Starting Fly Fishing? Here’s What Nobody Tells You

There is a moment when you decide you would like to try fly fishing.

Perhaps you have watched Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer or someone casting on a river, seen a trout rise to a fly or simply thought it looked like a rather nice way to spend a few hours outdoors. Then you start looking into it.

And suddenly you discover there are fly rods, reels, floating lines, sinking lines, leaders, tippets, flies, knots and casting techniques that seem to have names of their own. It all looks rather complicated.

The good news is that it really doesn't have to be.

You do not need to know everything before you make your first cast. In fact, one of the best things about learning to fly fish is discovering how much easier it becomes once someone shows you the basics properly.

You can teach yourself to cast... but should you?

There are plenty of videos online showing you how to cast a fly rod, and with enough practice you can certainly teach yourself.

The problem is that casting a fly rod is not quite the same as casting a conventional fishing rod. It is the weight of the fly line, rather than the fly itself, that allows you to load the rod and make the cast.

It is surprisingly easy for a beginner to develop habits that feel perfectly natural but make casting harder. You might use too much wrist, apply too much force, stop the rod in the wrong place or simply try to cast further than you need to. And because it feels like you are doing everything correctly, it can be difficult to work out why the cast isn't working. This is where an experienced instructor can make a huge difference.

A good instructor can watch your casting, spot the problem almost immediately and show you a simple adjustment. Sometimes one small change is all it takes. You can then go away and practise it yourself.

That is a much easier way to learn than spending weeks trying to correct something you didn't realise you were doing.

Your first cast doesn't need to be a long one

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is thinking that good fly casting means casting a long way. It doesn’t! In many fishing situations, you may only need to cast a relatively short distance.

Accuracy, control and presentation are far more important than trying to launch the fly to the other side of the river.

In fact, trying to cast further before you have developed good technique can make things considerably harder.

Learn to control a short amount of line first. Once your timing and technique improve, distance will come naturally.

You don't need every piece of tackle in the shop

It is very easy to get carried away when you start looking at fly-fishing equipment.

There are rods designed for different types of fishing, reels in all shapes and sizes, different fly lines and enough flies to fill a small suitcase.

You don't need all of it.

For a beginner, the most important thing is having tackle that is appropriate for the fishing you intend to do. This is another reason why getting some expert advice at the beginning can save you money. Buying the right equipment from the start is considerably better than buying something because it looked good online, discovering it isn't suitable for what you want to do and then buying something else.

Don't worry about getting the fly perfectly right

There is an enormous choice of flies, and this can be another source of confusion for beginners.

You do not need to become an expert entomologist before you start fly fishing.

You need to understand the basics of what fish are feeding on and learn how to choose a suitable fly.

Over time, you will begin to recognise different insects and understand why particular flies work in particular situations.

That knowledge comes with fishing.

You don't need it all on day one.

The knots will become easier

At first, fly-fishing knots can feel unnecessarily fiddly. Trying to thread a fine piece of tippet through a tiny eye while your fingers are cold is not everyone's idea of fun. But, like casting, tying knots is a practical skill. Learn a couple of useful knots properly and practise them at home. After a while, your fingers will start doing the work without you having to think about every step. There is no prize for tying a knot quickly.

A good, reliable knot is what matters.

Your first fish might be the least important part

Of course, we want to catch fish.

That is the point, after all. But your first few fly-fishing trips are about much more than catching.

You are learning to cast, control your line, present the fly, read the water and understand what the fish are doing. You are also learning how the wind affects your casting, how to approach the water without disturbing fish and where fish are likely to be found. Every trip teaches you something.

And then, eventually, everything comes together.

You make the cast, the fly lands exactly where you wanted it, the line behaves as it should and a trout rises.

That first take makes all the practice worthwhile.

Learn the fly fishing basics properly, then enjoy figuring out the rest

There is nothing wrong with learning fly fishing from books, videos and plenty of time on the water.

But having someone experienced show you the fundamentals can make the whole process considerably easier. A good lesson can give you the foundation you need to practise confidently on your own.

After that, the real fun begins.

You start experimenting. You learn to read the water.

You discover which flies work for you. You make mistakes, catch fish, solve problems and gradually develop your own way of fishing. That is what makes fly fishing so enjoyable.You never really stop learning.

So if you have been thinking about trying fly fishing, don't be put off by all the terminology and equipment.Start with the basics, get some proper instruction if you can, and don't worry about trying to become an expert overnight. Learn to cast. Learn to understand the water. Then go fishing.

The rest will come.