Hey all . .I'm a very novice fly fisher. I inherited some rods from my Dad. .I can cast them a little. . I've caught some sunfish in my local lake . . but that's it. I have no idea about line type, what flies to use, etc. Honestly, my head starts spinning when people start talking about Clousers and Hopper Droppers, etc. I am clueless.

Can you give me a beginners "shopping list" of what you might bring to the bwca for fly fishing?

I'll be bringing an 8wt. It currently has weight forward, floating line on it - I'm thinking that's the right type for smallie fishing. I got a box of bass poppers from Bass Pro Shops. What else should I bring?

I'll be going to Knife Lake or Crooked Lake areas first week of June (90% sure it will be Knife) and I'd like to fish primarily for smallies on the fly.

Thanks in advance!

In general, if you're going to chase smallies, I'd bring along wooly buggers, clousers and some deer hair bugs in addition to the poppers. I'd leave everything else as is with the setup and pack some tapered leaders.

There are lots of other things you could bring, but those would be my basics for smallmouth fishing anywhere. The 8wt is on the stiff side, but would handle the odd pike that finds it's way onto your line.

I'm sure you'll have a blast.

quote hooky: "In general, if you're going to chase smallies, I'd bring along wooly buggers, clousers and some deer hair bugs in addition to the poppers. I'd leave everything else as is with the setup and pack some tapered leaders.


There are lots of other things you could bring, but those would be my basics for smallmouth fishing anywhere. The 8wt is on the stiff side, but would handle the odd pike that finds it's way onto your line.


I'm sure you'll have a blast.

"

I was wondering if the 8 was too much. I have also a 6....would that be better? I don't want to bust it on a too big fish, though...its kind of an heirloom.

I'd take the 8wt. But if it's also an heirloom like the other, I'd hesitate to take it too. I wouldn't be worried about big fish as much as some other accident breaking it.

All of the advice already given is spot on......I prefer the 8 wt. up there because I tend to throw heavier weight resistant flies and if the smallies aren't biting, the Northerns can be a lot of fun! If the surface bite isn't on yet, you can bring a second spool fro your reel with either a sink tip or full sinking line to help get your flys down......a cheaper/easier option is to buy a sinking tip that attaches to the end of your floating line before the leader....it doesn't cast quite as well (hinging at the connection), but will still work and only costs a few bucks.....as far as the pike go, you can buy pre-made bite leaders or use either some 25# Mason's hard mono (tricky to tie) or some 50# fluorocarbon.....Pike tend to tear your flies up....I like using magnum Zonkers which are just strips of bunny fur tied on the hooks....great action/very durable, but hold water and can be a little tricky casting.....I've also found those Zonkers to work quite well for Smallies and Walleye.....colors that have worked for me are: chartreuse, black, olive, and purple......I will also troll with my flyrod when I am traveling on the bigger lakes or moving from one spot to another.....

Mike

8-wt for sure.

Make sure the weight forward floating line is truly 8-wt and good quality

Rio 12-lb tapered bass leaders 3 pack
10 lb Rio mono tippet

Whitlock frog deer hair poppers with a bottle of floatant to keep them bouyant
clouser swimming leech (sinks like a stone, can go 8-10 feet with floating line).

I think all the advice has been good.

In what city do you reside? All Orvis retail stores will begin free fly fishing lessons the end of March. Go online to Orvis.com and check the link for fly fishing. Orvis has an 8 wgt Encounter outfit ready to go. Just tie on a flie and begin fishing.

Yes I would say everyone above has given you spot-on advice. The 8 is my summer wilderness rod of choice, for smallies, pike and walleyes. I like a 7 too, but the 8 is better in the wind, and better at tossing large flies long distances, which I like to do. I find 6 weights too light, although I love them for more sheltered areas and smaller flies like buggers, nymphs etc. For flies, in addition to poppers, deer hair bugs (which I call poopers anyway), wooley buggers and clousers, I'd add a couple lefty's deceivers or something similar. Its nice to have a mid depth minnow initation. Really thats all you need, just take a spool of leader material, and either some heavy fluoro or wire like Knot Too Kinky for the pike.

Moonman.

Moonman, thanks for the reference to Knot too Kinky. I had not heard of that before. I use Surflon MicroSupreme 13 lb knottable wire.

The information on the KtK wire says that it stretches. Does it really stretch when pulling on it? Does the stretch interfere with any hooksets? Any knots too bulky that you cannot tie with it (e.g. Lefty's loop)? Thanks.

Jerold, i can't answer with accuracy because personally I dont use it. I have a buddy that uses it for his spinning rod and says its awesome, and have read lots of great reviews of it. I think the stretch is there but its slight, maybe somewhere between fluoro and mono. I strictly use fluoro, but I do have several spools of the same surflon you use. Haven't used it in years though.

Moonman.

OK, thanks. That makes sense.