Two-handed rods, including reel and line, can range from $300 to $600 for budget setups, $600 to $1,200 for midrange equipment, and past $1,500 for high-end models. Rod, reel and line must all be matched to the same "weight" to work properly. A 7-weight rod should be paired with a 7-weight reel that's filled with 7-weight line, for example.

Many fly shops include one hour of on-stream instruction with the purchase of a two-handed rod. Spey claves where anglers gather at a river to learn to cast are popular in the Northwest. Instruction videos and DVDs are also available, as are books.

Most anglers, instructors say, can learn a basic cast in an hour. But it will take many hours to learn and master the different types of casts that are possible.

Always wear glasses for eye protection.