New to the Area and Fly Fishing

[Chirp Chirp]

Hello everyone! I've been lurking on this forum for a few weeks, and decided that now that I've got a fly setup it's the right time to make an account. I'm new to St. Louis, I only moved here about a year ago from Texas. Bass fishing has always been my go-to hobby, but I fell out of it a few years ago due to a lack of free time. After getting skunked on bass for the past few weeks (can't blame anyone other than myself, my only days off had poor weather), I've decided to get into fly fishing to target the trout here. Went out to rock creek today and got skunked, but I still had fun learning how to fly cast.

[jdmidwest]

Fly fishing can be an addictive sport, it culminates with tying your own flies.  Check out Tom Hargroves or Feather Craft and let them guide you down the path of the new addiction.

[Chirp Chirp]

4 hours ago, jdmidwest said:

Fly fishing can be an addictive sport, it culminates with tying your own flies.  Check out Tom Hargroves or Feather Craft and let them guide you down the path of the new addiction.

I have been to both of them already! Feathercraft was initially super helpful, I went a second time and can't say my experience was as good as the first time. T Hargroves was suggested to me by a close friend of mine who used to do a lot of fly fishing, and I really enjoyed my time there. They were super helpful and helped me get squared away with flies and also some spots to try out for bank fishing, as I don't have waders yet. I'm sure I'll get to the point of tying my own flies eventually, I just don't have the space for it right now (which is both a blessing and a curse I suppose).

[Hawg]

Targeting carp with the fly rod when you can’t chase the gamefish is also pretty great. There is lots of crossover in the gear.

The large grass carp can feel like you’ve hooked an ocean fish at times haha.

[Chirp Chirp]

2 hours ago, Hawg said:

Targeting carp with the fly rod when you can’t chase the gamefish is also pretty great. There is lots of crossover in the gear.

The large grass carp can feel like you’ve hooked an ocean fish at times haha.

Will definitely have to give this a try. Carp fishing is plenty fun on spinning tackle.

[T.J. Clarke]

Welcome.  Do not give up on the Bass.  Lots of fun with a 7wt fly outfit.  Also, Bluegill fishing with a tiny top water popper, dusk to dark, fun, fun, fun. 

[Chirp Chirp]

On 3/9/2023 at 12:04 PM, T.J. Clarke said:

Welcome.  Do not give up on the Bass.  Lots of fun with a 7wt fly outfit.  Also, Bluegill fishing with a tiny top water popper, dusk to dark, fun, fun, fun. 

I now have a 3wt and am planning on giving bluegill a try on my days off here. Was thinking of doing an egg pattern in a neutral color as well as a dry fly.

[Flysmallie]

12 hours ago, Chirp Chirp said:

Was thinking of doing an egg pattern in a neutral color as well as a dry fly.

They will probably eat an egg but that dry fly needs to be a foam spider. Bluegill are easy. But still a tremendous amount of fun, especially on a 3wt. 

[Chirp Chirp]

10 hours ago, Flysmallie said:

They will probably eat an egg but that dry fly needs to be a foam spider. Bluegill are easy. But still a tremendous amount of fun, especially on a 3wt. 

I've got a couple of foam spiders in a few different colors.

[sitting fishing]

On 3/29/2023 at 11:26 AM, Flysmallie said:

They will probably eat an egg but that dry fly needs to be a foam spider. Bluegill are easy. But still a tremendous amount of fun, especially on a 3wt. 

I second the spider with rubber legs