speaking of fly fishing

I would start off with a 9 foot 5 weight and a weight forward floating line. Don't spend a pile of money to begin with but understand there is a reason a good fly rod costs $300-$1000 or more...the rod makes a HUGE difference but in the beginning you want to get the motion down to rote muscle memory....you can do that with a $20 glass rod (if there is still such a thing) and a $10 reel and a $5 line....bass and bream don't care and if you ever get a bass big enough to need backing it'd be a rare day indeed. Gear is not as important in the beginning as practicing and keeping your wrist from doing what intuition tells you it needs to do.....if you haven't watched any casting videos yet the wrist should remain almost if not completely locked....as you progress you'll find that some wrist action adds to the process but the instinctive thing for most people is to use their wrist as much as the arm....which will give you BIG uncontrollable loops on the back cast causing all manner of ill outcomes including catching yourself or whipping your backside with the line....it will also cause the line to slap the water on the forecast and, maybe worst of all, wear you out and make the exercise VERY un-enjoyable very quickly....the rod does the work when done properly and you can cast 14 hours a day without getting sore if done properly.

Finally learn how to tie knots...whatever knot you prefer, they all work, and you don't want to be in a position where you are missing fish because it takes to long to change tippet. Get some small popping bugs with legs, trim the legs (trust me...bream will eat any color popping bug but if the legs are as long as they usually come they grab the legs and you can't get a hook in them). Also will need some sponge spiders and some slow sinking bees....when you get some semblance of casting down start streamer fishing...bass will also hit bugs on top but when you start streamer fishing you are on your way....chances are the bass in your area have seen more plastics and hard baits than they have live bait...but a clouser will be irresistible to them.


A word of warning...fly fishing is akin to golf....if you are a perfectionist who can live with continuous improvement it is very addictive....if you can't accept the fact that you are probably never going to be Lee Wulff its a blast...if that will be a problem it will be very frustrating. Cast, cast, cast....don't worry about what you look like...I'd say 99% of the fly fisherman I ever fished around were ashamed of their casting....the other 1% were either devoid of self awareness or assholes! Also remember that even on the most technical of waters fish can and have been caught with a cane pole and a line with no reel at all.....I've caught about everything that can be caught on a long rod but a bill fish....I have hooked sails but never leadered one (yet!!!) and up until 5 years ago I would not double haul in front of anyone I didn't know well...43 years of practice and I am still learning!!!

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Cabela's wind river 9ft 5wt is a decent and cheap little set up.

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You'll be a bit under-gunned throwing bigger bugs for bass with a 5wt. Personally, I'd go with a 6wt. BUT a 5wt would be perfect for the 10 y/o.

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ya gotta be mind full of your back cast.

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Jon boat or kayak for the win.

most poppers get by with what ever mono ya have lying about no need for all that fancy stuff starting out pond fishing have fun.

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most poppers get by with what ever mono ya have lying about no need for all that fancy stuff starting out pond fishing have fun.

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I agree. 6 or 8 lbs mono and you're good to go.

I’ve got the Orvis, I’ve enjoy using it. Hoping to use it this weekend on some freshwater action. Whatever bites.