Author Topic: new fly fisher (Read 983 times)

Rustyinfla · « **on:** May 23, 2004, 02:48:32 PM »

I just went fly fishing for the first time yesterday and took my son. I had purchased both of us fly rods for Christmas but this has been our first chance to go. I thought we'd start out slow and go for Bluegill. He had so much fun ( he's 15) he thanked me all the way home.
One of the things I noticed after reading here on the forum is about the different weight rods. Mine is a #8 Rods and we were fishing for bluegill. Is that really a problem?
I can see there is a lot to learn.

Thanks,
Rusty in Fla.

flatlander · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2004, 02:15:59 AM »

If your boy had that much fun, it doesn't sound like a problem to me. The 8 weight rigs will work well for fish a lot larger than bluegills, so you have rods that you can use over a pretty wide range. I know that some of the guys use them for saltwater flat fishing also.
The only thing I could add would be that if you continue fishing for the smaller stuff like bluegills and trout you might want to also consider something on the lighter end of the scale, like 3 or 4 weight. The 8 will work for most occasions, but I would look on it like fishing for them with 15 pound test. The 3 or 4 weight would put a lot more challenge into the fight, and allow a bit more delicate presentation if you ever run into some finicky fish. Glad to see you give it a try. It sure is a fun way to catch 'em!

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #2 on:** May 24, 2004, 08:28:08 AM »

I found out for sure that the fun is in the fishing, not in the catching. It would make sense that this is the weight rod for use on the flats as that is the kind of customers who frequent the shop where we bought the rods. It was a Scientific Angler combo by the way. Some of the rod guides up near the tip are not the round kind I'm used to seeing. These were like curled pieces of wire.

Rusty <><

flatlander · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2004, 02:21:17 PM »

The curled wire type that you are seeing are called snake guides and are pretty much the normal fare for flyrods. Some of the custom rods these days are using single foot ceramic guides that look something like a miniature spinning guide to minimize line drag and shoot line farther, but I don't think that they are necessary for most applications. The only exception to the snake guides are 1 to 3 "stripping" guides that are closest to the reel. They are simply a 2-foot casting guide. Sounds like you have decent rigs, and they should be just fine for you to learn on and fish with. Have fun with them and keep us updated on your trips.

pathfinder · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2004, 04:36:14 AM »

I started with a 7 wt and used it for everything, salmon trout bluegill ... Works great and casts well in the wind too.

I got a 5 wt later and that has been my go too rod ever since. Doesn't cast as far as the 7 wt but it's more fun with the smaller fish.

HeltonPrecision · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2004, 03:55:08 PM »

The thing about the 8wt rod is that if you ever hook a pretty good sized bass it will have enough back bone to land it ! I had a 8wt rod and reel given to me when I was younger and really got into tying hair bugs for bass ! Just because they looked cool

And we live on the river so every evening Id take my lil john boat out and throw around some fallen timber

It was about this time of year and I was in a very shallow part of the river were you couldnt get unless you had a flat bottom John boat

The sun was going down and the moon was shinning onto the water and all the little millers started falling onto the water I was like cool:)and it wasn't long till all the fish started feeding on them ! By then the moon was over head and I had already caught quite a few brim and some big shad using a hair popper i tied . When all of a sudden While I was jerking it something just pounded it scared the bejesus out of me (LoL) It ran and ran and ran ! I was like Boy O Boy I hope it doesn't break my leader :eek: Anyways it let it run and Id reel It would run and id reel This went on for about 5 or 6 minutes until it got to the boat I was like what the heck And I pulled up on my rod and it was a 5lb largemouth bass! That was the most fun i've ever had all summer using my fly rod ! It's just got were we have to many neighbors and jet ski's for me to do like I used to do :cry: kinda sucks NOW !

flatlander · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2004, 02:24:06 PM »

It usually doesn't take long before the flyfishing bug gets a hold on you. I haven't ever got into a 5 pounder, but the 2-3 pounders that I have caught sure are a lot of fun. I really enjoy scaling down to a 3 or 4 weight and going after the giant bluegills (is that an oxymoron?). It gives the same sort of fight, and they are a lot more plentiful than 3 pound bass around here. Man, I need to get out again. Talking about it just gets the fever up again.

Major · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2004, 02:43:23 PM »

One thing to remember is that 90% of a fishes diet is insects and small fish so it makes sense to fish with flies that imitate what fish eat. They dont eat plugs or spoons or jigs, those just irritate them into striking. To really catch lots of fish give them what they want to eat anyway.

The only time I dont use my fly rod is in salt water when I need to go more than 15 to 20 feet down.

Also, if you want to do catch and release fishing the fish are not hooked deep like they are with bait or with several hook points like with the treble hook on a spoon or plug.

As I see it fly fishermen have the best of all the fishing possibilities.