Fly Fishin' - California Fishing

solsurf · 08-09-2006, 04:07 PM

I want to start fly fishing but don't have a clue. What equipment should I start out with. I don't want to get anything that is bad, but I also don't want to spend too much $$$ to start. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

NulodPBall · 08-09-2006, 06:17 PM

Your best bet, if you don't have much cash is to buy a 5 wt combo setup if you're going to fish smaller freshwater fish, and to get an 8 wt combo if you're going to fish larger freshwater fish or smaller saltwater fish. You bump up in line wt mainly because you'll be throwing bigger, heavier, or fluffier flies in stronger winds.

In the flyfishing world, your rod and your line are your main assets. Your reel is just there to hold your line, pretty much so you don't have to spend much money on your reel. If you decide to buy your gear separately, buy the best line that you can afford (top end, non-system line should run you about $60.00 max, low end is about $20.00) and the best rod that you can afford. There is a huge difference between a $50.00 rod and a $150.00 rod and an ever bigger difference if you jump up to a $600.00 rod.

That said, you can go to Walmart or Sportmart/Sports Authority and get a low end combo kit (rod, line, reel and sometimes leader and flies and a soft case) for $20.00, or you can go to a fly fishing shop for a low end combo kit costing $140.00.

If you can afford the low end kit at a fly shop, His and Hers in Costa Mesa are nice, just tell 'em "Ray" sent ya. Bob Marriott's is a bit far away for you but they have some, so does the Longfin tackle store in Orange, on Chapman, just east of the 55 fwy.

With the low end Walmart kit you can have loads of fun practicing casting and catching smaller fish. Just pray that you don't accidentally hook a big one...your rod may snap, but then that's an excuse to get a new one

Don't go wild on the accessories, all you need is a license holder (if you're over sixteen), line nippers, cheap forceps, some leader materials and basically only three types of flies, depending on what you're fishing for. If you can afford it, a large fanny pack, or a cheap fishing vest is nice.

flies for trout:

Wooley buggers: Olive, black, brown.
Chironomids/midges/beadheads: size 16 Olive, black, gray (you need a cheap cork indicator...ie a float made for fly line)
Nymphs: black, or brown in larger sizes. They look kinda like the midges but they look more fuzzy and tend to have tails.
You're on your own for dry flies. I don't use them, but a Royal Coachman, some mosquitos, and BWO's and you're probably good to go.

Panfish: Basically anything that looks like a small mini-jig, or tiny poppers. Maybe some grasshoppers.

Bass: I'm not a bass fisherman but I've caught bass on black wooleybuggers and black/red midges in cloudy waters. I've gotten a serious hit on a damsel fly imitation. Poppers of course work. Hoppers are popular about now. Sometimes you just pull the fly underwater, let it set for a minute, then twitch it before you strip it in.

Surf fishing: Sand crab imitations. Any clouser with white in it. Orange anything if you want bass or perch. Someone has suggested a large, thick San Juan worm (imitates a sandworm).

Salmon fishing: It depends on what you think is fair. Beading with a 20 ft leader works (tiny 3mm or smaller bead on your line above a bare size 2 octopus hook). Any salmon egg imitation (you can make some with a red, hot glue stick). An eggsucking leech pattern, you have to experiment.

Striped bass: Streamers, clousers, any baitfish imitation. Try to match what's in the water with the bass.

Just remember, you need as much space behind you, as you want to cast in front of you.

You can fish local lakes, creeks, or the surf down here. Be careful if you're on the rocks down in Laguna Beach (hint hint). I've actually seen what looked like yellowtail off of the rocks in South Orange County, and I've caught my largest halibut down there. I've also heard of people dying down there so be careful.

The wind is best if it's off your left shoulder if you're right handed. I cast backwards if the wind is going the wrong way.

Be careful of the hook. Wear sunglasses or eye glasses, and a wide brimmed hat. Pinch down your barbs, that's for your protection, not the fish's protection.

Catching anything on a fly rod is a blast. I've caught baby trout and bass, smaller than my fly on a 9 or 10 wt rod and had fun. Some people target carp. I've not really heard of people targeting catfish with a fly.

If you get a float tube, you can get lazy and not have to cast very well (like me). Your gear will seriously affect your casting distance, but you don't really need to cast very far to catch fish.

If you come to the freshwater gathering/picnic this Saturday at Puddingstone, I can let you try my gear. You may be able to carpool...try Dementedfish.

YakityYak · 08-09-2006, 10:23 PM

Ray's the one with the best info. Sport Chalet has some "OK" kits from about $60-$150. If it turns out you like taking fish on the fly, you'll probably want to upgrade. If you don't like it, at least you didn't have to mortgage your house. They're still better than what I have.

After 2 yrs of casually flyfishing, I caught about just under 50 trout in a weekend of fishing last month in Mammoth on dries (sorry Ray) that I tied. As small as the fish avg (4-8") they were a real thrill on the fly.

The flyfishing club I belong to offers free flycasting lessons every year (around March) for 6 saturdays. On the last day you fish a local stream and instructors help you out. It's in the valley (San-Fer) but there may be similar programs near you. Here's the link Sierra Pacific Fly Fishers
Then click on "Casting School". The other programs, flytying, Mammoth trip, local trips, are available for members.

Show up to the FW gettogether. For the $8 park fee, you'll get a demo and lesson from Ray

solsurf · 08-10-2006, 12:44 PM

Thanks Ray. I'm going to head over to His and Hers, I'll be sure to let em know that you sent me. Can't wait to scare the fish with a new set up. My wife and I will be at the FW get together this Sat. Looking forward to meeting you.

PlatinumHooks · 08-10-2006, 01:22 PM

I've moved this to the "FlyFishing" section, just so you know and you won't think it's gone..lol.

Beresford13861 · 08-10-2006, 01:57 PM

this is the post i was waiting for!
Ray you need to let me try your gear saturday!
ive been thinking about fly fishing...my wife told me lets try it so saturday, someone show us! im not buying nothing untill i try it!

NulodPBall · 08-11-2006, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakityYak

...After 2 yrs of casually flyfishing, I caught about just under 50 trout in a weekend of fishing last month in Mammoth on dries (sorry Ray) that I tied. As small as the fish avg (4-8") they were a real thrill on the fly...

===

Not a problem...I'm willing to bet that you caught most of those dry fly fish in a creek or river. For reasons that the "Alpers Crew" knows, I tend to not fish creeks. Alot of times I'm up when the creeks are slow, the lakes are hot, and the weather is cold...one of my most favorite times was sight fishing fish on a lake with the biggest Royal Coachman (large dry fly) that I had, and it was basically wide open fishing

NulodPBall · 08-11-2006, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beresford13861

this is the post i was waiting for!
Ray you need to let me try your gear saturday!
ive been thinking about fly fishing...my wife told me lets try it so saturday, someone show us! im not buying nothing untill i try it!

===

Nice. Of course. Now I'll have to track down my good 9 wt line...hmmm...I'm a firm believer in bagging all the gear for a particular style of fishing, together and I slacked off a bit...if I find it, you'll really get hooked on fly fishing

If you're good, you can cast the whole line (90 ft?) with three casts...the only thing is I have to wear finger protectors so I don't burn my fingers

Beresford13861 · 08-11-2006, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NulodPBall

===

Nice. Of course. Now I'll have to track down my good 9 wt line...hmmm...I'm a firm believer in bagging all the gear for a particular style of fishing, together and I slacked off a bit...if I find it, you'll really get hooked on fly fishing

If you're good, you can cast the whole line (90 ft?) with three casts...the only thing is I have to wear finger protectors so I don't burn my fingers

i appreciated it bud!

NulodPBall · 08-11-2006, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solsurf

Thanks Ray. I'm going to head over to His and Hers, I'll be sure to let em know that you sent me. Can't wait to scare the fish with a new set up. My wife and I will be at the FW get together this Sat. Looking forward to meeting you.

===

Grace, Todd, or Frank will hook you up. Frank guides (surf and freshwater) and teaches, and one of his flies has been in a national magazine (Sly Fly, yes I have caught fish with it). They also tie their own flies in the back (you can watch them if you're nice) so you can make special requests, and of course they can recommend some for you, just tell them what you want to catch and where you're going. Try to stick to three flies of any particular type...trust me, they all work at some point in time but you'll be okay if you limit yourself to three flies per type...I've walked out of there and spent $80.00 easy on only flies, and I've got friends with hundreds of flies...that's why I hesitate to buy a new fly box, I'll be tempted to fill it

But I usually only CATCH fish on a few, set patterns