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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 576
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 576 |
I haven't tried fly fishing since I was a teenager (never caught a fish). A friend of mine just called me up outta the blue and ask me to stop by.
He had a bunch of rod tubes and a storage tub waiting. "I'm 85 and I won't be using this stuff anymore, do what you want with it,,,". Well, I now have a selection of fly rods, reels, a vest, a very cool wood net, fly boxes full of dry flys, tippet, etc.
Where to from here, I want to learn how to cast well, and more importantly learn how to catch fish! My friend said he used to fish from Northern California up through British Columbia, and east to Montana. So that's the kinda gear I have. He's not interested in teaching me, I asked (he's quite frail).
This gear dates from the 70's through about 2000. A few questions: Do fly lines go bad with age? While older, his gear is in fantastic condition. The fly rods include fiberglass Fenwick's, and a newer(?) Scott. The reels include 2 Hardy reels, one a 5/6 the other a 7/8.
I've thought about just heading out and flailing away, but there must be a better way...
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13,244 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 13,244 Likes: 1 |
When I was just starting out I took an adult ed class at a local library sponsored by the local fly fishing club. It was well worth the modest cost and I picked up a lot of good intel on the best places to fish as well as learning the casts and about the flies.
Let's Go Brandon! FJB
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,676
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,676 |
I'd be also checking in at local fly fishing shops to see what they offer in the way of courses. They should also know about other local resources like fly fishing clubs that can help you.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 17,134
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 17,134 |
. This gear dates from the 70's through about 2000. A few questions: Do fly lines go bad with age? While older, his gear is in fantastic condition. Depends on how the reels were stored but the lines may or not be good to go. Peel them off and run them through a wash with a little dish soap and take a look. If they're not filled with cracks and still flexible then go ahead and give them a shot. .I've thought about just heading out and flailing away, but there must be a better way... Don't minimize the benefits of some flailing There is a difference between fly casting and fly fishing. If you can manage to get 15-20' of line out and where you want it within a foot or so you can catch a lot of fish. Go watch some you tube videos and hit your yard with the rod and see what you can do. I missed what kind of fishing you might be doing so that's the next thing to think about (stream, lake, cold water or wam etc.)
If something on the internet makes you angry the odds are you're being manipulated
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,733
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,733 |
Orvis (and others) offer a lot of good instructional videos on YouTube: Orvis - Fly Casting Lessons - The Basic Fly Cast
"Kids don't remember their best day of television."
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 576
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 576 |
I'm contacting local fly shops for classes on fly casting. It seems that the gear that was given to me is top shelf stuff (at least for it's era).
I plan on doing the No. Cal trout steams and creeks, because they're close, and because that seems to be what his kit is set-up to do.
I' unspooled the lines on the reels. No cracks. On the insides of the spools were stickers with the type of line. Both Cortland, one a 4wt floating line, the other a 7wt sinking?
Flailing, here I come!
Thanks for the tips!
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,261
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,261 |
Depending on where you are, there might be a local club.
Don't pass by warm water fishing if it's close too. Plenty of good learning opportunities to be had in the local farm ponds.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,238
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,238 |
One thing I can tell you for sure. It's a hell of a lot easier to learn to fly cast correctly in the first place than to unlearn a bunch of bad habits. I guided for quite a few years, and participated in a number of fly fishing schools, and the people who had the most difficulty learning to cast were those who spent a lot of time flailing before they got some quality instruction. In fact some of them really never overcame their bad habits. The enjoyment of fly fishing is directly related to ones ability to cast. Don't screw yourself by getting started on the wrong foot.
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