Know The Basics Of Fly Fishing

Today is a good day. You are heading to a friend’s land where you will be fly fishing to your heart’s content. You have your van packed with your gear and you are heading to your favorite location on the swiftly moving stream.

The stream is crystal clear and you are wearing your thigh waders. Your fishing vest is filled with flies of all types and you take in the air around you as you wade into the water.

The tip of your rod is in the 4 o’clock position with 20 feet of line extended beyond your rod’s tip. You trap the line between your index finger and the handle of the rod and begin to back cast. You bend your elbow and raise your forearm. You move from this position to the 11 and then lift the line from the water. You wait for the line to extend behind you and then cast the rod forward. You allow for the rod to follow through as it extends to its full length.

You continue to do this. Then, you feel the fish. The fight is on and you win. That is the art of fly casting.

Where Did It Come From?

Fly fishing is an ancient method of fishing that was used to catch trout and salmon. Today you can use it to catch these and bass, carp, pike and even saltwater fish.

In casting, you use the weight of your bait, sinker and bobber to propel your cast, but in fly fishing the weight of the line propels it. The fly cannot do this as it is weightless. The goal of fly fishing is to present the fly gently and then to stay in control of it.

Your Equipment

You will need special equipment to fly fish including a fly rod and reel, fly fishing line and artificial or live flies. You’ll need feathers fur, thread or other materials to tie them to your hook. Balance is the key to being successful. Everything must match to be successful together.

Fly fishing rods are the first on your list. They are lightweight and long. The line provides the necessary casting weight making it heavy. It can be of different densities depending on your needs and it is matched with your rod by weight. A graphite rod is the best choice, as they can produce any action you want. For the beginner, basic and moderately priced rods will do.

For flies, weight is virtually nothing. It is attached to the line by a leader that is six to nine feet long. The leader tapers to a fine end called a tippet which is 8x at the smallest to 0x. Tippets are set in units of .001. You should take away from 11 and multiply by .001 to match the tippet to the fly.

Differences in Fly Fishing Types

There is wet fly fishing and there is dry fly fishing. In wet, flies are fished beneath the water surface and are divided into live web flies, lure and nymphs. On the dry side, flies float on the water and are coated with floatant to make this possible.

Ask an experienced angler for help when choosing the right fly equipment for your needs. Check out the local anglers club for help or ask a staff member at the fly fishing shop near you.

There is a learning curve to the mastery of fly fishing technique. But the reward is a lifetime of enjoyment.