Getting Started In Fly Fishing | Five Tips
Thinking about getting into fly fishing? Sheezey it’s easy. If you can touch your ear you can throw a backcast. If you can point your finger at a target, you can throw a forward cast. Pause a little in-between and booya! You have just made a fish catching cast.
FIVE TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED IN FLY FISHING
TIP#1 - FIND THE RIGHT ROD WEIGHT AND GRAB A COMBO
Any Primal combo will catch fish in NZ however the more you spend, the more technology you get, and the longer it will be before your ability outgrows your kit.
TIP #2 - A SIX WEIGHT FLY ROD IS A GOOD PLACE TO START
While a five weight is considered the new all-rounder it pays choose a six weight to help you deal with the heavier flies we often require and to add a bit more mass in the line for dealing with the wind.
TIP #3 - LEARN TO FLY CAST
Find credible instructors, whether online or in person. I may be biased, but can highly recommend Manic’s Lockdown Lessons for great instruction from a great looking example of a man.
TIP #4 - KEEP FLY SELECTION BASIC
Find a few trusted local flies and grow confidence in them before filling box after box with the latest and greatest. Begin with a few blowflies, parachutes, pheasant tails and hare’s ear variations and branch out from there. Go see your local Manic Fly Collection retailer for sizes and seasonal variations and they will see you right.
TIP #5 - JOIN A FLY FISHING CLUB
Meet local anglers and spend time on trips learning from those in the know. There’s no substitute for learning first hand.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Dore is a battle-tested fly fishing guide with over 15 years of professional guiding experience, battling the demanding, ever-changing conditions that our New Zealand rivers throw at us.
In 2006 Chris became one of the first New Zealanders to successfully pass the internationally recognised Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructors examination and has since taught many thousands of anglers to up their skillset.
For more in person and on river fly fishing advice and upskilling why not book Chris for a day or three?