I am a fly fishing instructor so perhaps a little bias.Learning to fly fish is just like learning to golf, play tennis or being a brain surgeon. A lot depends on how proficient you want to be. There are plenty of videos and friendly fishermen that can help you out. However they may or may not know what they are doing. I have seen plenty of first year student that became x-perts before the year was over. It does not work that way! I suggest going to a good beginner school. Even a one day seminar will cut the learning curve and should give you some excellent basic instruction. With a little instruction you can cast 25 or 30 feet with accuracy. Also a basic understanding of drift and drag is very important. Basic aquatic entomology is also a great way to understand what and why you have success. Do not get discouraged and be patient.