Go ahead and buy all that fancy stuff. If you don't look like you belong on the cover of a fly-fishing rag, you're not really fly-fishing.
IMHO. learning to make an accurate 20'-25' cast that doesn't smack your leader/tippet/fly on the water is the most important thing you can do starting out. Learn that and most everything else will come along with time spent on the water.
The stream I fish most often here in SC PA is a great place to take newbies. The water is Gin clear which allows you to see how the fish react to how different flies are presented along with being able to see them as they feed on natural sources of food. It's been a great aid to me over the years.
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"Nowadays, when one is forced to cross the country in a few hours and drink three-day-old beer, ain't it a pleasure to know, as I'm sure you do, that good friends, good bourbon, and good tobacco are slowly made."
Gene Hill
www.cure.org
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