We’ve been lucky enough to have some amazing fly fishing guides on Georgia’s Adventure Getaways (if you haven’t signed up for her latest one, YOU Should!), that have made us completely fall in love with the art of it. Many first timers, however, easily become overwhelmed with the basics of fly fishing and don’t give it the chance it deserves. We are on a mission to change that so we are breaking down What To Know Before You Go Fly Fishing For The First Time.
What To Know Before You Go Fly Fishing For The First Time:
The Gear
We will admit fly fishing does take a good bit of gear, but we have you covered with the must-haves vs. what to save for when you become more of a regular (because you will get hooked and become a regular).
Must-haves:
- A fly rod
- A fly fishing line (this is made up of 4 parts: a fly line, a tippet, a leader, and backing).
- A fly reel
- And of course, flies
The Rod and Reel
These are the most important pieces of equipment, and they come in a wide range of prices some even going well above the $1,000 mark.
Rods vary by weight, widths, and the materials by which they are constructed. The rod you will need depends upon what exactly you are fishing for, so doing a bit of research beforehand and possibly phoning a local guide to ask their suggestion is worth it.
Fly reels also vary widely. The low-end reels are typically plastic, while the prices can be very attractive, but the plastic ones simply do not perform as well.
The most important thing to know here is that fly rods and reels must be matched. The good news though is that most manufacturers sell combos and combos are already matched.
The Line
As we discussed earlier the fly line is made up of 4 parts: fly line, a tippet, a leader, and backing.
Fly backing is used to fill up the reel. It is usually thick and bright colored to make it easier to see on the water. It is the longest portion of the line.
Fly line provides the weight when fly fishing. The line is heavy and brightly colored as well.
The leader is used to transition from the thick fly line to the thin Tippet. It keeps the heavier line from slapping the water.
The tippet attaches the fly to the leader.
The Flies
There are different types of flies and the one you will need depends upon what specifically you’ll be fishing for.
The 3 primary types of flys are:
Nymphs resemble aquatic creatures, often larvae, and generally float at or just below the surface.
Streamers are designed to mimic aquatic life as well, but larger than nymphs, typically leeches. Streamers are also commonly called lures.
Dry Flies are the most common, and are designed to look like flying insects that land and float on top of the water.
Additional Gear
The following are good to have, but are not totally necessary.
Net makes it easier to grab the fish.
Vest are great for keeping your gear organized and readily available.
Waders allow you to get out in the water, anywhere you want. Without them, you’ll either have to get wet, fish from the bank, or rock hop. See if you have a friend with some you can borrow or possibly rent some from a local shop.
Additional Tips
Before you go make sure you plan a large chunk of time for fishing, it can take a while to master, and you don’t want to rush yourself.
Watch some instructional videos on the overhead cast, this is the most basic and luckily there are a lot of great YouTube videos out there to help you.
Bring a friend along, it’s a lot more fun and especially helpful to have an experienced friend around.
Are you planning to go this summer?! If so we’d love to know where! Share with us by commenting below or tagging us on social media.
After fishing, you should cook up one of G’s famous fish recipes you can find them HERE.
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