Fly fishing has got me!

[Jennie@ifish]

I love to fly fish, but I don't know how to even begin to know what I am fishing with or why or what!
How can I begin to learn?
I think that I need a box of flies with little compartments labeled with little labels of what they are. Good idea? Bad?
I've got an id book, and other books.
Any other help would be greatly appreciated.
I think I'm hooked!
Jen

[deefly]

Hello there Jennie!
Welcome aboard. If I were you, Id consider stocking up on searun cutty flies for you BACKYARD!! Just a color and size affair! I will send you some antique patterns I use to great effect (Thank goodness the Kilchis is Catch and Release!) Hang on and Tight Lines.
Deefly images/icons/shocked.gif null

[salmonlips]

salonlips

Jen- I've been lurking on the board for awhile, this is my first attempt at a post so bear with me. Fly fishing is almost as addicting as salmon, sturgeon, steelhead carp, bullheads or anything else with fins. Their isn't a lot of literature out there to tell us what (other than the obvious) that flies eat.) In all seriousness, try bear paws or spruce flies on your home river, fished downstream just under the surface as close as possible to brush or overhanging branches in frog water that no self respecting steelhead would consider living in. The usual dawn/dark time is best. Don't know the tidal influence. If you really want to go crazy, try the deschutes. It used to be almost easy. Now, the latte drinking goretex wearing suv driving orvis toting fraternity has given the remaining fish their masters degree

Good luck

[Deleted User]

Flyfishing is a blast! I love it! On the Cowlitz yesterday I watched two fly fishermen with spey rods. These guys were talented! Pure artistry! I love to cast a steelhead muddler to those Deschutes summer runs! or a Kaufman stone for redsides. I don't have any much experience with cutts though and hope to get into some this summer.
Stew

[hawgcatcher]

Jennie, I loved to fish with a small fly outfit on the wilson and the kilchis when the cutts. are in. I like a tied down cadis in about a 16. Body color an orange. I have caught and released many fish. You never know how bit they will be. I have caught a 4 inch fish that hit as hard as a 20 incher and then caught a 14 inch that gently sipped in the same fly. It is too bad that the amount of searuns has been going down. Good luck and enjoy.

[Thumper]

Why on earth would anyone want to fish for little weenie trout? I got into three nice summer steelhead this weekend. Trout would just be a bother. But a flyrod-caught steelhead --- now that would be nice. And I'll give that a try just as soon as they figure out a fly that will outfish my FirstCast jigs or my favorite U-20 flatfish. Don't hold your breath.

[Fishin Magician]

Hey Jack ~ I have taken quite a few steelhead(Summer) on flies. I by far have taken more on gear but it's a whole different dimension on flygear. I was taught by a fellow named Bernie down on the Wilson river. The guy is a guru with a fly rod. He will outfish anyone for summers with his flies. I learned only after many times watching him catching and releasing as many as 10 fish a day in the summer when nobody could get them to bite. One time he dropped his flybox on the river and I found it, It was like finding a treasure. I found him later in the day and he was nice enough to give me several of his patterns. Anyways I am rambling on. Marks jigs are awesome too!!!!! I fished today but to no avail.....my friend rolled his ankle just when we found a school of fish and had to go home. Oh well, I'll get them next time. Get out and try a flyrod its a total blast. I got a 14 lb hen on a 4wt last summer fishing for searuns .....what a rush!!!Good fishing to all~~~~~~JB

[Thumper]

A 14 pound hen on a 4 weight? Now that would be fun!

[Fishin Magician]

are you going to the wilson river clean up???????? If you are going to be there I will bring my fly gear and I will show you how I was taught to catch them. The fly I was using was a #12 Stimulator Caddis and the hook was barblesss and filed down a lot. When I landed her the hook just fell out.... images/icons/shocked.gif I got her in the "Blue" hole on the wilson. JB

[Thumper]

Wish I was going but I have to fly out of town that day on business. Another time. I would really like to catch a few steelies on flies. But no Metolius weenie trouts thank-you.

[Deleted User]

Good post John. The Wilson and Nestucca rivers aren't considered to be as good of summer steelhead flyfishing streams as the larger inland Cascade fed rivers that maintain more flow and cooler water temperatures, but they do put out their share of the "big reward" for the patient fly angler. I had something similar happen to me John, but on a slightly larger scale, on the Wilson. I was casting a size 6 Royal Coachman tied on a double hook with an 8wt. sinktip line for summer steelhead in Sept. several years ago and caught a fresh buck fall chinook of around 20 lbs. on 10 lb. leader tipet. It took quite awhile to land, but that was an unexpected thrill. ... Good trout are very fun to C&R flyfish for - and it doesn't get any more beautiful than the Metolius River where Jen has been doing some of her flyfishing. ...

Jen, I would recommend 3 books for you. A great book for all-around flyfishing for the novice to intermediate, that centers mostly on trout but has good basics for all fish, is "The Curtis Creek Manifesto". Very interesting writing and picture style of book. Nick told Shane and I that STS Books has sold more copys of that than any other book they publish! A suprise to me. Another very good all-around book that centers on steelhead is "Steelhead Flyfishing and Flys" by Trey Combs. After you have learned and become more proficient, with help from those 2 books, I would recommend "Advanced Flyfishing for Steelhead" by Deke Meyer. You can order all 3 books from www.amatobooks.com (http://www.amatobooks.com) Let me know if you want them faster than by mail and I will get and bring them down and put them at Marie's or the Guide Shop for you. You will have a blast drifting and swinging great looking fly patterns thru the riffles and pockets on the upper parts of so many good holes on those 2 coastal rivers. It is also a very relaxing way to fish. And playing a summer steelhead on a screaming flyreel is just tops in the fishing fun department!

Arty

[Steelheader69]

Hey Thumper, go get yourself a 14' 10wt spey rod and you'll be able to throw the kitchen sink if you want to. That's with a traditional double haul cast, not a spey cast. You wanna talk about catching steelhead on light rods. About 16 years ago my Dad and I were fishing the lower Tilton for trout. I have an original Berkley lightning rod. It's about a 5' spinning rod with 4lb test. I caught a 10lb summerrun with it. Took me a bit to get it in, but it was a keeper. images/icons/smile.gif

Jen, it really depends on what you plan to fish for and time of year on weight of rod and style of flies. I rarely fish for trout anymore, but I do hit cutties in the salt on my lunchbreaks. It's the one big bennie for being a UPS driver delivering rural routes on Puget Sound. I get access to some private beachfront properties. images/icons/grin.gif I'd go with RT's advice. I have a couple of those books (my trey combs book is old and tattered and probably well outdated by now). I tie up alot of different flies for different occasions, but I rarely use more then 5-6 different patterns. For summerruns I use more earthy shades tied sparcely for sinking flies, and a few different dries. Then on winterruns I use brightly colored flies, usually marabou and rabbit concoctions.

Good luck, I've found I have more of an addiction to tying up flies then to fly fishing. I still have my love for my baitcasters.

[SSPey]

Jen,

The question about the box. Compartment boxes are great for dry flies because it helps them dry out without smashing up the feathers. very important. Foam boxes are great for wet flies and nymphs because it keeps them from getting all tangled into each other. For a first box, get a $2 compartment box (NOT in the fishing section) at K-mart or other. THis will work, and if you find you need more space as you accumulate flies, then get a foam box. Don't get a box with each compartment having its own lid. They are trouble waiting to happen. ANd no need to label the compartments - just use what looks right, not what the name is. The Scientific Anglers foam boxes are great for larger flies like steelhead flies, because the foam is more resistant to tearing.

In my opinion, a great all around fly fishing book is by Gary Borger, and it is called "Presentation" and covers all levels. Another highly recommended beginner book is, believe it or not, the "Orvis Fly Fishing Guide" by Tom Rosenbauer. Is it any surprise that they wrote the book? The Curtis Creek Manifesto that RT recommends is a fine book, but reads more like a "Freak Brothers" comic and it is exceedingly difficult to find something in the book once you have read it because of the way it is (un)organized. I keep a copy on the toilet, for amusement. The Trey Combs book is mostly fine stories with a few pages of "how to." I'd think that you can get most of what you need to know for steelies from participants on this BB.

good luck, but no, I won't give up the secrets that I use to catch steelies on the fly when the bait and gear guys are striking out! It has happened more than a few times... I give 'em the eggs and wish them good day.

[Jennie@ifish]

Take me steelie fishing! I promise not to tell!
Dang, I can't imagine a steelie on a fly! Yes I can! WHEEEEEEE!
What a rush!
I am going to learn some of this stuff even if I never can tell what a submergent prepupant something or another is!
I love the dry fly thing!
I swear, it is the same rush or better than when a bass hits a top water lure!
I could even see some fish go after my fly!
You can see them swimming 15 feet down, come up, give it a look and then they say, "Nah! She tried, but I know it's a fake!"
Whaaaa!
How timely. The f and h news has a little thing on the Metolius.
They talk about slack line and long leaders. I know I goofed up there, big time.
For a bit, I took a dry fly and suspended it with no line in the water and skittered it across the top. It was too close to me, I know, because the fish started to come after it and I'm sure they saw me.
But it did attract fish.
And it did look like a live fly!
I have to learn to do that at a distance.
There is no rush like laying out a fly perfectly with a cast.
I love to cast flies! I could do it forever, and not even worry about catching.
I just love the thrill of laying it out perfectly, or trying to smoothly get the cast out further.
The lay of the line as it hits perfectly is thanks enough for me for now!
All in all, it is the effort I have put into it that is paying off. Makes me feel like I have accomplished something.
When I catch a fish, it's a big bonus!
Thanks for all the good advice. I'm feeling really good about fly fishing, about the progress I've made, etc. It's not easy, although when I take it easy and relax, things work much better!
It's an "Aha!" thing, when I do it right! I realize that I am relaxing and going with the natural feel of it.
Jen

[Fishin Magician]

Steelheader ~ A few years ago I was with a buddy on the wilson. We had caught several summers already and I tried the 5' trout set up. I also had 4# line on. All I got was a roar of laughter from my buddy as I was running downriver trying to catch up with the fish. Long story short.....Fish broke me off and I got soaked. But it was hilarious and a whole lot of fun!!!!!!!

[FISHFINDER]

Jen,
Keep trying. I never thought I would even try it but I met a guy the other day that convinced me to put down the casting rod and pick up my fly rod for steelies. I went to the fly shop and got some materials to tie some flies up and low and behold caught a nice summer steelie today after only about an hour or so of trying. It was really nice to fish some of the areas I knew held fish but is just too snaggy for drift gear. What a rush!

FF

[Steelheader69]

Hey FM, sounds like mine, but I got it in. Ever see a river runs through it? I was just like Brad Pitt. I almost killed myself a few times jumping into deep pockets following that darned fish. It took awhile, but I got it in. But I never horsed it and I did whatever I needed to to land it. Only problem is I had a small trout net and wouldn't help me much.

[Pete]

After 25 years of steelheading the Deschutes with a fly, there are two lessons that really stick out. Catching steelhead does not require bravery or strength. First, don't wade deeper than your knees. Wading seems to be an act of bravado for many fishers, but the fish are more likely to be along the edges of the fast current where they can find some rest and more food. Second, one doesn't need to cast to the other bank. Again, finding the corner below a riffle will get fish faster than fishing the middle of the fast water.

[Phish_on]

It's the time of year to wade up some little coastal creek with the fly rod. Cutthroat seem to bite most anything that falls in the right place.

Hey, I drink lattes now and then! I wear Gore-Tex when it rains. I drive an SUV and sleep in it too. Good thing I don't tote Orvis I guess - maybe I can still be a Good Ol' Boy. images/icons/tongue.gif

Fly fishing! I LOVE IT!

Don't sweat the names of the flies - fish don't know! There's an unlimited number of things to learn about aquatic insects ... it's awesome to watch the hatches come off somewhere like the Deschutes - now, the mayflies. Thanks mayflies, next up are the brown caddis flies. Very nice, caddis flies ... midges? Man, they're little! Now look at these little bugs, they lay their eggs on rocks at just a certain level, it stays wet, but isn't under water ...

Here's an observation - ugly homemade flies can catch more fish than lovely ones that cost $2 !

The Metolius is probably the hardest dang place on earth to fly-fish! Lovely though. I swear I fished up there for 20 years before I landed a fish. images/icons/frown.gif

[SSPey]

Pete

I agree 99% with what you've written, but one question. How can you really tell that the steelhead are holding near the bank? I agree that they shouldn't hold in fast water, but there is plenty of "mellow" water in the middle of the river a bit farther down from many riffles. I tend to get most of my takes at the end of the swing, but who's to say that the steelie didn't leave its holding position in mid river near a boulder to follow the swinging fly, only to take it at the end? On several occasions I've gone to lift the line for the next cast only to find a steelhead attached to the other end, with essentially no perceptible hit. Was that fish holding just at that exact spot where my swing ended? not likely. tight lines

[SSPey]

Pete-

your comment about fishing before stepping - absolute 100% on that one! I tend to fish that initial water with multiple redundant casts, because it can be difficult to get a good slow even-paced presentation in that "armpit" water (as I call the area just below where the riffle dumps in). good advice you give.

[Michael J.]

I'm looking to buy a steelhead setup. Can anyone give me suggestions for a typical length/wt of fly rod, fly line, backing, leader, etc. Thanks, MJ

[SSPey]

I suggest a rod capable of handling a 7, 8, or 9 weight line, 9-10' long. A 9'6" 8 wt is almost ideal for most rivers, make sure that it is easy enough to cast all day (READ: avoid ultra stiff rods for steelheading). Leaders vary depending on summer vs. winter fishing, but for summer fishing I go 10-13' ending in 8 or 10 lb test ultragreen. A floating line is all you need for *most* summer fishing, and I prefer a double taper line. Mmost people prefer a weight forward, but I can cast farther with a double taper, plus have more line control for mending. For a reel a click-pawl reel is all you need - nothing too fancy - a Pfleuger will work fine. I prefer 30lb backing because it is easier to handle than 20lb, but you get less capacity on your reel. Save your money for getting a good rod and line. Above all, get the best rod you can afford (best means the rods that most suits your casting style - try a few out at fly tackle shops). That way you won't be forced to upgrade in a year or two, and you can still sell it for good money if you don't like it. Really - buy a used rod if you can - save $$$

[parker]

Good advice from everyone, especially the wading issues! Another good basic book is "Fly Fishing for Summer Steelhead" by John Shewey and Forrest Maxwell.

Hey Jen, float me an email and I'll let you borrow copies of the above book, plus:

"Fly Fishing Pacific Northwest Waters"
"Steelhead & The Floating Line"

ObFlyFishingTip: Never wade deeper then your knees.

[ 06-25-2001: Message edited by: parker ]

[rob allen]

HEY BIGSTEW!!!

Where were you when you saw the two spey rodders??? Chances are is was me and a buddy of mine. We fished friday night- sunday between the barrier and blue creek. We were traveling in an alumaweld sled. We also hooked fish each day. How did you do??

[rob allen]

Hey Jennie..

You love dry fly fishing + you love steelhead fishing.... there is only one conclusion to come to.. You NEEEEEED to catch a steelhead on a dry fly...

I am not familiar with the rivers you have to fish but here is what I recommend.

Get yourself some flies called a STEELHEAD CADDIS.. If you can't find them anywhere let me know and i will tie you some.. Then after you tie them on with a clinch knot tie a halfhitch around the head of the fly with the tippet.
Take this to your favorite steelhead run less than 8 feet deep and fish it down and across leading the fly as slowly as you can with the rod tip.. keep your eye on the fly, hold on and don't set the hook!!! If your fishing a short line hold the rod tip high and drop it when the fishes mouth opens... (((often steelhead will try to flare theris gills and try to suck the fly in instead of grabbing ahold)))

The way I fish water really depends on how many fish are in the system or how agressive the fish are. If there are a lot of fish in the river I fish fast and try to cover as much water as I can. If there are very few fish around or the fish are unagressive I slow way down and fish only the most prime locations.
The only thing Said above i even remotly disgaree with is the use of maxima ultragreen. I have found that once it is exposed to ultraviolet rays of the sun it turns very brittle. I just recently after 3 breakoffs and a few hours of knot testing with a 100% failure rate in properly tied blood knots threw all my ultragreen away and have gone back to the old brown stuff. Steelhead are NOT spooked by chameleon at all!!! Even in low clear water.

Other flies you can do this with:
muddlers
bonbers
greades liners
The advise posted above is excellent especially the suggestion of the double taper.

If you have a hard time finding a fly shop to help you I highly recommend the River City Fly Shop in Beaverton.

If he's wild let him go
rob allen

[ 06-25-2001: Message edited by: rob allen ]

[Thumper]

I dunno guys and gals. The pink jigs and U-20s are sounding beter and better all the time.

[Deleted User]

Rob these guys were in Catarafts.

[Steelheader69]

Hey Jen, there are two other dries that weren't mentioned that have worked for me. The bomber and mouse patterns. I tied up my first mouse pattern quite a few years ago after watching a steelhead come up and smash a real mouse that had fallen into the river. It's worked a few times. You have to fish it like a hopper. Toss it write toward the opposite bank and start twitching it. The bomber I just cast and drift. Usually I'll have a steelie hit it on the end of the drift.

Also, there's one fly I've been going to downsize for steelies. I use a wog for kings/silvers and watched a steelhead chase it quite a few times. Once it hit the tailout and started it's swing the steelie peeled off. I may try tying one up smaller and try it.

[Pete]

Floatn' I base my assertion on experience .. when you approach the water, take your first cast when you are still 15 or 20 feet from the water, fish the water you thought you were going to stand in, then take a couple steps and do it again.

Certainly fish will turn and follow a fly, and there are fish behind boulders all over the river, but the folks who are waist deep and throwing 115 feet of line are not catching more fish, they're just getting tired.

[Osprey]

Jen since you're "now" a Bug Tosser images/icons/wink.gif

can I have you're 1143#.....sounds like you don't need it images/icons/grin.gif ......Os

[AngleThis]

Jenny,

Fly fishing is definitley the purest form of angling. I was fortunate enough to learn from a "purist" who ONLY fly fishes. The fist time he took me, we went to the Deschutes. Standing among numerous fisherman throwing spinners and spoons and corkies and catching nothing, we both had a steely on in under an hour. The first time I went solo was below Rivermill on the Clakamas...lots of guys catching squat. I pulled out a 19lb native winter buck, which provided the most memorable fight of my life...up and down waterfalls, jumps 10 or so feet in the air...like a tuna in a stream. It even had sea lice and an unrusted hook in its mouth. I am abosolutely convinced that fly fishing is by far the most productive way to bank angle, if you really know what you are doing. The real trick is to learn to see your strikes in the line, instead of feel them, and get used to your index finger being the primary drag system.

The first thing to consider, is what you are going to fly fish for. Salmon, steelhead, and smaller fish like trout, require totally different rods. If you are thinking steelhead, I reccomend a 7-8 weight rod. You will need both floating and sinking tip lines and two spools. Be prepared to spend at least $400 for a good quality steelhead fly setup. Fly rods and reals heavy enought to handle Chinook are exorbinantly expensive. Cutting corners with fly rods will greatly reduce your casting range and your results; stick with Loomis or Limaglass. The good news is that once you make the initial investment, the ongoing costs are negligible as flies and twist on lead are much cheaper than the sinkers, lures, divers, etc that we use with any other method, and often loose. Really you can fly fish all season long on maybe $50 worth of tackle.

Since finishing my boat, I have not used my fly rod. I understand the Descutes, which is the best steelhead fishery in the state, is just loaded with steelies right now, some of them 25lb+ Idaho fish. If you'd like to perhaps head that way some time soon, let me know and maybe we'll go together.

DC

[AngleThis]

Jenny,

Fly fishing is definitley the purest form of angling. I was fortunate enough to learn from a "purist" who ONLY fly fishes. The fist time he took me, we went to the Deschutes. Standing among numerous fisherman throwing spinners and spoons and corkies and catching nothing, we both had a steely on in under an hour. The first time I went solo was below Rivermill on the Clakamas...lots of guys catching squat. I pulled out a 19lb native winter buck, which provided the most memorable fight of my life...up and down waterfalls, jumps 10 or so feet in the air...like a tuna in a stream. It even had sea lice and an unrusted hook in its mouth. I am abosolutely convinced that fly fishing is by far the most productive way to bank angle, if you really know what you are doing. The real trick is to learn to see your strikes in the line, instead of feel them, and get used to your index finger being the primary drag system.

The first thing to consider, is what you are going to fly fish for. Salmon, steelhead, and smaller fish like trout, require totally different rods. If you are thinking steelhead, I reccomend a 7-8 weight rod. You will need both floating and sinking tip lines and two spools. Be prepared to spend at least $400 for a good quality steelhead fly setup. Fly rods and reals heavy enought to handle Chinook are exorbinantly expensive. Cutting corners with fly rods will greatly reduce your casting range and your results; stick with Loomis or Limaglass. The good news is that once you make the initial investment, the ongoing costs are negligible as flies and twist on lead are much cheaper than the sinkers, lures, divers, etc that we use with any other method, and often loose. Really you can fly fish all season long on maybe $50 worth of tackle.

Since finishing my boat, I have not used my fly rod. I understand the Descutes, which is the best steelhead fishery in the state, is just loaded with steelies right now, some of them 25lb+ Idaho fish. If you'd like to perhaps head that way some time soon, let me know and maybe we'll go together.

DC

[DanS]

Good discussion going on here....

I'm afraid to take up flyfishing because I'm not eager to be a cracker again. I put my time in to become pretty proficient at gear angling (drifting bait, spinners/spoons, float/jig, etc), but once I pick up a flyrod, I'm a cracker all over again.....the horror! images/icons/shocked.gif

I suppose taking a steelhead on the fly is an unequalled rush, but the learining curve is steep. I watched some older gentlemen up on the rivers in NW BC put on a clinic in steelhead flyfishing and was most impressed with their proficiency. Still, I'm sure it would take MANY years of learning for me to improve upon my current numbers using gear.

Of course, it's not about "purity" or "elegance" for me. It's about using ANOTHER technique to catch steelhead. If I wanted purity and elegance, I'd attend a ballet. I just want steelhead, and with my limited talents, I guess it's gear for me. images/icons/grin.gif

BTW: What Pete and F'n'b said about fishing the water closest to you first applies to gear, as well as fly fishing. Don't know how many guys I've seen wade into water where I was previously hooking fish........

[ 06-26-2001: Message edited by: DanS ]

[NEUTRON]

Just to clarify, sea lice at river mill...
Is that possible.... one fast fish. I was
under the impression sea lice can only last a
few hours in fresh water.

[Firedog]

Neutron, We caught quite a few fish this spring with sea lice at bonneville and I have caught steelhead in the fly only water on the upper Kalama with sea lice also. Sometimes those fish get on a mission. I think the sea lice can last more than a few hours. Probably a day or two at least, but that is a guess.

[Thumper]

Fly fishing....the purest form of fishing??? Maybe. Fly fishing....the most primitive form of fishing? For sure. Perhaps the only technique more primitive would be to jump in and spear 'em.

[SSPey]

As someone who only flyfishes, I totally agree that any notion of purity is absolutely ridiculous. I'd guess that netting as a technique might be really old, though probably not as old as spearing. For effectiveness, drop the rods and pick up a net or electroshocker.

But to say that flyfishing is difficult is one of the most overstated untruths there is. Take a few minutes with someone who knows, learn casting basics OFF the water so you aren't distracted, and off you are. If the enjoyment of the casting doesn't do it for you, bag it. If you like it, the opportunities are endless. oh, the SPEY rod is too much fun, enjoyable casting. Flyfishing is really all about the casting, and the other stuff (reading the water, playing fish) is pretty darn the same across all types of fishing.

[DanS]

f'n'f,

The flyfishing itself may not be any more difficult, but there's a whole new world of gear and lingo to learn. Floating lines, sinking lines, tippets, shooting heads, Green Buggers with a Butt............ahhhhhh! images/icons/shocked.gif

[chuck 'n' duck]

Fly-fishing for summer steelies is just about as easy as it gets, technique wise. Quarter your casts downstream, swing, 2 steps, repeat. I thing the apex of all fishing experiences is getting a steelhead on a dry fly. I have only done it once, but am going to give it an earnest try later in the season (when I finally put the baitcasters to rest).

Back when I used to fly-fish more often, I frequented the lower Deschutes. Swinging a purple pattern before the sun hits the water is very effective. Later in the season, move up the canyon with rusty bombers and october caddis in the evenings. Man, I can not wait to get out there with the fly rod!

CnD

[fish forever]

'The Pocket Gillie' by scott Richmond is a pretty good beginner/intermediate primer. Has the basics in bug and fly selection, techniques, knots, tackle etc.

As the name implies - its small enough you can stick it in your vest in case you want to try and 'match the hatch', but dont know what your looking at or which fly to use...

[SSPey]

Yeah, it can be difficult, but it can also be real easy. Just think that you have to put the fly in front of the fish, and if you need a sinking line to do that, then do it. Shooting heads are effective, but I hate them (un-fun), because you are just slinging the weight out there instead of really casting it out (why fly fish if not to fly cast?). And if fish are deep and not coming up, then yeah, a sinking line or split shot or weighted fly is needed to get the fly down. And for flies, a black woolly bugger will catch any fish that swims, especially including steelies.

If you are good with regular gear, then you'll probably be good with fly gear, because you know how to read water - the most important part! it realy ain't that hard - I learned when I was a spastic kid 12 or 13 years old.