Fly Fishing Techniques

Fly fisherman have tackle boxes and closets dedicated to their equipment. And while a person can list dozens of ?necessities? for a fishing trip, a fisherman really only needs a few essentials.

Obviously, everyone needs a fly rod if he plans on fly fishing. A good rod will be anywhere from 6 to 10 feet long. New fisherman should note that no other piece of equipment is more important than this rod, so if you have a liberal budget, give this road financial priority.

Ironically, while some will tell you that you cannot fish without a reel, you can. Many a successful fly fisherman has landed a nice fish without the mess of a reel. He just knows how to move his line. A reel does come in handy, though, for those seeking out the larger fish. This is especially important to warm water and saltwater fisherman.

Fly line comes in a variety of strengths but in a standard length. You will usually find it in 90 foot lengths but with weights depending on the pounds you are planning on landing. Fishermen rate their line according to grain, with 7000 grains equaling one pound. You can cast a heavier line farther and obviously land bigger fish, so this works best for those windy days. Lighter line obviously costs less and can work well on calm days when searching for smaller fish. You can even buy line in two styles: level and tapered.

Fishermen searching for Moby Dick utilize backing: an extra line that will give you more than the desired 90 feet of line. Though some might tell you that you really dont need this extra line, one reel will cost you only a few bucks, and it gives fishermen the security of knowing that if they do catch a big fish, they can land him with ease thanks to their extra line.

To affix your fly to your line, you will need a leader: a piece of transparent material that attaches to both elements. The leader will be as short as 6 feet and as long as 15 feet, just depending on what youre looking for. They have ratings based on a variety of things, from the diameter of the line, to the lines breaking point, to different business classifications.

Finally, no one can fly fish without a fly. Flies are basically artificial bait for the fish. Though no fly is alive or ever was, a good fly fisherman tries to either create or pick a fly that looks alive, because no fish wants to eat a dead bug. Flies will range in style from mimicking frogs to shrimp. Creative fly fishermen create their own flies from scratch using felt, wire, and even feathers.

So we can see that really no one needs a big closet for his fly fishing materials. In the end, fly fishing shouldnt take over the whole house but should still make its owner smile.





By: Yuki Shoji

I was put off of fly fishing for years simply because I thought it would be too hard to learn. There is so much hype about casting a fly with a fly rod, different actions and movements that it all sounds too complicated for the poor beginner. Well the art of casting a fly is in truth really quite simple, and with a few beginner fly fishing techniques just about anyone can do it.

With fly fishing your aim is to cast your fly and have it land naturally on the water so that it attracts fish. The main problem with this is that you have no weight on the end of your line to propel it to where you want it to go. Instead you are using a heavy main line with a short piece of very light line attached, onto which you tie your fly.

This means that you use the weight of the line itself to make the cast, and this involves letting out line a little at a time, then casting it behind you, casting it forwards, letting out more line, casting behind, bringing it forwards and so on. This is called false casting and allows you to build up the cast until enough line is let out to land the fly where you want it.

With a small amount of practise this will get easier and easier. Start off small by trying out your casting on an area of clear grass, in a field or a large garden, there is no need to use a fly or hook at this point as it could become snagged or injure someone.

(1)Let out about twenty feet of line in front of you, stand nice and loose and point the rod in front of you so that the rod and line form a continuous straight line.

(2)Hold the rod with your thumb resting on the top of the handle. During the cast you will only be moving your wrist and forearm and not your shoulder.

(3)Trap the line coming from the reel under a finger and raise the rod to about ten o’clock, then flick the rod backwards to pick the line up off the grass, and propel it behind you until it is at one o’clock

(4)Stop the movement sharply, and your wrist should be pointing straight up with the tip of the rod behind you still at one o’clock.

(5)Now you have to pause slightly to let the line straighten out behind you until you feel a gentle tug (this is when the line is fully extended).

(6)Sweep the rod forward and down, lowering your elbow at the same time. As the line unfurls release the line trapped under your finger.

(7)To increase the length of cast flick the rod back again and while trapping the line under your finger pull a few yards of line off with your other hand, cast the rod forward as before and release the trapped line.

You are now fly fishing. You may be a bit awkward at first, but with a little practice you will look and feel like a professional. These are just your first basic steps to fly fishing, by picking up a few more beginner fly fishing techniques you will soon learn all the secrets and tips of the fly fisherman.





By: mike legg

I dont have a fly rod but im bout to buy one. I would rather use my spinning tackle but dont know if that would work. I dont really know what im doing there cus im from Maryland. Any fishing tips and or travel destintions would be appreciated.

Your main method of landing a fish is probably your rod and reel.  However, fly fishing nets are still very useful tools, especially when using a light leader and tiny fly.  If you’re looking to buy a net for your next outing, there are a few things you need to consider beforehand.  This article will give you a few tips on choosing the perfect one.

Handle

One of the first things you need to consider when buying a net is the size of the handle.  If you want a design that’s easy to maneuver and compact enough to transport easily, you need to look for a shorter handle.  This is the better choice when wading. 

If you’re fishing from a boat, you’ll need a longer handle because you’ll have to reach farther to the waterline.  There are also nets that have sliding or telescoping handles.  These are your best bet as you can shorten or lengthen the handle to suit your needs.

Frame

You also have to think about the material that the fly fishing nets are made from.  Some of the most popular options include wood, aluminum, and fiberglass.  Fiberglass and aluminum designs are usually stronger and lighter.  This makes them easier to maneuver while ensuring that they’re sturdy enough to land bigger fish.  If you choose a wood design, make sure that it’s of high-quality.

Bags

Another important consideration is the bag material.  They are usually made from plastic, rubber, nylon, and cotton.  Cotton and nylon bags are safer for fish as they won’t damage their mucus coat easily.  Rubber bags are also less damaging, although they’re pretty heavy.

Transportation

One of the final things to consider when buying fly fishing nets is how you want to transport them.  Some can attach to your vest using a magnetic clip that you can easily release.  There are also plenty other options to choose from.  Two other common attachment options include spring-loaded cables and Velcro.  You’ll just have to choose the type that you prefer best.





By: D Swain

I watched a music video recently but forgot who it was by. It has a woman in a boat on stormy seas in what looked like a viking boat. She was standing in the basket on the mast of the boat. The boat starts sinking and a balloon comes to her rescue and takes her up above the storm. I think there were flying fish involved in the video too. On thing that really stood out was the fact that everything was made of carboard cuttouts including the water.

I am a relatively inexperienced fly fisherman having a casting problem. I took lessons last year, I have been fishing with a fly rod for about a year and I have logged hundreds of hours on the water to this point. This weekend I was traveling and had the opportunity to do some fishing along the way. For some reason, I was creating horrible twists which eventually got bad enough to create knots in my leader and tippet. I am not talking about getting an occasional wind knot or a little knot from bad casting, it was twisting badly enough that it was consuming 6 inches to a foot of leader/tippet and it was happening after 12-15 casts.

My question is: Does anyone know what I was doing wrong to cause this severe of a twist? I literally went through 3 leaders in a half hour span at one point. I have not run into this problem before.
The problem typically happened when I was fishing a Light Cahill Spinner in a fairly large size, they were taking sizes 12 and 14 very eagerly. I was using a 6X leader/tippet combo on a 5wt rod. I tried switching to a 5x then a 4x leader and tippet with the same results. I also tried different brands, so it wasn’t like I had a bad batch of leaders or tippet. I do not normally have the opportunity to throw that large of a fly and I was also casting pretty consistently to the distance limits of my abilities. Anyone have any suggestions of what my problem might have been?
UPDATE: Great answers and it led me to do some research this afternoon. (It was just another excuse to go fishing really.) I believe the first answer is correct. The big issue is indeed the fly. Here are my steps and results:

1) I started today with a big Elk Hair Caddis, I figured that the big wing would stabilize the fly somewhat when it was in the air, and began casting as far as I possibly could. Kept it up for about a half hour, no issues.

2) I switched to the same Light Cahill I was using over the weekend, within 5 minutes, I was knotted horribly again.

3) I then tied on the same pattern of Cahill in a smaller size, bought at the same shop and time as the big one. (presumably by the same tyer.) The small fly produced the knots, but not as badly.

4) I tied on the same pattern of Cahill, but one that had been bought at my home fly shop, I had no problems.

I did make things worse by speeding up my casts but I believe the bigger cause was the fly.

Fly fishing is one of the fastest growing games in the US. But more importantly it is considered one of the most popular sports that help in the conservation of natural resources, especially the aquatic one.

Fly fishing is quite simple – all you need are a fishing rod, line and the ability to make the proper casting. Here are some fly fishing tips and techniques that can help the fly fishers to well on their next angling adventure.

Material of the fly fishing rod – for beginners, it is advised to get the hollow glass as it is more sturdy and efficient. Also, it does not need too much care unlike the bamboo type.

Fly fishing Line – No matter how good your casting capabilities are, your efforts will be futile if you have a line that does not go well with the rod. The more it is going to be a disaster if you are just a beginner. You are bound to fail in any efforts to learn how to properly cast, unless you have a fly fishing line matching the rod.

Casting skills and technique – When casting, you must realize that you have to get some line of 20 to 22 feet out front. Fly fishers should always go for casting a straight line. One must be steady in movements in order to perform casting in good form. Relax. This must be what the angler should do in order to lessen the tension on the muscles. Any stiff muscle certainly will contribute to poor casting.

One of the best means of casting and really learning fly fishing in general is go and have some time fishing with anglers who are veteran fly fishers and casters. Surely to be found in your area are good fishers and many of them are only too willing to accommodate you and even give you important fly fishing tips.

Indeed, if others can do it and enjoy immensely the art of this sport, surely you can do it too. The fundamental rules and methods of fly fishing are actually not that difficult. Just read and research, and talk to other fishers. Soon enough, you will get the hang of it and truly have some enjoyable and prolific fly fishing adventures in the future.

For more fly fishing tips, angling advices and other fishing articles, do visit our Fly Fishing Greats blog.





By: Ernesto Maitim

If you have not taken the class for fly fishing and have not experience fly fishing, I advise you to choose a guide. A good guide will offer you lots of help, and you can learn much knowledge from him. This article will teach you how to choose a good guide.

Step1

Check your local fly shop for recommendations on guides. Not only will this connect you with fishers specific to the areas you want to fish, but many guides work out of local fly shops and get clients through their referrals. But book early; if you wait, you may end up with whomever the fly shop can muster at the last minute.

Step2

Decide if you want to do walk-and-wade fishing without a boat, or if you want to try out fishing on a drift boat. This may point you in the direction of one guide over another.

Step3

Ask what skill level the guide specializes in, and match your skills appropriately.

Step4

Determine what the guide’s price covers. Things to consider when evaluating the price are: What equipment is included; are there extra charges for flies; what gear should you to bring; how long will you actually spend on the water; is there a fee for use of private water; is lunch included and does it cover a shuttle to the fishing site?

Step5

Ask how many fishers the fee covers and how much it is to add another person. See if you can partner with a fisher of similar ability. Sometimes adding on an additional fisher and splitting the trip that way is cheaper than going alone.

Step6

Choose someone who is not going to fish while you are, but who is going to help you fish. The best way to learn is to do it, not watch someone else do it for you.





By: sunshine01

Fly fishing is different from other types of fishing. It takes true skill as the bait is not heavier so it does not automatically go to the spot where it is cast. It also requires the angler to move the bait either just above or below the water level. Because it is a different type of fishing it requires it’s own special gear. The gear that is needed includes: a rod, an artificial fly, a line, and a reel.

There is a special rod that is needed for this type of fishing. The rod always needs to be matched with a line that is the right size. If either one of them are too heavy or too light for each other, then the entire process of casting will be affected dramatically.

The rods generally run somewhere between 6 feet and 14 feet in length. They are usually made of bamboo and split cane or some type of synthetic material. There are some enthusiasts who make their own rods.

The next part of the gear that is needed is an artificial fly. This is the bait. It is much lighter than traditional bait. It was once simply used to mimic flies on and around the surface of the water. However, over the years the it has come to mimic many other types of baits so that more types of fish can be caught. Different ones should be used depending on what type of fish one is trying to catch.

Because the artificial fly is so light, the line has to provide the weight to make the cast work properly. Some lines sink in the water, some float on the water, and others mostly float but have a tip that sinks in the water. As was mentioned before, the line must always be matched with the rod; otherwise the entire process will be thrown off.

Traditionally the gear that is least important is the reel. This is because the fisherman simply pulls the line away from the reel himself. All the reel has to do is store the line until the fisherman needs it.

In recent years, as this sport has turned into fishing for bigger fish, the reel has become more important. New reels are designed to handle the larger fish and to stand-up well under a variety of conditions.

This is a great way to fish and in fact, it can be quite a spiritual experience. It is something that has to be worked at in order to produce consistent results. It has also evolved a lot over the past several years. Though the role and the technology of the gear have changed, the actual gear that is needed has remained the same.





By: Marilyn Roberts

any ideas? i live in east midlands and i need some (: