Fly Fishing Techniques & Tips

This post is for those fly fishing beginners out there looking to learn the basics of fly casting, or perhaps you have already started and would like some professional advice, for fly fishing beginners, from the pros. With fly casting being an art all in itself, some good advice about proper techniques should help get you heading in the right direction. Not only exhilarating but one of the best forms of therapy, fly fishing is an absolute connection that only my fellow fly casting buddies understand. So…without further hesitation…here are some tips and techniques to help out the fly fishing beginners on the horizon.

Lets go over how to fish with flies first

As a fly fishing beginner, when purchasing your first flies, choose a small selection that imitate the live organisms that stream and river fish feed upon. As your experience and knowledge of your local fishing spots grows, you should be able to more precisely match your flies with those of the local insect life. This is called matching the hatch. alot of fly fisherman tie there own flies for better results and more accurate imitations. There are alot of great books to learn how to do this, my personal number 1 pick is….. “Fly Fishing Unleashed” by William Carter, a renound fly fishing instructor…. some of the best fly fishing and fly tying techniques available, along with a ton of other priceless info, for FREE. Ill put a link at the end of this article. For now…let’s continue on…

While letting the fly drift down with the current, twitch the line while reeling it in. This gives the imitation of a live fly and will attract the fish. As a fly fishing beginner this is crucial, you really want that fly to appear as natural as possible.

Basic Fly Patterns

There are 4 types of artificial flies that are usually used when fly casting- Streamers, Nymphs, Wet flies, and dry flies:

1. Streamers sink and resemble small fish or minnows
2. Nymphs sink and represent underwater insect larvae or forms of aquatic insect life
3. Wet flies sink and don’t necessarily mimic a living organism
4. Dry flies float and imitate adult aquatic insects

2 Basic Types of Fly Casting

For the fly fishing beginner, fly casting can be pretty tricky at first. Always where safety glasses so the hook doesn’t snag your lip or ear. Polarized glasses will help you see the fish. Always be very careful of deceiving currents and slippery rocks when wading to cast. Follow these basic steps and you’ll be fly casting in just a few hours.

Basic Fly Casting:

1. Hold your rod tip out in front of you and make sure there’s no slack or tangles in the line
2. Bring the rod tip back swiftly but steady, coming to a stop when the tip is pointing up and slightly back
3. Keep an eye on your back-cast and watch for the line to unfurl
4. Right before the line straightens completely, then bring the rod forward again
5. Repeat and repeat and…… you get the picture

Roll Casting (used when there’s not enough area behind you for basic casting):

1. Hold your rod tip out in front of you and make sure there’s no slack or tangles in the line
2. Bring your rod tip back so that a small section of line is hanging loosely just behind your casting shoulder
3. Now bring the rod forward (slowly at first, then speed up gradually)
4. Stop while the tip of your rod is still pointing slightly up and watch the loop unfurl
5. Repeat

And here’s that link for my NO. 1 pick ebook for the fly fishing beginner, Click Here! SERIOUSLY !!! There are 6 FREE bonus books with this, 1. Fly Fishing Knots Made Easy, 2. Nymphing, Beter Fly Fishing For Trout, 3. Better Fly Fishing For Bass, 4. Better Fly Fishing For Panfish, 5. Emergency Fly Fishing Tactics, 6. Fly Fishing Reel Repair. You wont find a better deal anywhere….trust me, I’ve looked, and I’ve become a virtual expert overnight…I LOVE IT!!! Here is a great video I found on youtube also.