Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What hand do you hold the pole in when you cast?

Answer: And what hand is your dominant hand? Seriously, a person can cast  with whichever hand you are comfortable with, but there are some interesting “right hand, left hand” issues in fly casting. If you are really accomplished, you could switch hands based on the conditions you face! But start with your dominant hand!

Question: How can you cast a fly since it’s weightless?

Answer: Well, that’s kind of the point of fly fishing: the capability to present a weightless “lure” to the fish. The weight of the line on a fly rod enables the angler to present near weightless lure to the fish. The trick is that the casting line itself is weighted and the key to fly casting. In fact, adding weight to the terminal end *where the hook is!” handicaps your cast! Heavy flies are particularly hard to cast!

Question: Do you fish with barb or barbless flies?

Answer: Always barbless: but that comes in two approaches, buy hooks to tie on (or commercially tied flies) already without a barb, or pinch the barb off a fly that you have before you fish it. Among “ethics'  in flyfishing, releasing fish after the struggle to the net is very important: alway fish barbless!! More an issue when tying flies, pinch barbs before you tie, or buy barbless hooks!

Question: How long of a leader do you use and what length of tippet?

Answer: Since I promote dry fly fishing, I prefer a 9’ leader with at least 12 inches of tippet, but there are times in “gin clear” waters that I want a twelve foot leader PLUS twelve to eighteen inches tied onto that! For a beginner, I recommend learning to cast effectively with a 7 ½ foot leader with a foot to eighteen inch tippit added. The tippet has two purposes, less waste of the leader when changing flies, and greater distance between fish and fisher! 

Question: What fish can you catch with a fly rod?

Answer: Fly fishing is most renowned as a method for catching trout, grayling and salmon, but it is also used for a wide variety of species including pike, bass, panfish, and carp, as well as marine species, such as redfish, snook, tarpon, bonefish and striped bass.There’s a fly rod for every type of fish imagened. Any fish will come to the fly!

Question: Do you use strike indicators?

Answer: Never, though if you want to try nymphing, I won't object to using an indicator. Pro hint: any indicator and/or split shot will RUIN your cast. You can fish nymphs without an indicator, and there’s a cast that will help get your flies deep before your fly line hits the water called a “tuck” cast!

Question: Do you tie your own flies?

Answer: Yes, and it’s one of the great experiences of fly fishing: catching a fish with a fly unique and tied by you!

Question: What kind of fly line do you use?

Answer: It varies, but generally a weight forward line The line weight indicated on the box that line comes in should match the rod weight, but sometimes a fisherman will “over weigh” the rod with a heavier line, mostly to slow down the cast of a fast action rod.

Question: What’s the difference between fly fishing and regular fishing?

Answer: A LOT! Fly fishing is a complex, difficult combination of the study of water, effective casting, and plenty of good, old fashioned LUCK. If you catch a fish on an artificial you picked out based on what you’ve observed on location, then effectively presented your fly, and the fish responds, there is no greater joy and you will be “hooked’ on flyfishing. The history and traditions of fly fishing will reward you forever.

Question: How do you prevent getting knots in your line?

Answer: “Wind knots” as described in the literature, is the result of a casting error, most commonly a “tailing loop” where the line on your back cast falls below the straight line path the line should be on. There are other causes, and your instructor can identify the problem and help improve the issue. Don't worry! A very common problem and easy to fix! 

Question: How much line should I have out while casting?

Answer: The line you need to reach and present your fly! Line control is critical, and you will learn to cast what you can effectively. Having slack line in hand isn’t a problem, IF you can control it!

Question: How do I want my waders to fit?

Answer: Loose but not too loose. Fitting can be tricky. See below!

Question: Are there waders specific for women?

Answer: Yes!! Check out Miss May Fly! (www.missmayfly.com.) Highly recommended. It’s not just sizing for women, it's the material as well.

Question: What is the benefit of fly fishing?

Answer: Fly fishing can be the most effective method of fishing, but the benefits aren’t measured in fish caught. The true benefit is the joy of the out of doors, the beauty of the quarry, and the serenity of being on the water. It is a skill set that leads to embracing the wilds! In fly fishing, the fish are usually fooled, not provoked!