Learning how to fly fish successfully may take a little time, but the satisfaction of reeling in your first catch will be well worth it! Once you understand the basic techniques of tying on flies and casting, you'll be cooking up fresh salmon before you know it.

Learning how to fly fish successfully may take a little time, but the satisfaction of reeling in your first catch will be well worth it! Once you understand the basic techniques of tying on flies and casting, you'll be cooking up fresh salmon before you know it.

• Fly fishermen arrive with some fairly technical gear. To start, you won't need every item that might up your chances of landing a meaty salmon, but you'll at least need a fly rod and flies.

1. Experts recommend that before starting out, you will definitely need:
   • Fly Rod: What's classified as a "six weight" is good for beginners. Rods range in weight from one to 15. Weights of nine or higher are for saltwater. Then, as weights get lighter, the fisherman must be more expert to handle them.Buckeye United Fly Fishers: Beginner's Guide to Fly Fishing
   • Fly Line: Your line will be determined by the weight of your rod. The specific weight of line should be marked on the grip or butt end of your rod.Buckeye United Fly Fishers: Beginner's Guide to Fly Fishing You may want to talk to the salesperson about what "taper"—the "adjustments" made to the thickness and width of the line to help in casting—to choose.Fly Fishing Gear Info: Fly Line Taper Explained
   • Reels: Your reel will also be determined by what rod and line you've chosen. Once you have your rod, therefore, selecting a reel and line is relatively simple.
   • Flies: Try using Flyfish.com's "Fly Box" to search for flies by the species of fish you're casting for or by type of fly. Then talk to local fly fishermen or the salesperson at your fly shop to learn any local tricks for flies that are working well with the fish in the area.Flyfish.com: Fly Box
   • Leaders: You'll need a leader, which helps temper the energy on the line. It should be at least the same length as your fly rod.Buckeye United Fly Fishers: Beginner's Guide to Fly Fishing
2. You may also need wading gear (boots that go to the hip or the chest depending on how deep in the water you plan to be), a vest to store your equipment, a tackle box, a lifejacket, a hat, a rain jacket or other foul weather gear. These choices will largely depend on the environment you're fishing in, how much you wish to spend and whether or not you feel fly fishing may become a regular habit.
3. Your local Orvis store is an important first stop in terms of outfitting yourself as a fly fisherman. In operation since 1856, it's a verified expert (as well as one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the country) when it comes to fly fishing gear.Wikipedia: Orvis
4. L.L. Bean's fly fishing gear is also comprehensive: rods, reels, ties, leaders, the works.L.L. Bean: L.L. Bean Fishing
5. Check out Mahalo's pages on Fishing Rods to learn where else you might get fly rods.
6. If you are in a fly fishing area for only a brief while, you might consider renting equipment from a local vendor. If you've signed up for a fly fishing lesson, your instructor may also provide equipment for you.

• As opposed to baiting a hook with a worm or baitfish, fly fishermen tie "flies" (artificial imitations of bugs that fish eat) to their line.

1. You may need to learn certain knots for tying flies. Even just a few knots will be enough to start with, although many fly fishing leaders come pre-knotted, which might be a good idea for a beginner.
2. FlyFisherman.com also has a great article on "simpliflying" your knots, so you won't need to know much to start fishing. A video within the article is additionally helpful.Fly Fisherman: Simplifying Your Knots
3. Once you've mastered a simple knot or two, try reading this piece on the six loops you should know and why.Fly Fisherman: Lots of Loops

• The art of fly fishing is in the casting, somewhat akin, it's been said, to "sending a wave along a garden hose to remove a kink."Wikipedia: Fly Fishing

1. Experts will tell you, fly fishing is all about casting, so this may be the most crucial skill to learn when you're starting out.Fly Anglers Online: Fly Fishing 101: Fly Fishing Is Casting
2. Before you even head out on the water, you can practice casting safely in your yard to get the hang of it.Expert Village: Set Up a Practice Field for Fly Fishing Casting
3. You can try the "Stop, Look and Listen technique advocated by seasoned fly fishermen.Fly Anglers Online: Fly Fishing 101: Casting Basics
4. You'll also need to learn the rhythm of the "loops" you need to make with your rod for a successful cast. Try watching this video about casting accurately to get a sense of the motion you're trying to achieve.Expert Village: Learn How to Cast Your Fly Accurately
5. And check out these other fly fishing videos from Expert Village about backcasting, casting into the wind and other casting techniques.Expert Village: Advanced Fly Fishing Techniques
6. Once you've practiced casting a little bit, start "listening" to the line, hearing nothing but the line of a back cast and maybe a "whooshing sound" on a forward cast.Fly Anglers Online: Fly Fishing 101: Casting Basics
7. And, with all this info swimming around in your head, it's also important to relax. The cast should be a natural, fluid motion.Fly Anglers Online: Fly Fishing 101: Casting Basics
8. It may also help to start reading forums on Flyfish.com to learn what your fellow anglers are up to.Flyfish.com: Flyfish Forums
9. And taking a lesson may be a great idea, too. If you're on vacation near a popular fly fishing area, you can easily find an instructor to show you the finer points of casting for an hour or an afternoon.

• If you're serious about fly fishing, you might consider attempting some of the following techniques or taking a trip specifically focused on the art of fly fishing.

1. Check out this group of videos detailing expert fly fishing techniques like tying blood knots and backcasting into the wind.Expert Village: Advanced Fly Fishing Techniques
2. You may also want to start keeping up with fly fishing news: what fish are where, when harbingers of the season show up in a particular lake and information about fly fishing competitions.FlyFishing.com: Fly Fishing News
3. And of course getting serious may also mean getting luckier with your catch. For post-fishing advice, check out Mahalo's pages on How to Fillet Salmon, How to Cook Salmon and How to Grill Salmon. You may also want to learn more about Trout.

• Fly fishing can certainly become an addictive sport, one that you can enjoy in many different parts of the world, or right in your own backyard, if you're lucky enough to live on an active body of water. With the right tools, and now that you've read some expert advice about how to get started, that salmon is just on the end of your line. Have fun!

• Introduction
• Step 1: Gather Your Equipment
• Step 2: Tying Flies
• Step 3: Learning to Cast
• Step 4: Getting Serious
• Conclusion

Fly Fishing Tips

1. Make sure you have the necessary equipment, including waterproof boots if you'll be standing in a river or stream for an extended period!
2. Try purchasing pre-tied flies if you're a beginner fly fisherman.
3. Otherwise, learn a few critical knots to tie flies to your line before heading out.
4. Practice casting in your yard—making sure family members are safe inside—before getting caught in a tangle of line on the water.
5. Watch online videos religiously to understand how to cast, and how to cast in different types of wind.
6. Consider taking a fly fishing lesson to refine your skills.