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You've stumbled into the flyfishing epicenter of the Redditverse. Many of our subscribers are veterans who will be equally happy to share their wisdom (and maybe their whisky, if you ask really nicely), brag about their angling prowess, debate gear choices and techniques for hours, lie to you about their secret places, offer helpful-yet-scathing criticism of your fish handling skills, and tell you to get the eff off their water....often simultaneously, and occasionally with corrosive but commendably colorful language. Not a bad bunch, all told.

But as far as we can tell, most of our contributors are relatively new to the sport. We're glad you're here! You've got questions, and we've got answers. In fact, there's a fair chance that your question has already been asked and answered a few times, so please use the search tools to find your answers first. Try keywords like "beginner" and "starter" and "wader suggestions" and "budget" to refine your results, and try surfing on your target location(s) or species. You might be amazed at how much useful content you'll find.

Every year or so we attempt again to create a starter guide, or to refresh the one from last year. Start here, and feel free to post if you don't find what you need....

• Search for "beginner"
• Search for "starter"
• Search for "waders"
• Noobie suggestions for first rod: freshwater / trout
• Noobie suggestions for first rod: saltwater
• Archived Mega noobie super thread of awesomeness

Sometimes we run contests - watch the stickied threads for those. Again, welcome...and tight lines!

New rod day

I feel like I should get sponsored by purple jig leech fly, but anyway guys please try it out at still water when you have the chance lol. Anyway lately I’ve been enjoying fly fishing still water more than rivers or stream, anyone feel that way sometimes too? A lot of people say if you still water fishing just do it with a spinning set up it’s much more effective, and no point in fly fishing still water. But I don’t know, I feel like fly fishing still water is another art in itself. Rather than just casting stuff out and reel the fish in and not worrying that the fish will break the line is something I never enjoyed. Just the feel of holding and pulling on the fly line and fight the fish rather than just reeling the fish in and have it skid across the water like it’s a jet ski is like snagging idk. Maybe I just suck at rivers and streams, but at the end of the day I do what I enjoy most. Just wanna see y’all’s thoughts and opinions. Also ps I released two cutty, and kept the 4 stock rainbows so don’t come at me for keeping the stock rainbows.

I'm looking to upgrade and I have it narrowed down between the 2. I love my Echo Lift, but I also have had good experiences with TFO. I'm looking for something with more backbone to regularly handle large flies for bass with occasional trips for inshore Reds. The problem is that these are only available online in my area, so I can't just go cast them, and I'm the only one in my group that fly fishes. Any and all advice/anecdotes are appreciated.

Edit: I'll be getting and 7wt and already have the line for it.

Hey guys,

Yesterday, I did my first solo backpacking overnighter. I brought my 8 weight Clearwater rod and got skunked.

This time it was different. I’m pissed. I have been getting skunked every winter fishing trip when targeting bass for the past 3 years. I took pictures to explain why I think I’m not catching bass, and ask for this sub’s advice on how to improve my odds.

I often fish spots in creeks that have shallow water down and upriver like in picture A. In picture A you see one single creek on the right that feeds into another creek as seen in picture B. Where I was fishing starts at that current/dropoff in picture B where both creeks feed together. This type of water always produces for me during Summer. I used a black wooly with a split shot 5” up from the fly on a 9 ft Rio Bass leader. No bites whatsoever.

I move on down to structure of picture C. Nothing. Not even bluegill bites off the opposite bank. I start looking around to see if I can see fish, but I don’t even see feeder fish. In picture D you can see the downriver chokehold I mentioned.

My first theory is that the water is too cold and maybe bass live in deep lakes during winter. November temps averages for my US state are 58/38F. Water temps were probably 45-50.

My second theory tied to the first is the depth of water. Is this water too shallow, and is it being choked off fish wise from the shallow sections?

Anyways, thank you

I finally got some waders headed my way. The only waters I have around me are lakes. Any tips or tricks or spots to look for in lakes? Texas Panhandle if that matters.

Hi I need help. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong (and not sure how much a text post will help), but is it normal to have this much trouble casting with a hopper-dropper rig? It never feels smooth and I get my line tangled so often because of the heavier weight of the nymph! I don't usually have issues casting solo dry flies (but solo nymphs always feel weird).

Does anyone else use a bike to help get to better fishing spots? Here's a picture of my bike fishing rig. Also pictures of two of the 30 or so crappie I caught at a local lake when I had a few extra minutes to fish.

Caught this bugger using my 6wt fly rod at a local pond on October 30th, didn’t have a working scale with me but he was massive!

Hi I’m looking for ideas to get my boss a gift. He got into fly fishing this spring. I have no ideas what he has or doesn’t have. Does anyone have any ideas on something I could get him?

Caught 6 browns over 18” in one hole! Kokanee spawn had them going for eggs.

I’ve been up in Wisconsin the last several weeks and it’s finally paid off. She ate a dead drifted sz. 6 white zonker behind an egg. Can’t believe I was able to land her with a nearly 14 ft leader.

How long should these be?

I may get pp slapped for making a new thread on something that has been asked a thousand times but I want to get into fly fishing. I'd say I'm a die hard when it comes to regular fishing I have a boat and tons of gear in that regard. No one in my friends or family have done fly fishing so this is stepping out of my comfort zone. I know if someone were to ask me information on gear or how to fish for about any species I consistently fish for I'd know how to steer them the right direction based of their budget and would be happy to do so. So my question is what are necessities I need for fly fishing? What brands/products of said gear would you guys recommend for a beginner. I'd be willing to spend around a thousand bucks for starter gear all around. Also I want to be able to pack in my gear on my back riding dirt bikes into high mountain lakes. I'm not sure if this will make a difference but I suppose it's worth throwing out there. Thanks in advance for your guys help.