New to Fly Fishing. HELP!!!!!

[ebacon]

I am very new to Fly Fishing and to fishing in general. I went fly fishing late last fall in Yellowstone National Park and I fell in love with it very fast. I recently bought a beginner fly rod and real set and I am wondering if anyone can tell me if i made a good choice. I purchased a Redington Crosswater No. 5 line 9'. The rod also came with a crosswater 4/5/6 reel. The reel that came with the set seems like it is made of plastic, but seems like it is good enough to learn with I hope. Also wondering if anyone knows any good websites about knots for tying fly to leader and leader to fly? Pretty much I am so new that any tips or any info would be much appriciated.
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[kochanut]

reddington is a great rod and reel combo to start out on. i try to tell all my buddies that want to get into FF'ing to take a look at reddington. as for knots and such try to reach out to flygoddess and macfly they will point you in the rigt direction
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[flyfishingfool]

I really like this website for knots. Its the best one I know of.

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php

I have never used a Reddington rod but I've heard nothing but good things about them. Good luck!
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[flygoddess]

Great hearing you have chosen Fly Fishing. It can be the most wpnderful experience and teaches patience I think. If I can sit for several minutes untying a knot in a leader while fish are jumping all around, I do believe patience is a virtue.

That combo you have is a choice of many guides. Cost effective and good gear.

Knots. I will give you a list of what I use, but first, every fisher should own this tool

http://youtu.be/611JWRtkjOc

Fly Line to Backing:

http://www.netknots.com/html/nail_knot.html

Fly line to leader. There are several choices here.
First, If your line is just cut off at the end buy a 9' 3X tapered mono leader. Attach it (with the tool) to the fly line using a Nail Knot. Then you use this leader replacing tippet till the leader no longer has a taper. Then you cut the leader off leaving a foot connected to the fly line.
Put a "Perfection Loop" not a Surgeon's loop as a perfection hangs straight a Surgeon's kicks to one side.

http://www.animatedknots.com/perfection/index.php

Another choice is to add one of those woven loops to the end of your line, but again, learn the perfection loop as you will put this in the end of your leader to connect it to the fly line.

Lastly, making a loop IN you fly line. This can be done a couple of ways. I slice the end at an angle, fold it over and create a small loop, then secure it with fly tying thread.

Ant any rate you will want a LOOP in the end of your fly line and want to omit any KNOTS.

Then you connect the loops like this:

http://killroys.com/knots/loop-to-loop-connection/


Okay, so now you have line to backing, and leader to line. Next comes TIPPET.

It will be the last piece of material you tie on before the fly. You want at most the same size as the leader. So if the leader is a 3X, tippet will be 3X or, 4X, or 5X etc.

Tippet gets smaller the higher the number. An old rule of thumb although has changed a little over the years, but still a good reference.
Take 9 subtract the X and that is the pound of the line. 9 - 3X = 6 pound.

Take a foot or so of tippet and attack it to the end of the fly line.
Knots:
Blood Knot
http://www.animatedknots.com/bloodknot/index.php

Or Double Surgeon's Knot
http://www.animatedknots.com/surgeonsjoin/index.php


You are set. Find the knot that is quickest and easiest for you to attach the fly.

Clinch Knot
http://www.animatedknots.com/improvedclinch/index.php

This site covers the other choices:
http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/files/index.html


Good luck and welcome. Oh and once the line is attached to backing and a loop has been put in the line, you will only be left with needing to use 2 or 3 knots.
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[Dryrod]

Hi there ebacon - to get you started you have to look no further than this forum. Here is a board that I posted some time ago.

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforum.cgi?forum=311"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforum.cgi?forum=311[/url]

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[TylerKunz]

Just listen to everything flygoddess tells you and you will be landing fish in no time! [] I started out on crosswater 8'6 5 weight and I love that rod. I fished it for about 4 years and it was still in such great shape I gifted it to a friend. great choice. Now just get out and start flinging some fly's! Oh and I watched alot of you tube casting videos as well... But be careful which ones you watch, some will lead you astray. Lefty kreh was one of my favs
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[powerteamlures]

[quote ebacon]I am very new to Fly Fishing and to fishing in general. I went fly fishing late last fall in Yellowstone National Park and I fell in love with it very fast. I recently bought a beginner fly rod and real set and I am wondering if anyone can tell me if i made a good choice. I purchased a Redington Crosswater No. 5 line 9'. The rod also came with a crosswater 4/5/6 reel. The reel that came with the set seems like it is made of plastic, but seems like it is good enough to learn with I hope. Also wondering if anyone knows any good websites about knots for tying fly to leader and leader to fly? Pretty much I am so new that any tips or any info would be much appriciated.[/quote]

Hi,
As you are a beginner I would suggest you to select one of the many good quality small still waters for fly fishing. Try to avoid the temptation to start on a river or reservoir.
Fly fishing equipment kit must include:
Fly Rod – Rated AFTM 6-7 weight
Reel – Basic fly reel designed to hold 6-7 weight line plus 75+ meters of backing
Fly Line – Weight forward 7 floating fly line
Backing – Spool of polypropylene backing line, connecting fly line to reel
Forceps/snips – Combination for trimming line and unhooking fish
Landing Net – Means of landing your catch quickly and safely
Floatant/Sinkant – Treatments to make line/flies float or sink as desired.
Good fishing starter kit and a day's tuition with a good instructor will surely help you a lot. Moreover you can go through midlands-flyfishing blog.
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