Any fly fishermen/women here?

[jeromedawg]

Just checking to see... it can turn out to be a pretty expensive hobby I know; then again, it is what you make of it too (you can get less expensive equipment and still have a blast). For the most part though, it seems more expensive than not; especially upfront costs. The only place I've used my gear so far is at the beach and on the lawn. Don't know if I can bring myself to pay for a multi-day guided tour. Even DIYing it on vacation can get pricey too, and just seems overwhelming trying to figure out what places are even fishable.

On the other hand, I might just get *facepunched* for having such an expensive hobby... it would be great to become good enough to the point where I can become a guide though. :)

[anon-e-mouse]

Initial costs are not cheap - BUT.... you can start off with less than $150 worth of gear.
Used gear can be found online, just make sure you're not buying junk.
Learn to tie your own flies.  (yes, more upfront costs for materials, but it pays off)
Fly fishing at the beach uses very different gear than fishing a mountain stream.

Use online forums for tips, tricks, and their online marketplace.
LOTS of fishermen (fisherwomen) can be very generous with advice, just not so much with gear.

Once I get my $hit together, I fully plan to fish at least once a week.  Until then, I'm just a wage slave that rarely sees daylight....

[jeromedawg]

Initial costs are not cheap - BUT.... you can start off with less than $150 worth of gear.
Used gear can be found online, just make sure you're not buying junk.
Learn to tie your own flies.  (yes, more upfront costs for materials, but it pays off)
Fly fishing at the beach uses very different gear than fishing a mountain stream.

Use online forums for tips, tricks, and their online marketplace.
LOTS of fishermen (fisherwomen) can be very generous with advice, just not so much with gear.

Once I get my $hit together, I fully plan to fish at least once a week.  Until then, I'm just a wage slave that rarely sees daylight....

I invested in a nicer rod than I did reel - Echo 3S 8wt paired with a Lamson Konic II. Although, compared to others my rod is heavier at an 8wt. It casts well though and is good to learn on. I often hear learning fly fishing on the beach is a pretty difficult thing more than learning on lakes, ponds, streams, or rivers. Likely because you have to deal more with the element of waves crashing on or near you as well as line mgmt. I ended up making a makeshift stripping basket out of an old Ikea stool and it seems fine. I've been 'roughing' it with fly tying and have just watched some videos. I took a fly fishing class while stopped in Mahahual (Costa Maya) during a cruise. Got hooked on it and have been interested ever since. I sorta learned how to tie a fly there but otherwise Youtube.

I think I need to join more fly fishing specific forums. I'm a frequent visitor on general fishing forums (Bloody Decks, Fishing Network, scsurffishing, etc). I have to drive my wife to her work-related classes every Saturday morning and pick her up, so I won't be able to consistently get out for another couple months :( I went out this last Saturday though with spinning gear and completely skunked. Sucks when I can't even catch anything on good ole spinning gear!

[SurlyTroll]

I fly fish... it is nowhere near as expensive as folks make it out to be. Orvis offers free "learn to fly fish" classes, though they try to get you to buy their VERY expensive equipment. Craigslist is a great source for cheap, good, used equipment. There are also a number of websites/chat rooms/forums where you can pick up equipment on the cheap.

Start Up Costs:
Rod: $30
Reel (with line): $25
Tipped: $5
Flies: $10 (then learn to tie one or two some patterns)
Licence: $25? (Varies by state)

So under $100 gets you a VERY nice fishing set up.

When I travel, I stop in at the local fly shop, ask what flies they recommend for the local water, and buy some. Shop owners are much more likely to point you towards some good water if you drop $10-$20 on a couple of flies. With guided trips running $100+ a day, I find the purchase of flies to be a bargain.

To get a better handle on your local water, join your local chapter of Trout Unlimited. Remember that free Orvis class I recommended? One of the perks is a free one year membership. A good local chapter will have members that are willing to help you learn... usually for the bargain price of a domestic six-pack.

Like most hobbies, fly fishing CAN get very expensive, but hell... so can running. Have fun with it!

[shotgunwilly]

I interned one summer in Colorado for Ross Reels, and completely understand your concern on it being expensive.  These high end reels sell for $500-$1000.  Luckily, I was given one as a gift.

I do not fly fish as much as I'd like to, as I live in Texas and mainly bass fish. (talk about an expensive hobby....) Haven't in a few years actually, but It is something that I absolutely love.  There's just something so peaceful about wading in a river and feeling it all around you as you try to trick the fish with a tiny little fly.  All of life's worries, problems, stresses seem to be 100% absent when I'm doing it.

I use a cheaper setup and have just a small selection of flys and a vest.  I don't even have waders because where I fish for trout, the water doesn't quite completely numb my legs, so i just go without them.  I have tons and tons of bass equipment, so taking on trout with just one rod and my small selection of flies is actually pretty enjoyable/challenging for me. I like not getting too caught up with all the fly fishing gear.