The first time I wandered into a fly shop on my own, I had no idea where to begin. I had been fly fishing before, but always on a boat and with the help of a partner or friends. Being alone—and starting from scratch—was an intimidating, gear-intensive ballgame. Even the most basic questions—what do I need, what do I wear?!—were almost enough to discourage me from getting out on the water at all.
What I eventually learned is that you don’t need a garage full of expensive toys to start fly fishing—you just need a few well-chosen basics that work in most situations. The sheer volume of fly fishing rods, reels, waders and gadgets lining a fly-shop wall can make you feel like you need one of everything before you even wet your line. But you don’t (seriously). You can absolutely get on the water, learn the fundamentals, and have a great time doing it without draining your bank account. Below, I’ve rounded up the best gear that makes fly fishing for beginners approachable and accessible. Scroll to find the exact budget-friendly apparel, gear, and accessories I rely on (and wish I had when I first started) to make getting into this pastime as simple and welcoming as possible.
The post The First Timer’s Guide to Fly Fishing: The Budget-Friendly Gear You Need to Get on the Water appeared first on Outside Online.
