Techniques

This is a very condensed but comprehensive section.  Now that you have your gear, you will need to understand the basics of casting.  Check out some of the videos that are available or take a class from you local fly shop.  Also have a good understanding of some basic knots.   Primarily know the clinch and surgeons knot.  You use these knots many times during a single fishing trip. 

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Now that you have your gear, practiced casting and are comfortable with the feel of the rod, you are now ready to head to the water and catch some fish. This is where mental side of fly fishing comes to into play. You have to understand some basic principles or it could turn out to be a long frustrating day.

The two big questions you need to answer are:

1) What insects are the fish feeding on? This will dictate the fly pattern you should be using.

2) Where in the water are the fish feeding? This will dictate where you should cast and place your fly. This will be different for streams and lakes.

This section on fishing techniques will try to explain the basics of fishing different kinds of water. It will be the basics folks. Entire books and videos are dedicated to this subject and I highly recommend you educate yourself as much as you can.

There is also information in this section describing some wading techniques to ensure you have a safe experience.