Getting Started - Fly Fishing
By Jay Baker, CZM

Fly fishing can be peaceful, exhilarating, and immensely frustrating all in the same night. Watching as 20 yards of fly line silently uncurls into glassy water is a gratifying thing, but getting to that point can be difficult. There’s a steep learning curve associated with fly fishing. You have to be prepared to catch fewer fish for a while, and spend a few more dollars than the bait fisherman, but the feel of the fish on the end of a fly rod is incomparable.

The best way to get started is to join a fly-fishing school or venture out with a pro. Most fly-fishing retailers have guides that work out of their shops, and in most cases, they’ll provide you with all the gear you need. You can also sign up for some fly-fishing seminars on-line like Jack Gartside’s Fishing Classes (www.jackgartside.com) or Cape Cod Outfitters Saltwater Fly Fishing Schools (www.capecodoutfitters.com).

Short of signing up for these somewhat pricey lessons, there are a variety of videos and books to help you get started. Lou Tabory’s book Inshore Fly Fishing is a must have for anglers of all experience levels who fish the waters of New England. Of course, if you go this route, you’ll need to gear up at a fishing outfitter. Avoid buying gear online if you’re just getting started. The amount of equipment and choices can be overwhelming, and a sales person can help you keep things simple at the start.

Once you’re geared up, it’s all about practice, and you don’t need to be on the water to get started. Substitute a piece of tin foil for a fly and head down to the local baseball diamond. Once you can throw the fly 20 feet or so without nicking your hand or catching the back of your neck, it’s time to graduate to a Chartreuse Deceiver and coastal waters.

Good luck.