About Fly Fishing

 

There are so many tools that the new aspiring fly fisherman has at their finger tips. Videos, YouTube and how to books. The initial investment does not have to break the bank, and your options are huge, from lite trout rigs to heavy Northern pike and deep sea set ups. Always remember that this adventure is a never ending learning process that will never disappoint. 

 

1) What is Fly Fishing? This method of fishing has been around for centuries. Originally used to catch trout and salmon. But over the past century has been adapted to about everything that swims and eats. Freshwater and Saltwater included.

 

 

 

2)Fly casting? When casting a fly you'll want to hold the fly rod in your dominant hand, stand in a position that helps to anchor the fisherman properly. The most common casting method and the easiest to start with is called an over hand cast.

 

Stand straight with your head at the 12:00 position, then pull out about 6 feet of fly line from the reel. Continue by pulling the fly pole back to the 10:00 position keeping ahold of the fly line not letting it slip.

 

Now pull the pole forward to the 2:00 position letting the line go so that it moves out. Continue by pulling out another 6 feet of line and repeat the 10, 12, 2 motion until you have the amount of line out that you need. If you go past either position it will cause the line to tangle making a mess.

 

I can not stress this enough, Practice, Pactice, Practice, you'll find the more practice the farther the line will go out and the more control and less tangled up messes you will have.

 

 

3)Fly Rods? Fly rods are long flexible and slender. They are made out of fiberglass, graphite and even bamboo. Which I'd have to say if you ever get the chance to fish with a bamboo pole it is well worth your time.

 

The eyelets on the fly pole are spaced and set to help manage the thicker diameter of the fly line. The butt of the fly rod is very short compared to other styles of poles which helps the fisherman easily control the line.

 

 

4) The Fly Reel? These are used to hold the line and control a fish once they have been hooked. The fly fly reel holds the fly line that the fly is attatched to. The fly reel will have a backing line first then the line that is held on the spool. 

 

The fly reel is mounted to the base of the pole. There are different styles and designs of fly reels created for different fly fishing situations. They, like any other product, can be made with quality variations, but all tend to be simpler in design.

 

 

5) The Fly Line? This is what the fly is attached to it is different then monofiliment and comes in different styles and weights depending on what fish is being targeted.

 

There are some lines that almost become invisible in the water so the fish cannot see them. There are floating lines for dry fly fishing, weighted lines for nymph and streamer fishing.

 

You'll find other fly lines that are made to control heavier and larger fish. At the end of the fly line between it and the fly is something called a leader.

 

This is made out of monofiliment in a lighter thinner line than the fly line itself.

 

 

6)What are Flies? Flies are "tied" on a hook to look like an insect or minnow. They are made out of feathers, hair, wire and few other synthetic materials.

 

There are a few different generic fly categories and each looks like a specific insect or minnow:

 

 

1.  Dry Flies: these imitate insects on top of the water.

2.  Wet Flies: these copy insects that are in the water either dead or alive. These are fished under the water.

3. Nymphs: imitate insect larva and pupa that are at the bottom of the water column.

4. Terrestrial: imitate grasshoppers, caterpillars and crickets; usually get fished on top, adjust for under water.

5. Streamers: represent minnows and larger forage.

 

These are just a few of the basic designs, but with these five, the fly fisher will have the ability to copy what the fish are eating.

When you Start Fly Fishing

 

When just starting out, the need to get the convenience items is not a necessity, but they do make it a little more comfortable Things like waders, wading boots, a vest, and a net.

 

There are a few things that we would recommend; these are sun block (can you say water reflecting sun and super sunburn), a hat and polarized sunglasses.

 

Polarized sunglass can help you spot fish because you can see into the water and they protect your eyes from sun burn.

 

Last but definitely not least insect repellent, just because you are fly fishing does not mean that you need to feed the insects.