looking to get into fly fishing

[njdevils908]

looking to try my hand at some fly fishing. now ive read a little on the topic but dont know pretty much anything. i was wonder what length and weight rod i should get and possibly a few flies to start out with. any input would be helpful. i will be doing pretty much only trout fishing with this.

[acabtp]

there's a really good fly shops in parsippany and califon (i don't think either sponsor NJF so i won't call them out specifically). i'd highly recommend stopping by whichever is more convenient for you. either place will be happy to spend an hour or more answering any of your questions and going over what setup is best for the kind of fishing you want to do. the gear is all pretty much sold MSRP so you won't get hosed much if you do decide to buy there, but good stuff ain't cheap, be prepared. it's really the best way to get into it... i screwed around for a while on my own before i went to a shop who got me dialed in that same day. it's what they do. good luck out there man! the trout have been rising like crazy lately for the stonefly hatches... i haven't broken out my flyrod yet this year and have regretted it the past couple outings

shoot me a PM if you can't find these shops and i'll send you the info. they're both pretty well known it shouldn't be too hard.

[saltfisherman]

Nj, a 4-5 wt rod will be fine for trout. In 8.5 or 9ft. Go with something less expensive in way of a rod and reel setup. You won't need a good drag for trout here and the rod itself you won't feel any difference between a rod that's $50 and one that $550, other then overall weight. You won't need a lot of backing, the NJ fish don't exactly run great distances. The rod tip won't even see the backing.

Keep it simple and see if you like it. This same outfit can be used for lake fishing Sunfish, crappie and bass.

Most of the trout fishing in NJ is short lined affair. No more then the leader plus few ft of line outside the tip. If you do dry fly fish the length of line out will increase some. Your not going to be double hauling, you'll be roll casting the most if subsurface fishing.

Flies. Nymphs,
Gold ribbed hairs ear
Pheasant tail
Black stone fly
A streamer or two

[Capt. Lou]

looking to try my hand at some fly fishing. now ive read a little on the topic but dont know pretty much anything. i was wonder what length and weight rod i should get and possibly a few flies to start out with. any input would be helpful. i will be doing pretty much only trout fishing with this.

Check ur PM'S !

[AndyS]

All great advice. I started out with streamers. Most fun I had with a fly rod was with poppers for pan fish and bass.

Try contacting your local Trout Unlimited group, there are many though out the state.

[birddog]

soft hackle hares ear and a wooly bugger will catch fish 90% of the time.

[EJS]

If you are looking to buy equipment for the first time, start with either a 4wt or 5wt 7'-9" to 8'-6" rod. Spend $200 or so on the rod, having a rod that loads well and recovers will make the difference in your presentation. The reel you can go cheaper on $75 to $100, should get you a good starter setup. For lines, I would suggest using a Weight Forward Floating line (WFF) with 20# backing. Use the Albright knot to connect them. If you are after trout, you want tapered. I use the Scientific Anglers Mastery textured. Keep you color low visible.

Line dressings, I would suggest the green Mucilin silicon. I have heard good things about the Loon as well.

Leader, buy the tapered leaders to start, 5x - 7x in 7.5' or 9', good brands are Rio and Scientific Angler. Buy a roll of tippet 5x - 7x. This will allow you to extend the life of the tapered leader. You will need some small egg shot or split, size 4 or 6. You can fish Mono or Fluorocarbon Leaders, difference is light transmission under water, durability and flex. Fluorocarbon is more expensive, it stronger & more abrasion resistant If you are on a budget, go with Mono.

Tools you will need, leader straightener, fly dryer, float and sink, and forceps.

Here comes the fun part, fly selection. I would start with Wooly Buggers (sizes 8 & 6 in Olive, Black, Brown and White. Basic streamers like the Mickey Finn, Grey Ghost, Muddler Minnow are also good to have in the box. For Dry's, I would suggest the Blue Wing Olive in loop wing, dun, and emerger. That's a go to in NJ! Buy your flies according to hatch, don't go out and spend $700 on every fly in every pattern, its a waste and you will run out of box space.

I was out Yesterday, saw some Blue Quills, Tan Caddis, Hendrickson, and Blue Wing Olive.

Hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to post or PM, I will try to answer them for you.

[briansnat]

I agree with the 4-5 wt rod, 8-9 ft. You can get a really decent beginners rod for a good price at LL Bean or Cabelas.

Fly fishing can be incredibly complex. Wet or dry flies, streamers or nymphs, emergers, etc. Sinking sinking line, floating, matching the hatch. The best fly anglers can match whatever hatch the fish are feeding on and they know nearly as much about the insect life on the stream as any biologist. That may be something to work toward, but for the beginning fly fisherman in NJ I think you will be most productive nymphing and using streamers.

Start with a tapered, sinking tip line. Get yourself some Gold Ribbed Hares Ears, Woolly Buggers, Muddler Minnows and Grey Ghost streamers and fish the stream the same way you've always done with spinning tackle. Start with learning the roll cast (check out Youtube for tutorials). It is easy to learn and is ideal for most narrow NJ streams where you have branches behind you. You can get away with a cheap pair of hip boots if you are roll casting and nymphing or streamer fishing.

You don't need an expensive reel because it is just a line holder and you will likely just strip line to land the typical NJ stream trout.

You can have a very productive trout fishing life simply using nymphs, streamers and roll casting. Once you've perfected that then you have the option to move on to the more complex elements of fly fishing. I know them all yet usually spend 80 percent of my trout fly fishing in NJ with nymphs and streamers. A very productive way of fishing for trout, particularly in the spring.

I have a fly rod I don't use, so PM me if you are interested. It's not the greatest rod, and 8' 5/6 weight but is fine for a beginner. I don't believe it's ever been used. No charge, but you have to drive up to West Milford to get it.

[liveitup1.75liter]

Id highly recommend hitting a local pond for sundogz n sum bass!!! Just to get the hang of everything.. stick with it!!! pays off BIG

[Bergen Angler]

Here's a simple set up for you.

7 or 8 wt rod, reel & line as it can handle up to lunker bass unless you are real good then you can use 4 or 5 wt for any fish. :)

Clouser.. go with clouser for fresh, salt or any water..

[njdevils908]

thanks guys. i ended up getting a 8'6" 5 wt st croix rio santo. hoping to try it out this weekend. im still not to sure on the line to buy. ive had multiple recommendations. i feel like im getting into fishing all over again and have no idea which one to choose. is there any that are more manageable than others so i wont get as frustrated starting out and focus more on learning how to cast.

[bigboy5522]

Don't go cheap on the fly line. Having a good line with make everything easier from casting to mending. Rio, Airflo, and scientific anglers are some of the more popular ones.

[Capt. Lou]

thanks guys. i ended up getting a 8'6" 5 wt st croix rio santo. hoping to try it out this weekend. im still not to sure on the line to buy. ive had multiple recommendations. i feel like im getting into fishing all over again and have no idea which one to choose. is there any that are more manageable than others so i wont get as frustrated starting out and focus more on learning how to cast.

DT floater !

[njflyfisher]

What are your choice's?? Maybe we can help and narrow them down.

[njdevils908]

weight forward floating and weight forward sinking?

[NickN]

I would recommend starting with weight forward floating (WF-F) or double tapered floating (DT-F). Might even want to go +1 up to a 6 wt line. It will be easier to get the feel of the fly rod loading.

[Capt. Lou]

If u go with a 1+ line then u can comprise ur fly presentation with less stealthy presentation . The heavier line can load Rod somewhat easier but the heavier weight especially in WF line may more commotion when it hits water .
Thus defeating why u originally chose a 5 weight Rod. Ur Rod should performwith the matching line but many neophyte casters will not fully recognize how to properly cast so this may be confusing to a beginner .
This would be more prevalent Stillwater nymphing or DF Clearwater presentations.
If ur nymphing in riff water then it becomes a matter of choice. I personally prefer a DT taper for most close in presentations but I recognize that some WF's tapers R designed similar to DT's so it does not diminish ur presentations when that stealthy approach is required.
I would go to shop where u purchased ur Rod & have them loan u reels with lines , find out which is better for U ! Maybe the proprietor can offer casting tips to get u off on the right foot ! The line is very important to a smooth casting outfit so try to get the right one for u .

[gypsy]

be prepared to get totally addicted to the sport!!! Someone got me to try it 25 years ago, now I'm more than hooked, and now got into tying flies for the last 20 years, what an addiction THAT is, I spend the whole winter in the basement, and I buy all kinds of fur, feathers, hooks, beads, tinsel, you name it I get it!!! Start off with a 5 wt outfit, you can throw anything with it, dry, nymph, streamers, even bass bugs, weight forward floating line, 7.5' - 9' leader, 4lb tippet. You can learn to cast in your chair at home by taking a 3' long stick, tie on a piece of yarn about 5' long, can move it back and forth, wait for the yarn to completely straighten out in front of you before starting your back cast. Not sure where you live, but would be willing to meet you at a local stream and give you some pointers, and flies!!! lol think about streamers, I catch a lot of fish on certain ones, and usually the bigger fish, streamers fish down stream and across, dry flies upstream, nymphs use a strike indicator, fish up stream, if the indicator stops, or goes upstream, fish on!!! Roll cast is what you'll be using most of the time as there are too many trees usually around the streams, check you tube for how to roll cast. Hope this helps, and hope you stick with it, I can usually out fish guys using bait, best thing to do is turn over some rocks see what kind of bugs are under them, and find a fly that sort of matches them, I have all kinds of bugs in vials that I use when I tie lol

[Tony Cav]

Bro,

Your last two reply's are from real pros, seriously.

Fly fishing can become a way of life as it was for me for a whole bunch of years. But mine were typical adventures for an addicted fly fisherman. Tying flies and all that goes with it is a endeavor all it's own. Wait till you see the price of a grade A, full sized grizzly neck. And then there's the smell of ripe road kill you try to salvage to save a few pennies.
on the
Traveling out west and all over the north east on my own, many an adventure and memory. Crossed paths with all sorts as well. From Tom Brokaw on the Provo River in Sundance Utah to Harry Darby at his home on the Willowemock.
Crossed paths with Lee Wolf and Art Lee on the Beaverkill.
I even have a few flies from Francis Betters, on the West Branch of the Ausable in the Adirondack's of Upstate New York.

Enjoy making your own memories and take lots of pictures.

[njdevils908]

i want to thank everyone here who gave me any input into fly fishing. today was my first attempt at it. besides looking like a complete fool i did manage a bunch of sunnies today which is what i was targeting. it was a total different type a fishing then im usta. it was quite enjoyable and cant wait to get better at casting so i can actually start fishing for some real fish. thanks again and maybe ill see you guys out there someday.