Basic Fly Casting: Overhead Cast, Roll Cast, False Casting and Common Mistakes
Two casts will catch most fish on a fly rod. Here's how to make them, why the stop and the pause matter, and how to fix the usual beginner problems.
Category: Fly Fishing
Fly rods, lines and leaders, basic casts and flies for bass, panfish and trout, explained for anglers coming from spinning gear.
Fly Line Types Explained: Floating vs Sinking, Weight-Forward vs Double Taper
The letters on a fly line box tell you almost everything. Here's how to decode them and choose the right line, backing and leader for the way you fish.
Fly Fishing for Bass: Rods, Poppers, Streamers and How to Set the Hook
Bass are aggressive, live in shallow cover and hit flies hard. Here's the gear, the flies and the techniques that put them on a fly rod.
Fly Fishing for Beginners: The Basic Outfit, First Flies and Where to Start
A plain-English starter guide: what makes fly fishing different, the one outfit that covers most beginner fishing, and where to make your first casts.
Fly Rod Weight Chart: Which Rod Weight for Trout, Bass, Panfish and Pike
Rod weight is the single most important number on a fly rod. Here's what each weight is for, which length and action to pick, and how to match the line.
How to Choose a Fly Reel: Drag Types, Arbor Size, Sealed Drags and Matching Your Rod
For small trout, almost any reel works. For fish that run, the drag, arbor and backing capacity start to matter. Here's how to read the specs.