Advice For First-Time Fly Fishing Bennett Springs

[Wornica]

I have used an ultra light spinning rig at Bennett Springs and finally decided to get a fly rod. What advice would you give me for the first time to use it a Bennett Springs. Hope to go next week. Specifically wanted to know which zone would be best to start on and what type of approach, dry flies, midges, streamers, etc. Thanks!

[brittsnbirds]

Assuming that you are new to the fly rod thing, I would suggest you get a rod and fly line that supports "roll casting". Then learn how to roll cast and mend your line. There are many youtube videos about roll casting and line presentation. This will get you ready to use a plethera of different flys. This way you will not have to be so frustrated in the line management of casting. Once you get your groove on with using a strike indicator and different midge patterns (hint, hint) as well as glow balls (another hint) you can migrate to the art of dry fly presentation which is a totally different game. Maybe a brief stop before you get real proficient with the dry fly presentation would be the utiliztion of streamers (white river special-hint) and stripping cracklebacks (hint), and/or soft hackles (another hint).

The key to using the fly rod is getting the correct setup. Correct length, weight and fly line, wheter it is a DT (double taper) or WF (weight forward) line. I recently switched to a DT for my 3 weight rod setup so I could roll cast better at the suggestion of NoLuck. Made a difference. I can roll cast about any line but with the DT it made it much easier.

I would check out one of the local fly shops down around Springfield or just go to the Bennett Spring Store and look up Eric. He is a certified casting instructor as well as an all around good guy. He works in the afternoon (tall red headed fella). They have a new selection of fly rods, reels and lines. He may even throw a lesson in for you!!

Last words of wisdom, be patient, it will come!!

[Flysmallie]

Well if you need a good place to practice casting the rec center pond in Willard is a good spot to play.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The Wullf Triangle Taper is the ultimate roll casting line.

[Wornica]

Thanks for all the hints and advice! I used to fly fish for panfish as a teenager but that was a long time ago. Have been practicing my casting so hopefully all will go well.

[NoLuck]

Wayne, I've heard great things about the triangle taper line. Only bad thing is I have only seen it in white color. I like dull neutral colors for my flylines. The DT to me is a do-all line. WF lines just never feel right on my softer action Winston's. On my BIIIX it does feel good though.