Fly fishing can be intimidating — but it shouldn’t be. “It can be just as simple as worm fishing,” says Tom Rosenbauer, a legend within the sport who has written 20 books on fly fishing and hosts the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide podcast. “It’s not a black art. It doesn’t involve knowing etymology. It just involves being able to throw a fly in front of a fish and having him put it in his mouth.”
For the complete novice, Rosenbauer suggests buying a $150 starter kit (rod, reel, and line) and checking out casting fundamentals on the Orvis website. “If you can swing a baseball bat or tennis racquet, you can fly fish.” For the committed freshwater fly fisherman looking to up his game, Rosenbauer breaks down the following 10 essentials.
