HungNtree,
PM your address. I'll tie up a couple gurgle pops and woolie buggers that will work on bluegill and bass in your area.
Jeff
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HungNtree,
PM your address. I'll tie up a couple gurgle pops and woolie buggers that will work on bluegill and bass in your area.
Jeff
You guys are too good helping out a new fly fisher :)
You guys are too much. I certaintly didn't expect this, but I sure do appreciate it. It was truly a very lucky day for me when I found this site. It truly makes me hope that I will be able to give back someday. I hope that doesn't sound to sappy, but it really is true. I just simply cannot thank you enough.
Thanks again,
Jason:D
Jason,
There's a pretty long and very nice history of folks on FAOL helping new guys out. I know I've been on the receiving end of the generosity of others in this community. There's no doubt that a day will come when you will be helping out a new guy too. It's not sappy at all.
I'm glad I could be a part of helping you out. Can't wait to see the pictures of the fish you're going to catch.
Jef
Jason,
Many of us on this site believe in the adage, "Pay it forward". It gives us true joy to picture the expressions on the faces of the recipients! Enjoy the gifts! Some day, your turn will come.
Betty
PM your address and I will send you some flies.
Rick
hungNtree,
Sounds like you're about to receive some very good flies and gear in the mail. There's some fly tiers in this site whose patterns are so beautiful they should be exhibited in museums.
Your new-at-this situation reminds me of my first attempt at fly fishing.
I also had an 8-ft. 5/6-weight rod. So once you get backing and fresh floating line on your reel, plus a leader attached, you'll be pretty much ready to go.
If you don't object to some unsolicited advice: Try to identify the different feel in your hand during the casting stroke as you throw flies of different weights and shapes. Try to determine which flies are the easiest for you to cast at the distances you normally fish.
In my case, the biggest mistake I made in my first fly fishing attempt was I threw only large, heavy, air-resistant flies. This is because at that time I was focused on catching largemouth bass to the exclusion of all other species. My ambition was larger than my casting skills; during the backcast I was forever whacking my chest or face with those heavy flies. Either that, or I would wait a fraction of a second too long on my backcasts and end up snagging those heavy flies in the vegetation behind me.
There does seem to be an ideal balance point in any fly rod rig, a point where a certain weight/size range of flies works best for the tackle you're using. Using the flies you'll soon be receiving, try to get a feel for what this balance point is for YOU. Once you find it and become comfortable with it, casting becomes much easier, more natural.
After you get your stroke under control on this combination -- whatever it turns out to be -- then it gets easier to cast heavier AND lighter flies. You'll have an instinctive feel for how to adjust your casting stroke to compensate for the weight/size change.
As a general suggestion, try the lighter weight flies first and work up from there. And try for bluegills first; wait until after you're catching bluegills on a regular basis before switching to the heavy, larger flies used for bass fishing.
And DEFINITELY put that backing line on your reel. Large catfish might live in your Uncle's pond, and if you ever hook one it'll take you into your backing quick as a hiccup.
Joe
"Better small than not at all."
Jason;
I"m anticipating your next question! "How to put the proper amount of backing on the reel?" The easiest way, though time consuming is to wind the fly line leader end first on the reel then tie on the backing. Check the "Knots" section in the Arcives for that. Wind the backing on until you have filled the spool to about a 1/4 inch from the rim. Now send the wife & kids out for pizza, put the pets outside or lock them in another room and strip all that backin/line off the rod. Lay it out in nice neat coils that may have to start in the living room go down the hall through the dinning room, etc, etc. Attach the backing to the spool (Knot Archives) and re-spool it all back on the reel. This last step is why you want the house empty for if anyone should walk over/through the fly line and backing while you are re-spooling it you will be reduced to a blubbering, hair pulling and possibly comotose state that would not be a nice thing for the family (or pets) to see.
Now you are ready to attach the leader (They were mailed today) so go back to the Knot Archives and look at the "Castwell Knot". Next comes the tippet!