Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Decided to try learning the roll cast because it seems ( that I won’t catch so much behind me) so I thought the roll cast would be good to learn, if I could do that then I should be able to do the normal cast whatever it is called. And thank you for your help

Cougarbaby Loc: Cheswick pa

That should roll cast fine with the right line

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Nice job Uncle_T.
I'm no help with the fly fishing, but very nice Pink Floyd reference with your title. That's what drew my attention. 🎶🔊👂😂

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Most of the big bass I have caught with a fly rod were on a number 8 rod. Most were caught within 30 feet. Panfish are often caught within two rod lengths. As for flies, even though considered by some outdated and replaced by a wooly bugger by others , a black with red tail and grizzly hackle still outperforms most flies for me on big bluegill. I usually cast out , let As for trout, including stocked trout, I have converted to olive body black tail wooly bugger with with black hackle. My Bluegill popper favorite is a 1/2 inch body black with red face, yellow split hackle tail and rubber legs. I catch more bluegill on a smaller popper, but bigger bluegill with the bigger popper. The bigger popper also has produced some big bass while panfish fishing. These are my favorites, but do not be afraid to change up. even bluegill can have different moods on different days. Note if you want a lot of practice and don't care about size, an ant pattern will likely get you the most action and the most experience with setting on strikes. Again, I have caught more than my share of bluegill within a rod length or two of the rod. Good luck

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

I’m not sure about the line, if its weight forward or not, I was looking at it today and it looks like the end of it is thinner than it is further down, but I can’t really tell and I don’t know about fly lines much, when I bought it it didn’t really say just that it was floating, I tried today and I was able to do it so I think I just need to practice more

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

That’s why I chose that title it was also a Tom petty song I was always more into pink floyd

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

I like them both too, but a Floyd man at heart.

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

I was going to make my first fly rod an 8, but the opportunity was there with the 5 and the wife didn’t give me the eye so I went with the 5 thinking maybe that’s what I should start with

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Thanks for the info, I’m so new to fly fishing just took the first step of buying a fly rod, it seems so complicated and then you find that it’s not as complicated as it seems, then it gets complicated again… lol

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Like most things, Line type is pretty simple. A double taper is exactly that. It starts out thin and gets fatter toward the middle with a constant matching taper to the opposite end. Many people just flip the line when one end gets worn. A weight forward line has a similar taper to a double taper only more pronounced than a double taper. It then has a very sharp taper to a long section of non tapered or flat line. The weight forward allows an experienced caster to cast further and heavier flies than a double taper, but lacks a bit of delicate presentation. I use only weight forward for bass and panfish because I usually cast bigger more wind resistant poppers and flies than I would for trout. As for rods, I used a fiberglass Fenwick #7 rod for years before I graduated from college, because I got it used at age 13 and that was all I could afford. I caught 6 inch trout to a couple of large sharks with it. That whole time, I wanted a #9 rod to cast big bass plugs better. When I got the #9, it was a clunker, (also fiberglass Fenwick) but did the job. I now have a carbon fiber #8 and love it for everything but finicky trout (#5) and bill fish (#12). Use what you have. When you feel you have outgrown the rod, go to a good fly shop. They will let you test different rods if they have their act together.
Note: I doubt you will ever get good or be happy trying to cast large poppers and saltwater size streamers with a #5 rod. Get good with the lighter flies then move up, or pick up a #8 carbon or #9 fiberglass cheap at a yard or estate sale for the big stuff. When you have mastered both the 5 and 9, you are ready to invest in a higher budget rod for more than just the prestiges name on it. Most important, have fun. Trust me, it is a better feeling getting skunked practicing in the back yard than fishing on the water.

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Thank you so much, it’s a lot to take in but with the help of you and from the others I’ll get there , a long time ago I didn’t want to fly fish because it was a whole new and different style of fishing to learn which meant different rods lines bait, well, I’m in for it now

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

So from the understanding that I got from the internet, I’m supposed to match my fly size to the leader and tippet that I’m using, or match the leader and tippet to the fly I want to use, the leader that came with my setup is supposed to be a 3x , what flies should I match this with? Oh by the way, I tried a couple of the flies I tied for practice, they weren’t so pretty once they were wet, the bluegills did kind of look at one and talk about it for a while but I think they thought it was a joke

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Don't worry about that T. It takes time to get better. It .ight not be the quality of the fly, could be they were looking for a worm.

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Getting better at casting, overhead and roll casting, every time I go out I’m getting better, I actually caught one fish on the fly rod, a crappie smaller than my hand.
Another question for you professionals,
Can I tie “any size “ leader to my 5wt line?
I mean the X sizes not the length

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Pretty much. The lower the number, the higher the strength and thickness of the leader. That also means the stiffness. You should balance the X rating to the size of the fly. For mist trout flies I would go with 6 or 7.