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Getting into Fly Fishing...

Posted on 10/12/14 at 9:13 pm
Posted by Fishwater
Carcosa
Member since Aug 2010
5834 posts
Posted on 10/12/14 at 9:13 pm
I'm living in Birmingham now and a buddy got the bug in me about fly fishing.

I went out to Bass Pro Shop today and talked to guys out there about getting started.

Looks like I'll need a 8 rod, since the majority of fishing i'll be doing will be bass.

What's your advice for me?

Thanks.
Posted by Bama and Beer
Baldwin Co, AL
Member since Oct 2010
80951 posts
Posted on 10/12/14 at 9:14 pm to
An 8 weight?
Posted by dandug001
Shreveport
Member since Oct 2011
1578 posts
Posted on 10/12/14 at 9:23 pm to
been watching youtube videos. wondering if I can teach myself
Posted by jimbeam
University of LSU
Member since Oct 2011
75703 posts
Posted on 10/12/14 at 9:31 pm to
Keep a tight wrist. Pretend you're using a hammer and simply hitting a nail down, then backwards into a wall
Posted by tennessee391
Member since Dec 2008
4885 posts
Posted on 10/12/14 at 9:35 pm to
I got a fly rod Friday.. Took it to a big open dock Saturday just to practice casting with some random arse fly. Somehow managed to catch a little stripe

My casting was shitty.

Proof

This post was edited on 10/12/14 at 9:40 pm
Posted by aVatiger
Water
Member since Jan 2006
27967 posts
Posted on 10/12/14 at 9:41 pm to
video yourself casting to look at what you are doing wrong and adjust to get better


best thing i ever did, i saw where i need to correct my cast and rhythm

and if you aint got rhythm when you are fly fishing, you are B$B
Posted by Cracker
in a box
Member since Nov 2009
17742 posts
Posted on 10/12/14 at 9:45 pm to
get a 6 wt
Posted by AubieALUMdvm
Member since Oct 2011
11713 posts
Posted on 10/12/14 at 9:48 pm to
A 7 or 8 weight sounds ok. I fish for steelhead and salmon with an 8.

If I were bassfishing in most areas of Alabama I'd probably use a little less than that. This is assuming you'll be catching the smaller spotted bass rather than big largemouths on Guntersville.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
56103 posts
Posted on 10/12/14 at 9:49 pm to
an 8 weight will be good for bass and comparable sized fish, but too big for panfish and trout...I pretty much agree with all of the posts here...

very cool sport man...enjoy...

Posted by AutoYes_Clown
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Oct 2012
5181 posts
Posted on 10/12/14 at 10:11 pm to
I grew up fly fishing Bham. They recommended a 10ft 8wt? I cant name a single fish in Alabama... salt or fresh, that you need a 10ft 8wt except maybe a tarpon. 10ft pretty much limits you to big open water via boat/yak/canoe. I caught several 10lb bass on a 5wt without a problem.

I would recommend your first setup being a 5-6wt 7-9ft long. For lakes and ponds, be sure to use poppers. For creeks and rivers, use floating and sinking flies. My favorite places were bass and panfish in Black Warrior and Turkey Creek. I never liked Cahaba or anything south of Bham. Guntersville is my fav big body.

Whatever you do, plan on flyfishing the mayfly hatch early summer. It is still the greatest fishing I have ever experienced and it THE fly fishing event of Alabama.
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
42574 posts
Posted on 10/13/14 at 3:40 pm to
I live in Bham, and love to ff. A 5 rod is all you need. For bream, drop to a 3. I have tried all the local spots (N Ga, Sipsey, Hawissee, etc), but your best bet is to fish the local compounds for bass, bream, crappie, etc.
Posted by Overbrook
Member since May 2013
6093 posts
Posted on 10/13/14 at 5:02 pm to
Is it essentially top-water fishing? Is that what makes it different.
Posted by PaBon
UPT 17th W/D
Member since Sep 2014
1891 posts
Posted on 10/13/14 at 6:26 pm to
I'd suggest something cheap to start. there is no reason to spend over $60 on a beginner rig. You might want to look into one of those prepackaged/wrapped rod/reel combo set's that come with some flies.

I've come to appreciate the sport and my set-up a lot more by learning on a cheapy set, and for the record...I've actually caught more fish on my cheap combo set than the mortgage payment set.

Posted by Manatee
Mandeville
Member since Oct 2011
415 posts
Posted on 10/13/14 at 6:54 pm to
6 wt would be more fun, you want to target perch and small fish for fun.
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