Hello my name is Mike, I live in snohomish, although I've been an avid waterfowler for over 20 years at my duck club in chehalis, I've recently have been building a love for fly fishing. I find myself on the iPad watching these videos of incredible fishing adventures and know I can someday do it... At this point it's the "idea" of fly fishing that has me intrigued more than ever, since I have yet to fly fish outside of backyard practice. I am a brand new fly fisherman and I'm not afraid to get out and chase my goals, I am obviously looking to gain knowledge in anyway I can. Do you recommend any good books, instructional DVD, websites anything that is a great source of information? (Other than this forum) is there anyone willing to help out a Rookie?
Thanks everyone. Hope to meet you guys on the river!
Hmmm there are lots of great fly fishing books. One thing i would warn about watching videos.
Even a long 15 minute video may have taken a week or even an entire season to film. I do not say this to curb your enthusiasm but i could see how as a new steelhead angler it would be possible to obtain a very inaccurate view of the current steelheading opportunities in the world. For every person that goes to B.C. and has an epic trip and films fish after fish after fish there are two who go and rarely have cause to break out their phone for a quick snapshot. For every multi- fish day you have out on the Olympic Peninsula you'll have a week or more without a touch. All i am saying is don't be fooled into thinking it's easy, it used to be before we destroyed our fish runs but it's not anymore. So be prepared for a bit of hard work, a fair amount of disappointment and a few moments that take your breath away. On the other hand I am a bit of a downer when it comes to steelhead fly fishing anymore so don't let me jade you either.
If you can get your hands on the old 3m Mastery videos with Lani Waller I think they are the best steelheading videos on the planet. Lani pretty much starts with the assumption of zero knowledge and does a good job of covering the basics. There are three videos in the series all on VHS. I do not know if they have been released as DVD's. Avoid the Jim Teeny one.
Also, if you also want to learn to trout fish your first investment should be the "Curtis Creek Manifesto"
it is the best book on the basics of fly fishing for trout. it tells you all the things you really need to know without confusing you with stuff you don't need to know til much later on.
after that the scientific anglers videos on trout fishing are also exceptional I especially like "Anatomy of a Trout Stream" with Rick Hafele. then after that the video featuring Doug Swisher " advanced strategies for selective trout" is also great.
For getting a flavor of the history and culture of steelheading you should also read Trey Combs three books on steelheading, i skip over the how too parts and read the parts about the people and the rivers.
I find that how to steelheading doesn't translate well to the written word, at least for me.
