Fly fishing beginner are usually introduced to the sport by their father or a friend-or it’s an addition to coarse fishing. The beginner kit is usually for trout and there are good online sites which will advise what weight rod, line and reel is needed and the types of flies required for the type of water to be fished. Many beginner starts at small ‘put and take’ lakes-some will have casting lessons. These lakes are for wet flies, so that dry on moving water will be yet another skill to master, the beginner can start out dry for chub or dace in the local river-which will be much cheaper! Once the casting technique has been mastered for both dry and wet flies the beginner can try other fisheries-from bigger still waters to moving water.
Ideally, any beginner should cultivate the patronage of a patient experienced fisherman who will accompany him or her on those all important early outings. A friend who knows the water is a friend in deed!
To graduate to salmon fishing, the beginner will find this to be heavy on the pocket since the fisherman will need a completely new kit. Salmon rods go from 9ft single handed rods to 16 ft double handed rods for the big rivers. Modern technology has meant that the smaller rods can handle bigger and bigger fish. Waders will also be required-lots to choose from on-line from UK and US sites. And then there are all those salmon flies!
If a double handed rod is acquired, the beginner will need to learn to Spey cast and get the feel of a much bigger rod. Some of the beats on the famous rivers, like Tulchan Lodge on the Spey, rent out rods and waders and this might be a wise beginning to a salmon fishing career! Once the beginner has caught a salmon on the fly there is no going back!
Once the beginner has mastered the skills to cast a wet fly quickly to a fish seen in clear water he or she is ready to attempt to catch a bonefish-or even a tarpon!
One thing is sure, the beginner, once past those early learning curves, will have a wealth of options- dry for trout and grayling, wet for trout, for salmon and sea trout and even saltwater in crystal clear tropical waters. Wow!
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