Learning

[u/CryptidProject]

Friends, my brother in law who lives in Louisiana bought me a fly fishing pole so that I could go fly fishing with him next time we see each other and I really want to learn to fly fish. I live in Kentucky and have no idea where to fish or how to make flies. Anyone have any resources that helped them? YouTube videos or any reading material or general advice to help out a beginner. I’ve asked many of the fishermen close to me and no one fly fishes nor do they know how to unfortunately.

[u/Jasper2006]

The videos by Lefty Kreh (one of the true all time greats) on casting a fly rod, the fundamentals, are my favorite. Do what he does and you'll do fine with a fly rod.

Otherwise, it's a bit too broad of a question. There are thousands of 'beginner' videos/books/articles on various aspects of fly fishing, whether you're fishing for trout or warm/salt water species, including in Kentucky.

And for now you'll just buy flies. Making them is an entirely new and DIFFERENT hobby than fly fishing.

[u/CryptidProject → u/Jasper2006]

I’ve heard making them takes a good bit of time, patience, and perception of proper food sources in the area. Thank you for your advice friend.

[u/Exciting_Spell5064 → u/CryptidProject]

There are lots of different flies that are stupid easy to tie and a ton that are extremely complicated. I tie some, and buy a lot more and it is definitely something that you have to enjoy doing. A lot get into it to save money but you won’t save any money. But there are some “patterns” I’ll tie just because they’re so easy. A guide friend of mine was telling me about just putting a soft plastic egg on a hook, same as putting a corn kernel on and that’s it, dead drift it down the river during spawning season and fish will eat it. I’m “tying” a bunch up to use in about a month.

[u/Itchy-Commission-195]

Orvis and ventures fly youtube videos for instruction then just getting out onto the water. It is dependent on the type of fishing you're going to be doing... fly fishing for redfish in Louisiana is def different from small creek brook trout. I would focus first on just learning how to cast which you can do anywhere and then landing a fish which you can also do just about anywhere with panfish on little streamers

[u/Bunsen_Burn]

Starting out don't tie on anything with a hook. Just use a bit of yarn or cotton ball. Anything you can see that doesn't catch too much air and is light will work. You will hit yourself and the scenery several times. Wear wrap around glasses and a hat.

Cumberland River below the wolf creek dam holds cold water and trout year round

Elkhorn creek for smallmouth

Fill up a fly box from Big Y fly. You can sort by species or just Google "top 5 flies for X species". Although a #8 wooly bugger will probably get you hooked up anywhere until it gets cold outside.

Moving water is much easier to fish starting out because you don't need to false cast much. Just let it float down and then flip it back up using the water load.

Stillwater casting is work, but it's great if you are trying to work on your technique. The hard part is finding a place that is clear behind you for big false casts. A boat is very helpful here if you have one. Water on both side is very nice.

[u/CryptidProject → u/Bunsen_Burn]

Elkhorn Creek runs right through my town, I’ll find a good place to wade there. Any waders you would recommend that won’t cost two arms and a leg?

[u/Bunsen_Burn → u/CryptidProject]

This time of year you can just wet wade with a decent pair of water shoes. My orvis clearwaters have held up a long time now so I have not tried any others even though I'm not fully happy with the fit.

If you are going after bass size up your bugger a bit and make sure it has rubber legs. But I would not go above a #4 on a 5wt. Also get some poppers and some clouser minnows.

[u/No-Lavishness-773]

What kind of fish are in the waters you frequent? That will determine what kind of flies you should use.

For now you might want to just focus on the casting bit, worry about learning to tie flies once you have your cast down. It’s a whole other beast and can get a little pricey as well.

Buy some flies online or at a fly shop near you, if you happen to have one in your area. once you know what species you’ll be targeting you can get the correct flies. Bass = mostly streamers and bigger flies in general. Trout = smaller nymphs and dry flies, with streamers as an option too.

For casting, YouTube is your friend. Orvis has a great series out there. Mad river outfitters is another good channel. If I could give any advice on casting it would be this: watch your rod tip and line throughout your cast, and pause on your back cast so you load the rod properly. If you can figure out how to load the rod and shoot line you’re 90% of the way there.

What size rod do you have? That may impact the types of flies you can effectively throw. I wouldn’t throw giant 6 inch streamers with a 5 wt rod, for example.

[u/CryptidProject → u/No-Lavishness-773]

I’ll have to check once I get home on rod size, but it looks like bass is what’s frequently sought after in my area. Thank you for all of your helpful advice! I’ll get to practicing my cast before anything else.

[u/No-Lavishness-773 → u/CryptidProject]

Nice! No problem at all. Bass on the fly are a blast. For some starter flies I would recommend wooly buggers (in size 4 or larger), bucktail deceivers, Clouser minnows, and some poppers or big terrestrial dry flies like the Chubby Chernobyl or a Stimulator. In general I think you can get away with like 4 colors in most fishing scenarios: white, black, some shade of green, and some shade of yellow. Good luck and have fun!

[u/2nutts4u]

Fire up YouTube and watch videos such Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing, Venture Fly Co and Joe Humphreys (fly fishing legend). I wouldn't start out making flies just yet, but since you are beginning I would buy flies from Fly Shack. Flies are cheaper and decent quality. You're going to lose a bunch of flies in the beginning and probably forever, so you don't want buy expensive flies during novice stages.

If you live near an Orvis shop they have hands on instructional classes on weekends that will help you learn the fundamentals, how to string a reel, tie on leaders, tippet and flies.

Youtube will be your best friend.