Fly fishing has a reputation for being hard to learn. We think that reputation is mostly undeserved. The fundamentals are straightforward, and with the right guidance, you can be catching fish faster than you'd expect. This section is built specifically for newer anglers: it covers everything from choosing your first rod, reel, and line setup, to learning to cast, reading the water, and picking flies that actually work. We don't assume anything, if you're brand new, start here.

These beginner resources were written by experienced guides and working anglers who remember exactly how confusing the early stages can feel. Every article is built around the questions we hear most - trimmed of jargon and focused on what actually gets a new angler on fish faster.

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Small Streams

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Small Streams

Chandler Crans
Wild Brook Trout in the Northeast, native Cutthroat out West, blue lining, di...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Musky

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Musky

Chandler Crans
Musky, similar to Pike, are large critters with big teeth. Many anglers fish ...
Fly Rod Buyer's Guide: How to Choose a Fly Rod for Beginners

Fly Rod Buyer's Guide: How to Choose a Fly Rod for Beginners

Chandler Crans
Choosing your first fly rod can be tough. If you’re new to the sport, you pro...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Carp

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Carp

Chandler Crans
Targeting Carp with a fly rod has become increasingly popular in recent fly f...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Pike

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Pike

Chandler Crans
Fly fishing for Pike can be insanely thrilling. Pike often encourage some of ...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Pacific Salmon

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Pacific Salmon

Chandler Crans
Salmon are known for their commercial fishing value, but they also put up a g...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bass

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bass

Chandler Crans
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass have long been a popular gamefish in the US. T...
Fly Fishing for Beginners: A Gear List

Fly Fishing for Beginners: A Gear List

Patrick Blackdale
Navigating the fly fishing gear sphere can be difficult for anyone. When purc...
Fly Tying Essentials: The Basics for First-Time Tyers

Fly Tying Essentials: The Basics for First-Time Tyers

Chandler Crans
So you're new to fly tying. How do you wade through the thousands of availabl...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bonefish

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bonefish

Chandler Crans
The topic of choosing a fly rod for Bonefish is particularly relevant as we m...
Best Fly Fishing Gift Ideas: A Complete Gift Guide

Best Fly Fishing Gift Ideas: A Complete Gift Guide

Chandler Crans
Trident's first ever Holiday Gift Guide has arrived. Holiday shopping can be ...
Fall Fly Fishing Gear Guide

Fall Fly Fishing Gear Guide

Chandler Crans
As the summer season winds down, fall knocks at our front door bringing blist...
A Flyfisher's Guide to New England: Book Review for Fly Anglers

A Flyfisher's Guide to New England: Book Review for Fly Anglers

Ben Freeman
While most of our customers may never set foot into our shop, we often get as...

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