Fly Fishing Techniques

No one really knows when fly fishing first began. It is believed that it existed long ago in ancient times. One of the earliest written references to fly fishing was made by Claudius Aelianus. In 200 AD he wrote of people that were fishing in a river with a hand made fly. He described how they attached red wool and feathers to a hook. The rods they used and the sting attached were each about six feet long. These people were the ancient Macedonians. Throughout history from Aelianus to the present people have been writing about fly fishing, and many thousands of others have been enjoying the sport.

The Princess of Soapwell, English, was an avid fly fisherman. Her name was Dame Juliana Berners and she was a master at her sport. At the time Columbus was searching for the New World, Dame Juliana was publishing an extensive treatise on the art of fly fishing. In her treatise she described the twelve styles of fly and included extensive instructions on how to tie them. She patterns were put into categories by the month that they were used most often.

She also described the rod that was used for fly fishing during that time. It measured about 18 feet long and was very flexible, The rods were made of several different types of wood which added to their flexibility. Their lines were short, by today’s standards, and were made of hand braided horse hair. The general rule of the time was that the line should not be longer then the fishing rod. The line was tied to the tip of the pole.

Many fly fishermen of today have used her patterns for the fly. They say they are just as effective today as they were more than five hundred years ago. Several of the more popular patterns include the Black Gnat, the Wooly Worm, the Stonefly and the Whirling Dun.

In the mid 1600’s Isaak Walton published his book “Compleat Angler.” Throughout history from then on, Izaak Walton has been considered the patron saint on angling, and of fly fishing in particular. In truth, it was actually his friend, Charles Cotton, that had contributed the portion of the book that pertained to fly fishing. The flies and rods described in this book were very similar to those described by Dame Juliana. However, the lines described were slightly different. They were still made of horsehair but were about six feet longer then those of the 1400’s. The main difference was that some of the lines were tapered. It is believed that this was the first time tapered lines were described in writing.

In the early 1800’s, fishing line makers began mixing silk in with the horsehair. By the time of the Civil War the first all silk lines were made. They were coated with an oily coating which made them water resistant. Horsehair lines were almost never used after that. Occasionally they were found in England up to World War II.

The first nylon line was made in 1948 and from that point forward synthetic materials have been used by most people for fly fishing. In 1952, a technology was created that made an automatically tapered line withe extreme precision.





By: Bob Bastian

With an apparently unending array of gear and gadgets, fly fishing seems to be a varied and interesting sport. Most of the available options could be confusing to anyone who is new to Fly fishing. Anyone with a flair for fishing should know the important accessories about it. The 10 common pieces concerning fly fishing gear include a reel, fly fishing rod, line, files, leader, waders, net, clippers, vest and sunglasses.

Fly fishing rod

This rod is one of the mandatory equipments for fly fishing. These rods are usually different when compared to regular and conventional fishing rods and are designed in unique manner. It would allow casting the fly and fly line. Rods today are often constructed using types of graphite compounds. Many of the rods are still structured from bamboo or fiberglass. The Fly rods are usually categorized based upon weights of line they are structured to be used with.

Reels

The Fly fishing reels essentially, are less significant than the rods. Unlike conventional fishing, along with fly fishing one does not reel in the fish. The Fly fishing methods involve stripping the line with free hand. Quite many fly fishing reels actually are of primitive designs and hence not so very expensive. Anglers commonly “palm” the reel for creating the drag, than relying upon internal drag mechanisms within the reel.

Line

The Fly fishing line has been specially designed for such style of fishing. Fly fishing line is considerably heavy compared to traditional fishing line. It is often tapered and designed for floating. Some lines are designed to sink, though. Some anglers attach backer line in between fly fishing line and reel so as to increase the line available.

Leader

The leader is a monofilament, clear line which attaches to the extreme end of fly fishing line. Additionally, the fly is tied to the leader at the end. This leader is further tapered down into a narrow diameter towards the forward end. Leader matches more with the traditional fishing line.

The Flies

They are available in huge assortments of designs and styles. The dry flies are designed so that they float up in the water, nymphs and wet flies are structured for submerging, and few other flies are made to partially submerge. Flies could also be implied as attractive or imitative. Imitative flies are deliberated to imitate or manifest like a specific insect. On the other hand, attractive flies are structured to attract the fists not looking towards any specific natural food source.

The Waders

Waders are optional when you fish in warm water. But a few anglers go fly fishing in cold water streams to find waders enormously essential. Some popular wader styles currently include waders with waterproof lining and neoprene waders. Neoprene waders work very well in the cold water stream and serve in keeping the angler warm. The waders having a waterproof lining prove to be convenient and breathable when one goes hiking flanking a stream.

Net

A net is essential equipment for fly fishing. As fly fishing is often done standing in the waters, it could be not very easy to hunt a fish without good nets. Nets always have a hook attached. This would help the net so that it could be hooked on the anglers’ vest or waders. A net is particularly important in cases when the angler is trying to catch and release fishing.

Fishing Vest

As fly fishing is always tried in the water, a fishing vest seems to be a near-essential equipment piece. Vests would allow you in keeping essential gear and tools handy and neat as and when you find its necessity.

Clippers

Clippers are quite useful for clipping the line when you change the flies. You would rarely notice any fly fisherman with no clippers in their pocket or vest.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are pieces of personal gear which you would never want to forget. They would keep the sun to not reach your eyes and also protect them from stray fishing hooks. Polarized and good quality sunglasses would also assist in a better vision while you are out near the stream. Most anglers would also append a sunscreen and a hat to the catalog of personal gear which is essential.

There are other pieces of gadgets and gear which are available for every fly fisherman. The above mentioned ten items are perhaps among the most essential ones required for a successful and fun outing.





By: Abhishek Agarwal

“A quality fly rod can set you back a pretty penny.” A true statement that many fly fishers already know. Another statement many would also agree with is “A rod with a lifetime warrantee costs a lot.” And, that, my friends, would be wrong. As a matter of fact, except in only a few circumstances, unwarranted rods actually cost more than warranted ones.

A point in demonstration: During last year’s annual trip to fish Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, I broke my “affordable” four-piece 5wt rod. I contacted the company and found it had no warrantee. Ah…what to do…well, since the break occurred at the male part of ferrule, as so often happens, I repaired it, only to have it break again on the first fish of this year’s Platte River trip. I went straight to the local fly shop (It’s on the river, I just clumped right in, dripping waders and all, with reel in hand chirping about needing a new stick.) and found a truly affordable rod that, while it cost more than the broken one, has a lifetime warrantee. Lucky for me I was close to a shop.

So, the new, more expensive rod, will end up being cheaper over its lifetime because if it breaks, it gets replaced at little or no cost to me. Obvious now, but not when I bought the now re-broken “affordable” one.

A quick survey shows that the price difference between warranted and unwarranted rods is often no more than $100. That’s it—a hundred bucks. Some are even in the same price range, and one manufacturer (that of the unwarranted rod I had to replace) even offers less of a warrantee on a rod that’s more expensive than a model with a lifetime warrantee. I know, confusing, isn’t it? Let me state it again: One of their cheaper models has a better warrantee than one of their more expensive ones. Go figure.

What do I make of a manufacturer that won’t warrant a rod when others will? Well, my first impression is that the maker doesn’t have confidence in its product. If it did, it would warrant the rod, right? My second, inescapable impression is that the maker cares less about customer service than it should. In any event, neither case is acceptable, and a buyer should seek out a maker who covers both bases.

Now, if you are in the market for a rod, say you’re a beginner or have limited funds, you cannot afford to buy an unwarranted rod. Break it once (there are two types of people—those who have broken rods, and those will) and you will end up spending more. If you don’t have the money for a warranted rod—wait until you do. Again, the price difference is relatively small. If you can’t afford the additional hundred bucks, you may want to reconsider fly fishing for the time being, because it can be an expensive sport. “Can be,” doesn’t mean it “has to be,” and buying a warranted rod is the first step to controlling costs and keeping fly fishing affordable. Sort of.

See more by this author at: http://www.EdwardMaurer.com





By: Edward C. Maurer

Fly Fishing is a unique form of fishing that is as artistic in nature as it is technical. Fly fishing has evolved from being a sombre pastime to an extremely passionate sport among anglers. Fly fishing, initially developed for catching trout and salmon, quickly developed into a favorite recreational habit for many around the world looking to take a sabbatical from the rigors of daily life.

Unlike traditional forms of fishing, fly fishing involves the use of an artificial fly as bait. The fly is tied to a hook with the use of fur, thread, feathers and other similar materials. The basic logic behind this is to create an illusion of food that attracts the fish to the hook.

There are two major fly fishing forms, one being the traditional dry fly fishing and the other wet fly fishing. Out of these, dry fly fishing is widely regarded as the classic form in which the angler casts the bait upstream to catch trout or salmon. The sight of a fish jumping upstream in anticipation of bait beats most other fishing experiences hands down and this is just one the many reasons why more and more people are attracted to the charms of fly fishing.

Fly fishing is generally regarded to be one of the toughest forms of the fishing sport and demands a lot of patience and skill from the fly fisherman. As fly-fishing fun requires agility and sharpness, the correct selection of fly fishing rods holds utmost importance. There are many different types of fly fishing rods around the market and one should always pick out an appropriate fly fishing rod after review of certain aspects such as their weight, length, and the place where fly fishing is to be attempted.

One of the best ways for a fly fishing amateur to kick start things is to try out his luck using a bamboo fly fishing rod. Most fly fisherman swear by them due to their lightweight and greater flexibility. Bamboo fly fishing rods were the first fly fishing rods to be created and their immense flexibility makes them an asset to both amateur fly fishers and astute fly fishers who prefer a much more refined style of fly fishing. However on the down side, bamboo fly fishing rods are much more delicate and as making them requires substantial skill, they are pretty heavy on the wallet too.

Great alternatives for bamboo fishing rods are graphite fly fishing rods and fiberglass fly fishing rods. Graphite rods do tend to be a bit on the stiffer side but their additional strength, performance, and durability does indeed give fly fisherman a lot of options to work with. On the other hand, fiberglass fishing rods have grown in stature and number over the past decade or so and are now the most common fly fishing rods around the fly fishing community. Fiberglass rods are strong and also have the added advantage of being flexible and durable. However, they do tend to be a bit on the heavier side and much of their usage is dependent on the strength and the skill of the fisherman wielding them.

The act of fly fishing is best enjoyed in the company of friends and relatives. Fly fishing offers the best way to spend a dull afternoon in the lap of nature with close friends and relatives complete with competition to make the biggest catch. So, go ahead and take a dip into the charm of fly fishing and find a great way to enjoy your much cherished weekends.





By: Allen Bohart

Salt water fly fishing has grown in popularity over the past half century as many fisherman experience the thrill and excitement of the sport. Some choose to don their waders and fish from the shoreline, some prefer to use a small boat as they explore shallow fishing areas, and still others opt for the adventure of deep sea fly fishing. Nearly three quarters of the earth is covered with salt water, giving those who enjoy salt water fly fishing an unlimited number of places to fish.

Understanding the flow of the tides is essential for any salt water fly fisherman. Tides affect the water’s temperature and its clarity two of the factors that have an effect on the movement of the fish in the area. If you are fly fishing near an inland bay or a lagoon, the tides will play a major role in choosing the best area f to fish. For example, if the body of water is tide-drained through a narrow creek, fish will be feeding on the smaller fish that have been swept through it. The best place to fish is down side of the mouth of the creek.

On both the Atlantic and Pacific coats the tide rises and falls twice within a twenty-four-hour period. In the Gulf of Mexico, there are some places where the tide rises only once a day. There are thousands of miles of coastline in the United States which offer an almost unlimited number of locations for fly fishing.

Most salt water fly fishing is done in relatively shallow waters, or very close to the shore. This is called inshore fishing, and includes fly fishing done from the shore or from a small boat in shallow waters. Many varieties of fish can be taken while inshore fishing including striped bass, channel bass, bluefish, bonefish, flounder, bonito, barracuda, rockfish, cobia, halibut, jack crevalle, jewfish, ladyfish, mackerel, pollack, pompano, shark, snapper, snook, rooster fish, tarpon, and weakfish.

Deep water fly fishing can be extremely exciting and challenging to a salt water fly fisherman. This type of fishing is done in water more than twelve feet deep from a boat that can range in size from a ten foot skiff to a 50 foot oceangoing vessel. Deep water fly fishing is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to fish.

Deep water fish sought by fly fishermen are roughly divided into to categories, roamers and homebodies. Roamers are mostly pelagic and move great distances in a short time. Some of the varieties of roamers that can be caught while fly fishing include albacore, dolphin, marlin, wahoo, sailfish, yellowtail, and tuna. Homebodies sometimes appear in schools, but it is not unusual to find a solitary one. Homebodies include African pompano, Great barracuda, rockfish, grouper, amerjack, and snapper. These are only a few of the many vanities that are available to fly fishermen that fish the deep ocean waters.

Whether you decide to fish inshore or deep sea, slat water fly fishing will provide an exciting, challenging and memorable experience.





By: Bob Bastian

Besides the obvious supplies of rods and reels, there are really a lot of other supplies you should have in your fly fishing arsenal. It can make the difference between a great fishing trip and a so-so fishing trip when you have a variety of products at your disposal. So what types of supplies will you need to have on hand?

To begin with, you should have an ample supply of flies. When you are out on a river or stream, you will want to match the food source that is readily available to the fish. They are much more likely to bite when they recognize their normal food as opposed to anything else. When you have several flies available, you can adapt depending on what types of insects you see on your particular stretch of water.

You will also want to have a supply of different lines that you can use. Different lines are adaptable to different types of weather as well as different types of casting. If you have some particularly windy weather, you will want to change your line to adapt to the conditions and make your casting more productive.

Apparel is part of the fly fishing experience, and you’ll want to get the right supplies that will best match your situation. Vests, for example, are almost necessary for the avid fly fisherman. Fly fishing vests come with lots of pockets for you to hold your supplies in and have easy access to them at the same time.

Where can you get your fly fishing supplies? The outlets are everywhere. You can start with your local sporting goods store to find different brands and suggestions for various supplies. If you have a local specialty fishing store, these can be excellent places to get your fly fishing supplies. The people in these stores are also very knowledgeable in the sport and they can make suggestions as to what you should be carrying with you.

The Internet is probably the widest and most diverse place to shop for your fly fishing supplies. You have literally thousands of places that sell equipment for fly fishermen including fly tying supplies, various pre-made flies, lines, and apparel. Just do a quick search on your favorite search engine for fly fishing supplies and be amazed at the amount of resources that are at your fingertips!

Be creative when looking for fly fishing supplies. Ask other fly fishermen, talk online, and utilize the resources of fly fishing organizations. Once you begin amassing your supplies, you’ll be surprised at how addictive it can be!





By: Steve W Sharpe

When it comes to fly fishing, attitude is half of the battle. You need to be able to switch on to a calm mindset that allows you to keep repeating the same technique without becoming frustrated. You must be able to use the surrounding natural beauty as a means of tempering your impatience. It requires forethought, dedication and commitment.

The other half of fly fishing is the equipment. One wise commentator once noted that whoever said one could not buy happiness had never invested in a new fly fishing rod. Now we may well smile at that and think it a bit far fetched, but, there is no doubt that the proper equipment will go a long way toward creating fly fishing success.

Certainly you need things such as a hat to protect the head from sunburn and the occasionally miscast fly and a pair of good sunglasses can make the difference between a painful squint and wonderful look at a natural vista, but the actual tackle that you use is probably the most important aspect of the equipment portion of the fly fishing equation.

However, if you have ever bought equipment before you will know that making tackle and equipment decisions can be challenging. Consider all of the choices an angler must make.

Is an old-fashioned bamboo rod with its natural flexibility the best choice for a day on the creek, or would you be better served by a new composite graphite rod with a far different, but equally enticing whipping action? When choosing a rod, should the fisher look for a particular brand, or are all models of fly fishing rods created at least close to equal? And what about length? Is there a reason to prefer or pass over that slightly longer model seen at the local sporting goods store? Answers to these questions will have a real impact on your success when you go to cast your fly.

Speaking of flies, this is another area where decisions are critical. Are you going to go for a dry fly strategy, or do you plan to use insect replicas? Is there a color to prefer for the morning as opposed to the evening? Will those trout really even notice the difference between your flies or will any in your collection do the trick as twilight hits? Before you even get that far in the process, you have to decide whether you should learn to tie your own or if you are better off relying upon professionally produced flies for your excursions.

The choice of rod and fly is also going to influence decisions regarding the line you use. The size of the target fish may force you to decide to use a lighter or heavier test line. Some lines float, while others will slowly sink to the bottom. Which lines make the most sense for which kinds of casts, strategies and conditions?

There are those who fish with a stick, a string, a worm and a hook. If they are exceptionally advanced, they may add a bobber to their repertoire before dipping their line and taking a nap under a tree by the side of a slow moving creek or dead still lake. That may be a fine strategy for enticing wobbly out from the muddy banks, but that kind of simplicity does not really work for those choosing to fly fish.

Fly fishing is a more complicated proposition, in terms of both mindset and equipment. Both are essential to success. Tackle decisions can and often will make the difference between a catchless day and hitting the limit.

This is why anyone considering fly fishing must learn how to make the right choices. Even a Zen master of an angler will have a disappointing day if his equipment is not up to the task. All fly fishers must take the time to research the sport, the rods, the reels, the flies, the lines and everything else in order to increase their chance of reeling in an impressive trophy catch.

If you are a potential fly fisher and are confounded by the choices available to you, find a solid reference manual that will provide you with answers that can empower you throughout your fly fishing decision making process.



By: John Savage

Fly fishing is a sport that has emerged over the years and has taken on a form of a science and an art. In addition to the right equipment you must have the proper knowledge if you want to be successful in this sport. You are expected to have the proper outfit that includes all the gear needed for a fly fishing trip. This includes the clothing, foot wear, fishing rod and tackle and most of all the knowledge of he habits of the fish you are angling to catch.

The basic wardrobe of a fly fisherman is the fly fishing vest that contains a lot of pockets that is used for the various tools and tackle an angler needs to catch his trophy fish. A small pocket made out of tanned sheep skin and worn in the front of the vest is a good accessory for keeping those additional flies and hooks. Another good accessory that most fishermen like to keep handy is a spring loaded spool that has a pair of nail clippers hooked at the end. This is handy when you have ot cut the line and either remove the catch or let it go.

The fly fishing vest should also have a big pocket at the back where you can tuck in some light rain gear just in case. A small ring at the back of the collar of the vest will come handy to keep the net out of the way.

Fly Boxes should be wisely chosen. These should be small enough to tuck away in one of the pockets. Ideally a fly box should have 2 to 3 chambers to keep the different flies and tackle. The sections in the fly box keep the wet flies and the dry flies separate. Some small vials are also pretty handy to store the wet flies after a catch.

It is important to keep a spare spool complete with reel just in case the one on the rod gets spoilt. You never know when it will and it is best to have one spare handy instead of abandoning a perfectly good fishing trip.

If you are planning a fly fishing trip into a thickly vegetated area such as a swamp you are best advised to keep some insect repellant as well as some rash cream handy with your kit. Insect bites and allergic rashes are common fishing trips.

Equally important for the fly fishing kit are sun goggles, gloves, a flash light and small pocket knife and don’t forget the first aid kit. Last but not the least is the wading boots. These are usually hip length leather or rubber boots. Care must be taken not to wade deeper than the length of the boots for obvious reasons.

With the right accessories, you can have the fishing experience of a lifetime.





By: Abhishek Agarwal

There are always discount fly fishing gear going on everywhere but in particular during the festive periods. So when you are looking at fly fishing tackle especially during the trying economic times, there are plenty on offer. If it is a gift for your loved ones, then shop around. There will be one type of fly fishing equipment that they preferred and if you look closely, you will be able to find one with the right discount.

Good one does not have to be expensive as there are a lot of discount fly fishing gears that are not only durable but good as well. You just need to search in the correct places to get what your loved one preferred.

The first place you can look for discount fly fishing gear is the internet. Just by keying in the search term, you will be able to find the type of fly fishing equipment that you are looking for. That is once you have generated the leads, then follow them and narrow the search to the fly fishing tackle that you want. Always choose respectable websites and check them out until you get what you desired. You may also find the discount item by respected companies and you will be able to get it easily online rather them at the stores.

If you are one who prefers to shop offline, then get started by looking at your preferred offline stores. Shop with an intent and browse at all your nearest fly fishing stores to source out the discount fly fishing gear for your loved one. You can probably find plenty of stores that offer huge discounts for their regular items so finding the one fly fishing equipment that you desired may be far easier than you thought.

Fly fishing supply may be the place to look for fly fishing equipment but there are others such as discount stores and used gear stores that you can source for some very useful bargains. You will be surprised that you can find pretty new discount fly fishing gear at the used gear stores that are sold at less than the new offer price. Try to look around those discount and used gear stores and you may find the one that your loved one preferred at the right discount but look as good as new.

On the issue of how much you need to pay for a discount fly fishing gear, it all hinges on your ability to pay but the rule of thumb is not to spend above 30% of your savings each month. Through careful budgeting, you can get one that you desired.





By: Ernest Tang

Fly fishing for steelhead fish can be a challenging and rewarding experience. These amazing fish share their heritage with the Atlantic and Pacific salmon. Although they are native to the West Coast of the United States as well as in Russia, they can also be found in the tributaries of the Great Lakes. This is because they were planted in the lakes many times in the 1800’s.

There are numerous places you can go when fly fishing for steelhead. As we’ve already said, they are most plentiful in the Western United States. You can find plenty of steelhead in the rivers of Northern California, Oregon, and Washington state.

Steelhead are cousins of the rainbow trout and have a decidedly chrome-like coloring. They are amazingly acrobatic and can provide any fly fisherman with a fulfilling challenge when trying to catch them.

Most of the fly fishing techniques used to catch steelhead are based on those historically developed to catch Atlantic salmon. Flies are cast downstream from the angler on a floating or sinking line. The take, which can sometimes be quite violent, usually occurs towards the end of the swing. You can also use nymphing methods usually used by trout anglers.

Winter steelheads are often considered the “hard core” of fly fishers, sometimes enduring hours of repeated casting in cold water and freezing conditions for that one tug that can occur when you least expect it. Many fly fishers will spend a lot of time trying to land that prized steelhead only to be frustrated near the end.

The main thing to keep in mind when fishing for steelhead is to practice a lot of patience. For people who fly fish for steelhead regularly, the success of a day consists of one good hook. You will not see big numbers of catches like you will on trout rivers. Keep a positive attitude and watch what the fish are doing.

Most steelhead pockets are found downstream, but other anglers know this as well. Steelhead are most plentiful in the cold, winter months, but you can often find several other fly fishers trying to fish the same spot in hopes of landing their fish. As you can imagine, this is not especially good for the fish or the fisherman. Practice appropriate etiquette when on the river fly fishing for steelhead.

You will probably need a 9 foot single hand rod or a 12-15 foot double handed rod for best results. Line weights should range from 7 to 9. The best flies to use when trying to land a steelhead include the Wooly Bugger, the Conehead Zuddler, and the Black Bear Green Butt.

Fly fishing for steelhead can be an amazingly gratifying experience when you are patient and wise when it comes to the natural patterns of these fish. When you are able to land one, you will be surprised at how much fun it is to reel it in!





By: Steve W Sharpe