I recently went wade fishing with my friend, Steve Ramirez, on the Guadalupe River Tailwater. It looked like the San Juan in July out there that day with most of the usual “spots” already playing host to more than one angler. So when we came upon a run with just one fly fisher standing near the head with lots of run, and Texas Trout, left beyond his longest drifts, we asked if we could fish along side (that reminds me, good river etiquette is another bit of learning that would be a good bit of supplementary education for most self-taught fly anglers). He graciously invited us and we made the usual small talk—‘what a lovely day,’ ‘where are you from,’ ‘how’s the fishing,’ etc. He said he had a taker or two a while ago that he missed or couldn’t keep hooked up and nothing since. That’s okay, we call it fishing not catching for a reason, right? And it really was a beautiful day.
I recently had someone reach out to say they were looking to get a new reel for their spouse’s beginner combo. While the specific reel question was more unique, I’m asked all of the time what would be a good upgrade when someone is ready to move on from their $99 starter combo. The short answer is, that if budget doesn’t allow for for a whole new combo, there IS a logical order of upgrade. If you have $100, upgrade your line. If you have $200-$250, upgrade your rod. If you have $350, upgrade rod and line. Only when you get past this budget does it really make sense to go for a new reel. And once you reach the $400 mark, don’t chuck your beginner combo. No. Instead, keep it as a back up, a different weight, or gift it to a friend or loved one you’d like to lure into the pastime. Oh, and one more thing before we dig in to some detail—all rod blanks have slightly different casting characteristics, so do yourself a favor and get somewhere you can cast any of rod you might be considering!
First let me say that ANY option would be a good start. It really depends on your budget and how much help you think you might need.
Private Beginner Fly Fishing Bootcamp -Premium: This is my flagship offering designed to “set you up to win” as you begin your fly fishing journey. If you want to go from zero or very little knowledge and skill to being able to go out and fish independently with the greatest chance of success, our Premium Beginner Bootcamp is really the bees knees. It includes the same 4 hours of instruction as my Complete package covering everything you need to know to get started PLUS 3 hours of mentored fly fishing so you can begin put it all together on the water. Upon completion, many of my students consider this a key component to preparing them to head out on their own with confidence! Click HERE for more detail.
Private Beginner Bootcamp – Complete: Everything you need to know to get on the water for about the price of a 1/2 day of guided fishing. This is a great, budget-minded option that includes the same 4 hours of instruction in the Premium package sans the mentored fishing. If you still want the benefit of personal instruction and feel confident that you can translate that skills training to an on-water scenario on your own, this is the package for you.
Private Fly Casting/Fishing Lessons:Perhaps you’ve had a little experience already, are looking for help with a specific aspect of casting or fishing, want to target a new species or try a new technique. While our packages offer better value for those looking for more wholistic assistance, even an hour or two with an instructor can go a long way.
If, after reading this, you still have questions, I’d love to talk with you. Just send an email to cari@zenflyfishing.org to request a call back and I’ll get back to you – usually within 24 hours. You can also check out other FAQs here.
I admit it, I was a skeptic. I love all things fly fishing, but fly casting is my jam. So when I first tried Tenkara fishing (more on that later), I was personally underwhelmed by what amounted to flicking woven thread through the air, and further annoyed by its apparent lack of versatility. I mean, come on, it’s not really fly fishing without the cast, right?
My friend, Steve
I owe a lot of thanks to my friend, Steve, for setting my along this path of discovery that called me to challenge my initial impressions. When we met, he was a formerly avid fly fisher who had been sidelined 16 prior by a stroke. My journey with him of trial and error resulted in a technique that empowered his successful return to the sport. This approach worked so well with Steve that I asked for approval to pilot it at a fly fishing retreat for women battling breast cancer. This was an important case study because while Steve was an experienced fly angler, these ladies were not.
That’s all too true, but let me see if I can give you a little guidance. I’ll start by offering a few parameters so we know the rules of the game. In this case, I’m going to recommend based on this being an angler’s first and only fly rod…for now anyhow. 😉
To give the most generic answer possible, most industry folks would say a 9ft 5wt. While it may not be the perfect tool for every fly fishing scenario, it’s heavy enough for some light streamer work and bigger fish, and light enough to still have fun with smaller ones. And when it comes to Central Texas fly fishing or targeting warm water species with bigger poppers & streamers, lots of fishy folks will tell you to get a 9ft 6wt. That advice, while sound, is a little over-simplified. So if you’re like me, like to understand the why and gain a little more perspective, then read on…
An 8-9 ft 4-6wt rod is a good choice for a first rod depending on the waters you plan to fish. If in doubt, get a 9ft 5wt.
Good question. The short answer is that one follows a set curriculum and the other is customized to meet the specific needs of the fly angler. Additional detail follows:
BEGINNER PACKAGE: My beginner packages have a specific curriculum designed especially for those with little or no experience fly fishing. They are also good for folks who have been at it a while, but are self-taught and really looking to better understand the fundamentals, mechanics, and approach of fly casting and fishing.
INTERMEDIATE PACKAGE: In contrast, the intermediate package is primarily an opportunity to do 2 things. 1) offer savings when compared to individual lessons. 2) I have found that the cumulative benefit of a few lessons far outweighs that of a single session in most cases. Unless a student has a specific skill they’d like to learn or work on, we usually begin with a casting assessment and conversation about what the angler may be struggling with on the water and then individualize the instruction from there.
If, after reading this, you still have questions, I’d love to talk with you. Just send an email to cari@zenflyfishing.org to request a call back and I’ll get back to you – usually within 24 hours. You can also check out other FAQs here.
That famous guy over at Orvis, Tom Rosenbauer, has compiled a list of what he considers 12 essential trout flies and I certainly am in no position to disagree with him, nor do I. That said, I wanted to see if I could narrow it down even further to help beginners cut through some of the noise. This list is for warm water species like bass & panfish. Relative to fly size, this list assumes most beginners are fishing a 5 or 6wt rod. If you have a 6wt, you can even go up in size a bit to target larger bass.
If you could only carry or afford one fly, this is it.
WARNING: FLY LINE GEEKERY, PROCEED WITH CAUTION. In preparation for guiding in SW Colorado this summer, I’ve really been putting some lines through their paces. Without belaboring the details, In doing so, I have a new favorite line that I think just might be one of the best all-around lines for the type of fishing we do in TX…and lots of other places, for that matter. For bass fishing with “pick up and shoot” tactics and heavy flies, it’s hard to beat the extremely overweight lines like Orvis Bankshot, Rio Outbound Short, SA Grand Slam, etc. But if you do find yourself in a situation where you want to throw dry flies/hoppers, it’s like trying to carve toothpicks with a chainsaw. Not to mention the fact that many of these lines are only available in 6wt and up.
It’s like a shooting head line and a triangle taper had a beautiful, chubby baby.
Enter the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Creek Trout. I know, I know, it says TROUT…but hang with me a minute. First of all, it’s overweighted by a whole line size. That means, for example, you have a 5wt running line, but a long rear taper that pushes out a short, 6wt head. That makes it great for sending loads. But wait, look at that long front taper. That’s what really makes this line stand out from the other overweighted “creek” lines currently on the market. It slims down just right to slow things down for better presentation when that matters. It’s like a shooting head line and a triangle taper had a beautiful, chubby baby. That might just be why it won the IFTD Best of Show Freshwater Fly Line for 2022. Side note: if you have a really slow/soft action rod, this is likely not the line for you…well, maybe. In correct line weight it will turn that rod into a noodle when casting at distance. That said, I have put the 3wt Creek Trout line on my 7’6″ S-Glass 4wt and it made me giggle. For real.
I know many find that they prefer lines that are 1/2 weight heavy because they load faster action rods better and let them do more of the work. This line makes throwing bigger streamers like child’s play…without sacrificing presentation when you need it. Wanna target trophy trout? This line will roll cast an indicator rig with ease and mend like a champ. So if you are struggling at all with your 5wt thinking you might need a six now that you want to target bigger fish with bigger flies…or have a six and want a seven, this might be $100 well spent…and dare I say, the only floating freshwater line you need.
There are lots of great lines to choose from in today’s market. And some for specific purposes. This may not be the best line for high-pressure, picky trout on technical tailwaters, but delivered with a decent casting stroke, it certainly does a lot of things well. This is my current favorite…what’s yours?
I firmly believe that fly fishing within a context of mindfulness practice is immeasurably beneficial for mind, body, & spirit. Sometimes by offering low-hanging fruit like fly casting and being in nature. Sometimes by offering situations that border on tedious or frustrating, presenting us with the choice to get bogged down or to rise above. Like most healthy choices, it gets easier with practice. In the “Why Fish for Zen?” series, I’ll highlight just a few of the opportunities offered by the pursuit of fly fishing that give you a chance at that sort of mindfulness “practice” and help you become more balanced and centered in your daily life. Mastery is never about your relationship to anyone or anything else, it’s always between you and you.
The therapeutic aspects of fly fishing are well documented at this point. A couple of the most widest known examples of its application are the retreats and mentoring offered by organizations like Casting for Recovery, Reel Recovery, and Project Healing Waters. If you haven’t checked out those organizations, please do so. Consider supporting them financially or with your time.
Bring up any of those organizations to fellow anglers and they’ll say things like “yeah, that’s so awesome,” or, “I think it’s great how they help those people.” Yes, it is. And if you own, or can borrow, a fly rod, you have access to that very same support. Excuse the wordplay, but it’s just a cast away.
The activities associated with fly fishing offer ample balm for body, mind, and soul…wading, fishing, spending time in nature. But they are all, I wager, eclipsed by the moving meditation that is fly casting. The motion, the rhythm, the flow…the fact that when one is focused and connected with the cast, everything else effectively disappears.
Somewhere in the Mt. Hood National Forest
You don’t have to wait until you go fishing to tap into that zen. In fact, it would likely help your angling game as well as your mental state if you didn’t wait. Casting, to me, is almost its own pursuit. Even before I was training to become an FFI Certified Casting Instructor, I kept a reel spooled up with some “lawn line.” Not just to practice a particular casting style in preparation for a planned trip, or to work on casting in windy conditions, but as a stress reliever. If you’re having trouble knowing where to start or wondering if you’re even doing it right, I highly recommend investing in a session or two with a proficient casting instructor.
And now that so many of us work remotely, it becomes possible to access this support just about any time. Look at it like a modern-day “smoke break,” only without the health risks. If it’s not something you’ve done before, it might feel a little strange at first to stand on the lawn making casts. And if you do it in public, it can take a little time to get used to the occasionally annoying but good natured “Hey there, you’d have better luck if you cast that into the water,” or “Um, you know there’s no fish there, right?!?” But I promise you, it’s totally worth it, and learning to chuckle along with the peanut gallery is its own zen practice.
I firmly believe that fly fishing within a context of mindfulness practice is immeasurably beneficial for mind, body, & spirit. Sometimes by offering low-hanging fruit like fly casting and being in nature. Sometimes by offering situations that border on tedious or frustrating, presenting us with the choice to get bogged down or to rise above. Like most healthy choices, it gets easier with practice. In the “Why Fish for Zen?” series, I’ll highlight just a few of the opportunities offered by the pursuit of fly fishing that give you a chance at that sort of mindfulness “practice” and help you become more balanced and centered in your daily life. Mastery is never about your relationship to anyone or anything else, it’s always between you and you.
I’ve long said that a fly rod, and more specifically a fly cast, is the best barometer for my state of mind I’ve ever found. I’m a casting instructor, for heaven’s sake, and some days I swear I couldn’t land a fly in a kiddie pool at 10 paces. Among other things, a fly cast is so much about proper timing. When I’m tense, by rhythm goes to pot. My loops get ugly, my flies land ugly. I may even (for shame) throw a “wind knot.” Isn’t it cute how we like to blame our casting mistakes on the wind. Hard to tie knots without opposing thumbs, I say. And in those instances, if I’m not careful, my mood gets pretty ugly, too…which makes my performance even more dismal.
Casting back in the skinny water
But here’s one of the great things about a fly rod. In addition to being a good measure for your level of tension, if you’ll let it, it’s also a good tool for releasing tension. And that effect is compounded when you put a slower-action rod in your hand—especially one made of fiberglass—that commands you to take your time. To wait. To relax. When the fishing scenario allows for it, that’s what I’ll choose every time.
Job number one in this situation is raising your awareness enough to realize that you, not the fly rod, are both the problem and the solution. Then you have the opportunity to choose. You can stay tense and stressed, be victimized by your equipment, or you can choose to use the tools at your disposal to help you find your way to a balanced state of mind.
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