How are you supposed to play a fish by pulling the line with your hands? I tried it with bluegill and every time i let go of the line to grab more, the fish would pull it out. It seems to me like more of a two handed activity
Oh. I guess I really am a beginner.
seems to me Chris is on to something there.!! 
Wow i guess that was a pretty stupid question. Then again, when your 15 and you dont no anybody that has even a mild interest in flyfishing, you have a bunch of questions.
Anthony, it isn’t stupid at all to ask for help. I am sure you can come back with anything or question and someone here will be happy to help. I think even the pro learn new stuff at times.
Anthony, dont feel bad. Alot of us were in your situation when we started. As Chris stated, hold the rod and line in one hand and strip with the other. Easy to do once you get the hang of it.
If you look to the left side of this page you’ll see some links. If you havent done so you might want to click on “Flyfishing Basics” and then click on the “Fly Fishing 101” link. Lots of good information there as well as all the help you’ll get from the gang here.
Terry Quality flies~ great prices…www.teflyfishing.com
[This message has been edited by fishflyer (edited 12 February 2006).]
I personly always like to get my fish on the reel. Sometimes you dont get an oportunity cause the fish is really small or running at you. But you will get that one stubron fish that wont come in youll be prepared to get the fish on the reel, or that big fish youll be able to get him on the reel and fight him out.
Nick
Hey Anthony, Glad to know you’re catching fish! The easiest way to learn is to ask. Also, check your local library for books on fly fishing. That’s how I learned most everything I needed to. The rest and the best was gleaned right here at FAOL.
One quick tip I’ve learned by experience… When fishing in tennis shoes, tuck the loops and strings inside the shoe so your line doesn’t tangle around your feet. (Or, use a stripping basket)
There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
yep Anthony when a big one starts pulling line off my beer can sometimes I have a heck of a time getting it wrapped back on that a I have to let the fish go…dang , I knew I was doing something wrong, ignore this post Anthony as you can see I’ve been out in the sun to long, now where did I drop my fishing , er beer can …
Anthony, That was a good question and look at the responses you received. Don’t be afraid to play the fish with the reel, the rod tip will flex and the heart rate will raise a bit as to what size is this one.
One more thing, don’t hook school to go fishing, get all the education you can, they can take your fly rod away but not your knowledge.
I wish we had a spell checker on this board and program to fix fragmented sentences
The Geez
Excus my spelling and gramma, I hooked Mondays and Fridays so I could Hunt or fish.
Anthony,
If you’re right-handed, let the line pass over the index finger of your right hand as you strip in line with your other hand. In other words, let your index finger act as a temporary line guide. When you get a fish on, you can just tighten up that right-hand finger against the rod grip and then you are in control.
For fish like bluegills, bass, and smaller trout, I prefer to play the fish from the line rather than to get it on the reel. There is less “machinery” between you and the fish and you can feel what is going on and instantly react to it. For fish that make long runs, it makes sense to play them on the reel.
Anthony, … There are NO stupid questions!!!
You’re much better off to ask a question and learn fromthe replies you get … than to lose the FISH of a LIFETIME by making a (stupid) mistake. 
Christopher Chin, Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/015738.html:58766]2006 FishIn Ste-Marguerite River[/url:58766]
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:58766]Fishing the Ste-Marguerite[/url:58766]
Anthony,
Listen closely – THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS EXCEPT THE ONE YOU DO NOT ASK
One thing I always do that helps my learning experience, which is forever ongoing, is while I am watching a fishing show on the TV, I try and not watch what is going on, but, I watch how the equipment is being used. You will be surprised how much you can learn about equipment by watching how someone is using it. Keep asking questions on this site.
Warren
Me too Warren. Also it pays to watch what the guy is doing with the equipment. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen the “celebrity” guest with rod held high and his line hand out as far as he can reach experiencing exactly what Anthony describes.
There are no stupid questions. Just make sure you practice all new techiques. With practice you should be able to use your rod index finger as a drag for fish when you hook up.
Bluegills are a great and fiesty fish to learn on. When a fish starts to run and you feel him pulling your rod down loosen your finger pressure a bit let him have some line but always try and keep some tension on the line. When he stops pulling start to strip line back in. If he pulls hard enough he will take you down to the reel where you can fight him if you want. Get all the practice you can for when the big one hits so you will ready for it.
Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick
Just my humble opinion, but from what BillKnepp has taught me about this board, and his experiences…there is not stupid questions…and that is why all these wonderful people are here…to help people out who have questions…dont feel stupid…If you dont ask…you won’t know.
As far as playing a fish, like others I try to get all the line on the reel (incase I have to run, I don’t want to be tripping on loose line). That is where drag comes in. Set it that he can take line with a little resistance, but no back lash when he stops. Also, you can palm your reel (assumming the reel you have has outer exposure to the spool) Put your retrieving hand open palm around the outer reel to slow it down.
Fly Goddess
Anthony,
A stupid Q, Is the one not asked…
I tend to only fight fish on the reel that put themselves in that position.
I find it much easier to make a consecutive cast after the release of the fish if I don’t have to waste time pulling all that line back off the reel.
But that can also provide a good excuse for a quick cleaning of the line while unspooling…depends on how slow or fast the action happens to be as well…I’ve been where you are, as well…Makes it lot harder to pick up the seemingly small stuff…But you’ll get it…!!!
Just a little tip…I have no clue what type of water your fishing…
But if you fish any still or nearly still waters…
Always wait till you feel the fish before setting the hook…I missed A LOT of fish till I got that one figured out!!!
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
Everyone wants to excel in this sport but at the same time we let traditionalists place restrictions on our tactics, methods, and ideas. I always assumed that fly fishing was a sport that allowed imagination, creation, adaptation, investigation, dedication, education, revelation? : Fox Statler, On Spinners (Not the dainty Dry Fly kind) “Spinner’d Minner Fly”
“Wish ya great fishing”
Bill
Thanks everyone for the encoragement. I consider myself knowledgable about fishing with casting and spinning gear, but fly fishing is brand new to me. Since I havent perfected my cast (to say the least ) I mainly fish for bluegill that go anywhere from 8 OZ to a pound. I hate to take away from the value of blue gill, but I could tie a peice of grass on the hook and catch 100. I fish mostly still waters and slow dirty rivers. Malden MA is not exactly a fly fishermans heaven. I am going up the the white mountains in NH next spring to saty in a cabin and go after some trout.
And at the pond I fish, I also stalk a 20+ koi(carp). It is very shy and stalking it is exhilarating. The reason why I dont like to play the gills off the reel is cuz usually there is a lot of line on the ground, and a bluegill isnt worth winding the line on too loose.