Fly fishing basics are easy to learn. It is a fun, relaxing, rewarding outdoor sport enjoyed by thousands of enthusiasts around the world..

How Old Is Fly Fishing?

The first reference to fly fishing, according to Dr. Andrew N. Herd at www.flyfishinghistory.com, was about 200 C.E. and comes to us from a man named Ælian. In his writings, he makes reference to Macedonians catching fish in a stream with a fly manufactured of crimson wool and a hook attached to a short length of line and a six or seven foot pole.

Where Can One Fly Fish?

In the mind of most, fly fishing is relegated to the trout stream and the small lake but with the right gear, fly fishing can be used to catch almost any kind of fish in almost any kind of water from huge striped bass in the Atlantic surf, to panfish in the sultry ponds of the South, to immense King Salmon in the Kenai river of Alaska.

The key is practicing the proper technique for the gear and obtaining the proper gear for the desired fish.

My First Fly Fishing Experience

When I began, I didn't have a teacher. Instead, I simply bought a rod and reel at a discount store and took them home. Thinking no one was watching (though they were), I tied a sinker on the end of the line and headed to the yard. I did my best to imitate what I had seen fly fishermen do, and my confidence soared when a pretty loop formed above my head. With great panache, I snapped the rod forward. I heard a snap from the line and felt a whack on the back of my head from the sinker. The line fell at my feet, and I dropped the rod on the grass. Rubbing my head, I heard laughter from the house. In defeat, I headed to the garage for the instruction book that came with the rod and reel—the same one I didn't think I needed because fly fishing looked so easy.