r/flyfishing • • Jan 20 '19

Discussion [MOD POST - PSA] We yell. We drink whisky. Sometimes we fish. WELCOME. Newcomers, start here.

419 Upvotes

You've stumbled into the flyfishing epicenter of the Redditverse. Many of our subscribers are veterans who will be equally happy to share their wisdom (and maybe their whisky, if you ask really nicely), brag about their angling prowess, debate gear choices and techniques for hours, lie to you about their secret places, offer helpful-yet-scathing criticism of your fish handling skills, and tell you to get the eff off their water....often simultaneously, and occasionally with corrosive but commendably colorful language. Not a bad bunch, all told.

But as far as we can tell, most of our contributors are relatively new to the sport. We're glad you're here! You've got questions, and we've got answers. In fact, there's a fair chance that your question has already been asked and answered a few times, so please use the search tools to find your answers first. Try keywords like "beginner" and "starter" and "wader suggestions" and "budget" to refine your results, and try surfing on your target location(s) or species. You might be amazed at how much useful content you'll find.

Every year or so we attempt again to create a starter guide, or to refresh the one from last year. Start here, and feel free to post if you don't find what you need....

Sometimes we run contests - watch the stickied threads for those. Again, welcome...and tight lines!


r/flyfishing • • 8h ago

Great weekend on the Kern River

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75 Upvotes

I love fly fishing.


r/flyfishing • • 7h ago

Not a professional…

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26 Upvotes

But it takes some serious skill to catch trout like this, 😂😂😂


r/flyfishing • • 8h ago

New England

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32 Upvotes

I’ve been fly fishing for just over a year and I’m starting to consistently get decent fish (for New England). Super stoked! Next up is learning to tie my own flies.


r/flyfishing • • 12h ago

Early fall TN smallies

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60 Upvotes

They were munching today. Smashed a white and chartreuse deceiver I tied up with a sculpin head to get down a little faster.


r/flyfishing • • 7h ago

Bighorn Day 3 - Mouth of Prune Creek leading into Sibley Lake

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16 Upvotes

brookies and rainbows everywhere! this was the best spot in the Bighorn National Forest I've been to so far.

they were tearing it up on a Black/White Parachute Adams and a Sparkle Dun


r/flyfishing • • 23h ago

A beautiful brown that fought like a beast.

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231 Upvotes

r/flyfishing • • 9h ago

Discussion New tool for Washington fly community

11 Upvotes

Little project I’ve been vibe coding to monitor emergency regs and flows. Any and all feedback is welcome. I built the tool I wish existed for checking flows and intel on rivers I frequent. It’s all public info so i just put it in one place. This is a work in progress but its live and i hope people get some use out of it. Open to any and all feedback. Please reach out if you find bugs or can contribute local knowledge.

http://cfshero.com


r/flyfishing • • 22h ago

A widly colored italian char in a spalla side stream

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93 Upvotes

What a dream


r/flyfishing • • 19h ago

First time catching trout

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40 Upvotes

Caught them on some rainbow warriors I tied. I usually fish for bass and sunfish so it was fun to catch a new species.


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

Fished a yarn indicator for the first time and it went crazy

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314 Upvotes

Been wanting to try this for years but never got around to doing it. Was exclusively euro nymphing for a solid 4 years (and catching a ridiculous amount of trout), saw the light again after a couple guided float trips on the Henry’s Fork and the South Fork and came back to traditional indicator nymphing, and then I moved to Denver this summer, where yarn is a big deal. Yes, Oros work, and there are definitely places where I would still use one, but there was something so satisfying about streamlining this super light and subtle nymphing rig on a clear and technical tailwater, and being successful. Can’t wait to try it again in the next couple days.


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

They’re jumping in Cheeseman

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150 Upvotes

r/flyfishing • • 16h ago

Targeting Tiger in the Morning

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8 Upvotes

I am going out to target tiger trout in the morning at a waterbody near by. They are primarily feeding of crayfish so I tied up this fly to target them. They are hard to catch but when you get one they are big like on average 25 inches, I’ve never caught one from there but see photos of the ones that come out. If anyone has any advice on targeting big tigers on the fly I would appreciate it! I’m in Utah going to a lake at about 9,000 feet of elevation.


r/flyfishing • • 15h ago

New to fly fishing, need advice on wading boots!

8 Upvotes

I am trying to buy a Christmas present for my bf , are these a good option? White River Fly Shop Vanguard BOA Wading Boots for Men - Gray/Black


r/flyfishing • • 15h ago

Discussion Manchester NH fishing opportunities

5 Upvotes

I will be in the Manchester area for 4 days next week for work and I have 1 day to kill. I will be bringing a 6 wt with me. Any suggestions on where I can go kill an afternoon and catch some smallmouth?


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

Northern Coho

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471 Upvotes

Love these guys and their willingness to take a swung fly.


r/flyfishing • • 20h ago

Orvis Recon III Reel Seat Ugly Color/Coating

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9 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I've recently gotten into fly fishing and am loving it. When I first was collecting all of the required gear I went on the lower end side just in case I didn't take to the sport, but I have taken to it and wanted to treat myself to an upgrade.

After a good bit of research I landed on the Orvis Recon III in a 5wt 9ft, but when it arrived I was pretty disappointed with the reel seat's finish/coloring. This is by no means the reason that I purchased this rod, but it is a fairly premium rod and the wood just does not look good to me. The brown is very nice, but it also has a green/gray sort of color to it and even a couple small blemishes in the coating. I understand that this is real wood and it was never going to look exactly like the stock image for the rod, but I feel like it's not even close.

Am I overreacting to this? Did I just get a bad batch or is it always a gamble like this when dealing with a fancy reel seat? Does anyone else have experience with something similar?

Thanks in advanced, everyone here has always been very helpful.


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

cool pattern and cutthroat!

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120 Upvotes

r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

First Solo Wading Trip on Lake Taneycomo — Still Learning!

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48 Upvotes

Spent about an hour and a half fly fishing Lake Taneycomo this morning. Beautiful fall morning, but definitely challenging conditions. The dam wasn’t generating, water was low and shallow, and there was very little current. I’m guessing dissolved oxygen levels weren’t ideal either.
Saw tons of trout but getting them to bite was another story. Managed to land two and broke off a third, so I’ll call that a win!
This was my first time wading and fishing Taneycomo on my own. Every previous trip I’ve had a guide and drift boat, so it was a completely different experience.
I’m still relatively new to fly fishing and especially nymphing. I’ve mostly fished dry flies, so figuring out the indicator setup, depth, and presentation has been a learning curve. I also found casting with the 6X leader/tippet and two-nymph setup more challenging than my usual dry fly rig.
Definitely have a lot to learn, but that’s part of what makes it fun. Really enjoyed getting out there on my own, figuring things out, and putting a couple fish in the net.
For those who regularly fish Taneycomo, any tips for nymphing during low-water, minimal-current conditions? Always looking to learn!


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

My first Brown Trout

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148 Upvotes

I caught this in northern Arizona. I’m very new to fly fishing so, this felt like a huge blessing from the fish gods. My next purchase will be a rubber net like most of you suggested. I’m a Largemouth Bass fisherman so it’s awesome changing things up.


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

I loved the colors on this brookie!

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35 Upvotes

r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

Day 2 in the Bighorn - Alpine Browns and Brookies

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23 Upvotes

r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

New To Fly Fishing

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56 Upvotes

I turn 40 this year, and recently moved to Western Montana from Nashville. A friend back in Tennessee gifted me a fly rod and reel and a couple of flies. I literally already started catching fish on my first day. Strictly catch and release on everything, of course. Full credit to the guys in the band the mountain grass unit, who are old friends, they showed me how to tie a fly and cast it when they came through town. Everything else is self-taught.

I had never fished a day in my life before. So to anyone who is wanting to get into it, I am living proof that all it takes is willpower.


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

I made this chart for my dad

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172 Upvotes

We are both a little new to fly fishing but since I’m in college and starting a job, and he’s retiring I won’t be able to help him as much since he obviously will be fishing more then me for the time being

I made this chart to help him figure out the sizes and what he needs to fish with and sort of what it looks like

In this chart fine ?

Or should I add anything more to it ?


r/flyfishing • • 1d ago

inspired by this sub

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21 Upvotes

ive been blessed with a select few trips to montana and colorado. always thought i had to chase fat trout. i recently moved very close to a lake in the flatter part of the southwest, and since i started following this sub about a month or two ago, i was reminded it wasn't about the mountain rivers and alpine lakes. i know panfish aren't exactly challenging to angle, but by changing my perspective i was able to reconnect with a pastime that i love. it was a good sunday, just because of this little guy.