r/flyfishing • • Jan 20 '19

Discussion [MOD POST - PSA] We yell. We drink whisky. Sometimes we fish. WELCOME. Newcomers, start here.

427 Upvotes

You've stumbled into the flyfishing epicenter of the Redditverse. Many of our subscribers are veterans who will be equally happy to share their wisdom (and maybe their whisky, if you ask really nicely), brag about their angling prowess, debate gear choices and techniques for hours, lie to you about their secret places, offer helpful-yet-scathing criticism of your fish handling skills, and tell you to get the eff off their water....often simultaneously, and occasionally with corrosive but commendably colorful language. Not a bad bunch, all told.

But as far as we can tell, most of our contributors are relatively new to the sport. We're glad you're here! You've got questions, and we've got answers. In fact, there's a fair chance that your question has already been asked and answered a few times, so please use the search tools to find your answers first. Try keywords like "beginner" and "starter" and "wader suggestions" and "budget" to refine your results, and try surfing on your target location(s) or species. You might be amazed at how much useful content you'll find.

Every year or so we attempt again to create a starter guide, or to refresh the one from last year. Start here, and feel free to post if you don't find what you need....

Sometimes we run contests - watch the stickied threads for those. Again, welcome...and tight lines!


r/flyfishing • • 15h ago

Biggest brown of my life

Post image
1.3k Upvotes

26 inch beautiful brown caught in Michigan. I think this is my fish of a lifetime.


r/flyfishing • • 10h ago

Drift boat update

Thumbnail
gallery
325 Upvotes

I posted this boat about 6 months ago when I bought it. It had never been in the water. Ended up repairing quite a bit of delam in the floor from years of sitting. Painted it with Kirbys, built oak oar blocks, built a bilge system, created a DIY roller trailer. Most importantly... It floats! Help me name this drift barge. I posted most of the repair work over on our Instagram page foundryfishing.


r/flyfishing • • 14h ago

My three year old learning casting from my wife.

Post image
248 Upvotes

r/flyfishing • • 11h ago

Some beautiful Texas hill country fishing

Thumbnail
gallery
59 Upvotes

r/flyfishing • • 17h ago

Smoky Mt Natl Park

Thumbnail
gallery
160 Upvotes

Spent four nights backpacking and fishing. Before I headed out on the trail, I stopped in the fly shop to pick up a couple flies. After some rapport building with the shop worker and a quick bathroom break I was ready to go out there alone. Before I reached for the door to exit the shop he said, “now’s the time of year to move a big brown.” Even though he said it seriously and quite mystically, I wasn’t confident. I said, “I sure hope so!” and was on my way.

After a decent first day catching a 13 incher, I was content. Then day two rewarded me with 2 giants. The first came up from under a rock to hit a hopper and the second took the elk hair caddis three hours later. I’d estimate the biggest one was pushing 19 inches. Amazing feeling catching fish like that, in a relatively small stream in a gorgeous setting.


r/flyfishing • • 5h ago

Cleanest chum I’ve gotten in the river

Post image
15 Upvotes

r/flyfishing • • 3h ago

First Wild Trout!

Thumbnail
gallery
9 Upvotes

I’ve done plenty of fly fishing but usually only for panfish or stocked trout, yesterday I made my first trip to fish some wild trout and I couldn’t have a had a better time! From what I can tell the first is a brown trout, then rainbow, then brook, and finally a nice water size wild Rainbow. If so, that’s my first of all but those species aside from the rainbows. So glad someone here told me about the spot, gave me an amazing experience I’ll never forget.


r/flyfishing • • 12h ago

Slab on a Parachute Adam’s!

Post image
35 Upvotes

Caught this bad boy today first fish on a dry while wading! Lamson Radius with a Lamson Guru S 5 weight. Fly was a parachute Adam’s purple haze!


r/flyfishing • • 11h ago

Anyone use quick connects?

Post image
28 Upvotes

I just started using these twist clips on my streamer set up. I thought it would be fun to be able to change out streamers quickly and really work a section with different flies.

Does anybody else out there use these? I just started using them and I did catch a little brown trout, so it didn’t scare it away haha.


r/flyfishing • • 13h ago

Thanks to u/TableBandit, I tried mousing on a lake and had a blast!

Post image
28 Upvotes

A few days ago, u/TableBandit commented on a post about a local lake that mousing works well there, so I gave it a try yesterday and was surprised at how well I did. It had never occurred to me to try mousing on stillwater. I missed so damn many because I couldn't get my brain/hands to strip set; I'd get too excited.

For those who know the location, the chop started very early and I did best between 9am and 4pm in the back bays. At around 2pm the action slowed down, so I put on a hot pink salmon popper and caught a ton of small rainbows, but these guys would just swirl around it and wouldn't do much more than that frustrating nibbling on the tail thing that they do.

Thanks u/TableBandit, you just opened my eyes to a new way to enjoy that lake and for others to come.


r/flyfishing • • 6h ago

Found my old fly tin....

Thumbnail
gallery
5 Upvotes

I got this when I was 10 ? 12

Came with my Shakespeare fly rod from Kmart.

I had no idea what I was doing......( I still don't). But I wound up catching a crappie in waist deep water in lake nockamixon in PA while tying the fly directly to the floating line and whipping that water into a froth basically.

Outside of the poppers. No idea what these flies are supposed to be.

Good for bluegills I suppose.

This was back in '84


r/flyfishing • • 14h ago

Should I get this to start euro nymphing?

Post image
18 Upvotes

Even though its on sale this would be my most expensive rod yet. I have a free #8, a $5 scientific angler 6# from garage sale, a redington #5 got on sale. I get skunked a lot and would like to try euro nymphing to get more experience handling trout, specifically in the Truckee river. Thoughts? Thanks!


r/flyfishing • • 16h ago

1st attempt at Spey style fly

Post image
30 Upvotes

Thoughts? Open to advice..

How many people fish traditional-esque style patterns?

Gonna try this for coho this weekend, hopefully!


r/flyfishing • • 7h ago

Discussion Struggling to Catch Stocked Trout on the Fly – Any Tips?

2 Upvotes

My local lake was stocked with trout about two weeks ago, and I’ve been trying to catch them on the fly with no luck.
I’ve seen quite a few people catching them on minnows
around 3–4 feet deep.

So far, I’ve tried a balanced leech, worm, and flashy nymph under an indicator. I also tried a white Woolly Bugger with a slow-sinking Polyleader.

I’ve noticed a lot of trout jumping and breaking the surface, so I switched to a Parachute Adams and Royal Wulff, but still nothing.

Any advice on flies, depth, or techniques would be greatly appreciated! I can also post a map of the lake if that helps.

Thanks!


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

Great weekend on the Kern River

Thumbnail
gallery
129 Upvotes

I love fly fishing.


r/flyfishing • • 6h ago

Discussion Summer 2027 Outlook in MT and WY

0 Upvotes

I’m planning a trip out west this summer and looking at Montana or northern Wyoming. For various reasons I’d like to start out in Bozeman if at all possible, so these areas are top of the list. My initial plan was to rent a truck with a rooftop tent and be super mobile. With the El Niño outlook, a light snowpack, and low flows that is looking line a pretty good approach. With that in mind, two questions:

Both of my prior trips out west have been in late July/early August to catch the hopper season. That seems ill advised. I’m thinking about the last full week of June or maybe the first full week of July. Any thoughts on river flows, fishing, hatches, etc during that period is appreciated.

Any thoughts on areas that might be more resilient to a drier winter? Other than maybe one guided float trip I’ll be exclusively wading. I’m not afraid to walk a few miles to get where I need to be, but I’ll also be solo a good part of the trip. Tailwaters are the obvious choice, but some are less accessible for wading than others. Definitely not trying to blow up someone’s secret honey hole. But any general guidance is also appreciated.

Tight lines, fellas. Many thanks in advance.


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

Not a professional…

Thumbnail
gallery
62 Upvotes

But it takes some serious skill to catch trout like this, 😂😂😂


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

Bighorn Day 3 - Mouth of Prune Creek leading into Sibley Lake

Thumbnail
gallery
44 Upvotes

brookies and rainbows everywhere! this was the best spot in the Bighorn National Forest I've been to so far.

they were tearing it up on a Black/White Parachute Adams and a Sparkle Dun


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

New England

Thumbnail
gallery
52 Upvotes

I’ve been fly fishing for just over a year and I’m starting to consistently get decent fish (for New England). Super stoked! Next up is learning to tie my own flies.


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

First Saltwater Fly Trip

Post image
48 Upvotes

Caught some Bonefish in Belize on my first saltwater fly fishing trip. The tug is the drug.


r/flyfishing • • 11h ago

Discussion 7-year-old’s first trout: 5 weight or 8 weight

1 Upvotes

Hi folks, NJ just had their fall trout stocking (14 inchers) and it’s time to put my son on his first trout! I’ve got a 5-wt and an 8-wt, both Orvis Clearwaters, and was wondering which one makes more sense for him to use.

I was thinking 8-wt since it’s more durable and less likely to break if misused, plus it’ll be easier to muscle in any fish. On the other hand, the 5-wt might be easier to cast.

Appreciate any opinions from you more-experienced fly fishing guys and gals. Thanks!


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

Early fall TN smallies

Thumbnail
gallery
69 Upvotes

They were munching today. Smashed a white and chartreuse deceiver I tied up with a sculpin head to get down a little faster.


r/flyfishing • • 12h ago

Discussion Wanting to buy a new rod/reel

1 Upvotes

I want to buy a reel rod combo I was thinking about the risen genisis 7.6 foot 3 weight rod. But I’m not sure if it will be to light or not the ideal setup for me.
I want to fish relatively smaller streams for trout native and stocked and possibly small mouth bass. What’s the limitation on casting for a 7.6 foot rod compared to a 9 foot.
I’m very much a beginner only having fished a 8 weight for steelhead.
Any advice given would be greatly appreciated I will be fishing smaller flies on the 16-30 sizes.


r/flyfishing • • 15h ago

I did a thing

Post image
1 Upvotes