FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions

,We guide on many local streams in different areas of Connecticut and New York. But the majority of our guiding is on the small streams of Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. These may include the Mianus River, Norwalk River, Saugatuck rivers in Connecticut, and the rivers of the Croton watershed located in Putnam and Westchester County. We also guide in the Catskills on some of our favorite rivers-including the Beaverkill and the Willowemoc.

The course is based on availability and is usually split into dry land and water instruction. It is offered during the week and on weekends. Contact us and we will try and accommodate your needs. 

Additional Items to Bring:

• Appropriate fishing licenses
• Sunglasses (polarized sunglasses to cut the glare of water)
• Sunscreen
• Bugspray
• Appropriate clothing including rain gear or outerwear depending on the weather conditions
• Medication
• Snacks

Yes, based on availability we offer waders and boots at no charge and have various sizes in both.  

Yes, for the individuals that take the introduction to fly fishing course with us or wish to use our fly fishing guide services we offer an outfitting service. 

You can take an introductory course with us, learn to fly fish from a friend, a fly fishing guide, or a casting instructor. You may even learn a bit from watching others fly fish and from watching YouTube or Vimeo. Orvis has one of the best video series and it’s free.

To get started fly fishing you need:

• Protective eyewear (Polarized sunglasses)
• Fly rod
• Reel with backing
• Line
• Leader
• Tippet
• Flies
• Nippers and Forceps

* Most importantly, you need a place to fish and a friend to fish with! Once you really get into it, you’ll want to pick up waders, boots, and a fishing net (rubber). The Orvis store located in Darien, Connecticut sells waders and boots that are perfect to get you started (Disclosure: I work there part time).

It depends what you are fishing for and where you are fishing. You would not use the same rod fishing a small stream and fishing for Salmon in Alaska, or for Steelhead fishing in Pulaski, NY.

Here are some general guidelines to use when starting out with your first rod or reel.

Everything should match up and balance. It is based on a ‘weight’ system. If you are using a 4 weight rod, the reel should be rated as a 4 weight, as well as the line. Basic is a 9 foot rod and smaller for small streams.

1 weight: Very small creeks for smaller fish species. 6-7 foot rod.
2 weight: Very small creeks for smaller fish species. 6-7 foot rod.
3 weight: Perfect for panfish and small stream trout fishing. 7-7 1/2 foot rod. Often longer rods (10-11 feet) are used for Euro-nymphing.
4 weight: Our favorite pic for trout and many rivers and streams in 7 – 8 1/2 foot rod. Often longer rods (10-11 feet) are used for Euro-nymphing
5 weight: Standard for trout and panfish. 8-9 foot rod.
6 weight: Largemouth bass and small mouth bass, carp, and throwing larger streamers for trout.
7 weight: Largemouth bass and small mouth bass, carp, and throwing larger streamers for trout.
8 weight: Suitable for smaller saltwater fish and bonefish, as well as steelhead. Good starting point for Pike and muskie.
9 weight: Great freshwater rod weight for salmon fishing, and saltwater weight from shore for bonefish, striped bass, false albacore, and bluefish.
10 weight: Use this for fishing saltwater for permit, big salmon, or striped bass from a boat.

It depends on your fly rod weight, what you are fishing for, where you are fishing.

Standard fly line is weight forward and floating. This means that the fly line is set up with the weight of the line or head  at the front of the line and is heavier than the ‘running line’ or rear of the line.

If you are using a 4 wt (weight) rod and a 4 wt reel set up on a stream then your basic set up should be a 4 wt line.

Your fly fishing line should match your rod. If you are using a 5 wt rod then use a 5 wt line.

Below are two examples of fly fishing line notation on a box and how to read them:

DT-4-F – The ‘DT’ means ‘double taper’, the ‘4’ means 4 wt, and the ‘F’ means floating line. 
Double tapered lines can be used at on ends. Once one end of the line attached to the leader is worn out, you can switch to the other end of the line and use that end.

WF-5-F – The ‘WF’ means ‘weight forward’, the ‘5’ means 5 wt, and the ‘F’ means floating line. 
Weight forward lines mean that the weight is in the front of the line, so it will fo farther. This is a standard taper for trout lines: WF-5-F

Usually an ‘S’ after the weight means sinking, often used to get the line down in the water and in streamer fishing. 

The amount of backing is based on your reel and it’s diameter and what weight fly line you are using. Each manufacturer will include that information when you purchase your reel. Most of the time it is based on 90 feet of fly line going onto the reel, but some specialty lines are longer (up to 105 feet or more) so you need to take that into consideration when putting on the backing. We generally use 20lb backing for up to 8 weight and then move to 30 lb backing at higher rod weights for bigger fish.

Fluorocarbon leaders:
* Stronger then monofilament leaders
* Have less line memory (tougher to straighten them out)
* Sink quickly vs mono (floats)
* More sensitive than mono
* Less visible in water
* More expensive than mono

Monofilament leaders:
* Have less line memory
* Mono floats
* Easier to straighten and recover
* Have some stretch
* Less sensitivity than fluorocarbon
* Cheaper than fluorocarbon

Tippet is fluorocarbon or monofilament (nylon) line that attaches to the leader and prevents you from wearing down the leaders. It also provides an invisible connection to the fly so the fish can’t see the connection. You replace the tippet not the leader.

Tippet comes in various sizes and is denoted with an ‘X’. The higher the number, the finer the tippet. 7X is finer than 3X.It comes in various sizes and is usually smaller or the same size of the tapered leader rating size.

To find he correct tippet for your fly divide the fly size by 3.

There are several ways that you can attach the leader to the tippet:

• Loop to loop connection
• Double surgeons knot (double overhand knot) 

The standard leader we use is a 9 foot and 5X leader. in addition to that we add 2 feet of 5X or 6X. It really depends on the river and the fish, larger fish require a stronger leader and tippet.

When the water is low or the fish are finicky we move to a 12 foot leader and or we go up to size 6x and may often add 2-4 feet of tippet.

When fishing streamers for trout we use a 7 foot leader in size 3X or 4X and 12 inches of tippet in either 3X or 4X. 

Remember that tippet should be equal or smaller than the leader  size. If you are using a knotless tapered leader the tippet should be 3 times smaller than the fly you are using. If you are using size 16 adams dry fly, you would not use a size 1X or 2X tippet, you would use a size 5.

To find tippet size on flies, just divide by 3.

Size 12 Elk hair caddis = Size 4X or 5X tippet.

The flies that are used in fly fishing are made of a hook, thread, feathers and or fur or some type of artificial material – they are not real flies or alive. They are used as imitators or attractors. Imitators imitate certain insects or types of bait, while attractors ‘attract’ fish and are more generally representative.

No, but it can be fun if you do! You can buy flies at your local fly fishing shop or at an Orvis store near you.

You follow a ‘recipe’, and you purchase the recommended ingredients to tie that specific fly.

Start by watching some YouTube videos by people like Tim Flagler of Tight Line Productions. Another good way is to get a book out on fly typing from your local library. 

Basic fly tying kits that have a vise, necessary tying supplies and some fly recipes are a great way to really get started.

Many fly shops, Orvis stores, and even chapters of Trout Unlimited offer fly tying courses that are free of charge.

Entomology is the study of bugs (insects).

Although it’s not necessary, it is very helpful. Understanding what insects are at a certain streams or the times and the seasons when they hatch or come out can help you catch more fish – and that’s a good thing! It’s also helpful when typing flies and understanding what fish may be looking for.

A basic understanding of the stream you wish to fish, what stages to fish and when is helpful. There is plenty of information available, and if it’s not available for a particular stream you can do a few things:

• Ask someone what is working for the stream.
• Go to the stream and do a stream recon before you fish to ‘match the hatch’ and fish using flies that are representative of what you see.
• Use a bug seine (streamside tool that helps identify and collect bugs that are later returned to the stream). This may be illegal in some areas, so look up local regulations before you go.
• Doing all of the above is the best option.

Mayflies are aquatic insects that spend much of their life underwater. Trout love them. There are various species of mayfly all over the world.

Mayflies have several stages:

Nymph
Emerger (Between nymph and dry fly)
Dun
Spinner 

Nymphs are the beginning stage of the mayfly, stonefly, caddisfly, or midge (type of stream or river insect) that lives underwater. It is a generic term, also used to indicate an underwater type of fly made of feathers and fur with or without weight.

Dry flies are flies that are tied to imitate the adult version or final life cycle stage of a mayfly, caddisfly, stonefly, or midge in a dun or spinner. A dun is a fly that has left the emerger stage and a spinner is the final stage of a mayfly after it has mated.

Streamers represent baitfish or larger aquatic insects and are similar to fishing a lure in spin fishing.

There are several ways to attach flies to tippet material, the easiest way is an improved clinch knot.

When attaching streamers and nymphs to give the flies some action, we like to use a uni-knot.

Yes, the pick up and lay down cast is the same as the basic fly fishing cast and is the first cast that you should learn. 

Using a roll cast is great when you are fishing in tight quarters and do not have room for a backcast. 

A mend helps you execute a drag free drift. This is necessary to catch a fish on a dry fly. 

When you quickly strip your fly line in it is known as, “stripping”. Quickly pulling line in with your line hand (the hand that doesn’t hold the rod and the hand you reel with). Stripping is effective for fishing streamers.

When you need to make a longer cast and add distance to your cast, you add line by shooting it or letting it go. You don’t really shoot the line. 

Fly fisherman cast upstream because it is very effective for casting fish on dry flies. Fish generally are facing upstream and they fly going through the water from upstream to downstream is a more of a natural presentation to the fish.

Wetting the knot insures the knot seats properly and prevents it from becoming weak due to friction and heat. Always wet your knots!

Yes, listed below are several that are good to learn. 

Basic Knots:

• Arbor knot (Attach backing to fly reel spool)
• Double surgeons knot (Attach leader to tippet)
• Improved clinch knot (Attach fly to tippet)
• Nail knot (If there is no loop, use a nail knot to attach backing to fly line)

Advanced Knots:

• Blood knot (attach lines together with very little friction)
• Non-slip loop knot (Allows movement of fly, great for streamers and nymphs)
• Perfection loop (If your loop breaks use this to create a loop on the end of your fly line)
• Uni-knot (Great all around knot, two can be put together to form something similar to a blood knot)

• Resident: Ages 16-69 $25.00
• Resident: Ages 70+ $5.00
• Non-Resident: $50.00

Additional information on a State of New York fishing license via the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is available below. Fishing licenses can be purchased online, by phone, or at a Sporting License Issuing Agent Location.

State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation Fishing License Information >

Fishing Licenses in the State of Connecticut

2019 Connecticut (Freshwater) Fishing License (Annual)

• Resident *Inland Fishing: Ages 16-17 $14.00
• Resident *Inland Fishing: Ages 18-64 $28.00
• Resident *Inland Fishing: Senior Citizen (Ages 65+) FREE
• Resident All Waters Fishing (Saltwater & Freshwater): Ages 18-64 $32.00
• Resident All Waters Fishing (Saltwater & Freshwater): Ages 16 -17 $16.00
• Non-Resident *Inland Fishing: $55.00
• Non-Resident All Waters (Saltwater & Freshwater): $63.00

Trout Stamp (Required to fish for trout or salmon in Connecticut)

• Resident/Non-Resident: Ages 18-64 $5.00
• Resident/Non-Resident: Ages 65+ $5.00
• Resident/Non-Resident: Ages 16-17 $3.00

* Inland Fishing Licenses are required for anyone 16 years of age or older fishing in the Inland District (freshwater).

Note: Connecticut also offers an ‘All Waters’ fishing license that includes a resident or non-resident freshwater and marine (saltwater) license.

Additional information on a State of Connecticut fishing license via the State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is available below. Fishing licenses can be purchased online, at participating town halls, designated vendors and tackle shops, or at DEEP Offices.

Connecticut Fishing License Information from the State of Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection >

State of Connecticut DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) General Regulations and Information for Fishing: https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=322680&deepNav_GID=1632

State of Connecticut’s Trout Stocking Maps for Rivers & Streams: https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=467456&deepNav_GID=1632

State of Connecticut’s Inland Fisheries Regulations: https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=544692&deepNav_GID=1630

State of New York’s General Regulations and Information for Freshwater Fishing: http://www.eregulations.com/newyork/fishing/

State of New York General Regulations for Fishing: http://www.eregulations.com/newyork/fishing/general-regulations/

State of  New York Fishing Season and Limits: http://www.eregulations.com/newyork/fishing/statewide-angling-regulations/