[TnTom]

What is it?
I have an idea but cant find out exactly. I have on dabbled in the art of flyfishing but do build rods and spin or cast for creek smallies and want to try my luck with the flyrod.
Im doing lots of reading and will seek out some instruction after I go out a little. I have an old rod that I cleaned up and rigged.
Did some searches and found this sight and its really great.
Right now I can cast such that the fly stays out of the water for about 20-25' then drops straight down all togeather. The creeks that I fish are small with a gentle flow. Is the practice to fish upstream and drift down? The smallies I normally catch I catch on rubber worms. I doubt they've ever seen a fly! Would I best start with dry flies and floating line? If a dry fly isnt kept dressed floating would it then be like a wet fly?
Pretty dumb questions I know.

Image Too Large
Image Posting Size Limits

Tom
Tom

[jayleader]

When i was introduced to fly-rod fishing, about 60 yrs ago, my dad taught me how to fish live bait in the upper Allegheny river, Eastern PA, and the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River (Huntington and Bedford County, PA). I would suggest you start with a worm hooked once thru the "neck" or helgramite (also hooked under the shell at its "neck". Once you have the bait hooked on, you roll cast (throw it with one roll of the line) the line and bait 45 degrees upstream into the current, and allow it to float under its own power (slack line) past you and on downstream. As the line moves downstream you can gently pull some in with your tip down to maintain an even flow of the line and bait (mending). Usually a strike if you are going to get one will happen near the end of the "float" down stream. If you have no hit on the bait, then strip the line in (mending) and allow it to sit on the water in front of you until you are aready to throw (roll cast) again. As you gain some experience you will be able to lay out more line if needed and "mend" it in by gently pulling the line in towards you. No need to use the reel for this. Once you have some success in setting your hits, you can move onto artificial bait, like rubber worms, and terrestrials. The more natural the live bait or artificials are able to float in the water as they naturally sink on the downswing, the better. This is my $.02 worth.

Good luck in adapting to your fly-rod and its fishing enjoyment. After all these years, i still go with this approach with beginner fly-rodders so they can catch and feel how fish are on a fly rod.
Jay

[TnTom]

Jay,
That really helps a lot. I was pretty sure thats what a "mend" is. You made it clear.
Distance isnt a big concern with exception to an occasional trip to the Caney Fork.
Hoped to get out today but the wind is really woofin and its just a good day be inside.
Thanks again
Tom

[Joni]

Mending is when you cast your line out on a current of a river. When the line (forming a curve) starts to pass your DRY fly (or indicator) you need to flip the slack line back upstream. This will make a DRAG FREE drift on the fly (more natural) That is mending the line.

Sorry but the helgramite thing is BAIT fishing and is illegal on a lot of waters.

The ROLL casting just gets your line out there, but again, MENDING is keeping your line from PULLING the fly down stream. You can cast upstream, as fly passes you, lift the tip, once past you let line out, but that really has nothing to do with mending, but will create the proper float.
Mending is primarily done with FLOATING line.
If you nymph or streamer fish with a FULL SINKING line, mending is not necessary.

[caster]

Basically mending is moving the line around after the cast. Anything you do to the line after the cast hits the water is a mend. You can make mends for various different reasons, sometimes you want to create a dead drift, sometimes you're trying to control a swing. You can mend any type of line although, certain types mend much easier. You can mend up stream, down stream, or make a stack mend, depends on the type of presentation. There are many types of mends, what has been detailed so far are a few presentations, but basically ANY time you move the line that is on the water after the cast, it is a mend.

[TnTom]

Great site and I really feel like I am getting so much help. I have a favorite creek Im going to this weekend and fish it for the first time with a flyrod. Its always been good spinning.
Tom

[Joni]

Caster actually put it so much better. I was only directing one type and as caster said....well just perfect, thanks.