I’ve long out-lived my basic equipment, but learned on an old, crummy bamboo. I still own and occaisionally use my Fenwicks rods. Simms Gortex? Can’t de-bait that one, for sure.
I own a number of vintage “boo’s”, Winston, Sage, Reddington and have built my own Kennedy’s but love the Red’ton for its’ touchie-feelie and can lob it a mile. The line? Spend the money. The cleated-feet tend to make me fall down alot - or perhaps it’s the Scotch - but love the felt.
I haven’t heard the term “wading stick” used yet. It will save the destruction of the High-End rods (reference the “Scotch” line, above. Remember the sun at your back, 30 degrees of vision for the fish, keep a low profile and present well above the target to get the bug to a level/location in the water B4 it gets to the designated target. You don’t have to keep the line on your reel, just don’t keep it wraped around the feet or debris.
Never had a great deal of money, raising a bunch of ungrateful children and visiting as many waters as I could (& drinking high-end Scotch), but I have always been using the basics. I’m not much to look at while in the water, but after tying and throwing for the last 3 decades, I would suggest you get the best Polaroids you can find, Simms/Scott waders, a good sun hat to keep the UV off, find a lamb that won’t mind losing some wool and spend the $ on shoes, for certain.
Oh, and only drink 15 year or older Scotch. It’s good for “gravitational impact”.
“Classes??? I don’t need no stinking classes”. Ok, so they couldn’t hurt one very large bit, but watch others and many video’s, listen seriously to the 10/2 o’clock theory and f e e l your rod and line. Don’t “break” the wrist except on presentation… & on the presentation “point” your rod at your target just as the line lays completely before you. Feel the line gently tug on the fore/back-casts. Did I say f e e l your line and rod??? Figgure out what causes too tight/loose of a loop. Did I say “don’t bend your wrist” and as JCastwell states, hold the rod properly.
Practice w/an old or cheap line at the park down the street. Work on targeting, absolutely. “Pluck” the bits of litter. Flat/side cast behind the brush; back-cast between the tree’s, as this is where you should work out the kinks and, this is real whirld fly fishing. You don’t have to practice on just targeting fish ya know… target the trees above you, the telephone pole linemans’ steps, the rain gutters. Learn your equipment like you would your rifle - intimately.
Like Carnege Hall, It’s better to practice, practice, practice. Then, watch, watch, watch the results. Learn to do it all wrong in the park so you know what “wrong” really is.
I’ve never been able to handle a Strike Indicator, they don’t “cut” the wind and destroy my presentation; it’s the f e e l of the almost non-existant touch of the wind or the fish’s strike. Eyeball the fore-cast, the back-cast and the guy in the river. Watch what he does just before he begins swearing.
Learn how NOT to drop the back-cast and hook your back, shoulder and neck. 10/2, 10/2, 10/2
Tie one one for the United States Marines - and Benny Hill.
- I’ve fished waters that were so cold the line would freeze in the guides, to the rod and in the reel. Love your woolies, love your woolies.
