Fly Fishing for Beginners: Rods, Lines and Your First Flies

Fly fishing is as much about the experience as the catch, and it is easier to start than most people think.

Choose your first outfit

A 9 foot, 5-weight rod is the all-round choice for trout, panfish and small bass. Buying a matched fly rod and reel combo makes sure the rod, reel and line work together.

How fly line works

In fly fishing you cast the weight of the line, not the lure. The setup runs from reel to fish like this: backing, fly line, a tapered leader, tippet, and finally your fly. Weight-forward floating line is the best place to start.

Your first flies

• Dry flies float on the surface. Match what you see hatching.
• Nymphs imitate insects underwater, where trout do most of their feeding.
• Streamers imitate baitfish and draw aggressive strikes.

A starter fly assortment covers all three.

Your first cast

1. Strip out about 20 feet of line in front of you.
2. Lift the rod smoothly and stop it sharply at about 1 o'clock behind you.
3. Pause until the line straightens behind you.
4. Push forward and stop at about 10 o'clock. Let the line roll out.

Practice on grass before you hit the water.

Where to go

Small streams and ponds with willing panfish are perfect for learning. Read our Trout Fishing 101 guide for stream tactics.