Hey there, new to fly fishing but not so new to fishing. Been spin fishing for a while, mainly fish trout with jigs, plastic worms and other artificial lures on light setups.

Anyway I'm just outside of LA towards the desert so for any good fishing in nature you usually have to drive a some hours up to the Sierras, although there are artificial lakes close by and some rare natural waters in the Angeles national forest I guess.

I'm wondering if you can get a decent fly fishing setup for around $200 since I'm 16 years old and don't have a job yet or much money.

And can you teach yourself how to fly fish and the technical side of knots, etc, by practicing, reading, watching videos, etc?

Here's a few pics of fish I've caught recently up in the Eastern Sierras. A brown out of the Owens, stocker rainbow out of Bishop canyon, a golden in Horseshoe Meadow.



And I'm wondering what kind of fish this is, caught out of the San Bernandino mountains in a creek that hasn't been stocked in years because of a protected frog.



Thank you...

Hi Andros welcome to the forum,your photo links do not appear to be working

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Welcome to the Forum! I'm about 800 miles to the north of you (Rogue River is a 5 minute drive). But to your key question: "I'm wondering if you can get a decent fly fishing setup for around $200 since I'm 16 years old and don't have a job yet or much money."

The answer is yes indeed! Or very close to your budget. Cabela's offers several 'its all here kits' for a very reasonable price. 'Kit' comes with everything, rod, rod bag/tube, reel, line, backing ... and even a leader! Connect the bit's and just add a fly and your good to go.

As for being 'self taught' there are lots of stuff on U Tube, but I'd really recommend you see if you can find a fishing club (or member there of) to give you a lesson or two.

An hour with someone whose reasonable with a fly rod will save you hours of being in a "Anger Management" course.

Fred Evans
White City, Oregon

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"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living." -- Anonymous

Thanks guys, yeah got my pics working now, sorry about that.

@fred, thanks I'll check out Cabela's and maybe find someone to show me the ropes a little. I actually have some relatives up in Bend that grew up fly fishing the Deschutes and I'll probably be going up there again next summer so I'll definitely have some time to fish those waters by then.

you might also want to check out the North American forum classifieds - this is the UK site.

If you click the links tab above, you will find a link for North American Fly Forums, and from there you can check the classifieds and see whats for sale.
I just bought pretty decent rod, brand new, for $65 for a friend who has just taken up Fly fishing...
It can be hit and miss on the classified as to when folks post stuff for sale, but if you're not in a hurry to get gear, you'll definitely find something.

You'll probably have to sign up again on the NA forums. I'm on both (live in PA, originally from UK) and you can use the same screen name etc.

Cheers, already signed up there. For some reason I was on there originally but after I registered on there it directed me to this site. So I got registered on both.

I'll check the classifieds out though, still reading up but from what I can tell a 4wt medium action 8 footer or so seems best for me.

Hello Andros. Welcome here and Fred gave great advice re Cabelas. Great pics, too and nice to see a Real golden trout and not the hybrid rainbows stocked in some stillwaters here in the uk. I think the trout you were't too sure about is most likjely a young rainbow that hasn't developed darker colours as it lives in a tiny stream such as some I used to fish in eastern Washington where you get many variations in colouring on rainbows. I'll also look forward to how you get on on the NAFFF.

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The scenery in the Grand Coulee area of eastern Washington was worth the air fare on its own!

Good call above, but 'I think' if you're registered here, you're registered there. But you are correct on the screen name. The North American Fly Fishing Forum. Fly fishing news and views across the USA and Canada

__________________
"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living." -- Anonymous

Welcome to the Forum Andros

BK

Welcome friend!