A quiet morning, a small moving stream and the fish are biting. If this sounds like something you dream about, you are a fly fisherman at heart. So for those of you that are new to the sport, here is a little fly fishing guide to get you started. Even some of you fly fishing gurus might be able to get a little brush up here!
Fly fishing is alot more then just casting a line and wishing for the best. Many other things must be taken into account, i.e….the fly rod, the fly line, the fly reel, casting, and finally the tackle needed. I hope to cover all of this here in a very short amount of time for you.
The rod: Fly fishing rods come rated like 3-weight or 5-weight. All that means is that the rod will effectively cast that size line. Now this is not a scientific fact, but a 5-weight rod casts 5-weight line better than any other. In discussing fly fishing for beginners, a little experimentation is in order.
A trip to a fly shop will be good for that purpose, but you are going to see another aspect of the rod called “action”. “Action” determines how soon the rod begins to bend. This is important to lure presentation as well as in certain conditions.
The line: There are many types of fly fishing line. All of them are designated by letters like “DT” (double taper) or “WFF” (weight forward floating), “WFS” (weight forward sinking) and a few others. Each has it’s own applications.
For the most part, a DT or WF line is recommended by most fly fishing guides. Again, with fly fishing for beginners, the line is the most crucial part of your gear. A good line will cast well on the worst pole ever made.
The reel: This element can mean the difference between landing the fish of your dreams or watching your prize fish swim back into the depths from where it came.
Reels can cost anywhere from around $20 to thousands of dollars. The most important part of the reel? A good drag system that is adjustable. Without a drag system on the reel, you run the risk of running the reel out of line and damage can occur.
As a fly fishing guide line, get yourself a decent reel and load it with some GOOD line to match the rod.
Casting: Fly fishing for beginners wouldn’t be complete without a word or two on casting. Start by moving the rod back and forth. The cast has two parts; the back cast and the front cast. On the back cast, the line will travel behind you. Then on the front cast, the line will unroll and travel out in front of you.
Practice this front/back casting and watch the line as it travels. Keep the line in a large “C” shape. When you have this down, start to tighten the shape into a “J” shape. This is THE method for fly fishing for beginners and is taught by many fly fishing guides as it is the main cast used in fly fishing.
Flys: This is the most important factor in fly fishing. If you are familiar with the water you are fishing then load up with flies that resemble the natural insects there.
On new rivers or lakes try match the flies you are using to any kind that seems to be on or in the water. Then match that as closely as possible from your fly arsenal.
It is always a good idea to research the water you are going to fish before you fish it, however this is not always possible so sometimes it is best to match the fly to the insects you see around you or ask a local where possible.
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – River Fly Fishing
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