How to learn fly fishing?

[OldTimer]

If youre an absolute beginner a good starting exercise on line control is to tie a 7 foot piece of heavy yarn (with its end knotted, or taped) onto the tiptop of the last 3' section of any fishing rod and learn to keep the yarn as close to dead level horizontal in the air as it goes forward and back above you- by doing the motions you see in on line videos or in sketches using this very short "rod"..... i.e mostly arm with a touch of wrist at the ends.

If the line falls down in front or back of you,...or if it hits you.... or if you "crack the whip".............. - youre doing it wrong. Watch the line as you practice.

It honestly helps get your timing better and helps you get the idea of casting the line - rather than casting a weight - much quicker.

I used this trick to teach my lovely lady how to cast a fly line very quickly.

This is a method that Ted Knott (of Trout Unlimited) used to teach all of his new students (including me) better timing and control.

Neat thing is - you can practice at home in your garage, or sitting down inside away from light fixtures.

It really does help..........

Cheers,

OldTimer