So I am new to flyfishing, been out once or twice about 6-8 years ago. I am picking up a nice ready to fish combo from cabelas here pretty soon so i'll have something to fish with. What i need some advice about is the flies. I dont know what flies are for which type of fish. I will be trying to catch a wide aray of fish this season - Bluegills, bass, possibly some trout if i can find a spot, also heard about some people going for carps but dunno if i would do that yet. I was thinking about learning how to tie my own flies but haven't looked too much into it yet. So any advice would be appreciated

IMHO, I would recomend a fly tying class up at Jerry's Bait Shop in Highland. I took one up there some years back and had blast. Another good resource for hints, materials and instructions would be a place on Manchester in the Loo called Mastercraft. Very nice folks.

Pm your home address to me and I'll mail you a few that I have either bought or bought and tied myself and that I have had luck with on bluegill.

Basically try and see what the fish are coming up and hitting on the surface then use a fly just like what they are hitting. Or the ones Ihave used always seem to work well on calm surface waters. They are a sponge spider or a little mosquito. Being it is bitter cold outside I may just tie some tomorrow and tonight.

Man are you screwed... Flyfishing is like waterfowling.. you can't have too much stuff!!!

If your main target fish is bass, I'd go 6-8 wt rod and a bass bug taper line. But then you'll NEED a bluegill trout rod... I'd say get a 4 wt for that. Then you'll NEED a 2 wt rod for the small mountain streams.

I've got more flyrods than I know what to do with! As for tying flies, I tie all my small stuff, but buy the big bass bugs and such.

I love flyfishing.. learned from a great old fellow who was our town's doctor.. (OW Pflasterer for those who remember him) - however according to most who have fished with me, my technique is poor.. but I catch fish so I guess it's not all that bad LOL

Man are you screwed... Flyfishing is like waterfowling.. you can't have too much stuff!!!

If your main target fish is bass, I'd go 6-8 wt rod and a bass bug taper line. But then you'll NEED a bluegill trout rod... I'd say get a 4 wt for that. Then you'll NEED a 2 wt rod for the small mountain streams.

I've got more flyrods than I know what to do with! As for tying flies, I tie all my small stuff, but buy the big bass bugs and such.

The new combo i was going to buy was going to be in the 6-8wt and I have a rod and reel without line and was going to go with a 4-5wt line with it. I wont have to worry about a smaller weight rod yet since i dont plan on being near any mountain streams anytime soon.

Putting a 5 line on a 6 rod is ok, but a 4 line on an 8 rod won't work well for ya. 1 below or above... if anything I'd OVERLINE it... it will be easier to cast.

Putting a 5 line on a 6 rod is ok, but a 4 line on an 8 rod won't work well for ya. 1 below or above... if anything I'd OVERLINE it... it will be easier to cast.

the rod and reel i have now with no line is a 4-6 so i will probably go with 4 of that one and get 8 on the other combo depending on what they have in. I was looking at getting the 4 pc rod but dont know which is really better 2 or 4.

I'd go with a 2 as the 4 piece rods I have messed with seem to be too stiff and not flex in the right places due to the thicker sections at the joints... but they were cheapy 4 piece rods.

I have 4 and 2 piece rods. If you plan on traveling on a plane w/ it frequently get the 4 piece. If you plan on mostly local get the 2. I have quite a few St Croix poles, and am happy w/ them and their customer service. Pfluger makes a pretty good cheaper rod too. Both BPS and Cabelas have decent combo set ups.

I have St. Croix rods too and I really like them. I would suggest going over to Feathercraft in St. Louis. They will set you up with line and backing and have tying classes and all the materials. They have great customer service there too. If you have a pattern you want to learn you can just walk in and they usually have someone there that will sit down at a vice with you and show you how to tie it for free. I would suggest taking a class first just to learn the tying basics.

That's who I meant. I said Mastercraft but it's Feathercraft on Manchester. Awesome people there.

Quackhead35,

Since you are just starting up, there are lots of questions and lots to think about. First off get the right line for your style of casting and your rod. I would recommend going to Feather-Craft to get to get this ironed out. The line will cost around $40-60. Next since you are at F-C, pickup a "furled leader". Ask the dudes there forthe correct length. The furled leader will help make a perfect cast everytime even for beginners, it is well worth the money. Next is tippet, for lakes and pond use the stand tippet material 3x-6x, but when it comes to stream fishing, get Florocarbon 5x, 6x and 7x.

As for flies it all depends on what you are going for, so many options and every person has there own favorites for what ever species there are going for.

My forte is trout, and for me I have a different fly box for every stream I fish in MO, CO or NY. I think I have over 200 different patterns.

But as indicated the line is the key.

Send me a PM is you want more specific info.

Later,

FFM

I have 4 and 2 piece rods. If you plan on traveling on a plane w/ it frequently get the 4 piece. If you plan on mostly local get the 2. I have quite a few St Croix poles, and am happy w/ them and their customer service. Pfluger makes a pretty good cheaper rod too. Both BPS and Cabelas have decent combo set ups.

I was talkling to a few of the guys at cabelas and looked at their numerous combos. A friend of mine has cabelas genesis combo which i was actually looking at :

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0017452316491a&navCount=16&podId=0017452&parentId=cat20457&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20431-cat20457_TGP&catalogCode=XJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20457&hasJS=true

Seems pretty good and has some extras i wouldnt mind, but i am still looking at a few other combos still. I am trying to take my time and make sure i get what i need to get.


I have St. Croix rods too and I really like them. I would suggest going over to Feathercraft in St. Louis. They will set you up with line and backing and have tying classes and all the materials. They have great customer service there too. If you have a pattern you want to learn you can just walk in and they usually have someone there that will sit down at a vice with you and show you how to tie it for free. I would suggest taking a class first just to learn the tying basics.

I have been really looking into going there but just getting the time during the day to do it. if they were open late nights it would be perfect lol.

Quackhead35,

Since you are just starting up, there are lots of questions and lots to think about. First off get the right line for your style of casting and your rod. I would recommend going to Feather-Craft to get to get this ironed out. The line will cost around $40-60. Next since you are at F-C, pickup a "furled leader". Ask the dudes there forthe correct length. The furled leader will help make a perfect cast everytime even for beginners, it is well worth the money. Next is tippet, for lakes and pond use the stand tippet material 3x-6x, but when it comes to stream fishing, get Florocarbon 5x, 6x and 7x.

As for flies it all depends on what you are going for, so many options and every person has there own favorites for what ever species there are going for.

My forte is trout, and for me I have a different fly box for every stream I fish in MO, CO or NY. I think I have over 200 different patterns.

But as indicated the line is the key.

Thats what i have been reading and heard from a few people about the line being the key.

I concur on the furled leaders. They cost a bit more at the get go, but will last MUCH longer than the standard leader!

Well I went to Cabela's yesterday and ended up doing pretty good. Got a few tips and did a short how-to and the guy said I had really good form for really not flying before. Ended up getting one of the other Cabela's combos in 6wt as it was on sale, bigger better reel, and a little better feel to it. I got the furled leader and some tippet. Also picked up a few wooly buggers and some sneaky petes, but on my way home i remembered i still had some poppers for at least 10-15 years ago. In finding the poppers i found my regular flies, so i ended up with 21 flies and poppers total so I'm off to a decent start. I will be picking up a 4 wt combo here soon too for the smaller flies that I have.

I talked to a guy from I think its called Ozark fly fishing club, he was telling me about a bunch of places to fish for trout that are in the stl area which is good for me.

Now i just need some warmer weather to be able to fish in

the weekly or 2 week pill containers make fantastic fly holders. i find them better than the metal snap closure boxes, as it will not mess your flies up as bad, but remember to take them out and let dry when get home. rust is not a fishes favorite.