(semi OT) help make me a fly fisherman!

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supafly

Trad climber

vancouver, bc

Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 28, 2014 - 02:14pm PT

I have some time from tomorrow until the new year and am hoping to take up fly fishing, whilst camping with the kids near (or next to) some kind of raging river.

That's the picture in my head anyway.

We're up in Vancouver, BC and since we're towing a trailer I would prefer not to head over any passes which may be snowy right now.

I have never fished in my life, aside from when I was a kid, definitely never fly fished and I'm hoping someone will point me in the right direction to get some peace, practice casting and maybe even hook a fish or two.

Would somewhere along the Columbia fit the bill? From googling it seems that the Deschutes river is a good fishing spot.

Requirements:

1) Peaceful
2) Not too far from Vancouver, BC
3) River fishing, not lake
4) Somewhere nearby to pitch up my trailer

Ricky D

Trad climber

Sierra Westside

Dec 28, 2014 - 02:56pm PT

Forget it.

No way in God's Green Earth will you learn to Fly Fish on a whim. Fly Fishing was designed by Satan's Engineers to vex the very soul of Man.

I suggest a cheapie Walmart Casting rod and reel - 30 bucks tops. Have the kiddies dig you up some worms. Spear the wrigglers on your hook - longways so they don't fall off at first bite - and pray something is hungry.

A can of Green Giant whole cooked corn works too for bait - spear a few kernels on a hook - lake fish fall for that stuff all the time. If they don't - you can at least eat the rest of the can.

As a last resort - stick some skanky roadkill chunk on a hook - at the least you will pull in a Brown catfish!

But Fly Fishing - start by hanging at your local Cabela's, get your Credit Card balance paid down - and go from from there.

We'll talk again in a year!

hobo_dan

Social climber

Minnesota

Dec 28, 2014 - 03:03pm PT

The DeSquats might be your ticket-not sure what the fishing will be like this late and cold but it's big and wide so you can practice casting with less risk of putting your fly in the bushes. Go to the Gorge Fly Shop inHood River- They should set you straight. Dress warm and don't fall in

Big Mike

Trad climber

Dec 28, 2014 - 03:11pm PT

Supa- why go so far ? What's wrong with the Squamish river or the fraser??

If you're going to the deschutes especially if you're going all the way to trout creek, make sure you have 4 wheel drive and chains. There is a really steep hill you go down and it would be super sketch in the snow.

supafly

Trad climber

vancouver, bc

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2014 - 03:22pm PT

Mike you sound like you know something of fly fishing? I'm happy to stay local, are there actually fish in the Squamish river at this time of year?

If you remember me, I bumped into you at the bluffs a few weeks back, we were the people with the gang of kids running around.

supafly

Trad climber

vancouver, bc

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2014 - 03:27pm PT

btw part of the problem with camping in squam is it's COLD right now and the sun doesn't clip the mountains until like 11am!

Can't think of a sunny camping spot in or around squam.

Big Mike

Trad climber

Dec 28, 2014 - 03:35pm PT

True, True.. I don't fly fish myself but have a few friends that enjoy it. I think steelhead season just ended, but there's always a new season.

Ya you probably wanna head somewhere warmer to camp with the kids..

Ljohnson

Social climber

The land of ice, snow and rocks

Dec 28, 2014 - 04:48pm PT

My first year of self taught fly fishing I didn't catch a single fish. It was fun, but in hindsight I did everything wrong and taught myself some really bad habits.

Get a guide. You want to find a trout stream, don't fish for steelhead or salmon which are the BC areas main fishing attractions (plus the runs are more summer/fall)

Trout fishing is kind of like local cragging, you can focus on the basics and have at least some success with a guide. Beginner fishing for steelhead is like starting on half dome. With a guide you can get it done, but if you are looking for a better learning curve trout are the way to go.

I know Whistler Fly Fishing has a pretty good rep and access to good water, but that's about all I know about the area.

Have fun, be patient and try and learn from the best. Fly fishing is all about taking a thousand small and easy things and putting them all together in the right way at the right time.

As far as winter fly fishing goes, it's actually a lot easier to catch fish. The fish are eating a very simple menu and have a lot less fishing pressure.
However, you do have access problems from ice and snow and you have to be able to dress properly for playing in the water in sub-freezing temps.

Ricky D

Trad climber

Sierra Westside

Dec 28, 2014 - 04:59pm PT

you have to be able to dress properly for playing in the water in sub-freezing temps.

He's saying "Wear Yer Rubbers".

supafly

Trad climber

vancouver, bc

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2014 - 05:27pm PT

Beginner fishing for steelhead is like starting on half dome

ha! well put.

So trout it is then. I think I will head up to the Fraser River, there are a few campgrounds out there. Not sure I can fork out 300-400 for a guide at this point, I'll just have to get a book from the library and try and get the basics down with my $50 Canadian Tire fly fishing package :)

I don't think I'll catch anything but it's 90% about hanging out by the river anyway.

supafly

Trad climber

vancouver, bc

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2014 - 05:28pm PT

I'm sure Perry Beckham has better things to do than teach noobs how to fly fish Tami :)

Big Mike

Trad climber

Dec 28, 2014 - 06:55pm PT

Perry's a nice guy. You might be surprised bro.

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Dec 28, 2014 - 07:26pm PT

One word: LEAVENWORTH!

Yer welcome. That way when you get frustrated you can go solo Black Widow, or Supercrack.

supafly

Trad climber

vancouver, bc

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 29, 2014 - 08:35am PT

Ya Leavenworth would be cool but getting over the pass with the trailer won't :)

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Dec 29, 2014 - 08:43am PT

Uh, they have these things called snowplows. Or is yer problem horsepower related?

maldaly

Trad climber

Boulder, CO

Dec 29, 2014 - 08:48am PT

supafly, here's all you need to know:

http://www.tenkara.com

It takes $200 for the full kit, 10 minutes to learn the knots, 10 minutes to learn the cast and 10 minutes to be in to your first fish.

And, like most things Japanese, perfection can never be attained.

Mal

guyman

Social climber

Moorpark, CA.

Dec 29, 2014 - 10:37am PT

Buy a rod with a warranty that allows for you to send it back pay a few bucks n get I back in reasonable time.

Best advise ever.... G-gome has spent the last three years teaching me how to fly fish.... he is as good or better than the Guides up round Mammoth.

I broke the tip on one of his rigs, fragile as an egg shell. When he told me "thats a $900.00 rod" I almost pooded my pants!!!!

But good thing he had the warranty, it cost me only $100.00 to get the carbon fiber thing fixed... good as new.

But I was not so lucky when I was tying on a fly while standing on a river rock... slipped and fell in with the box of dry fly's open.... about 80 of those hand made deals went in to the stream!!!!

Have fun and go for it, I have been fishing all my life... lake and stream with hooks and bait and lures.... but there is nothing quite like gettin a big lunker to come up and hit that fly with a vengeance.... now if I can get the hook it part.

Oh yea, be sure to release that sucker.... at least in the catch and release spots. (thats where you find good FF in California, at least)

have fun

Ken M

Mountain climber

Los Angeles, Ca

Dec 29, 2014 - 11:19am PT

As a life-long fly fisherman, I have to say that I tend to agree with the issue of it being futile to try to learn in a week. Granted, you have the right attitude about this: Good fishing is getting out there, great fishing is when you catch something.

The thought of mastering casting, or even progressing to the point of not feeding all your line into brush, is hard to conceive. Mastering the knots, mastering matching the hatch (if any), mastering reading the water....

But that doesn't mean you can't have fun.

You can use a simple technique that actually works: tie whatever "bait" you want to use on 6 feet of monofilament tied to your casting line. Gather about 10 feet of line in your non-pole hand, then drop it while flipping the tip of your rod through about a foot of arc, aiming toward your preferred hole. This will allow you to get the "bait" out 20 or so feet. If you have slack line out of the reel so that it can run through, and hold the line with your pole-hand finger, and release as you extend the pole, you may be able to get out 30 feet. That's actually pretty good coverage.

And it's good practice for learning the "feel" of your rod, the weight of your line. And a sense of where your hook is in space. (don't hook yourself!).

Some people will just use a fly rod setup as a "dip" line, dropping the fly into likely spots, and letting it float down 20-30 feet.

It is not the drama of the full-on beautiful cast, which takes a long time to perfect (especially around brush), but can still be a lot of fun.

johntp

Trad climber

socal

Dec 29, 2014 - 01:20pm PT

prognosticate

Tami- that is a big word. Go sit in the car.

Fritz

Trad climber

Choss Creek, ID

Dec 29, 2014 - 01:59pm PT

As Ken M mentions, you can have a good-time fishing, without knowing all the proper technique. I grew up in central Idaho with a fly rod in hand, but it was all short sloppy casts and dipping for trout, usually with worms for bait. In high school I switched over to flies, but had no instruction & read no books on the “art of fly fishing.” I caught a lot of trout because there were a lot of dumb trout to be caught where I chose to fish. My fly of choice was usually a Renegade, which works well wet or dry as “bugy-looking” trout food.

Around age 28, a young climber friend & I engaged in a day long fishing contest. Even though he had decent gear and knew fly fishing technique, I soundly trounced him in the contest. He was indignant, since as he observed: “my technique sucked.” But I knew how to catch trout and where the trout would be.

Around age 35, I fell in with some very good fly fishers, learned technique, studied books on the subject, and started tying flies. I started fishing 70-90 times a year and I got pretty-good, but never truly expert on the subject. Fly fishing can be a very deep and complex subject, or you can just go have fun.

It does help to know where the fish are. However, I would never send a novice out to fly fish for steelhead. I did eventually burn-out on fishing as my major form of outdoor recreation. I think I fished 5 times this year, and I live a mile from a great trout stream.

Fritz

Trad climber

Choss Creek, ID

Dec 29, 2014 - 04:15pm PT

WTF! RE your question?

Fritz just curious why you think sending a noob out to steelhead is any different than sending them out to fish for anything else.

Fritz shuffles his feet and gazes out at the sky.

Sigh.

Ain't never caught me a steelhead on a fly rod, despite a few days of trying on Idaho's Salmon River. Years ago I caught two in a day, while on a driftboat on the Salmon, but my knowledgeable friends would not allow me to fly fish out of their boat.

I also have suffered so much elbow tendonitis caused by day-long casting of heavy saltwater flies, with big rods, I just can't imagine going steelheadin these days.

Sigh.

madbolter1

Big Wall climber

Denver, CO

Dec 29, 2014 - 04:31pm PT

I've been a fly fisherman for many years, always barbless (I say that in an unmitigated effort to pound my chest for what a bad-a55 fly fisherman I really am). And I can tell you that any talk you hear about skill and a "light touch" and the fly "settling lightly" on the water and all other such talk is worthless nonsense.

I've tried for years to develop this fabled "light touch" etc., and I can tell you that you really want to develop the opposite skill. To whit....

I swing the rod violently like a tree trunk, trying ONLY to avoid hooking myself in the face (or more painful body parts) on the back stroke. If I can manage to get the fly going forward with sufficient momentum to actually get past me (and not hook me in the butt or more painful part) out in the general direction of the water (otherwise thought of as "the broad side of a barn"), the "landing" is the least of my worries, emphasis on "worries!"

My typical "landing" proves that velocity is the squared term in the impact-force equation. It's astounding how a tiny, tiny fly can make a splash sufficient to soak me even from the distance I have managed to get the fly "forward" from my position.

However, that impact appears to get the attention of the fish! My present theory is that they simply can't be suspicious of such an impact, trained as they are to run away from the "settling lightly" approach that (the very few) actual fly fisherman employ. When MY fly goes crashing into the surface, the fish sit up and take notice: "No WAY is that some fisherman! That must be the real deal, and brother it sounds BIG! I'm going for it!"

So, I highly recommend my approach, as I do catch fish (and ultimately release, usually just before I'm able to get a hand on them). Especially going barbless gives you a great excuse to perpetually come home empty-handed: "I caught bunches, but I always fish barbless so that I can release them with no harm done." And you will surprise the fish with your sheer ineptitude! Just flail away as I do, concentrating ONLY on not hooking yourself (you'll fail in that effort, so thank God that you're going barbless). IF you occasionally get the fly out into the water, be prepared for the fish to violently attack it, as they are completely unprepared for such a heavy-handed approach to presentation and delivery.

wilbeer

Mountain climber

Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,

Dec 29, 2014 - 05:05pm PT

What I have read here is not only accurate ,but very good reading for the aspiring fly fisherman.Take heed.

For one of my best memories has been my dad [son of Scotch fly fisherman],telling me as a very young fisherman;

"Try hard to fool the trout,not to scare them"

Something he told me I would not understand till I was much older.

dave729

Trad climber

Western America

Dec 29, 2014 - 05:36pm PT

Rockclimbers are like gods as fly fishers are like assassins
(of water borne protein)

wilbeer

Mountain climber

Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,

Dec 29, 2014 - 05:40pm PT

WTF,I totally agree about Steelheads,I go after brookies now,one or two ,for a nice dinner.
Same for Atlantic Salmon,they are finally coming back,literally.

Chief

climber

The NW edge of The Hudson Bay

Dec 29, 2014 - 06:51pm PT

I'm somewhat concerned that my enthusiasm for occasionally harassing trout is being misconstrued as expertise on the subject.
I've been trying to fly fish for fifteen years now.
My attempts at stealth scare everything on the river including a lot of NICE FISH!
I spend most of my time retrieving hooks from the trees and foliage because I don't pay enough attention to my backcast.
I don't tie my own bugs and my presentations are more often than not, arrivals.
I cast downstream and catch as many fish stripping a drowned bug back as I do drifting a mended line.
But……every once in a while, all the cosmic forces align and I'll execute the right cast, land the right bug in the right spot for the right fish and set the hook on that split second flash of gold and achieve the great deception.
Then I'll do my best to avoid overplaying a nice cutty to shore, marvel at it's beauty, pop the hook and gently let it go feeling a mix of pleasure at my success and guilt for traumatizing the fish.

I did reply to supafly via PM.

Go to a reputable fly shop, buy a starter kit and hire a guide/instructor for your first few outings.

I'm not good enough to flyfish the Squamish (or any big BC river) summer or winter and couldn't imagine a harder place to learn.

G_Gnome

Trad climber

Cali

Dec 30, 2014 - 12:08pm PT

Give me a non-fisherman and a day on a creek with some trout in it and I will have them catching fish. Give me a week with someone and I can make then a reasonable fly fisherman if they listens to me. Pretty casts are out! Make it ugly but get the fly downstream of the line with some slack and you will catch fish. A good drift is 90% of the battle, although sometimes Louie's slam it down approach is perfect too, especially with hoppers. I am entirely self taught. I have been fly fishing for 35 years and I just never understood why everyone thinks it is so hard. It just isn't, anyone can learn.

dave729

Trad climber

Western America

Dec 30, 2014 - 12:43pm PT

Fly fishing suks donkey dik in the CA sierra. Back casting never happens because of all the trees, brush and marmots to snag the hook on.
So its 'roll casting' or nothing.
And the crystal clear waters pose a major problem because the fish can see you better than you see them.

The typical scenario for catching fish you're going to eat on the spot is
roll cast from carefully chosen shadows of concealment, trees, bushes, or large boulders. Lay down in the soggy turf if you have to.

Set the hook with a small jerk then launch the trout out of the water
to fly so far inland it cannot flop back to safety.

Gut it, flour, salt, stove, fry pan, cook, eat.
A short 10minute process. Repeat as needed.
A beautiful experience.

guyman

Social climber

Moorpark, CA.

Dec 30, 2014 - 01:11pm PT

G_Gonome....

Give me a week with someone and I can make then a reasonable fly fisherman if they listens to me. Pretty casts are out! Make it ugly but get the fly downstream of the line with some slack and you will catch fish. A good drift is 90% of the battle, although sometimes Louie's slam it down approach is perfect too, especially with hoppers. I am entirely self taught. I have been fly fishing for 35 years and I just never understood why everyone thinks it is so hard. It just isn't, anyone can learn.

G_ ..... thanks for spending that week with me. You forgot to talk about hiding behind the boulders.

And Dave... Gonome and I have walked down many an overgrown creek in the Sierra.... walk down the middle, punch the line straight up if needed... the Trout are not used to people fishing this way. Eat the Brookies, free the Browns.

ryankelly

Trad climber

Bhumi

Dec 30, 2014 - 06:12pm PT

watching fly fishing videos on YouTube is proof you can learn something from the internet

Lurking Fear

Boulder climber

Bishop, California

Dec 30, 2014 - 06:35pm PT

I'd be willing to give you an hour or two to impart what little I know about fly fishing here in Bishop or Mammoth. I know it's way out of your area, but I think we have pretty good climbing too. I'd even loan you a sage five weight rod. Won't cost you a penny. We have plenty of year round spots.

Chief

climber

The NW edge of The Hudson Bay

Dec 30, 2014 - 06:44pm PT

Get yourself a switch rod and learn to use it. It's a great tool when your back casting is tight or nonexistent.

No thanks.
I bought a 4 piece Sage XP #5 early on and can't imagine fishing with anything else.
Except my 4 piece Sage XP #7 when targeting bigger fish.

Chief

climber

The NW edge of The Hudson Bay

Dec 30, 2014 - 07:28pm PT

WTF

All good.
I take my #5 weight down into the Gorge on my far too infrequent climbing trips there and it's bit like using a sledge hammer on a thumbtack for those little browns.
A wee #3-#4 weight would be nice.
The Gorge is a gnarly place to try and fish with the thick brush and stinging nettles but well worth the effort.
I'm convinced there are monsters in that big hole below the Failsafe Wall but reckon you'd need a bigger bug on a sinking tip to get down in that faster water.
Next time.

supafly

Trad climber

vancouver, bc

Topic Author's Reply - Apr 10, 2015 - 03:37pm PT

I'm sorry I totally forgot about this thread, which has now turned into a gem for me! Thanks all for the feedback, Perry I'm not sure how to view the message you sent me, there doesn't seem to be a private message option that I can find.

So this is how it's gone down so far!

I went to Canadian tire and bought an 8 weight rod and a reel that cost $25 and of course a line. I took it to my local fishing shop here in North Van and they were really helpful in getting the backing on, the leader attached and giving me some pointers in where to get started.

My wife bought me some neoprene waders for my bday from good ol' Canadian Tire which seem to be doing the job OK.

I even got a friend to join me in this mission as well, he has a similar setup and a 6 weight rod.

We started out in the park and got the cast "mastered". We then headed to the Seymour to practise casting on the river, which was great. We then headed one early morning to the Capilano to hook us some early minnows from the hatchery.

All of this is to say, I haven't actually hooked anything, or even seen a fish, or even had the idea that there may be a fish in the area. We are fishing mainly quiet waters, I guess it's still early season though.

So gentlemen! How will I go about hooking a trout? What fly should I use? (the fishing shop guy sold me some woolly buggers or somesuch) Floating line? Where do trout like to hide out? How do you know that they're there? Is it mostly guessing?

Thanks for all the offers to take me fishing, Vancouver area would be great but I am headed down to Yosemite via Highway 1 end of April/into May - so if anyone is keen to head out somewhere along that route that would be great.

Thanks again for all the insight so far and apologies for not noticing this thread earlier.

pocoloco1

Social climber

The Chihuahua Desert

Apr 10, 2015 - 03:53pm PT

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan_Anderson

Buy a copy of "The Curtis Creek Manifesto" by Sheridan Anderson

-angler,artist,wander,eternal foe of the work ethic

I like your style...keep on fishing

christoph benells

Trad climber

Tahoma, Ca

Apr 10, 2015 - 04:18pm PT

man fly fishing is sooo lame.

it's the cool-new-old-thing that's already played out.

I KNOW WHAT FISH LOOK LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE TO PULL THEM OUT AND SHOW THEM TO ME!