What are some good tips for a long time bass angler starting to fly fish for trout?
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I have been a long time tournament angler for black bass. But starting out (as of last week) fly fishing for trout, casting is ok, but it seems that is one thing that will always need improvement. Would love some tips on books, vids, what flies to use when, ect. I live in MT and have acess to great fishing, so any clues to a good beginner spot would be a plus, and let me know if you want to go fishing!
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The internet is full of resources. Coming from a bass background, you may find the most similar and most forgiving set of flies to use are streamers like wooly buggers and clousers because nymphs and dries require more experience to drift without any drag. You can use a heavier tippet like 4x and tie on a lightly weighted bugger, then just work it like you would a jerk bait, jig or plastic worm – up down or across they all work. Try stripping line at different speeds or just letting the fly hang in the current when it gets below you and slowly strip it back. Use a short leader and tippet no more than 8 feet until you get comfortable. Even 6 feet can catch fish if you have trouble getting the cast down with a longer leader. Pay special attention to areas under riffles and it’s hard to go wrong. Use these in larger water if you can (2 feet deep is getting into good streamer water), then once you become more comfortable with casting a fly rod you might hook up with a fishing buddy to show you how to drift a dry fly. At that point you’ll just need to slow down your cast and watch how others fish – there is little substitute for direct observation. Nymphs are probably the most difficult because if you use an indicator you’ll get a lot more wind knots at first, and without one you really have to be familiar with presenting blind, drag-free drifts.
Fish a lot. Fish as late in the year and as early as you can stand it. Fish all year if you can — fishing a single river for 12 months straight is an astonishing experience. Fish with people who are better than you and listen to them — you don’t have to TAKE all the advice, but at least listen to it and think about it. Pick the brains of the guys at the fly shop (they’re probably like 7-11s or MacDonalds where you are). Talk to anglers you meet on the river — ask what they use and how they fish, especially THE LOCALS.
Yes, casting always needs improvement. Consider taking a class or at least a seminar — again, it should be pretty easy to find something like this where you are. If you want to be really good at casting, get instruction sooner rather than later so you don’t learn any bad habits (it’s too late for me — I’ve decided I’ll ALWAYS have a tailing loop).
Flies? No specific advice, but get in the habit of changing flies as often as you need to. If a fly doesn’t get hit, think about what you can change to. If you see obvious refusals, change flies immediately. Fish at all water levels. Don’t get addicted to dry flies or you’ll let dozens of fish get away scott-free.
Books and vids? No, not to learn HOW to fish — sounds like you know enough to at least catch fish, and you’re already an experienced angler. To learn about fish and forage, yes — read and watch everything you can. Become an amateur fisheries biologist and etymologist. Buy a few fly fishing magazines and if you like one of them get a subscription. Here’s one book you’ve GOT to have:
http://www.amazon.com/Hatch-Guide-Western-Streams-Schollmeyer/dp/1571881093/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
KEEP NOTES. Keep a journal of your fishing — record fishing locations, times, conditions (air and water temps, weather, flows, etc.), flies, techniques, and your catch (even if there’s no catch). It might seem like you’ll just remember everything about a particularly good or bad day of fishing, but you won’t — not in two or three years. A journal is amazingly helpful to help repeat past successes and avoid past mistakes.
Finally, join a fishing club — I recommend Trout Unlimited. Such organizations are great for improving your fishing skills, but they’re also great to improve your fishing resources. Get involved with restoration and improvement projects — give something back.
If you are in MT… find your local fly shop and walk in the door… spill your heart out to them, tell them of your desire to pursue trout on the fly and they will, in turn (and after you buy some stuff they recommend) tell you all that you need to know. Having a good relationship with your local shop is a great thing. They’ll help connect you to places and tactics that will see you through.
Fly fishing for trout is about 85% visual. Trout rarely “gum” a fly. You get one shot… he eats, he doesn’t, there is no in-between. Strike on everything.
In MT you have the opportunity to cast more dry flies than most of the rest of us. Dry fly fishing is a lot of fun and the take is pretty hard to miss (since the fish is eating the fly off the surface).
Casting… it’s great if you can cast 70 feet, but most of the fish you catch are going to be within 20 feet of you. The more line you have out, the less control you have over what’s happening at the other end, and the more fish you are lining (floating the line over a fish generally spooks that fish). So, focus on short distances… on managing that amount of line.
MT is such a great place to fish for trout… I hope you enjoy it. Trout live in such beautiful places, and that, in the end, is the most beautiful thing about fishing for trout.