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In the Beginning
by Slapout Mike
 In
the beginning is a series of essays inspired by the American River
Fishing.Com forums and those curious souls who post those eternal
“How Do I Get Started” questions. The essays are an attempt to
answer that question for a variety of Fly Fishing topics. Of course
there will be spillover on topics just as applicable to the dark
siders, but Fly Fishing is the main thrust—it is what I know best.
Don’t look for expert advice in these essays; I don’t make my living
fly fishing. They really are just recollections and thoughts on my
adventures in getting started in various aspects of fly fishing and
in some cases the learning that always comes from the school of hard
knocks.
Here are some
the questions gathered from the forums I hope to answer, at least
from my perspective.
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I've been thinking of picking up tying, just
haven’t gotten the nerve to jump in it. Looks like it could get out
of control pretty quick. Which costs more? The supplies, or the fly
boxes to keep em all in?
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Do you recommend a certain "X" size for fishing on
the Coosa? What kind of flies do you recommend and where would be
the best place to get them? Sorry for all the questions. What would
be some of the basic stuff I need to look for before I head for the
river?
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A couple of years ago I bought a cheap fly fishing
combo from wal-mart. Without getting up to go dig it out of the
closet I am going to go out on a limb and say that since I got it
there for relatively cheap it is probably the quality of a big
'snoopy-pole'.
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Hey there, been fishing my entire life but never
with a fly rod. Picked one up a while back at the Outdoor world in
Nashville along with assorted dodads the salesman said I will need.
Now I need to learn to use the thing and have not a clue
where to start. Anyone out there give lessons or know someone who
can teach me how to use this thing? Any help will be greatly
appreciated.
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I've been debating about trying to assemble a rod.
I needed to
completely jump into the abyss and build myself a fly rod. They kind
of gave me the impression that you aren't a full-fledged fly
fisherman until you have caught a fish with a rod you built and a
fly you tied. Just what I needed, another hobby to spend money on!!!
Four essays are planned:
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Part I-So You Want To Learn To Fly Fish?
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Part II-So You Want To Learn To Tie Flies?
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Part III-Rod Building—Is It Worth It?
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Part IV-The Well Read Fly Fisherman
I hope you all
enjoy them and for those of you who are in that inevitable
beginning stage find them encouraging and useful.
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