Need advice and help.

[New Hampshire]

Hello folks, Ive been a tried and true bass fisherman since I was knee high to a grasshopper.  Now it would seem natural that someone dedicated to fishing, such as I, would become interested in buggywhipping it.  So a few years ago I got a combo rod/reel start kit for my birthday.  It was a 5/6 wt. combo, 8 foot long rod.  Now I read a couple of them "Idiot" books and bought a video and even tried practicing.  But with my best efforts I still could not manage to get a cast much farther than 10 feet.  Now I dont know, but is this normal?  So here I am a couple of years later and am getting the itch again.  This time Im thinking that maybe a longer rod, perhaps of 9 feet, might be better for me?  The local Sports Authority tends to sell some pretty decent looking rods for an affordable price (Key word....AFFORDABLE.)  The price rnages from about 30 up to over 100 dollars.  What should I look for in a rod that will see use as basically an open water trouter rod with tinkering with open water bass?  A guy I know claims to be far from an expert, but he said to look for a rod with 11 or more guides.  True?  I plan on salvaging the reel from my combo, it is still in great (read nearly un-used,) state.  I do plan on getting a nice combo from Cabelas designed for float tube use (which I want so I can fish from my canoe.)   Its an 11 foot rod, but that one I want in a heavier weight strictly for bass.  Right now its out of the price range.  Im really trying folks.  I see all these fly fisherman on TV and get kinda bummed cuz I dont know whats up.  I would take a class, but my time is hard pressed as it is just getting out there to hunt and fish.  Add to the fact I dont even know where to find one around here.  Any advice given would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Brian M.

[Steelheader]

New Hampshire,
The first couple of years were a little rough on me too but don't give up!  Fly fishing is now so enjoyable it's about the only type of fishing I'm interested in.  I just took a look at my 6 weight rod and it is 8' 6" long and it has 8 guides and the tip top.  I use a longer rod for steelhead but it's because you are wading in deeper water and the longer the rod is the easier it is to "mend" your line.  Make sure you don't try to learn to cast on the water until you have the mechanics down.  I'm not sure why but I had a terrible time when I went to the river and tried to cast.  Get on a large lawn or a driveway (with no overhead power lines) and practice with the fly line beside you on the ground.  Work out a little line (30 ft) and get it laying out straight behind and off to the side.  Snap it forward and let it fall all the way to the ground and lay flat.  Snap it back and let the line go all the way back and fall to the ground.  Strip out a few feet of line and pinch the line between the rod grip and your finger until your forward motion and then let it go so the weight of the line pulls it up through the guides.  Repeat this until you have the desired length out.  The first thirty feet of line in fly fishing are the hardest until you get used to getting it out.  Study how if the line is straight the power of the rod snaps it the other way.  If there is slack in the line the rods power doesn't transmit to the line to snap it forward.  When this starts to work then you can use the same motions to move it up over your head.  Even then, look behind you to make sure the line gets all the way straight behind you before you start your forward movement.  Don't overexaggerate your motions forward and back or the line will start to go in a big lazy arc and will hit behind you on the ground.  Small moves do large line movements.  One other thing I've learned is the better the fly line the better I can cast it.  I just couldn't cast a 20$ fly line very well.  An 8' rod should be fine to start with.  I don't know if this helps but give it a try and stick with it.  What a great sport.

[flatlander]

I wouldn't get hung up on number of guides. Those will vary according to the length and action of the rod. I wouldn't give up entirely on your current rod/reel yet, either. You will find that the close up casts can be the worst to do. The way that fly rods are designed, you need to get enough line out to load the rod, or else you are going to have trouble casting much of anything. Steelheader's advice is pretty much right on, but I would add that you should concentrate how it feels when you load your rod and when it throws your line. You might want to practice casting with a small lure with the hook clipped off and not a bass bug until you get the hang of it. I learned with a Mel Kreiger video and by doing a basic "pick up and put down" cast in my front yard , and I fish an 8' 6wt rod out of a canoe also. I seem to remember that I was the world's ugliest caster (I might still be), but it seemed to all click together at once and things got a lot smoother. There is a rhythm and feel to the cast, and you can't just rip it out there like it was a regular bass plug.

[New Hampshire]

Thanks guys.  Maybe Ill head out to the gun club this spring/summer as there is a nice open area of about 60 yards that I can practice on that happens to be right in front of a small trout pound we stock every year.  Practice on dry land then move to the water?  Sounds like a plan.  Yes, I have also noticed that the hardest part was getting the initial length of line out there.  Guess I jut have to work on putting out that first 20 or 30 feet.  But I can at least say my first experinces did not sour me, Im still willing to try.  Again, Thanks.
Brian M.

[willis5]

imagine trowing a dart for your forward cast and dumping a cup of water over your shoulder for the back cast. now use your rod in that manner w/o using much if any wrist action.

[willis5]

10 minutes with a certified instructor will help you enough to fish and start with soem drills to practice.
I recomend finding someone to help you. $60 for an hour of private instruction is worth the frustration.