Thread: Fly advice for a beginner

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I have just started fly fishing and finally managed to catch two fish with a 5 weight setup, floating weight forward line and tapered 9 ft leader that I cut down to only 7 ft (i was having real trouble with tangles etc with a long leader) I tie a black gnat dry on the end of the leader as an indicator and then depending on the depth of the water im fishing about 10" or more of 3x tippet and a gold beaded hare and copper. Both fish I have caught have been taken "blind" fishing and they have taken the nymph, although I have had another fish think about taking the dry but I was too slow on realising he was there and missed my opportunity, saw him spook away from the dry just as I lifted the line to cast again. Its bloody frustrating but damn fun and rewarding!

The old "Black Gnat" ah
That and a Twilight Beauty for Dry Fly fishing were the norm for me in evening time on the Rangitaiki River - Kaingaroa Forest
Fly fishing is something I would like to get back into - if I ever get the chance to live in locations to access it again
Learnt on the Opihi - Temuka as a teen.
Prob buggered now is it Ryan ??