Coming in fresh from the Seattle area (2024)

Flytie09 knows of what he speaks! Hard to really give advice, other than to suggest that you approach all of this madness somewhat gradually, and above all PLEASE get some casting lessons! Yes, it costs a few bucks (find someone certified to teach) but you will flatten the learning curve quite a bit, and eliminate a lot of frustration that is otherwise inevitable. I know this from bumbling personal experience, I can assure you.

Fly fishing is actually not that complicated, and it is a lot of fun, but too often people let unnecessary obstacles get in their way. Don't worry about other people's opinions, practice, practice, practice, and don't throw money at it when all you really need is time and perspective. Above all, enjoy, and welcome to the Forum!

Welcome to this site from a born and bred central NY'er. Both fishing and tying are fine hobbies! And, yes, there is a BIG rabbit hole that you can drop in as far as the cost of the addiction! The nice thing is you don't have to be addicted to enjoy things. Yes, get lessons - they are worth more than the money you pay to take them and YES take it slow, observe and learn. And the biggest thing - ENJOY! I've been fishing for 55 years and tying flies for fifty and I have learned one important lesson in enjoying the fishing experience. Here's the secret - When you go fishing there are two types of days and EACH ARE GOOD. There are days you go fishing and catch fish: and there are days you go fishing and you don't catch fish! As long as you enjoy your surroundings and learn something each day has it's positive merits!

Have fun and I hope you enjoy your time on this fine site!

Kim

Welcome to the forum. Best advice: take lessons. Most fly shops offer them free.

Keep us informed on your progress.
steve

WWKimba said:

Here's the secret - When you go fishing there are two types of days and EACH ARE GOOD. There are days you go fishing and catch fish: and there are days you go fishing and you don't catch fish! As long as you enjoy your surroundings and learn something each day has it's positive merits!

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This is exactly how I feel about fishing and hunting too! Any time spent out on the water or in the field is better than time spent at home! It took 4 years of hunting before I actually laid eyes on a legal buck. I'm not afraid of getting skunked or discouraged by it. I anticipate that this will lead me to some beautiful places I otherwise wouldn't go. Enjoying the great outdoors is real the catch to me!

Welcome to the forum!

Good fishing! Everyone's saying lessons, and that certainly doesn't hurt.

However, you can certainly teach yourself a functional enough flycast to get yourself out on the water. I learned from a book, and youtube is out there.

okaloosa said:

I have a different philosophy from several expressed above:
1)the cost of the fly fishing addiction is a lot less than the cost of heroin addiction or a psychiatrist so don't worry.
2)If you are not upset with yourself on the days that you don't catch fish (providing others are catching fish) then you will never get much better.

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1) There definitely are much worse ways to spend money!
2) I think the whole point is to not let the bad days discourage you enough to give up altogether. One should strive to improve and learn always!

Flyfisher for men said:

Welcome to the forum!

Good fishing! Everyone's saying lessons, and that certainly doesn't hurt.

However, you can certainly teach yourself a functional enough flycast to get yourself out on the water. I learned from a book, and youtube is out there.

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I've already been attending the YouTube University School of Fly Fishing. I'm not ready for finals of my first semester? I'll figure it all out enough to get out there wet some flys!

If we haven’t scared you off yet...... then we wish you luck. Fly fishing is a sport you can pursue even late in life. You make it as expensive and as complicated as you want it to be.

There is a lot to learn that a mentor, shop, or guide trip will help bring you up the curve. That’s why I suggested it. I’m 100% self taught myself from books and trial and error. A lot of error..

As far as shops.... Anil at Puget Sound Fly Shop in Tacoma is a great dude. Good luck to you.

Fish on!

Crookercaster said:

I think the whole point is to not let the bad days discourage you enough to give up altogether. One should strive to improve and learn always!

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definitely, you learn more from your bad days sometimes than your good days.....those bad days when you break the code and
you start catching fish, especially when others aren't, can be your most rewarding days. Never be ashamed to pick the minds of those
doing better on the water , none of us here "invented the wheel"...we are all sitting on the shoulders of some true past giants in the fly fishing world...

flytie09 said:

If we haven’t scared you off yet...... then we wish you luck.

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Y'alls can't scare me! I'm 100% committed. I just bought a reel and line for my rod. All that's left is some flies and accessories and I'll be on the water out fishing everyone and breaking records... Or just maybe catch a fishy every 10th outing ?

Crookercaster said:

I've already been attending the YouTube University School of Fly Fishing. I'm not ready for finals of my first semester? I'll figure it all out enough to get out there wet some flys!

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Sounds good. Personally, I'd rather be fishing with sloppy casting form then taking lessons.

Mr. Miyagi says "Paint the ceiling." Backstroke. Stop. Forward stroke. Stop. Always let backcast unfurl.

Edit: I think somebody around here might have quoted Miyagi before on this.

okaloosa said:

definitely, you learn more from your bad days sometimes than your good days.....those bad days when you break the code and
you start catching fish, especially when others aren't, can be your most rewarding days. Never be ashamed to pick the minds of those
doing better on the water , none of us here "invented the wheel"...we are all sitting on the shoulders of some true past giants in the fly fishing world...

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Definitely agree! There is so much to know and learn. Casting and fishing technique, reading water and landscape, fish habits, all sorts of gear stuff, etc etc etc. It's almost discouraging thinking if all the is to learn but I know it'll come with great time spent on the water!
All this talk about fly fishing got me excited and I made the drive out to one of the shops near me (Creekside Angling) and bought the rest of stuff needed: Flies, leaders, tippets, floatant etc. I cannot wait to get out on some water! Hopefully I can get my reel and line this week too.

If anyone in the area is interested in taking a totally rookie out on some water, PM me and we can decide on time and location to meet. You show me the ropes a bit and I give you plenty of reasons to laugh!

Hello and welcome to our group,

I don't know if you have already or will join other forums but am hopping you'll make this your online fly fishing hangout. I think that if you follow your posts here you'll find this is the busiest forum in North America, anglers from all over the country and Canada. People from France, the UK. and Germany even our friends from The Southern Hemisphere.

People, our members are skilled at every form of fly fishing under the sun and enjoy sharing the how to as well as the what with of the sport.

Ard

Ard said:

Hello and welcome to our group,

I don't know if you have already or will join other forums but am hopping you'll make this your online fly fishing hangout. I think that if you follow your posts here you'll find this is the busiest forum in North America, anglers from all over the country and Canada.

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So far so good! I really don't have much to contribute yet because of my lack of experience and knowledge. I don't even know what questions I have! The ones I do have are too basic to ask and can mostly be answered with searches in the appropriate forums.
My short stint here has been very positive. From all the nice replies in this thread to someone offering to get me connected with a reel seller in the classified because I can't send PMs yet and what seems to have been a very smooth transaction to buy the reel. I'll know for sure once I actually get the reel and line.
I look forward to learning from the experienced folks here and eventually contributing my own content.