decorahnews.com feature report: Fly fishing made easy: From Velveeta to Woolly Buggers

Tom Murray shows Charlie Robinson, a Decorah Middle School student, basic fly fishing casting techniques at the Fish Hatchery retention pond. (Photos and text by decorahnews.com's Bob Modersohn)

Sure, Tom Murray began fishing the "regular" way, using bait like Velveeta cheese, salmon eggs and corn. That's the way the guy in Davenport taught him a long time ago. But after four or five years of spin-casting rooster tail lures, assorted heavy tackle and live bait, he was introduced to fly fishing and he can't get enough of it now.

"Fly fishing is a challenge, and a fun way to catch fish," Murray said over a cup of coffee recently. "I tied flies before I fly fished." And that's the way he teaches the Decorah Middle School students during one of his clinics.

First, select the right rod and reel, find a good match. Probably an 8-foot graphite rod with reel holding 4 or 5 weight fly line. The Decorah Hatchery or Cabela's north of Prairie du Chien are good shopping options. They have combination rod and reel outfits ready to go with the line already on the reel, Murray said.  Most outfits run from $100 to $200.

Next, learn and practice basic forward and roll casts. The local Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited offers opportunities for fly tying and casting as well as equipment recommendations. Go to Iowadriftless.org for information.

Now you'll need a box of six basic flies: Two dry flies for top of the water bait, like the Adams and the Caddis, in different sizes. A number 14 hook will be "perfect," the avid fly fisherman said. For wet flies — fishing below the water surface — a Pheasant Tail and Prince Nymph are a good pair. Complete the starter lure kit with a couple streamers like the Woolly Bugger and Red Badger. Get polarized sunglasses, water bottle, breathable hip boots, brimmed hat, forceps for extracting fly from fish, nail clipper for snipping line, bug juice and sunscreen, net, and of course a lightweight vest, and you're pretty set — gear-wise. Then it's a matter of learning the stream, what the fish are eating, so you "match the hatch," Murray said, matching the right fly or lure with how the fish are feeding.

A good local spot for beginning fly fishermen to get their feet wet is Trout Run. It's close by, it's stocked, and there's room for casting fly lines. "Whether you're just a beginner or 10 years old, it's a great place to start out," Murray said.

A box of assorted fly fishing baits.

Tom Murray gives Trysten Finholt a lesson in fly fishing casting on the middle school lawn.

Noland Jacobsen, foreground, practices fly casting techniques.