New to fly fishing

I just recieved a fly rod.Dont have a clue to use one.Was wondering if there are any pointers yall could give me.Whats the difference in the color of the line?I see them catch spottail with them and looks to be a blast.The line on the rod now is white, theres a leader about 8 feet long,does the leader need to be that long or could it be shorter?Any and all tips would be appreciated.