You've stumbled into the flyfishing epicenter of the Redditverse. Many of our subscribers are veterans who will be equally happy to share their wisdom (and maybe their whisky, if you ask really nicely), brag about their angling prowess, debate gear choices and techniques for hours, lie to you about their secret places, offer helpful-yet-scathing criticism of your fish handling skills, and tell you to get the eff off their water....often simultaneously, and occasionally with corrosive but commendably colorful language. Not a bad bunch, all told.

But as far as we can tell, most of our contributors are relatively new to the sport. We're glad you're here! You've got questions, and we've got answers. In fact, there's a fair chance that your question has already been asked and answered a few times, so please use the search tools to find your answers first. Try keywords like "beginner" and "starter" and "wader suggestions" and "budget" to refine your results, and try surfing on your target location(s) or species. You might be amazed at how much useful content you'll find.

Every year or so we attempt again to create a starter guide, or to refresh the one from last year. Start here, and feel free to post if you don't find what you need....

Sometimes we run contests - watch the stickied threads for those. Again, welcome...and tight lines!

  • Wait! I don't yell or drink whisky.

    I feel left out.

    Questions about bourbon barrel aged stouts and porters and bass fishin on the fly welcome though ;-)

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    You'd probably yell at least a little if you drank enough whisky. But note that I didn't say we ONLY drink whisky, nor that we're always yelling.

    Sometimes we listen. At the moment, I'm all ears about these stouts and porters. Examples, please?

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    Well, just what's in my fridge at the moment: 2 that you ought to be able to find more or less nationally, and two locals.

    The descriptions on that site are pretty good, so I'm not going to repeat them. Next week I'll probably have some more variety.

    Bonus:

    • Hardywood Raspberry Stout They list this as an Imperial Stout with chocolate and Virginia raspberries. The raspberries total overwhelm all other flavors. I like chocolate and I like raspberries, but this one borders on the ridiculous. Don't buy this one unless you want your stout to be a fruit punch.
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    That backwoods bastard is incredible.

    And cmon sometimes you just have to sound your barbaric yawp over the rooftops of the world. Or on the river when you land a nice one.

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    Highly recommend you check out Central Waters brewing if you like aged stouts. They have a large selection. Cassian Sunset is the standard, but they make a bunch.

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    They stick pretty tight to the Midwest. If you ever come across them, I can’t recommend enough. If you age beers, their barley wine is a must. Fun to drink after 2-5 yrs in the cellar.

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    This has quickly become one of my favorite posts of the sub

    ​

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    Texas Semi-noobie here. Can I ask what flies are your go-to's for bass on the fly? I've never had much success and really looking to hit this summer hard.

    Thanks!

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    go-to's for bass on the fly

    • Clouser Minnows

    • Woolly Buggers

    • Clawdad or Near Nuff Crawfish

    • Near Nuff Sculpin

    • Swimmin Jimmy

    • Dalberg Diver

    • Poppers/Sliders

    • synth fur baitfish

    • Sex Dungeon

    • Dalhi Llama

    • Zonker

    • Bass Assassin

    • deerhair mouse

    • frog

    That'll get you started.

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    You had me at sex dungeon

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    Thank you! I really appreciate the help. I plan on getting after this week.

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    Start with a selection of size 2 and 6 Clouser minnows in olive n white and brown n white. Chartruese n white and pink n white are also good. But, mainly just start with a few, and don't get overwhelmed by choices. In summer a few topwater choices can be fun. The Big Y Fly Co Bass Asst is an easy, cheap way to get started in topwater, once you have some Clousers and Woolly Buggers.

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    You left out articulated rubberlegs! That’s almost a go to for bass

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    Gonna go bass fishing on the fly for the first time this week while I have some time off work. Any pointers are welcome!

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    Stout vs porter? Which one wins.

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    Try casting to structure where minnows and frogs would hang out. Morning and evening are best for topwater poppers and sliders. Mouse patterns can work at night. Fishing from 10am - 4pm is often less effective, particularly in the Summer.

    When it's hot, I prefer IPAs and pale ales to stouts and porters, and even the warmwater species generally prefer shade and cooler water temps.

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    I'm listening.... 👀

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    So what do ÿou do with whiskey?

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  • Am I the only one sippin on shine? New to fly fishing, reading, learning, and thinking about tying my own leader/graduation/tippets. 9', 5wt, Okie. How Ya'll doin?

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    I’m at work at the moment but I have written out a bout 40 different leader recipes for all lengths and weights of rods. Some are my own but most are bitten from somewhere. If you would like I can try and send you a pic or even copy and send it to you?

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  • New to fly fishing this year, so i have no wisdom on that. But try buffalo trace for a good 'bang for the buck" bourbon.

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  • Hey folks I am new to this I've been tieing flies for sometime and just started being able to fish it's kind of tough to get a wheelchair that wades my question is the whisky a before or after the fishing? Or is during ok

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    Yes.

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    Thanks for the very helpful info I would certainly hate to get caught doing it wrong and look like a giant tool and where I live and fish that's saying something .

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    I know this it’s been 6 years since you’ve posted this - but I wonder if something like a belly boat would be possible for you to use to fish? Not sure about your specific limitations, but thought it might be a possibility?

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  • Coffee and whispering? Anyone?

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  • Just found you all. Only good for a few trout here and there, but like your style!

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  • hello, i like fishing. I have a 7 foot 6 inch 3 weight that i use to mainly catch brook trout in the Adirondacks of NYS

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  • Hey all, just joined. Looking forward to the discussions!

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    Since you're the most recent comment, what all do you fish for on fly?

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    Wild brown trout in the small spring creeks of Wisconsin's Driftless Zone.

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  • Got my hands on a redington vice 4 weight rod, thinking about putting a redington zero or a redington run reel on it. Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. These two fit my budget, I’m open to other suggestions at similar price point. Mostly fish for bass but go for trout couple times a year.

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  • Fish NJ beaches and bays for stripers or anything else that will bite and dabble freshwater a few times a year,

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  • Hey everyone! Here from Atlanta. Mostly fish the Chattahoochee tailwaters and around Ellijay/ Blue Ridge. Favorite go to whisky is Knob Creek Rye 🥃🎣

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  • I may have made a terrible mistake. I made friends with a gentleman who owns a cabin 5 minutes away from a flyfishing hotspot. I now have waders. Pray for my wallet.

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    Hi! May I ask where, and if it's too snowy right now or OK?

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    The Lower Illinois River. It's about 9 miles of river below the Tenkiller Dam in Gore, Oklahoma. Year round trout fishing, and no such thing as an ice-out, but it does have flood-outs when the Corps of Engineers dumps floodwaters downstream. You should look into the Ozarks in Arkansas for flyfishing opportunities.

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  • New to the sub and fly fishing! 9 ft 5wt, sometimes take out the 3wt. Four Roses if I’m feeling cheap, Law’s for good times. How is everyone?

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  • Just started and I keep losing flies off my 4x mono tippet. Using a clinch knot, i dont know if its too loose or if i can even get it too tight. Any help is appreciated.

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    Do you test the knot strength after you tie one? You could clip off the bend of a hook and pull hard to see how easily it breaks. Or even bury the tip on cork or something, but be careful. It should take a good deal of force to break.

    Also, are you wetting the knot with spit or water before you pull it tight? When you lose a fly, is the end of your tippet curly or a clean(ish) cut? Are you losing your flies during a fight, snags, or casting?

    parent root

    In general, fly sizes align with tippet and leader diameter that is going to work best in presentation - this starts to become a factor for tying on as well. The Rule of 3's and 4's is helpful in calculating an approximate range of tippet diameter based on the size of the fly - if you divide the size of the fly by 4 and also by 3, you'll get a range of tippet diameters that can be deployed situationally....

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    #20 Parachute Adams/4 = 5X

    #20 Parachute Adams/3 = ~7X

    ​

    So for that #20 Adams fly, 5X, 6X, and maybe 7X are going to be your best bets for tying on. If you're still rocking 4X your presentation might be off or the tippet could be compromised in the hook eye no matter how well you lube it up.

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  • I’m looking for an outfitter or lodge recommendation. The few I called didn’t pan out like I wanted. Ideally Montana

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    Rainbow valley lodge , ENNIS MONTANA ! I just returned from a two week trip and stayed there for 7days ! Ed The owner is the very best Including a full fly shop including guides and The best free continental breakfast one could ever ask for ! Been going there for years !

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  • Hey, this sub is over 40,000 members now! Incredible!

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  • I dont drink much whiskey but being Canadian im always fly fishing in the mile high club :D

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  • Thanks for the resources. Haven’t fished since 1991 and have never fly fished. Looking forward to learning more.

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  • Oohh! Yes! I'm loud and drink whisky

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  • Not new to fly fishing or drinking whiskey but am new to Reddit, spent a few hours reading through posts - some interesting stuff on here 👍🎣🇬🇧

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  • Hi all! Super glad to have found this sub. My dad’s been a lifelong fly fisherman across the US (though mainly east coast), and I’m headed out for the first time with him to northern CA with him next week. I’ve really appreciated the beginner threads thus far, and hope this turns into something he and I can enjoy together from now on!

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  • Of course we drink whiskey! What else does one do with whiskey? I am new to this site but not to fly-fishing, having started with bluegills and popping bugs 65 years ago at age 14. I'm starting to get the hang of it, and have hung up many times.We moved from W.Va to Wisconsin in 1971 and I became a serous trout fisherman. Arthritic knees keep me off the water now, but it's been a great run. I have taught fly-fishing and tying, especially to kids and teens, paying forward what earlier old fart mentors gave me. I look forward to meeting you in here again.

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  • I drink whiskey and smoke an occasional cigar! Oh, and fish! Thanks for having me here...

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  • Hi, addicted to all mentioned above😅 Especially to Salmonids from Northern Europe.

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  • whats the best bourbon for a small trout stream and 3wt glass rod and click reel? Asking for a friend.

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  • Why are videos not allowed?

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  • Beginner here. Any recommendations for fishing CO in September. Anywhere in western slope - Steamboat?

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  • You had me at Whiskey.

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  • We yell and wipe our hands on our pants!

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  • Who fishes with a creole? I'm buying a set up tomorrow and should I get a backpack or go with a creole. Help

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  • Just throwing this out there and hoping it gets seen, could we also set up posts for fly fishing by countries and then by areas maybe people could meet up and fish. I don’t use Facebook as it’s 💩. Just a thought.

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  • Lost my costas after getting caught in a nasty storm. Any good $80 replacement range glasses?

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  • I finally have found my people 

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  • What's the best way of identifying the best sink, floating lines.. I don't want to spend a fortune but I want to be able to use it for a while? Thanks

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  • Well I like that hood ol Marion Berry shine them hills boys have myself!!

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  • You spelled Whiskey wrong, dummy. Not off to a good start.

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  • This looks like an awesome group to belong to!!

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  • 🤔 Hmmmm... now y'all got me thinkin. As a young Sailor, the more I drank, the better I was at shootin' pool.

    So as I begin THIS new sport as an older, retired Chief... I'm gonna halfta make room in this gear vest for the Bombay Sapphire minis to catch more fish! 🥃 🎣

    Thanks in advance for the advice! ⚓️🇺🇸 #tightlines #cheers #gonavy

    SEMPERFIDELIS

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  • I’ll be in the Rincon area of Puerto Rico next month, January 2026. Not a big fan of charters. Thinking of bringing my fly rod to do some surf casting, but not sure what fish I might find, or which flies to use. Also wondering if there’s much by the way of river fishing there (freshwater). Any tips?

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  • Long time FF who moved to AVL (from ATL) just before Hurricane Helene. I finally gotten a chance to get out to explore some great streams off the BRP / Pisgah National Forest. It’s not the Rockies but nothing better than finding native Appalachian Brookies!

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  • Why are my posts being deleted?

    I’m following every single rule

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  • Nice to join up 🎣☘️

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  • Hey guys. I’ve been fly fishing for about a year and upgraded my cheap pflueger combo with a 5/6 wt orvis clear water reel. Now it’s time to spend some money on a rod. I’m from eastern NC and typical fish from larger lakes and the Roanoke River for anything from panfish to decent sized bass and rock fish (or strippers I’d you arnt from around here). I’m looking at the reddington path and the TFO signature series ll both in the 5 or 6 wt to pair with my new reel and it matches me 150 dollar budget. Thanks in advance guys.

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  • Hey everybody! I’m new to this group and just wanted to get an opinion. I am currently running an 11 foot 7/8wt switch rod and looking to add a new reel onto it as my previous reel but the dust. I came across the Abel Vaya 7/8 and was wondering if anyone has ran this reel on a switch and what’s it like for line capacity etc. I plan on fishing for steelhead, coho, springs. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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  • Is this section dead?

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  • I’m wanting to post my pics of trout on here but their not showing up. Any idea what’s the problem? Their on my profile when I go look there.

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  • New to this sub. I fish on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. My go to whiskey is 40 Creek Barrel Select.

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  • Hey everyone I’m taking a vacation to Dillon CO does anyone know a good fishing spot

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  • Looking for help, is the sage x fly rod good for trout fishing?

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    Yes. In most of the lighter rod weights {2-6wt} it's a good choice for trout in many or most situations.

    parent root

  • Thank you, looking forward to being a part of this community and sharing our shared love of fly fishing! Cheers. Simon

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  • This is a great thread. Thank you.

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  • Any suggestions on where I can catch some fish

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  • Lookin for fishing base camp for 6-8 guys…this July will be our 37th year gettin together, each year a different spot. I am lookin for a disbursed camping area east of Hat Creek. Thank you for your help…always an epic trip…this year we’d like to catch fish :)

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  • I’ve been fly fishing about two years now. That means I have 5-6 rods and reels. Lol. Recently got into tying. Omg talk about being sucked in hook line and sinker! But I love it! Looking forward to learning from y’all.

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  • I fish out flows from power plants,(I am new too these locations)I have fish work and rise around me but I get very few strikes, wet or dry, I fish in oroville. Chico. Quincy areas, any suggestions

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  • Hiya! Are there any good US flyfishing spots that are accessible from an isolated cabin right now? Need to drink some whiskey and chill on my own and think through some issues in life. I wanted to go to the Rockies, but they're loaded with snow. Would like to drive but could fly, from the Midwest. Ideas?

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  • caught 3 dace today on a 4 weight- just got into fly fishing again after 20 years off (took that long to have the patience my dad has!)

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  • Anyone have a parts diagram for a Cabela's Genesis 5/6 fly reel? My buddy passed away last week, leaving me his fly gear, and somehow the leader got wrapped behind the gears in the drag system.

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  • It would help newbies, I think, to distinguish largemouth bass from smallmouth bass. Different species, habitat and diet, thus different tackle, flies and techniques.

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  • Kamloops trout!

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  • New to the group and went to ask a question. Found the group from a fly fishing shop I have visited for 30 years. Wrote a nice post with photos about my old 80’s rods and reels after going through them in storage for the post. Both physically and emotionally taxing as this was my late father’s stuff. But I got a message saying I can’t post it. So all that was for nothing. I get spam is an issue but, wanted to let you know, that I’m gonna leave. I get it as no one trying to have this occur, but the work arounds of waiting for Karma to be higher to post? There has to be a better way.

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  • [removed]

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    you sent ONE modmail and we approved it, hours ago.

    parent root

    Sorry I figured it let me know it was like approved or something

    parent root

    Nah, that makes too much sense for s website forum. We sent out a message via carrier pigeon. It should be there by March.

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    Just in time for the ice to start melting

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