The Basics of Fly Fishing

Reel fishing is easy; cast out, reel in. Got it. No problem. Even better, that other kind of fishing — just drop the hook into the water and sip a beer until someone tells you you’ve caught something.

Fly fishing; however, requires a level of actual knowledge and skill. Fly-fishing isn’t something you can just make up as you go. There are basic requirements and you can learn a few basics here. Keep them in mind as you test out a few practice casts.

You’re better off asking someone to set your rod up for you. Honesty is the best policy, so just admit you’ve never done it before.

You can divide your cast up into three actions, depending on the weather, from windy conditions to still. In the wind, you want a firm, fast and short pullback on your cast. This will give you better distance.

You’ll whip out, using the above actions, and allow your fly (hooked feathery thing) to sit a moment on the water’s surface. Whip it back again and, whilst the hook is still in the air, whip it out again.

Check out redington.com for a more concise lesson on basic fly-fishing.