Torn!

[MountainBreeze]

Hey Folks...

I put a post in the Fly Fishing section a while back and got some feedback. Thought I'd try here in case some of you spinners / casters also fly fish and don't visit that section of the site.

As a lot of you know, I've only been back fishin', after over 15 yrs off, and just hit the surf for the first time 3-4 months ago. I have an ok spinning outfit but plan on upgrading for next spring.

"Problem" is... I'm really intrigued by the folks I see fly fishing the surf. I'm thinking about attending some seminars over the winter and, if I like it, might just get a fly outfit instead of spinning.

Do any of you fly fish as well and what are some thoughts /pros / cons?

Thanks for any feedback!

Regards,
Rob

[JohnR]

Good question....

Personally, I don't yet fly fish but I do intend to try it. That said, I would recommend getting a little more comfortable spin fishing and get some success under you belt as that will help you when you switch to the fly. It can also be a bit harder to get up to speed with the fly rod than the more conventional methods...

Just my 2 non-fly-fishing cents....

[TIM AUBE]

I've found that when trying flyfishing, practice is the key.
If you have the time and the gear, why not hone your skills
in freshwater? Although the fish are smaller, the same general rules apply both salt and fresh: fly selection and presentation.
I'm not an expert, but I have had moderate success fishing the spring and fall seasons for trout, sunfish, perch and bass.
Next year I am planning to try saltwater flyfishing. It should be quite exciting.

[Swimmer]

I started fly fishing five or six years ago on a regular basis after spending a couple of seasons toying with a rudimentary flyfishing rod and reel outfit I put together. Some days when I'm fishing I feel a little like Jekyl and Hyde. In other words, what do I carry onto the beach or the breakwater, the spinning gear or the fly gear? Most days I carry both if its practical. Both offer a tremendous amount of satisfaction, but deep down if I were to choose which of the two gave me the greatest amount of enjoyment I would have to answer the flyrod and reel.
I have a Lamiglass, a St. Croix, and a Sage flyrod, all ten weights. The Sage rplxi is without question my favorite as well it should be considering how much it cost me to build it. If I gave you any advice for a first-timer, go cheap. Try it and see if you like flyrodding. For some it is terribly humbling, and for some of us at least at first it can be humiliating, too. If you don't hook yourself you will at the very least get whacked in the head on the fore cast more than once. And if your really unlucky you'll hook yourself. So have some sterile tools (and neosporin) around to pull those little # 1 and #2 hooks out of your ears and scalp, and the back of your neck.


I hit myself in the back of my head at the base of my skull with a clouser so hard a few times I saw stars. Besides if yur flyfsh you get to have more toys........