Fly Fishing for Beginners | What You Need to Do Before Fly Fishing for the First Time
So you’re ready to go fly fishing for the first time - congratulations! This is an exciting and rewarding sport. It’s suitable for all ages and all fitness types - you don’t need to be an Olympic-level track star to enjoy it, and there are anglers of all ages on river.
However, there are a few things you should do before you put your waders on for the first time. Here are our top tips for first time anglers:
start slowly
You don’t want to go out and buy a bunch of equipment, then get on the river and have no idea how to cast a reel (and later on, realize you bought the wrong stuff). Not to toot our own horn too much, but the Beaverkill Valley Inn is a great place to stay for a few days to get your feet wet in the sport (no pun intended). We have waders you can borrow, reels you can rent, hand-tied flies you can purchase, a casting pond to practice on, and a mile of private river to begin your foray into the sport. We were originally founded as a fishing lodge for anglers over 130 years ago, and the Beaverkill Valley is the heart of America’s fly fishing country. Most importantly, we have a great expert on staff, Nick Rubicco (also known as The Catskill Angler), who can give you private or group lessons on fly fishing.
talk to an expert
This really is the best way to get started on the right foot - you want to get your technique down so you learn fly fishing basics the right way. Our expert fly fishing instructor Nick offers Casting and Coffee sessions for Inn guests twice a month on Saturday mornings during the summer months. This complimentary instruction at our casting pond helps you learn fly fishing and casting basics.
You can also hire Nick for private instruction during your stay - one couple did so right after a Casting and Coffee session, and caught their first fish on their first time fly fishing!
get your fly fishing license
If you’ll be fishing, you’re gonna need to get your license. Don’t worry - it’s not as scary as it sounds (you won’t need to stand on the river and prove to the state fishing board that you can properly cast a reel or anything). New York State offers annual licenses, 7-day licenses, and even 1-day licenses.
They’re not expensive - resident licenses are $5 for a 1-day, $12 for a 7-day, and the annual depends on your ages (seniors over 70 get a discount). Non-resident licenses are $10 for a 1-day, $28 for a 7-day, and $50 for an annual license. There are discounts for active-duty military, disabled veterans, legally blind people, and non-resident students. You can even get a lifetime license if you’re a New York State resident.
Where can you get your fly fishing license? Just ask the front desk and they can help you out. If you know you’ll be visiting and are really on top of it, you can order yours online (but you’ll need to do it 14 days in advance of your stay).
(If you’re looking to order a license in another state, Nature Sport Central has put together a great guide on how to obtain your fishing license in every state here.)
And if you’re wondering if you really need to get a license - the answer is yes. State troopers can and will spot you on the river, pull to the side of the road, and ask you to come over and show them your fishing license. You’ll definitely need to obtain one, and you’ll need to carry it on you when you’re fishing.
practice, practice, practice
Even if you don’t live in the birthplace of American dry fly fishing, you can still practice your craft. You don’t need to be catching fish to practice your cast - you can do that anywhere or any time. Look around your area for fly fishing clubs - you may be surprised. There’s even one that practices casting in the middle of New York City’s Central Park.
get adventurous
Once you’re a little more comfortable, you can try new waters and experiences. Our guide Nick offers all sorts of local tours, including a midnight mousing tour that takes place at, you guessed it, midnight!
have fun!
The beautiful thing about fly fishing is the places it takes you and the people you’ll meet along the way. There are many beautiful spots across the United States and the world to fly fish, places you may never have thought of going to before taking up the sport.