hello this is my first post here figured id sign up so i can learn as much as i can before spring time. Im 15 years old and do pretty good trout fishing but im just starting out with the fly rod. So for my first post would you guys say is your go to trout fly(s) on the pa streams i no its a broad question but im just trying to learn some rigs for this spring.
thanks for the advice
adam

hare's ears, prince and pheasant tail nymphs, wooly buggers, green weenies

For dry flies it depends on the hatch or time of year but BWOs and caddis are a good bet as well as terrestrials (ants,beetles etc)in the summer.

If you can,attend the newbie jam in March. Details are in the events forum

Quote:

X2. Ill be there instructing.

Dear newbie:

Your thread will rapidly grow into a mutliheaded dragon, and it will be filled with lots of people desperate to help you. Its very nice of them, and they mean well and they know lots and lots of things but all its really going to do in teh end is confuse the hell out of you because none of it matters, you just want to catch a fish on this stupid thing, right?

So, allow me to get on the ground floor before it becomes chaos. Everyone's "goto flies" don't matter. None of it does. Especially since you just want to learn. So do this:
Goto your local sprotting goods store and buy:
A couple of 9' 5x leaders.
A spool of 5x tippet.
Lots of size 14 pheasant tail nymphs.
A handful of size 14 Adamases.
A little tin of those itty bitty "fly fishing" split shot.
Some foam indicators, or whatever.

Then go fishing. Learn to "cast" about 15' of fly line, plus that leader. Congrats, that's good enough.

Tie the pheasant tail on.

If the water is swift and deep, use one of those stupid splitshot 8" above it. If not, don't. Or do. -shrug- The mysteries of life.

Think, "this water is maybe a 18 inches deep." Put indicator on 3' up from fly. I'll allow this rule, "1.5x the depth of water." Its good enough for now.

Go cast it up from you, and watch it come back down. When the foamy thing goes under, pull line. Catch fish. Delight in your accomplishments.

What? They're on top? Cut off heavy crap and remove foamy thing, tie on Adams. Throw in front of them. Expect nothing, delight in every win. Keep pace with the current, if it drags you've failed. That's the only rule you need to learn, and even that's a lie, sometimes.

Like cake. Always a lie.

When you cut back 2' of the 9x leader, tie 2' of the tippet on.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Expect to waste tippet. Its "cheap." Expect to go through leaders. Expect to lose flies, good thing you only bought two different kinds, right?

There. Enjoy your first year.

Check out the hatch chart and this will give you some great information on what type of fly to use and when.
I like using a dry fly as an indicator and attaching a Bead head prince on 2lb test. Where I'm at, I run it about 2 1/2 to 3 feet from the indicator shaft.

As someone who scoured the entire internet for advice, and took it my first year, take gfen's post to heart. I read one of his (I believe) posts that outlined which flies you need.

Yes, you can make this sport a science, but you learn to CARE about the science with your little victories along the road. For now, you'll get disheartened if you don't experience at least a HINT of success. It took me 6 or so day-long trips to pull a trout out (which ended up being 3 inches long), but getting a few of the variables right helped keep me going. Looking back, I now know that I was trying to use too many opinions. This sport can be pretty simple if you cut it into what you've read above. After you've learned to float then you worry about stroke form

Great advise from Gfen, don't complicate it before you even get started... There will be plenty of time for that later. But it's all good.

Gfen thanks for the advice i really appreciate it. I already got the gear you mentioned. I would attend the show but im from the pittsburgh area. Thanks for making it simple. thanks for the help every body
adam

Yes, yes. To Gfen you listen.

Don't make it harder than it is, not yet anyway. Heck, I've been doing this for almost two decades (a sprout compared to many on the site, and my knowledge in ffing is still limited) and I still fall back on much that gfen suggested.

Quote:

Gfen's back and in mid-season form!

But the advice is great and given with a nice touch of humor.

Gary speaks the truth. Its only as complicated as YOU want it to be.

Adam,
Welcome to Paflyfish ("PAFF") and our online community. If you haven't already done so, take some time to scroll through the Beginner's Forum. There are a bunch of fellas new to fly fishing (FFing) who hang out there and countless questions being asked and answered every day. I think you'll find that many of the things you're wondering about are already answered there. We have a nice crew here who are happy to help newbies and young folks. The Beginner's Forum is the place to ask questions (such as this one). FFing is a complex sport with it's own jargon and traditions. Questions that are specific are easier for us to answer.
Enjoy.

Any bead head tyed with hot pink! Otherwise elk hair caddis. But like I have heard before anything brown and fuzzy haha

3 things.

color

drag free drift

and size

when you hit those three things nothing will stop you from catching fish

Can you explain "drag free" drift