Wednesday, February 16, 2011

My Humble Fly Collection

By now you know I haven't done any fly fishing yet; however, I am getting ready and excited about the first time I enter a river to make my first cast.

I came home from my Maine trip today and started putting items on and into my new vest. One of the those things was the case with my flies. Compared to everybody who reads this it is probably not as big as the flies you have lost over a weekend but I have to start somewhere.

There was a message from LL Bean on the display that showed his gear that said something like there are only nine flies someone needs to catch fish. If they don't work, then the fish aren't going to be biting. As the old saying goes, lures (or flies) catch more fisherman than fish.

My next purchase will be a set of waders and boots.

5 comments:

  1. You have to start somewhere...and it's looking just fine! My one piece of advice is to take an Entomology class and learn about the bugs...it really is more important than learning to cast...I'm excited for you. :)

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  2. The book that started it all for me was the LL Bean Ultimate Book of Fly fishing. It said I needed 11 flies. I started with 10.

    Mark

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  3. Its very true that most flies are designed to catch fisherman, but its nice to be caught every so often.
    I tie many flies but seem to reach for certain patterns all the time. Habits that form with success.
    I would suggest a book that you would learn a great deal from. I think its one of the best on the subject of trout insects and patterns.
    The Hatch Guide For New England Streams,
    by Thomas Ames Jr.

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  4. All good suggestions Mac. I'll add one more. Don't be afraid to take a casting class or two. Many fly shops make them available free or very inexpensive. As Damsel suggests, take an entomology class, maybe even a beginners fly tying class. You be glad you did after you've been flogging the water for awhile. Pick up a book or two but don't go overboard until you've been at it awhile. Books catch as many fishermen as flies.

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  5. Looks like I see some wooly buggers, elk hair caddis , and prince nymphs...all good general purpose flies.

    One thing about the northeast is we don't have the monster hatches they have out west...therefore I second the Thomas Ames book. It has nice pictures of some of the local insect life and talks about theirs general behaviors. That being said I have still few done my best with attractor type flies.

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