Free Sample
The Purple Guide to Learning Fly Fishing in 10 Days
A day-by-day starter plan to cast your first line, tie your first knot, and decide if fly fishing is for you — in 10 honest practice sessions.
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: First Day
Welcome to day one. You're here because you're curious about fly fishing — maybe you've seen someone on a river and thought, "I could do that," or maybe you're just looking for a new reason to spend time outside. Either reason is good. This is not a sport you can master in a week, so we're not going to try. Today, you're going to get a feel for the gear and do one tiny thing that will make you say, "Oh, I see." That's it. That's your only goal.
Before you even think about water, let's talk about what you need for today's session. You need a fly rod and reel. If you don't own one, that's fine — today is the perfect excuse to visit a local fly shop or a big outdoor retailer that carries them, and ask to hold one. Tell them you're brand new and just looking. A typical fly rod is around 9 feet long and weighs almost nothing — probably less than a half pound. The reel is underneath the handle, and it's mostly for storing line, which is different from a spinning or baitcasting reel where the reel does the work. In fly fishing, the weighted line is what you cast, not the lure. The lure, or "fly," is nearly weightless. You'll learn why that matters later, but for now, just hold the rod and feel how light it is. Jiggle it a bit. Pay attention to where your