I have the rod, the reel, backing, line, leader, and flies. I have even started learning to cast. Now what? I have several, probably more than 20, flies, but I don’t know what to fish them for or how. I know there are several fly anglers in my area, southeast Arkansas, willing to teach newbies, but I don’t know any of them. Can someone please help me identify my flies?
Sure, this could be fun. Start taking some pictures (camera set to macro) and post em up here. You’ll get plenty of replies I’m sure.
All I have with me this weekend is my camera-phone. I will have to get my wife’s digital when I get home Monday for some good pictures, but I might try some from the phone to see what we can come up with. Thanks!
Welcome viper,
Glad you could make it.
As to the flies, I haven’t a clue without them being described or a picture of them. What species are you going after? What weight is your line? What color are your sunglasses? 
Here is probably where you should start. The Arkansas folks should chime in shortly.
mcsteff
Welcome aboard vipermcgee!
As soon as you can post pics we will do our best to help you.
Viper -
Welcome and greetings from SE Idaho, on an absolutely delightful spring morning !!
As soon as you provide folks with information on the kind of water you plan to fish - small streams, large rivers, ponds, lakes ?? - and the species of fish you are going after, you’ll get plenty of good information on how to go about it.
Not to worry about fishing the flies you already have. Think in terms of what you are going after and where you are going to do it, and build from there.
John
Get thee hence to the nearest full service fly shop, and throw thyself upon their mercy. Seriously, if you want a jump-start, the folks at the shop should be able to steer you to what’s working on the local waters, and how to fish them. They should also be able to point you to local clubs or other resources, such as amenable companions to show you how it’s done. Be outgoing, and buy some flies, and it’ll pay you back fourfold.
I took this with my cellphone, so it is not very clear. The fly’s thorax/abdomen is tied in grey thread. The rest is a medium brown, with light tan wings. I do know it is a dry fly, but that is all.
As for fish in this area, mostly bream (some call them panfish) in warmer water. I may, someday, try for trout in the northern areas of the state, but locally, bream and bass. I am using #5/6 line on my Pflueger PSFY 8056 rod and the included 1094 reel, a gift from my wife. Some of the flies I want to ask about were included with it.
I think I saw you stop into the chat room last night… by all means, do that again and ask a ton of questions. There are some very awesome guys in there that are more than willing to help! That’s been the biggest help to me so far in learning this whole game!
I did, but I am at work, so I didn’t get to spend much time there. I had a few ambulance calls during that time. I do plan to spend more time there in the future.
Here is a link to a great web site that not only has patterns but includes some ‘how to fish’ info… The fly you show is a mayfly imitation of some sort, tied in the ‘catskills style’ I can’t see enough detail to recognise the name of the pattern.
If you go to the link below you can get info on flies based on fly type, what it imitates or it’s actual name.
http://www.westfly.com/fly-pattern-recipe/fly-pattern-recipe.shtml
A similar dry fly catskills pattern is the ‘adams’ Tt is one of my favorite mayfly patterns. Click on the following link for a picture and info, adams dry…
http://www.westfly.com/fly-pattern-recipe/dry/adams.shtml
At the bottom of the above link you will find a ‘How to Fish’ link…
http://www.westfly.com/feature-article/0011/feature_357.htm
Good luck!
It is a dry fly as you said and appears to be tied in the traditional Catskill Style. Your description of colors would indicate to me it is probably a March Brown mayfly pattern.
If you can find the book Handbook of Hatchesby Dave Hughes, you will find it contains samples of all the flies you need and what they represent. If an exact example is not reviewed I am sure you can approximate. It is the best book I know of that outlines what the bugs do, how they mature and hatch, what the fish key on, and how to fish the appropriate flies.
Any of your ‘long’ flies either represent leeches or minnows because they will look similar, the rest are bugs that hatch from the bottom of the river.
The fly pictured on the Adams page is almost identical to the one I took the picture of. Thanks kengore!
kengore - that’s a great link! Thanks for posting it.
looks like a adams fly kinda but without the grizzly hackle… great mayfly search pattern
Viper
Wecome from Washington state I have caught small bass and crappie and one nice smallmouth bass 1 1/2 lbs all of them using wooly buggers… there are alot of great flyfisherman here that have alot more experience with the fish you are fishing for than myself…Its a great Sport Good luck and have fun
Flyfisher121:D
This might help too. http://flyanglersonline.com/features/nqento/archive.php
The fly appears to be a Dark Cahill.
Looks like I am going to have to learn more about bugs to catch more fish. Think I’m finally getting it. There really is no shortcut…
Think I will still post more pictures of the flies I have though. I really believe some like the challenge of trying to figure out what they are. And I would like the suggestions on how to fish them.