first fly experience

I finally got out fly fishing for the first time. I don't have any big catches to report, so if that's what you're looking for, stop now.

I've been wanting to try fly fishing for some time, but finally moved back to my hometown, where my family is located still. I went out with my brother a couple weeks ago. We had no luck the first time--I chalked it up to learning how to cast, that sort of thing. We have since gone to some SW Washington fly-only waters 4 times. I have caught many little guys, but twice had decent sized trout on and once saw what I think was a steelhead jump. We were WAY out in the sticks, but it was a BIG fish and very colorful.

Anyway, I have to say I can't imagine going back to a spinning or baitcasting rod. My future trout fishing will be by fly rod.

I will still go after those steelhead on spinning rod. At least until I figure out how to stalk them on the fly...

Oh my god,another one is hooked. Once you pick up a fly rod you seemed hooked for life. I did what you did,fished with the spinning gear and switched to flies and now I even do it in the winter time. In fact I now don't even own and other type of rods except fly rods.

Also be prepared as it will cost you in the long run to own many different sizes of rods. Such as 3,4,5,6,7,and 8 wt' rods and then the lines to go along with these rods.

And that's not all. After a while you will want to start tying your own flies. But after you are all done in the end you will be a happy camper as you will have everything that there is to fly fishing.

I would not change one thing that I have done in fly fishing except wish that I had a few more rods. One can never have enough rods.

Jim

Jim

You forgot one thing: building your own fly lines

I'll leave that tp you as tying flies is hard enough some times.

Jim

Never heard of that one... how do you build your own fly lines???

Zambi,
Welcome! Once you're into the steelhead fly gig you're pretty much done with everything else. Only piece of advice I'd give you regarding steelhead fly fishing is to begin with a spey rod right off the bat and to take a casting lesson (or several) to get off on the right foot and to shorten the initial learning curve.
Chris

It takes years to learn, but it's fun

Well I am coming out of my 25 year steelhead quest and getting back to other fly fishing: trout, bass, carp, saltwater of my youth and you know what its fun, warmer, more productive, and some of these fish actually readily take on the surface!

Plus the rivers and lakes are less crowded than steelhead rivers.

FL

Takes about an hour or 2.

If you know how yo do it, you gas passer :p

C&R'd the prettiest wild rainbow I've ever seen last night. It was small--no more than 8 inches or so--but man it was pretty. I've been borrowing my brother's gear so next step is to get my own. New post on the way regarding that...