learning to fly fish.....questions

[tjm]

imo, 5X tippet is small enough for any fly except tiny dry flies, if the tippet pushes the fly a smaller tippet is needed; as long as the fly can move the tippet is small enough. This from a guy that used to fish tippets to 8&9X  (in the old days 1/2# test). I rarely want a tippet over 30" long because longer might not turn over to suit me. (over all leader length might exceed 12' though)

I also think every ready made leader I have ever seen was too big in the butt section.  .017"-.018" is plenty big enough and gives better flex to the delivery system. Use any leader material you want as long as it is Maxima Chameleon or Maxima Ultragreen.

2 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

If you are down there maybe stop by Lilleys and have one of the guys help line you out. 

Good advice.

If you are fishing a jig and float, any other advice I might have would be irrelevant, something I have never done. 

 

[Travis Swift]

I tie all my own trout jigs size 3/32nd and 1/8th so I do know how to tie but have not tied a fly.......yet

[tjm]

2 hours ago, Travis Swift said:

I use 2 pound line on my jig rods all the time

Why? is it for castability or visibility or bait movement or? 

[Travis Swift]

4 minutes ago, tjm said:

Why? is it for castability or visibility or bait movement or? 

all of the above.  I get way way more bites on 2 pound test line fishing jigs than I do 4 pound test.  it's way smaller and allows the jig to sinker faster etc.  plus.....it's fun!

[tjm]

Tippets per Orvis for various hook sizes:

X......Dia,"... ..hook size

8X     .003"     22, 24, 26, 28
7X     .004"     18, 20, 22, 24
6X     .005"     16, 18, 20, 22
5X     .006"      14, 16, 18
4X     .007"      12, 14, 16
3X     .008"      6, 8, 10
2X     .009"       4, 6, 8
1X     .010"       2, 4, 6
0X     .011"      1/0, 2, 4
.012     .012"    5/0, 4/0,3/0, 2/0
.013     .013"     5/0, 4/0,3/0, 2/0
.015     .015"    5/0, 4/0,3/0, 2/0
.017    .017"     Butt
.020    .020       Butt

You might find this article interesting; http://www.flyfisherman.com/featured/harveys-new-leader-formula/

[JestersHK]

Lots of great info here.  My biggest piece of advice is try not to overthink it... Trust me if my ugly casting can catch fish then anyone's can LOL. 

Also bring your patience.  Fishing a fly rod I can get into some pickles with my line (maybe my newness to it, maybe knot) .  Fishing with a dropper I get about twice as many tangles and snarls than just fishing a single, but it does increase the chance of a hook up, just pay attention and try to catch a tangle before it turns into a real cut off and retie mess...

The indicators that thread through I also prefer over the little ones with the rubber section that always seem to pop off on a hook up and go floating down stream.

Good luck out there and looking forward to seeing your first trout on the fly rod!

[moguy1973]

I kind of mirror what Jesters said.  Don’t make it complicated, especially if you are new to fly fishing. It will just frustrate you. After all, you have to remember these are Taney trout. Not taking away anything from them but most are stockers and aren’t very smart.  You really don’t need to be super sneaky or stealthy with them as some will swim between your feet when you are wading. I’ve caught plenty of Taney trout with 4lb tippet with a woolly bugger or mohair leech at the end of it just drifting it in current. 

[Travis Swift]

thanks guys.  I have a 5x tapered Rio 7.5 feet leader coming and some 6x and 7x tippet coming.  Should be good to go.  Just something else to play with on vacation mainly.  I use a jig and float a lot or a trout magnet and float a lot and just wanted to try something different on occasion.  Should be a lot of fun to try and learn something new.   It can be a bit intimidating and confusing to figure it out when you don't have someone in person to teach you how to get one set up and what you should need etc.  So I appreciate all the answers you guys have given me. 

[ness]

Your new rig's leader likely tapers down to tippet at the end, but who knows what size. I'd get some 4, 5 and 6x too. You could eyeball it against your leader and see about what it is to find your starting point is. 7x is pretty fine and more suited to tiny flies in gin-clear water. 4 or 5x is middle-of-the-road and will turn over a little bigger flies.

Like SIO3 said, pop into Lilley's Landing and I'm sure they'll get you set up.

[Travis Swift]

Another dumb question. Do fly reels have drags? If so how do you set it?