Quick Words of Wisdom for beginers...

[Gigmaster]

1. Don't sweat the details...enjoy the ride!

2. Before relieving ones self stream-side, it's a good idea to first know the location of any and all electric cattle-guards and fences in the immedeate area! (Trust me on this one!)

3. Never mistake a skunk for a stray cat. It annoys the skunk!

4. When walking down a stream, river or lake bank in the Deep South, avoid stepping on fallen logs......some of them aren't logs!

[Gardenfish]

something tells me this is first-hand advice.

[Gnu Bee Flyer]

Re your #2 , also check the wind direction and velocity .

[MikeBrat]

Hmmmm... and for more on #3...

If you are ever, let's say, out gigging frogs at a pond at night... and let's say if a skunk walks out of a bush ten feet in front of you... DO NOT stand there with the gig raised in the air when your brother yells "GIG IT!".

Also, when you are riding home in the back of the truck in only your underwear, becuase said brother won't let you in the cab because of the smell... remember to first remove the water snakes you had thrown in the back of the truck two ponds earlier.

As said brother is driving you through the best lit, most populated road on the way home, you look funny dancing around the back of the pickup truck because a snake just came out from under the toolbox.

But...um.... this is just hypothetical... of course.

[Big Bad Wulff]

READ!
The internet is full of help for the beginner. I have become a relativley good fly fisher in just a few months. Well, that and a lot of casting practice( into lakes, streams with no trout in them, the swimming pool, the yard, etc etc................)

Emphasis on "relatively"!

[Eight Thumbs]

In relation to Gigmaster's point number two, don't wait too long between the time that you feel that you might have to "go" and the time that you decide to "go." By the time you have wrestled with suspenders, a wading belt, waders, a fishing vest pants, zippers, underwear, your own equipment etc. it might be too late . I do not speak from personal experience but over the years a few of my fishing friends have admitted unfortunate experiences. This advice is even more salient to our female companions. 8T

[ohiotuber]

MikeBrat,
I am wiping tears from my eyes!!!
Thanks for the laugh!
You stinker, you!
Mike

[backwoods]

skunks i saw someting moving in sleeping bag it was skunk i opened the bag it ran out didn't smell i was lucky.
i climbed the fence to fish on the outher side and to cattle dogs came after me i ran so fast i left my tackle box on that side. another thing is if you see porqupine moveing slowy don't kick it to get out of they way
i did not kick it i heard the screams of some one ahead of me on the trail they were in a hurry,

[waynep]

String rod up at car, unstring rod back at car. Don't clip off your fly stream side, reel up and walk back to your car without any line strung through the guides unless you have a single piece rod . . . . . . I have had to walk back looking for half my rod.

-wayne

[Big Bad Wulff]

Watch your step when winter stream fishing. The water is coooooooooooold! Extra, dry clothes are quite nice to have along.
If you fish downstream of a dam that produces hydroelectric power, know the generation schedule(read the fine print that says "subject to change at any time").
Don't try to "lip" a pike.
A 5-weight is very versatile. A 3 or a 7 isn't.
Use an 'improved' clinch knot and not the clinch knot.
What is behind you is more important than what is in front of you............................................... .....................when casting.