with a lighter weight rod the reel is pretty much a line holder at that point, IMO. No sense on spending $1500 for a reel when you're going to pull most fish in by hand rather than getting them on the reel and cranking. For bigger fish you'll want something better with good adjustable drag settings.

My first ever reel only had a drag and free spool setting. On or off. No adjustment. Still, I keep that old reel in my box as an emergency backup.

Herein lies the rub with Fly fishing..... There is often a need for more than 1 rod if you fish different types of waters.

Example: I am fairly sure @alaskanpiper did not use the same rod for that Rainbow as he used to catch that Salmon.... The trout looks pretty big but a 5wt or 6wt would tackle that baby quite nicely whereas that salmon was caught on an 8+wt. And with different weight rods come different weight reels, lines, leaders, and tippets.... Well you get the idea..

PLEASE correct me if I am wrong.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Herein lies the rub with Fly fishing..... There is often a need for more than 1 rod if you fish different types of waters.

Example: I am fairly sure @alaskanpiper did not use the same rod for that Rainbow as he used to catch that Salmon.... The trout looks pretty big but a 5wt or 6wt would tackle that baby quite nicely whereas that salmon was caught on an 8+wt. And with different weight rods come different weight reels, lines, leaders, and tippets.... Well you get the idea..

PLEASE correct me if I am wrong.

Your overall point is correct for sure.

However, I did use an 8wt for that trout, as it was caught in the lower Kenai river which is BIG FAST water. A rainbow that size (27 inches) in water that fast and deep can get you in trouble pretty fast with a 5wt. Could you land one with one? Sure, but you'll lose a lot of them, as they tend to run immediately for snags (they are not stupid). You have a little more control with an 8wt, and it also allows you to have a little more control with casting placement when there is a lot of water to cover, especially if you have to roll cast, which is not uncommon as there is often little beach, and lots of brush on the banks. Now, if I were fishing the upper Kenai, where 20 inches or less is the norm, I'd have a 5wt for sure, but lower Kenai where 25+ is not uncommon and 30+ can be had, I use the 8wt, as I'd hate to hook into a 30+ fish and be underequipped.

Anyway, even though I am correcting you about this particular instance, I am actually only adding to a very good point you've made, by adding the complexities of the water you are fishing to the required range of rods in one's stable.

I'd say most fly fisherman can get away with just two though. A 5wt and an 8wt gets you set up pretty well enough to have fun fishing just about anything. I've only ever had 5, 6, 8, and 9 weights (for King Salmon) in the stable and I've never found myself feeling underequipped. I have been tempted many times by smaller rods for lake grayling on a dry fly at our moose camp. A 0wt for those little buggers would be so much fun.

Similarly, a man could probably get away with just two pipes

 

[Dan-o$]

Avid Fly fisherman here. I also tie Flies and it's a blast. There's immense satisfaction in grabbing the attention of a nice Rainbow, Brook, or Brown with something you've tied yourself. Hard to explain. Also, Fly fishing is not limited to Trout. Small and largemouth Bass, Pike, Streelhead, Kokanie, Ocean fish, Salmon etc. Basically if you can catch it with a spinning rod, you can also use a Flyrod.

My home waters are generally Trout species and I catch and release mostly.

My goal in life is to fly fish every single state in the nation.

It doesn't have to be expensive to Fly fish. For $250 bucks, you can get into quite a nice setup with everything you need except the clothes you decide to wear.

Sure you can spend north of a grand for just the rod from brands like Winston, Sage, Loomis, etc. and with the reel, line and all the crap one obtains for human comfort, it's easy to spend another 1-2 grand.

I liken it to automobiles: A $9,000 new car will get you everywhere a $109,000 car will. There are definitely some differences, but they both will get you to your goal.

Has anyone tried Tenkara? I also Tenkara Fly fish. It's the simplest and most intuitive form of fly fishing. A complete Tenkara setup can be anywhere from $50.00 to $300.00. I always have one in my car whenever I even anticipate being close to streams, rivers, or ponds.

K. saw a guy throwing a fly at the water with his hands, didn't know about the casting part. I showed him a little. he had a nice $1000 Loomis rod though lol. My rig is a 5 wt. scott and battenkill (hardy??). Rising trout around evening hatch, sun going down, enjoying your pipe

 

[alaskanpiper]

Has anyone tried Tenkara? I also Tenkara Fly fish. It's the simplest and most intuitive form of fly fishing. A complete Tenkara setup can be anywhere from $50.00 to $300.00. I always have one in my car whenever I even anticipate being close to streams, rivers, or ponds.

I have not, but I've watched some videos of it in the past. Dudes were like diving into the water to keep fish on, hahaha. Looks tricky for sure.