First 2 days: Newbie to fly fishing

Day 1- yesterday, caught 3 on poppers. Plenty of frustrating moments but survived.
Day 2- today, more comfortable with gear and what I was doing. 3 on bead heads using a foam strike indicator and rest on poppers. All small enough to strip in. Lost a few, but know why. Just used roll cast, as I didn't want to end up in trees or brush. Kind of tough with the wind, unless it was at my back. I have to say, I did enjoy myself today and its a good thing that gills are so forgiving!Attachment 399791Attachment 399792Attachment 399793Attachment 399794Attachment 399795Attachment 399796Attachment 399797Attachment 399798Attachment 399799

They are the perfect opponents for fly rodding MR. They are not only forgiving of a crummy cast or two (or three:Rofl) but give a terrific fight on a lighter weigh5 fly rod.
Bob

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Originally Posted by moonrunner

Day 1- yesterday, caught 3 on poppers. Plenty of frustrating moments but survived.
Day 2- today, more comfortable with gear and what I was doing. 3 on bead heads using a foam strike indicator and rest on poppers. All small enough to strip in. Lost a few, but know why. Just used roll cast, as I didn't want to end up in trees or brush. Kind of tough with the wind, unless it was at my back. I have to say, I did enjoy myself today and its a good thing that gills are so forgiving!

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I posted some good casting videos here:

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/fly-fishing/

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Originally Posted by moonrunner

Day 1- yesterday, caught 3 on poppers. Plenty of frustrating moments but survived.
Day 2- today, more comfortable with gear and what I was doing. 3 on bead heads using a foam strike indicator ...

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Next time, try without the strike indicator. Use a slow “hand twist” retrieve. The gills will almost jerk the rod out of your hands.

Glad to hear of your efforts in the learning curve. Some nice fish, they’re just icing on the cake. Fly fishing is so rewarding by just making casts and not getting broken off in a tree overhead and so on.I started with bonfire junk tackle and had an absolute blast. That little popper bug you’re using, I caught a 5 1/2lb bass on one just like it standing in a canoe. I’ve followed it ever since but not as actively as UL fishing. Hope you continue to enjoy it, I know we all enjoy the posts of your success.

Sweet! Poppers, mayflies, and black ants are my favorites.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Awesome catch, my father would bring his fly rod and fish for the Gills from the rear of the boat while I probed the water with conventional gear. Certain times he would beat me in size and numbers. Learned to pay attention to insect hatches and surface activity I did.

Nice catch.


Regards

Stupid auto correct. Bonfire is supposed to be bonafide. I’ll learn to proofread one day. Maybe.

Some nice looking fish! I envy your fly fishing skills.

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Originally Posted by Fishfishwish

Some nice looking fish! I envy your fly fishing skills.

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Fly fishing skills???? NOOO!, more like luck. Just trying to learn the basics and have a bit of fun. A few years ago Cabelas had a really good sale on their glass flyrods and I picked up two for use on gills, if I could get the hang of it. Finally giving it a go, and it was nice to get my feet wet.

Fly bream are a blast! I use a three weight rod and foam spiders I tie up myself...we're lucky to have some HUGE coppernose bluegills in our home pond, and they'll make a believer out of ya!!!

When someone tells my they want to learn fly fishing, I always tell them that the bluegill is the perfect teacher.

I have enough trouble with a spinning set up. :biggrinI'll need more patience before moving into the fly rod scene. I like the idea of it though.

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Originally Posted by Fishfishwish

I have enough trouble with a spinning set up. :biggrinI'll need more patience before moving into the fly rod scene. I like the idea of it though.

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I have heard it argued that fly is easier than spinning or baitcasting, even for kids. A simple pick-up-and-lay-down cast is all you need to get started, and almost anybody can do that.

Two mistakes I see people making when getting started:

1) They don't get any instruction. People seem to completely ignore the 10,000 "how to fly cast" videos on YouTube.

2) They try to cast too far. A 30' foot cast is more than enough distance when you're learning. Work on your form, and the distance will come.

Truth there. I’ve watched a man teach a young boy how to fly cast with a cane pole and twice the rod length of line in the yard. In about a half an hour dad gave him a fly rod and he looked pretty good with it. Dad said it took a lot of variables out of the picture and concentrate on the back cast and lay down. I couldn’t argue, only one I ever taught was me.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

Truth there. I’ve watched a man teach a young boy how to fly cast with a cane pole and twice the rod length of line in the yard. In about a half an hour dad gave him a fly rod and he looked pretty good with it. Dad said it took a lot of variables out of the picture and concentrate on the back cast and lay down. I couldn’t argue, only one I ever taught was me.

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Me too, but I was motivated and it didn’t take all that long. Garcia Conolon glass and a classic Pflueger Medalist. (A genuine made in USA) I still have it. It isn’t all that hard to just get mediocre, and as DB4D said there is now a ton of tutorial# out there. I only had books and illustrations, but that was good enough. It is a real nice change of pace from time to time.
Bob

A brief video from the guys at Leland:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G8NaE_sVFE

Great post and comments. Your pic's were great also.