Took the fly fishing 101 class today at Orvis in Madison and it was excellent. Great knowledge. Very friendly and helpful. Free too. They also give you a ton of useful coupons if you're just beginning fly fishing! Got my first outfit and am heading out to the water tomorrow! Can't wait :)

Good for you. Fly fishing almost requires instruction. Instruction will certainly hasten your success. I hope you do well and post your experience.

Agreed - I went to the same class down here in Houston about two months ago.

What outfit did you end up going with??

I went with a Clearwater 9' 6 weight! How about you? I caught a little bluegill yesterday at a local pond just messing around practicing my casting. Still, first fish on a fly rod !! :)

My first fish on a flyrod was also a bluegill. That was in 1955 and I still get a kick out of it. Bluegills are great little fish.

Bill

I went with a Recon, 9-wt 9'

quote GoSpursGo: "I went with a Recon, 9-wt 9'"

That's great! What are you typically fishing for in Texas? Much bigger fish than I, here in Illinois. Or are you planning a trip with yours?!

GirlOnARock:

That's great! What are you typically fishing for in Texas? Much bigger fish than I, here in Illinois. Or are you planning a trip with yours?!"

Most of my fly fishing is in the back bays off the Gulf for redfish and speckled trout, so I needed something that would throw larger sized streamers.

I didn't take it on my BWCA trip this year, but hopefully next year on my solo I'll be able land some pike!

Other than bluegill what are you getting on in IL?

Not much to get in Illinois that interests me. I love trout fishing but have to drive to find that. I was also blessed by an awesome member of the boards (whom I met two years against canoecopia) that sent me a fly outfit in the mail that he no longer uses. The people on this site are amazing!
For practice, I'll probably try for some bass and crappie around Illinois but long to try it out in the BW! There was an excellent article in the BWCA journal in the last couple journals (can't remember which one) that talked about fly fishing in the BW. Would love to catch a big walleye on a fly rod or some smallies!

In Illinois you can have a blast fly fishing for bluegills and bass. Maybe crappies in the spring. If you know a good bluegill pond you will have a great time with small poppers or nymphs.