Fly Fishing for Beginners

If you like hiking, birdwatching or camping, Henry reckons you’ll enjoy fly fishing too. As an avid fisher, he’s broken down the hobby to provide a basic guide for beginners.

Fly fishing is one of the few outdoor experiences that’s yet to be completely co-opted by the masses, and I can’t understand why it’s still lingering off the radar. The funny thing is that it isn’t really about the fishing itself. Sure, you’re out there with a clear intent to catch fish, but it’s the complementary experiences involved that makes this hobby unique. 

Few outdoor pursuits can combine bushwalking, hiking, camping, bouldering, birdwatching, and river wading like fly fishing does. Throw in a bit of fun entomology, hydrology, and geology, and you have the heart of a nature lover’s Venn diagram. Fly fishing’s more accessible than most people realise. If you like adventure, you’ll likely find something to love about fly fishing too!

Views like these are common finale to a day out fly fishing

What is fly fishing?

Fly fishing is a form of angling that differs from the traditional form of fishing that uses worms or requires waiting around for hours with your line in the water. Instead of using traditional bait or lures, fly anglers cast a specially-tied, artificial fly to mimic the appearance and movement of insects or other aquatic prey.

The power and momentum to propel the fly during the cast isn’t derived from the weight of the lure or the sinker, but from the weight of the fly line. The goal is to entice fish into striking, or eating, the fly.

Success!

Essential Gear for Fly Fishing Beginners

Fly Rod

The backbone of any fly fishing setup, a suitable fly rod, should be the first item on your list. A versatile and manageable five or six-weight is recommended. These provide the ability to tackle a variety of fish species, including trout and smaller saltwater estuary dwellers like flathead and bream.

Note: If you’d like to fish for larger species, such as Murray cod or large saltwater dwellers, you should use an eight or nine-weight set up.

Fly Line

Your fly line weight needs to match your rod and reel combo. Weight-forward floating lines are ideal for beginners, offering easy casting and control. Look for a ‘WF-5-F’ or ‘WF-6-F’ fly line (depending on your fly rod weight) or ask the team at your local fishing shop to assist you when you’re picking these up.

Reel

The reel houses the fly line and prevents it from becoming a tangled mess at your feet. A basic, entry-level reel is all that’s needed when starting out.

Leaders and Tippets

Leaders connect the fly line to the fly, and the tippet extends the leader. Start with a nine-foot tapered leader and spools of matching tippet material. The tapered nature of the leader (thick line tapering down to thin) allows a more effective power transfer from the fly rod, through the fly line, to the leader and tippet. Ultimately, this allows the line to be directed precisely where you want it – hopefully above a fish!

Flies

Flies can be categorised into three groups. Dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. These imitate a range of aquatic insect and fish life and are versatile enough for most fishing conditions.

• Dry Flies – Dry flies are lightweight, artificial flies designed to imitate adult insects that land on the water’s surface. Typically made with buoyant materials like feathers and hackle, they mimic mayflies, caddisflies, or other insects. Anglers use dry flies to try to ‘match the hatch,’ presenting an imitation of the real insects that are hatching on the surface of the water. Fish capitalise on hatching insect life and treat them as a reliable food source. There’s little else like the visual excitement of seeing a fish break the surface to take a dry fly.

Handmade dry fly ready to go

• Nymphs – Nymphs are subsurface flies that imitate the immature aquatic forms of insects, such as mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs, or caddisfly larvae. They’re weighted to sink beneath the surface of the water. Fish often feed on nymphs as they drift in the current, making them a staple for fly anglers. Tying a nymph off a dry fly, or an indicator, allows you to observe whether a fish has eaten your nymph while out of sight, below the surface, prompting you to strike, set the hook, and reel in your catch.

Having a handful of nymphs available is always a good idea

• Streamers – Streamers are larger, more substantial fly patterns designed to imitate baitfish, leeches or other larger aquatic creatures. These flies are often tied with materials like feathers, fur, and reflective materials to create a lifelike swimming action when retrieved through the water. Streamers are particularly effective for targeting predatory fish, provoking aggressive strikes through their enticing movement and appearance. If a fish will take a lure, it’ll take a streamer.

If it’s fluffy, shiny, or a bit of both, it’s most likely a streamer!

Fly Box

Keep your flies organised and easily accessible in a waterproof fly box. There’s nothing worse than having a cluttered array of flies bouncing around loosely in a pocket or bag. A fly box will save you hours trying to sort through your arsenal.

Footwear

If you plan on fishing in rivers or streams you need sturdy footwear. A pair of runners, Blundstones or hiking boots are generally best to navigate the uneven (and slippery!) terrain of a freestone riverbed.  

Read more: What to Pack For a Fly Fishing Trip

Basic Technique

Casting

Casting is a fundamental skill in fly fishing. It’s the process of propelling the fly to our target (the fish) and is where the power is harnessed. The golden rule is that the power doesn’t originate from your arm movements and/or speed, but the flex in the fly rod. We’re simply there to enable the timing of this process.

Picture a clock. The best casting arcs remain within the range of 10-2. Starting your ‘back cast’ at 10 o’clock, stopping at 2 o’clock. The fly line unfolds behind you and when it’s all unravelled, normally after a deliberate one to two second pause, you’ll start the forward cast from 2 o’clock, stopping at 10 o’clock. This process is repeated (called false casting) until enough fly line is out and you can lay the fly line down on the water and let the fish see the fly.

Casting takes time to master, but even a novice can get the basics in a few minutes

Presentation

The key to successful fly fishing lies in presenting the fly naturally. It’s critical that the fly moves at the same speed as the current in which it is drifting. If it gets ‘dragged’ by the fly line, moving either too fast or slow, it’ll appear unnatural to the fish and they won’t want to eat it. They know when something is not quite right, or a bit fishy… (pun intended!).

Note: When fishing streamers, retrieve the line quickly to ensure the fly moves rapidly through the water, mimicking a bait fish.

Mending

To avoid your line dragging in the water, use a process called mending. It’s really easy and involves physically moving the fly line to ensure it matches the pace of the water current in which your fly is drifting. It’s an effective way to prevent drag, increasing your chances of enticing a strike.

Read more: Learn to mend your line

Setting the Hook

Timing is crucial when setting the hook. A quick, but not overly forceful, motion is necessary to ensure you secure the fish. Once you see a fish eat a dry fly, count one, two, three… before striking (pulling back on the rod). Too many strikes occur before the fish is actually hooked on and you end up pulling the fly out of their mouth instead.

Fly Fishing Tips For Beginners

• Observe nature – Pay attention to the insects and other aquatic life around you. Matching your fly to the prevalent insects will increase your chances of success
• Practice regularly – Fly casting is a skill that improves with practice. Spend time honing your casting technique in an open area before hitting the water
• Patience is a virtue – Fly fishing isn’t a race. Take your time and observe the water, adapting your approach based on the conditions and the behaviour of the fish
• Learn to read water – Understanding the different water types and the likely locations of fish within a river or lake is essential. Look for currents, eddies, and underwater structures that attract fish
• Be stealthy – Approach the water quietly and avoid making unnecessary movements. Fish can be easily spooked, so a stealthy approach improves your chances of getting close to your target

Don’t be afraid to follow the fish and get in the water

Common Mistakes

• Overcomplicating gear – Beginners often fall into the trap of purchasing an excessive amount of gear. Keep it simple and focus on mastering the basics before expanding your equipment collection
• Ignoring safety – Wading in unfamiliar waters without proper gear or underestimating the strength of currents can be dangerous. Prioritize safety and invest in quality wading gear, especially footwear
• Impatience – Patience is a virtue in fly fishing. Fish are not always easy to catch and impatience can lead to mistakes and missed opportunities

Polarised glasses make spotting fish behind the glare much easier

No Time Like the Present

Embarking on the journey of fly fishing is an exciting endeavour, and mastering the basics is essential for a fulfilling experience – no one likes a day on the water when they don’t catch anything! By understanding the gear, practising fundamental techniques, and learning from common mistakes, beginners can set themselves on the path to becoming excellent fly anglers.

Get out there and give it a go!

Plus once you start you won’t be a beginner for long!

FAQ Fly Fishing for Beginners

What do I need to go fly fishing?

To go fly fishing you’ll need a rod, reel, fly line, leader and tippet, fly box, grippy shoes, and some flies suited to the fish you’re hoping to catch.

Do I need to use worms for fly fishing?

No. Fly fishing doesn’t typically use live bait. It uses a variety of carefully tied artificial flies using fibres and feathers instead.

Are there classes available to learn how to fly fish?

Yes. You’ll find plenty of classes are available Australia-wide to teach you to how to fly fish. Or ask a mate who loves fishing to take you out and show you the ropes.

Henry is the fisher behind Tale Out – a free online fly fishing journal sharing stories of adventure, how to articles, and interviews with the most interesting characters of the fly fishing community.

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