[Johnnyboy]

Hey y'all,

In addition to being new to the forums here, I am brand-spanking new to fly-fishing. I have been fishing with regular (?) tackle since I can remember growing up in Texas. My father-in-law is from Wyoming, and is apparently a fly-fishing Jedi, and he was interested in seeing me join the fold, so he outfitted me with a rod, reel, vest, and a few other trinkets. And upon opening his Christmas present to me, I found a great assortment of flies that he tied for me for a variety of scenarios (or so I gather). So my dilemma is that I have all of this awesome tackle, but I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. I took my stuff out to a lake to try and see how naturally the cast would come to me, and I pretty much just embarrassed myself...

So I gather that this workshop at Lake Rim is probably a good place to start to learn the ropes, but I was curious if anyone could clue me in to good places to throw a fly here around Fayetteville. Just as an aside, I've been stationed here for a year and a half now, and have tried to get out with my standard tackle as much as possbile with only minimal success. I gather that most of the best places to fish hereabouts requires a boat, but are there any good places where you can walk the shore?

Thanks for your wisdom in advance!

Johnny

 

[NCangler]

Welcome to NCangler.com Johnnyboy! And thank you for your service to our country! I've done minimal fly fishing myself so I'm of no help in that regard, but we have some very talented fly fishermen on the site that I am sure will be willing to share some information. So stay tuned!

 

[backlash]

Welcome Johnny Boy- There's several lakes and ponds with shore access on Fort Bragg that enough room to cast a fly for Bass and Bream. I fish Holland and Keist Lakes quite a bit with the fly rod myself. Deer Pen and Quail in the NTA are great places to try out your fly rod as well. I recommend going to the Fly Clinic at Lake Rim. There's alot of nice folks in that volunteer group that are eager to help you get started. Plus they stocked the ponds with some nice sized trout, it will be the best $5 you ever spent. Call and reserve your spot right away because the fill up quick.

 

[Johnnyboy]

Backlash-

Thanks for the heads up on the places to go on post; I've gone to McKellars quite a bit, and Simmons and Mott a couple times a piece but never had a whole lot of luck. I'll have to dig out my map and try there holes you suggested.

I'm probably going to miss the first workshop in January, but will hopefully be back in town for the one in February. I can't describe the agony of having all this brand new really nice tackle and having to wait so long to use it! Oh well, with any luck I'll be out on the water before too long. Thanks again for the advice and encouragement!

Johnny

 

[Coach D]

I can sympathize with you. I've got the gear and haven't been able to consistently get my fly where I want it. I may see you at the one in Feb. Check ya'll later.

 

[Johnnyboy]

Coach-

Hope to see you there! Until then I'm here in Eastern Idaho, now in complete agony since you can't trip and fall without landing on at least two or three fly shops. Can you believe they even have one in the Walmart?!?! Right in there with the local bank and optometrist. I guess it's the first one, a test bed to see if it will do well. I checked it out and was impressed, not that I'd really recognize quality stuff, but they have perfectly good, relatively cost effective versions of pretty much everything I've seen in "nicer" establishments. No Orvis or Simms, but Cortland and Scientific Anglers. The kicker is that apparently Idaho is only a few miles from the North Pole, and everything is super frozen, so I'm not getting any fishing done here either...

 

[rg51748]

johnny, there are several lakes on ft. bragg with access from the bank with a fly rod. i have fished many of them with some luck. also, i instruct at the lake rim clinics and you will find it a great place to begin your new hobby. also, many of the anglers have spots in and around fay. to fish........hope to see you on feb. 10......the next clinic at lk. rim............

 

[Nantahala Fly Fishing]

johnny boy, I'll be glad to help you work-out any problems with your cast, just PM me with any questions. Im a fly fishing instructor and there are'nt many problems I have'nt seen, or helped solve. I'll be glad to help you if I can. Just pm me and we'll get-r-done

 

[Topsail Angler]

I can personally attest to Daniel's expertise!