On a crisp fall morning, is there any better place to be than the banks of a trout stream, rod in hand? There are a lot of activities that help us reconnect with nature, but few do it as immersively as fly fishing. When you learn to read the current, predict fish behavior, and mark your calendar by the insect hatches, you feel like a part of the natural world, not merely a visitor in it. 

But fly fishing can be intimidating too, and it’s certainly frustrating at times. Learning it makes us feel as though we’ve unlocked the door to a secret world – which, in a way, we have. 

Learning to fly fish requires patience, and a willingness to occasionally be frustrated. Even so, it’s neither as difficult nor as complex as it might first appear. With some basic gear and a bit of determination, it’s a skill that anybody can learn. 

It also helps if you have a more experienced fly-fishing friend who can show you the ropes and guide you around some of the most common pitfalls. In the absence of such a person, this beginner’s guide to fly fishing will have to suffice. 

First Things First

Before we get in too deep, let’s talk about what makes fly fishing different from other types of fishing. Ordinarily, when casting, it’s the weight of the bait or lure that propels itself forward. The line is fairly incidental. 

Flies, on the other hand, weigh next to nothing. Consequently, fly line must be much heavier than conventional fishing lines. When you make a cast with your fly rod, you’re not really casting the fly; you’re casting the weight of the line. That might sound like a minor distinction, but it has a lot to do with why fly fishing looks and feels the way it does. 

Fly Rod and Reel Selection

The first thing every fly fisherman needs is a great fly rod. It doesn’t have to be the absolute top-of-the-line model – you can get a great entry-level rod and reel combo for a few hundred bucks – but it should be the right rod for you. Just like King Arthur needs his Excalibur and B.B. King needs his Lucille, you need a rod that inspires confidence and makes you want to go fishing.