Getting started in fly fishing can feel overwhelming. With the endless number of flies, gear, and techniques, just figuring out where to begin can be daunting. Luckily, we’ve been there and understand the frustrations. In an effort to ease the learning curve and get you into fly fishing without breaking the bank, we’ve put together a fly fishing starter kit with everything we wish we had when we started.
Starter Gear
If you’re serious about learning how to fly fish, the first thing you need is the right gear. Now, there’s no reason to spend thousands on fly fishing gear just getting into the sport, especially with how far entry-level gear has come in the last few years. That said, there’s a happy medium between reasonably priced equipment and cheap gear. The following picks fall into the reasonably priced category and are built to grow with you as an angler, so you don’t have to upgrade any time soon.
Waders and Boots
Your wader and boot setup for trout fishing is one of the most important pieces of gear to get right. You’ll be wearing them every time you fish, so they need to fit well, be comfortable, and hold up for seasons to come. One pair we can’t recommend enough is the Orvis Clearwater series of waders. They are lightweight, adjustable, and feature four-layer nylon construction for added durability. Best of all, they are priced at $298—a fraction of other premium waders.
For boots, we’d recommend going with whatever is most comfortable within your price point, similar to a pair of running shoes. Generally, most fly shops will have several options from different brands you can try on. If you’re looking for specific affordable offerings, the Korkers Greenback is just $150, and Simms makes its Tributary Boot for $180.
Rod, Reel, and Line
The next thing you’ll want to invest in is a good starter fly rod, reel, and line combo. While you can purchase all these separately, it’s often more economical to start out with a combo. There are plenty of combo options out there to meet just about any price point, but when it comes to fly rod setups, you often get what you pay for. Rather than buying the cheapest setup available, we’d recommend going with a quality beginner kit that you can learn the fundamentals on and continue to grow with. A few options that stand out are the Orvis Clearwater Combo ($479), TFO Pilot Kit ($279), and the Redington Classic Trout Combo ($479). All these options offer a great balance between a good rod and reel, an affordable price, and respectable warranties.
Another reason to invest in a quality beginner kit is the fly line. While almost all combos include a fly line, the options above feature quality fly lines. When learning how to cast for the first time, a good fly line goes a long way when it comes to casting accurately and at distance.
Fishing Essentials
Fly Selection
With a fly rod setup, waders, and boots, you have everything you need to hit the water, minus flies. Fly selection can be one of the most intimidating things to learn, especially when you’re staring at the endless options in fly shop bins. For starters, we recommend learning the different types of flies (nymphs, streamers, and dry flies) as well as a few staple patterns in each category.
For more specialized rivers or local insight, ask your local fly shop employees. They are there to help, and don’t be intimidated; every angler had the same questions when they first started out. There’s a good chance they’ll have some local recommendations for patterns you may otherwise have overlooked.
Finding Where to Fish
Once you’re ready to hit the river, we’d recommend downloading TroutRoutes. This app lets anglers view all registered trout waters in the country, find access points, and learn local regulations. You can also filter by species to find streams and rivers that hold the exact fish you are after. There are both a free and a paid version ($39.99 a year), giving anglers access to a plethora of river data and fishing spots.
Reading Water
The last piece of the trout fishing puzzle is understanding how to read water. Even the best trout rivers in the country have fishless spots, so understanding where and why fish hold in areas is essential. Likely holding areas can be broken into three main sections: holes, riffles, and runs. A hole is a slower-moving, deep section of water, typically made by some sort of obstruction, like boulders, log jams, or a river bend. These areas can concentrate trout looking to feed while expending minimal effort. Riffles are shallow, fast-moving sections of water where fish will hold behind small pockets and current breaks. Lastly, a run is a deeper section (often 3-5 feet) of consistent current that fish will sit in. For more information on how to properly read water and find fish, check out this deep dive HERE.
Hit the Water
This list of fly fishing essentials covers the basics of gear, techniques, and general fly-fishing knowledge. Now that you have what you need to get started, it’s time to hit the water and test your luck. After all, the only way to get better at trout fishing is through time spent on the water.
