Newbie Fly man

[nbaaron]

Hey guys, well today I have purchased my first ever fly rod and reel, I went with the pflueger starter kit just to make sure that I wasn't only bitten by the fly fishing bug, but that I was infected with it. Anyways, I live in Atlanta/Decatur area and I'm looking to try this bad boy out early in the morning outside of my front yard. I would greatly appreciate some advice on fishing spots and all around technique!!! I know that good spots are kept sacred but frankly I haven't had any luck lately, I've been to the hooch but only using my baitcasting setup with no luck, and I've been to stone mtn numerous times with the same amount of luck. I am without a boat or waders, but I don't mind getting in the water. Shoot if anybody is going to be fishing in my area and wouldn't mind helping out a new guy that would be extra helpful and mighty wonderful.

Thanks y'all!

[centerpin fan]

There is no better fly fishing teacher than the bluegill. Head to your nearest pond.

Unless you find a really good mentor, I wouldn't even consider trout until you've caught a few dozen bluegill on the fly rod.

[nbaaron]

ah ok, yeah i know of a decent local pond in henderson park (if anybody knows of it). water's kind of gross but hopefully there's some little panfish in there

[debo4683]

I'm a nube as well. The most important thing I was told before I even tried to cast was keep your wrist still, the line will follow the rod's action.

I have fished Island Ford and Jones Bridge and have caught 5 or 6 stockers over the past couple weekends "wet wading", all on buggers. I'm most likely going out there again tmrw in the late afternoon if the conditions are right.

here is a helpful link http://thefishhawk.com/reports/

[nbaaron]

Ok I gotcha, yeah I tried to catch me some panfish today at stone mtn and I was using dry flies because that's what i have right now, I've heard that nymphs are good for them? I guess it was too warm for dry flies, and I found that after a few casts they would start to sink down some. My buddy caught a nice little 4 lb on a fluke though.

[fishndoc]

While you can get by with cheap poppers (i.e. Walmart), dry flies have to be pretty good quality to stay on top of the water. Even then, you need to apply some floatant to keep them floating for a reasonable time. Lots of brands and they all work; I like Dave Whitlock's version best (Dave's Bug Float).

As already mentioned, unless you are dead set on catching trout, pan fish are much easier to get started. Assuming you are fishing still water, you don't have to deal with line management in current and trying to obtain a dead drift. And bream are not nearly so picky as trout; pretty much any pattern/color of popper will work, as long as it's not too big (size 10 works well).

As far as learning how to cast, there are lots of DVDs out for beginning fly casting, and the internet, especially youtube, is loaded with free how-to videos. One thing you will quickly discover: almost every casting "expert" does it a little differently. Just means there is no one right way to do it.

Oh yea, the best source for pan fish flies and poppers is Breambugs.com
Also, most of the local fly shops, especially Cohutta Fishing Company in Cartersville, carry a selection of pan fish poppers.

Good sources for flies for trout, besides any of the local fly shops, are Troutflies.com, and Caylorcustomflies.com. Both supply high quality flies that will hold up well, and their dry flies float.

[nbaaron]

I gotcha, I was thinking about heading to academy or bass pro to get a variety of flies including nymphs, I also need to get some leaders as well. I'm not dead set on trout, I'm just trying to get out there and learn on whatever I can, but i wouldn't mind landing a nice little brown or rainbow

[Jimmy Harris]

Unless you're convenient to the tailwaters of the Chattahoochee or Toccoa Rivers, I would concentrate on warm water species for the next couple of months. There isn't much more exciting fishing that a largemouth blowing up on a popper. And there isn't much more entertaining than bluegills on a limber fly rod. There is a "meetup" group in metro Atlanta that specifically takes novice fly anglers out to teach them the ropes. Here's a link to their web page: http://www.meetup.com/AtlantaFlyFishing/

[nbaaron]

yeah i saw that, and i made sure i signed up, whenever i'm in town i'd love to go out with them, but also being 20 years old kinda puts a damper on atlanta fly fishing club when i go to school in statesboro. speaking of, if anybody is down in SE georgia and likes to fly fish let me know! i'm a ga southern student.

[croaker]

Originally Posted by nbaaron

yeah i saw that, and i made sure i signed up, whenever i'm in town i'd love to go out with them, but also being 20 years old kinda puts a damper on atlanta fly fishing club when i go to school in statesboro. speaking of, if anybody is down in SE georgia and likes to fly fish let me know! i'm a ga southern student.

I work in Statesboro. Stop by the store when you are in town and I'll be glad to give what help I can. Statesboro Seafood. 489-8831.

[nbaaron]

Awesome, will do! I appreciate that, ive been hard up to find any decent fishing thus far.

[nbaaron]

Well it finally happened...I found the pond, and I caught my first fish on the fly rod. After the first few casts they were just hittin' my wet fly like crazy, I caught 9 bluegill in about 45 minutes. I am in love.

[BT Charlie]

Awesome. Look out Montana ....

[Zane McBurney]

Hi guys,

Really, It is an awesome fish.

[Georgia Hard Hunter]

When you're home for Christmas, get some waders and hit the Hooch Dh section, great for new fly fisherman, lots of fish, great learning by doing. Water is very cold so no wet wading.

[ACRAthens]

Hey there. Saw your post and wanted to throw out a few thoughts:

1 - If ever you're up near Athens we have a great casting clinic given every month by one of our Trout Unlimited members. He's a former Wyoming fly fishing guide and really knows his stuff. The courses are free and just part of our local chapter outreach. See www.orctu.org for more info.

2 - Like was said in some earlier posts, use a floatant to keep your flies on the surface. I use one called "Gunk" that I've always liked.

3 - A great dry fly to use around warm and coldwaters is "The Usual." Its a simple fly made from the foot fur of a snowshoe hare. It's naturally water-repellant and will stay on top really well. Its the fly most of the experienced older fellas in my chapter use.

4 - While fishing panfish is awesome, there is nothing like fishing trout in cold waters. It might not be popular to use the word "beautiful" on here unless its in reference to a new gun or girl, but I'll say that fly fishing for trout is some of the most beautiful waters you'll ever see. If your goal is to fish for trout, then stick to it and take small steps to get you closer to that goal. Don't settle for fishing just the easy takes if you want something more.

5 - Join your local Trout Unlimited chapter. there you'll meet other experienced anglers who are always anxious to meet younger guys wanting to learn how to fish trout and preserve coldwater fisheries. From Statesboro, our chapter is the closest to you geographically. But when you're home in/near Atlanta there are other chapters that will be closer. See the GA Council website at www.georgiatu.org to find out where the closest chapter is.

Hope this helps! I started fly fishing for trout about 5 years ago at the age of 27. It's a beautiful pastime spent with friendly people. Good luck!

[LawnStalker]

Does Southern still have the two ponds behind the library? I remember standing near a culvert scour pool (library side towards the circle of dorms on the smaller pond) and tossing stale cherios in to the young bream there. Tons of them loads of fun to watch busting bees and wasps trying to snatch a sip off the surface too. Saw several good long bass pulled out in the spring to shore fisherman. Might be some real surprizes lurking in there somewhere.