re: Getting into Fly Fishing...

Also, consider joining a local club if you have one. The Atlanta club offers casting lessons before meetings, and you can easily find someone who will take you out and spend a few hours helping.

Orvis, FWIW, will help you in the parking lot if they're not busy. Their fly fishing managers are usually pretty excited to help, especially in markets where there probably isn't a ton of fly fishing stimulation.

I would get a 5/6 weight. Also, make some trips over to Atlanta and fish the cold water of the Hooch. There are several outfits this way who will guide and provide instruction for pretty reasonable costs. Check out deal websites too, as I've seen a number of half price fly trips come up on GroupOn and the like.

As for what makes it better, I don't really know. It is more difficult, but also more rewarding, IMO. The fly fishing community is also somewhat different from the southern bass fishing community, so it may or may not fit you better. It does for me, but I don't want to sound like I'm disparaging bait fishermen.