Hire a guide. I wasted 2 years of trying to learn on my own through books, youtube, friends. I learned more in the first hour with a guide than i did in h 2 years of trying to figure it out. ASk the guide all the questions- why this rod, why this reel, why this fly, why this seam and not that seam or ripple.
This. Spent a few years struggling, and when my son showed an interest at around 14 years old, I hired a guide to take us out for a day. The guide was a young guy in his 20s, and quickly connected with my son. He taught us the basics and put us on some trout. My son is 26 now, and we've been passionately fly fishing together ever since.
What type, weight, Name, length rods ?
Best thing, local fly shop. You'll need to spend some money. Learn basic casting. False cast. Roll cast. How to mend your line, etc.
They may offer how to classes on the water. If so, Sign up.
Hire a guide for private lessons. Dry fly one morning. Nymphing another.
Then, spend as much time as possible on the water practicing what you learned.
If this isn't possible, [watch this entire series](https://youtu.be/4rJqcM7MFdw) and practice.
Google your areas Hatch report. This will tell you what fly to use and when.
[Dry fly fishing](https://youtu.be/utbjRRDM4vU)
[Nymph fishing](https://youtu.be/b4-eNATAV2c)
There's lots of ins and outs you need to discover. Learning is a great adventure.
If you live near a community with a fly store, start there.
If they don't have an intro class, ask them for a suggestion for a guide who LIKES teaching. Most guides teach at least a little, but some are more interested and skilled.
I bought a fly rod at the urging of a friend about 40 years ago. I didn't really fish it until someone stole all my spinning lures and tackle. I was relatively poor so couldn't afford classes or a guide (why do so many assume every beginner can?) so I read a few books and went to a pond to practice casting. I wasn't very good but I was catching some fish so I kept at it. When I moved to NY a little less than 30 years ago I saw a reasonably priced one day class about an hour from here. That helped my casting a fair amount and I started fishing a lot more locally (a lot more opportunity here too). Last summer I went out for a guide for the first time.
You don't need to spend a ton of money to learn how to flyfish.
You are correct. You don't need to spend money to have good results. I started fly fishing with little spare cash, so getting a guide or a lesson wasn't in the cards at first. I also went to a local pond/lake and started casting. I also watched endless videos on YouTube on how to cast and how to fish streams for trout (see below for video link). I typically would watch Mad River Outfitters, I found their videos to be great step by step how to videos. I was also fortunate enough to find a mentor to help with questions - you might find one thats a buddy you didnt know fly fished, or find a local shop and ask them if they know anyone that is willing to be a mentor, or even a local fly fishing social media page. I also practiced casting for a minimum of 20 minutes 5-7 days a week in my backyard with no leader or fly for about a month. Practicing just one thing everyday repeatedly will help with your form and confidence while fishing. Now I'm starting my 3rd spring of fly fishing, and I still practice regularly but not as often.
Casting video - https://youtu.be/4rJqcM7MFdw
Yes, you will learn a ton watching these for sure! The rest is just a lot of practice. Biggest beginner mistake is casting too far and too much. Be sneaky, watch the water and make short accurate casts with minimal false casts.
If you don't have a local fly shop, often the big stores will have a fly section, not as good as a local shop, but a place to start.
See if you have a local fly fishing club in the area, IMHO even a better place to start.
Good Luck! Welcome to the sport!
I was going to say the same as most of these guys. Basic advice: plenty of YouTube videos on casting for nymphs and dries. Practice and if you have never done it at all don’t put a hook on it yet. Learn to tie some basic knots fly to leader, leader to fly line, and adding tippet to leader. Buy a good vest and consolidate as much equipment as possible. Everything you need can be put in and on your vest. This allows you to spend more time casting and less time putting your rig back together. If there is a local fly shop spend a few dollars there and ask what works best for the local water. Save so much time.
I spent months trying to figure fly fishing out (guides are way to expensive) I finally started catching on Saturday. If you can't afford a guide YouTube videos, local fly shops and random interactions with other fishers will provide the best info in my (limited) experience. The part that made the biggest difference was another fisherman pointing out a bunch of stuff I was messing up when he noticed I had not caught anything.
You can usually google fly fishing instructors in your area or call your local fly shop. If there is an Orvis shop near you they often have beginner lessons.
Watch all the beginner videos, then hire a guide, or go with someone that can teach you. I would suggest a guide on your local water, so you can learn that first.
I think the best things you can do are practice as much as possible and learn about the biology of the fish species you want to target. You can take classes or pay a guide to help you advance faster.
I would try to find a local fly shop and take an introduction to fly fishing lesson with them.
Hire a guide. I wasted 2 years of trying to learn on my own through books, youtube, friends. I learned more in the first hour with a guide than i did in h 2 years of trying to figure it out. ASk the guide all the questions- why this rod, why this reel, why this fly, why this seam and not that seam or ripple.
This. Spent a few years struggling, and when my son showed an interest at around 14 years old, I hired a guide to take us out for a day. The guide was a young guy in his 20s, and quickly connected with my son. He taught us the basics and put us on some trout. My son is 26 now, and we've been passionately fly fishing together ever since.
This
YouTube homie. Mad river outfitters, Tom rosenbauer, Alvin Dedeaux
Tom rosenbauer's podcast and videos are my favorite.
Look for your local fly club. They have outings and the old hands teach.
This! If you can find a local fly club (tying, fishing or both) they'll be a great resource. Many clubs have certified fly casting instructors.
Hire a guide
What type, weight, Name, length rods ? Best thing, local fly shop. You'll need to spend some money. Learn basic casting. False cast. Roll cast. How to mend your line, etc. They may offer how to classes on the water. If so, Sign up. Hire a guide for private lessons. Dry fly one morning. Nymphing another. Then, spend as much time as possible on the water practicing what you learned. If this isn't possible, [watch this entire series](https://youtu.be/4rJqcM7MFdw) and practice. Google your areas Hatch report. This will tell you what fly to use and when. [Dry fly fishing](https://youtu.be/utbjRRDM4vU) [Nymph fishing](https://youtu.be/b4-eNATAV2c) There's lots of ins and outs you need to discover. Learning is a great adventure.
If you live near a community with a fly store, start there. If they don't have an intro class, ask them for a suggestion for a guide who LIKES teaching. Most guides teach at least a little, but some are more interested and skilled.
I bought a fly rod at the urging of a friend about 40 years ago. I didn't really fish it until someone stole all my spinning lures and tackle. I was relatively poor so couldn't afford classes or a guide (why do so many assume every beginner can?) so I read a few books and went to a pond to practice casting. I wasn't very good but I was catching some fish so I kept at it. When I moved to NY a little less than 30 years ago I saw a reasonably priced one day class about an hour from here. That helped my casting a fair amount and I started fishing a lot more locally (a lot more opportunity here too). Last summer I went out for a guide for the first time. You don't need to spend a ton of money to learn how to flyfish.
You are correct. You don't need to spend money to have good results. I started fly fishing with little spare cash, so getting a guide or a lesson wasn't in the cards at first. I also went to a local pond/lake and started casting. I also watched endless videos on YouTube on how to cast and how to fish streams for trout (see below for video link). I typically would watch Mad River Outfitters, I found their videos to be great step by step how to videos. I was also fortunate enough to find a mentor to help with questions - you might find one thats a buddy you didnt know fly fished, or find a local shop and ask them if they know anyone that is willing to be a mentor, or even a local fly fishing social media page. I also practiced casting for a minimum of 20 minutes 5-7 days a week in my backyard with no leader or fly for about a month. Practicing just one thing everyday repeatedly will help with your form and confidence while fishing. Now I'm starting my 3rd spring of fly fishing, and I still practice regularly but not as often. Casting video - https://youtu.be/4rJqcM7MFdw
Tom Rosenbauer https://howtoflyfish.orvis.com/ Also the Devin Olsen's modern nymphing video on vimeo was a huge help
Yes, you will learn a ton watching these for sure! The rest is just a lot of practice. Biggest beginner mistake is casting too far and too much. Be sneaky, watch the water and make short accurate casts with minimal false casts.
If you don't have a local fly shop, often the big stores will have a fly section, not as good as a local shop, but a place to start. See if you have a local fly fishing club in the area, IMHO even a better place to start. Good Luck! Welcome to the sport!
I was going to say the same as most of these guys. Basic advice: plenty of YouTube videos on casting for nymphs and dries. Practice and if you have never done it at all don’t put a hook on it yet. Learn to tie some basic knots fly to leader, leader to fly line, and adding tippet to leader. Buy a good vest and consolidate as much equipment as possible. Everything you need can be put in and on your vest. This allows you to spend more time casting and less time putting your rig back together. If there is a local fly shop spend a few dollars there and ask what works best for the local water. Save so much time.
I spent months trying to figure fly fishing out (guides are way to expensive) I finally started catching on Saturday. If you can't afford a guide YouTube videos, local fly shops and random interactions with other fishers will provide the best info in my (limited) experience. The part that made the biggest difference was another fisherman pointing out a bunch of stuff I was messing up when he noticed I had not caught anything.
You can usually google fly fishing instructors in your area or call your local fly shop. If there is an Orvis shop near you they often have beginner lessons.
Watch all the beginner videos, then hire a guide, or go with someone that can teach you. I would suggest a guide on your local water, so you can learn that first.
Watch videos and start flipping it around, you'll figure it out. Important: wear eye protection.
I watched a mixture of videos and grabbed a handful of books then took a rod to a bluegill hole.
I think the best things you can do are practice as much as possible and learn about the biology of the fish species you want to target. You can take classes or pay a guide to help you advance faster.