There’s much more to fly fishing than tying on a fly and whipping your line around a pond. Casting, hook setting and reeling all demand a level of finesse that goes beyond what anglers experience when ...

In theory, fly-fishing is a simple sport: Pick a body of water, choose a fly-fishing rod, select your “fly” (or bait), tie a secure knot, cast your line and, hopefully, land a fish on the other end.

The first time I wandered into a fly shop on my own, I had no idea where to begin. I had been fly fishing before, but always on a boat and with the help of a partner or friends. Being alone—and ...