Fly fishing for beginners

Learn from an instructor

Fly fishing begins with the cast.

Basic casting is what is generally referred to as “line management”. Once you learn the fundamentals of fly fishing, you can begin to work on the other aspects of presenting a fly, such as increased distance, accuracy and casting in the wind.

The best way to begin is to hire an instructor. By taking lessons from an expert guide, you’ll be learning from someone who knows what they’re doing and can help make you a better fly fisher in a much shorter time.

Of course, you can attempt to learn to fly fish on your own. However, you may hook your ear multiple times and spend hours untangling your fishing line.

Learn the basics of fly fishing, including gear and technique, from an Ontario fly fishing instructor

Ontario fly fishing guides

 Algonquin Fly Fishing Premium Guide Service

 Located in the Ottawa Valley, Algonquin Fly Fishing guides all ages and abilities.

 Rising Sun Charters

 This Ottawa-based guiding service caters to all angling abilities and guides both conventional tackle as well as fly-fishing.

 Fly Fitters

 Provides guided fishing excursions in southwest Ontario on the Maitland, Bayfield and Saugeen Rivers and along the shores of Lake Huron near Goderich.

 Grindstone Angling

 With close to 30 years of experience, you’re in good hands with this Southern Ontario guiding service. Cold water river trips include the Saugeen and Grand, with driftboat and walk and wade options.

 Grand River Trout Outfitters

Get top-notch fly-fishing education in small class style instruction, where the “classroom” is the river.   

 Calmwaters Fly Fishing

 Learn how to cast, mend, tie knots and use different flies in the popular Learn To Fly program.

 A Perfect Drift Guide Company

 A Perfect Drift are trout and steelhead specialists teaching new anglers how to fly fish, float and spin fish.

 Affinity Angling

 Based out of the Nipigon area in Northern Ontario, Affinity specializes in multi-species in both lakes and rivers in the area.

 Gord Ellis Guiding

Based out of Thunder Bay, Gord Ellis is a lifelong guide for multi-species on both conventional tackle as well as fly-fishing. Gord primarily guides out of Quebec Lodge in Red Rock.

 Angling Algoma

 This Algoma region guide is a tournament angler with many fish tales to share out on the water.

 Tyler Dunn Guiding

 Offering boat, kayak and shore fishing in Algoma Country and on the Nipigon River for bass, salmon, trout, musky, pike, and walleye on the fly. 

Fly fishing equipment

After you’ve enjoyed a guided fly fishing trip, you’ll want to invest in essential equipment, including a rod, reel and line set. 

Fly rods

Fly rods are measured with a number system rather than the action scale used for conventional fishing rods.

Conventional rods are typically scaled from ultralight to heavy, with varying actions in between. The number system for fly rods begins at 0 weight (wt), which would suit small trout in tiny mountain streams, and goes up to 15 wt, which would be used to tackle blue-water species such as billfish.

Most anglers fly fishing in Ontario’s lakes and rivers use between 4 wt and 9 wt to target brook, brown and rainbow trout, salmon, smallmouth and largemouth bass, pike, muskie, carp and panfish.

Note that rod weight will be contingent on the size of the fish you are targeting and the size of the fly you are casting. Large flies, such as baitfish imitations for bass or pike cast better on an 8 or 9 wt, whereas fine leader and tiny flies cast better on a 6 wt.

Fly lines and reels are also measured using the same number system. You’ll want to properly balance your setup so the reel and line match the rod weight.

Fly reels

It’s essential to know the difference between conventional reels and fly reels.

Often, when fly fishing, fish are handled with nothing but the rod and fly line under the angler’s finger on the handle, and the reel doesn’t come into play. That is not to suggest that the reel isn’t essential. However, when dealing with smaller species, like panfish, it isn’t necessary to have the line on the reel. The angler will end up with a line at his or her feet. This comes from physically retrieving the line to either impart movement on the fly or reacting to river currents by maintaining tension and eliminating or limiting undue slack. Slack line between the rod tip and the fly will cause you to miss fish by not being able to set the hook correctly.

Conversely, when spin casting, the line is direct to the reel during the retrieve or drift. When a fish takes your bait or lure, the reel is in use instantly, and you have to react to the fight by winding the reel handle

Another significant difference is that spinning or bait-casting reels have a mechanical advantage. Every turn on the reel handle makes four to eight turns on the spool, depending on the reel type, resulting in four to eight times the speed of your retrieve.

Generally, reels do not have a mechanical advantage and retrieve at a 1:1 ratio: one 360-degree turn equals one turn on the spool. Fly reels are not as efficient and often require using your index finger against the line to manage fish.

Flies, waders and other gear

You'll need flies along with your rod, reel and line outfit. Start with a selection of leaders and tippet material. This is the connection between the fly line and fly. A fly cast requires a heavy line (the fly line) to deliver a relatively light lure, whereas conventional rods require a light line to deliver a relatively heavy lure.

If you are fishing rivers for trout, you will want some waders as you’ll be standing up to your knees for prolonged periods of time in cold water.

Line clippers and forceps are a must. The clipper, or scissor component, allows you to cut excess tippet material after tying on a new fly and the plier or forceps are necessary for pinching or mashing barbs on hooks and help remove flies from a fish's mouth.

Fly floatant is a silicone or paraffin wax-based liquid or paste that keeps feather wing dry flies floating.

A landing net with rubber bags or mesh is also a valuable tool for handling fish, particularly when practicing catch and release.

Finally, sling packs and waist packs have come a long way in replacing the traditional fishing vest to carry everything.

Join a fly fishing club

One of the best ways to develop your fly fishing skills is by joining a local club. You’ll make new friends, learn new techniques and gain access to a common pool of knowledge.

Look for a fly fishing club near you in Ontario and get involved.

Forest City Fly Fishing Club, London

KW Flyfishers, Kitchener Waterloo

Hamilton Fly Fishing Club, Hamilton

Brant Fly Fishers, Brantford

Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club, Mississauga

The Franklin Club, Mount Albert

Cold Creek Fly Fishers, Southeastern Ontario

Headwaters Fly Fishing Club, Caledon

Scarborough Fly and Bait Casting Association, Scarborough

Algonkin Fly Fishers, Eganville

Ottawa Fly Fishers Society, Ottawa

Northshore Steelhead Association, Thunder Bay

The zen of fly fishing

To many, fly fishing is an art form, the pinnacle of angling. This sport’s cast and presentation require elegant and poetic finesse. For others, it’s therapeutic, a place to go for refuge.

Either way, you’ll find yourself in a world of weird but wonderfully creative people who will spend time with you discussing topics that you may never have felt worth discussing, like ephemeral insects Tonkin cane, the glacial recession in North America or the imperialistic tendencies of European countries in the 19th century.

And the fishing will always be rewarding.