Fly Fishing

By: admin Mood: - Fly Fishing Date: May 15, 2007 Music: None

Fly fishing is mostly known as a technique for catching trout and salmon, although today some anglers are catching a wide variety of fish such as pan fish, carp and even some marine species. Some strive to catch as many different species as they can, and build up a reputation as such. Fly fishing is easy to get into, all you need is a rod, a reel, line, a few flies, a net and a pair of fishing waders such as the William Joseph V2.

As the name suggests, fly fishing uses a fly – an insect-resembling lure - as bait. The lines are usually heavy enough to send the fly right to the target. It is important to match the fly to the right line, rod and reel. A line that is too heavy or too light for the rod being used will dramatically affect your casting performance. The flies themselves were originally made of natural materials, but now synthetics are more prevalent. They are made of feathers, fur, hair and other materials tied to a hook with a string. These are made to resemble local water insect species, and are of course tailored to the specific fish one is trying to catch. For some info about choosing the right fly check out this article. Some fly lines are made to sink, while others float on the water, but they are all heavier then regular fishing line.

To be a good fly caster you will need a good fly rod, such as the Sage Launch Flyfishing Rod. The method of how to cast a lure in fly fishing is often referred to as the "10 to 2" method for the back cast. First of all, some of the line is held in the hand, and the fly is in the water, with about 30 feet of line. The rod is then moved through the 10 o'clock to the 2 o'clock position (12 being straight up, 9 flat forwards and 3 flat backwards). As this motion is performed, some of the line is let out of the hand, and the weight of the line (which, as mentioned before, is weighted and is heavier then regular fishing line) carries the fly forward. The motion should start out fast when going behind, slow down and stop with the rod in the 2 o'clock position, then speed up as the rod is brought forwards, and brought down with some strength so the fly is cast forward sufficiently with the help of the line. The stopping of the rod in the 2 o'clock position should not last long enough for the line to fall to the ground, but long enough to create a loop when the rod is brought forward again. The loop carries the line far, and helps it cut through the air. There is nothing wrong with looking back to make sure you make this stop brief enough, and then bring the line forward with momentum and energy.

The fly itself is not heavy, and if thrown by hand would not go very far. To cast the fly far and accurately, this 10 to 2 motion is needed. The fly moves further and further with each swing to the 10 o'clock position, as more line is let out of the hand. To reel the fly back in, the line is drawn back (once again in the hand); the rod is held in the dominant hand, and the index finger presses the line to the rod. The other hand is used to collect the line, and once a portion is drawn back, the index finger again presses the line to the rod. This is done over and over until the fly is at a desirable position to be cast again. The line is collected in the non-dominant hand, preferably in loops so as not to tangle it. Once again, as the fly is cast using the motion described above, the non-dominant hand releases some line each time.

When gathering the line, the movement of the fly resembles the movement of an insect moving through the water. There are some flies made to be partially submerged (emergers), some that float (dry flies) or those that are below the surface (nymphs, streamers, or wet flies). Each is representative of a certain insect, and of a certain motion of said insect. Emergers represent a wide variety of prey such as larvae, crayfish, carp, etc. Dry flies mimic an insect landing on, skimming, or emerging from the water such as grasshoppers, water-gliders, or stone flies. Wet flies are meant to symbolize swimming minnows or others of the like. Bait is chosen in accordance with the fish one is intending to catch. A good pair of polarized glasses, such as Smith Hudson Polarized Sunglasses, will be extremely helpful in terms of locating fish and properly presenting your fly.

In general, flies are categorized as either imitative or attractive. As the names suggest, imitative flies represent a specific individual or group of insects which the fish preys on, and attractive flies do not resemble any common food source but will draw the fish's attention.

Once a fish bites, the line is drawn in using the same technique of collecting the line in the non-dominant hand. Once there is sufficiently little line between the rod and the fish, the rod can be raised up in the dominant hand (index finger always pressing the line to the rod!), and this brings the fish closer. As the fish approaches you, scoop it up using a fly fishing net such as the Brodin Ghost Tailwater. The index finger of your dominant hand (which will be doing the pressing of the line to the rod) can be covered in protective tape so you don't end up cutting yourself with the line, especially as the fish tugs on it.

Artificial flies range from size #2 (large) to #22 (very small). You don't have to fish big flies to catch big fish; sometimes the largest fish can be caught on the smallest flies. As fly fishing targets hundreds of species around the world, the variety of flies and casting techniques are constantly altered and expanded to match the species targeted. However, the most common techniques are the easiest to master and of course the most widespread, and are the suggested ones for beginners.

There are various popular spots for fly fishing. Undeniably, the fishing waters of Alaska surpass any fishing one can get in the lower states or in Canada. However, if you prefer to stay closer to home, Alberta, California, Montana, Idaho and New Mexico (among many others) present very good fishing spots. The Rocky Mountain States are favorite places for fly fishing, and one can encounter a good challenge and variety of species in those areas. On the other side of the globe, New Zealand presents with a geothermal area around Lake Taupo, which is a world-famous trout destination.

Saltwater fly fishing has recently gained popularity, with the Gulf Coast and the Florida Keys being the most prevalent spots. Here, the species range from bonefish, redfish and tarpon to bluefish and striped bass along the mid-Atlantic and Northeast coast.

Fly fishing is undoubtedly the most elegant fishing technique, and is definitely worthwhile to learn if you haven't picked it up yet.