If you enjoyed a father who spent time with you and took you fishing, you have a leg up on those who didn't have that privilege. Many of us old guys who fly fish are self-taught by trial and error, but with today's Internet jungle there is a multitude of information available to those who wish to learn the art and craft of fly fishing.
Fly fishing doesn't have to be an expensive sport, but certainly will be after 40 years of gear accumulation if you get into it as badly as me and my friends have. It's one of those gradual things; every year a little bit of extra cash thrown at it and eventually you have forty years of investment and a small mortgage worth of tackle and equipment.
You should start simple. Decide whether you wish to be a river and creek or lake fly fisher and gear yourself to that means. Rivers aren't generally open until July 1, so if you begin with becoming a still water fisher, your season is spring break-up in April until ice-up in November, and you can dabble rivers with your lake-fishing gear as you learn the intricacies of lakes.
A good all-purpose set-up for fly fishing lakes or rivers is a five-weight medium-fast action rod of 9-foot length balanced with a moderately-priced reel. You'll need three fly lines to cover various depths of water from surface to 25-feet: floating, intermediate and fast-sinking.
If you prefer, all depths of water to 25-feet can be covered with a versa-tip line, which is a floating line section that can be altered by attaching with loop-to-loop connections a variety of four tips from floating to three different sinking rates.
It's difficult to fish most lakes from shoreline in this country, so your next investment is a watercraft of some sort. If it's going to be a family affair, you should consider a used 12 or 14-foot aluminum boat that will be safe for everyone. If you fish alone, you'll be looking for a Jon boat, pontoon boat, u-boat or belly boat. For the latter three, you'll need to invest in waders and boots to keep yourself warm and dry. Then of course, there is the net, boat hardware, a collection of flies, fishing vest to hold the gadgets you'll need and so on... best keep your eyes out for garage sales.
None of this is meant to discourage you from learning to fish. It has taken me 50 years to gather my favourite stuff together. Our three local outfitters of fly fishing gear have qualified staff and will work with a budget if you tell them your limit. I believe if you begin small with your equipment, you will gather the right stuff as you proceed in the sport. Enjoy.
