Monday 8 February 2010
Friday 5 February 2010
Fly Fishing Tips for Success
Most serious anglers have refined their techniques over time and experience in order to improve their catch. Reading up on new techniques and products are also good ideas, and so is listening to other angler’s stories. However, it is still good to remember the fly fishing basics. Anglers have been catching fish with the basic rod and line for centuries, so going back to the fly fishing fundamentals or the ABC’s of the sport will go a long way in improving not only your fly fishing technique but your catch as well. So, what are those fly fishing basics we have forgotten?
Getting the Cast Right is Crucial
One of the most important fly fishing basics is the cast. The cast is probably the most talked about topic among anglers. A cast that is too forceful will cause the line to hit the water hard which startles the fish. Even experienced anglers have a hard time switching from a typical cast to a good fly fishing cast. What usually happens when you fish with a typical rod and reel is that the bait and hook are heavy and they are what pull the line to the designated target. In fly fishing, it is the opposite. The fly is almost weightless while the line is heavy. When casting from a fly fishing rod, the line pulls the fly behind it. This is why a light and gentle touch is one of the most important fly fishing basics. Even the most experienced angler forget this technique once in a while so it is important to practice, even when you are not in the water.How to Practice Casting
In order to keep the gentle touch, practice in your yard.- Tie a piece of yarn on where the fly usually is.
- Cast your rod back and forth and aim for a distance some 10-20 feet away.
- Work on your cast until you hit your target consistently.
- Even if you are an experienced angler, working on your cast is a good part of the fly fishing basics. Just like a good golfer practices his swing all the time, a consistent and accurate cast is just as vital to fly fishermen.
Take Time to Study Currents in the Water
Another oft forgotten fly fishing basic is reading the water and using common sense. When fishing in water where the water runs fast, you may want to toss your line to the edge as most fish prefer this area so as not to be dragged by the swift current. During hot summer days, fish may want to hide in shaded areas like fallen trees, so look for good cover. In fly fishing, the distance between you and the fish is smaller, so you will need a lot of patience so you can stand still and not disturb the fish. These tips may seem obvious but some anglers forget these fly fishing fundamentals in their rush to cast their line into the water!Don't Spend Money on Fancy Equipment to Improve your Performance, Spend Time Developing Your Skills for Free
Most of us get caught up in the technology or product or techniques of fly fishing that we forget to concentrate on the fly fishing basics. We have to remember that by giving attention to the fly fishing basics, we increase the chance of having fun thereby increasing the chances of having a fun filled fishing experience.Wednesday 3 February 2010
Monday 1 February 2010
Why Fly Fishing Is Fun
Fly fishing is very different than fishing with a lure or worm type baits. The fly fisherman uses a artificial fly consisting of bites of feathers, foam, hide, fur, yarn, and other materials to be tried on to a hook that make it appealing to the type of fish you are catching. Every fly fisherman has his own type of flies he like to use some purchase them and then some of us like to tie our own. Fly tying is more of an art with basic training which most people can learn over a short period of time.
Dry fly fishing is the best classic form of fishing. The artificial fly is cast so that it floats on the surface of the water. As the fly passes over the fish it will rise to the surface and strike or take the fly.
With the fly rod you will attempt to stop the fish from spitting out the fly and get it tired enough so you can land it in your net. With fly fishing you will see all the action as you cast the fly and play the fish for a strike. The fly is very visible on the surface to the fish. You will see the fish take the fly on the surface however trout and other fish tend to feed under water so if you see the fish rising to the surface it is time to use a dry fly.
Wet flies will sink under the surface of the water an may be passed in front of the fish there bye causing the fish to strike at the fly. Nymph fishing is very popular after the flies lay eggs on lakes or in streams and they hatch out as nymphs. As the nymphs make their way to the surface the fish will take them. When they get to the surface they will hatch into a flies.
When nymph fishing the imitation nymphs you us will be weighted to stay below the surface of the water. This will be far more of a challenge for you as the action all take place under the surface of the water and you will not be able to see if a fish is about to strike.
Most fish can be caught on a fly but the most common are trout, salmon, chars, and most game fish. In most areas the trout are the most popular and you will find them feeding mostly on small insects in shallow water. If you live on the coast you find salmon fishing with a fly rod a very rewarding challenge. Hooking a 30 or 40 pound salmon on a fly rod will give you a work out running up and down the beach trying to play the fish out to land it.
The fly fishing sport has gained ever increasing popularity over the years. Most will agree it just not about catching the fish but in the delivery of the fly and the skill and knowledge in the pursuit.
Some fly fisherman regard fly fishing as the holy grail of fishing. It is more relaxing and some say a better past time than golf. The sport of fly fishing see people from all walks of life. Some say it is more environmentally friends than the other type of fishing because it does less harm to the fish then other styles of fishing.
The art of fly fishing will get in to your blood and you will peruse the quite of the streams or the solitude of the ocean beaches to capture you prey. Most anglers will catch and release if they are fly fishing.
About The Author
The author Joseph Elmes is the manager of the website online that offers you a chance to get fly fishing reels, other fly fishing tools and a free fishing guide On offer is also an expert information on fly fishing basics. Joe is offering a free copy of fly fishing for beginners on this site so head over now to get your copy.
http://www.the-guide-to-fly-fishing.com
Dry fly fishing is the best classic form of fishing. The artificial fly is cast so that it floats on the surface of the water. As the fly passes over the fish it will rise to the surface and strike or take the fly.
With the fly rod you will attempt to stop the fish from spitting out the fly and get it tired enough so you can land it in your net. With fly fishing you will see all the action as you cast the fly and play the fish for a strike. The fly is very visible on the surface to the fish. You will see the fish take the fly on the surface however trout and other fish tend to feed under water so if you see the fish rising to the surface it is time to use a dry fly.
Wet flies will sink under the surface of the water an may be passed in front of the fish there bye causing the fish to strike at the fly. Nymph fishing is very popular after the flies lay eggs on lakes or in streams and they hatch out as nymphs. As the nymphs make their way to the surface the fish will take them. When they get to the surface they will hatch into a flies.
When nymph fishing the imitation nymphs you us will be weighted to stay below the surface of the water. This will be far more of a challenge for you as the action all take place under the surface of the water and you will not be able to see if a fish is about to strike.
Most fish can be caught on a fly but the most common are trout, salmon, chars, and most game fish. In most areas the trout are the most popular and you will find them feeding mostly on small insects in shallow water. If you live on the coast you find salmon fishing with a fly rod a very rewarding challenge. Hooking a 30 or 40 pound salmon on a fly rod will give you a work out running up and down the beach trying to play the fish out to land it.
The fly fishing sport has gained ever increasing popularity over the years. Most will agree it just not about catching the fish but in the delivery of the fly and the skill and knowledge in the pursuit.
Some fly fisherman regard fly fishing as the holy grail of fishing. It is more relaxing and some say a better past time than golf. The sport of fly fishing see people from all walks of life. Some say it is more environmentally friends than the other type of fishing because it does less harm to the fish then other styles of fishing.
The art of fly fishing will get in to your blood and you will peruse the quite of the streams or the solitude of the ocean beaches to capture you prey. Most anglers will catch and release if they are fly fishing.
About The Author
The author Joseph Elmes is the manager of the website online that offers you a chance to get fly fishing reels, other fly fishing tools and a free fishing guide On offer is also an expert information on fly fishing basics. Joe is offering a free copy of fly fishing for beginners on this site so head over now to get your copy.
http://www.the-guide-to-fly-fishing.com
Friday 29 January 2010
Thursday 28 January 2010
Fly Fishing with Streamers
Fly fishing streamers is often over looked by fly anglers, especially trout anglers. Streamers is a category of flies fly fisherman have given to loosely mean food other than insects. Generally, being smaller fish, it could also be crayfish, leeches, and crustaceans. Bass and salt water anglers, are more familiar with the theory that big fish eat littler fish. However, as our sport is dominated by trout anglers we think insect first and many times that is as far as our thought process goes. However, big fish eat little fish, always have and always will. Fish are indiscriminate feeders and will eat what is presented to them. They don't have preferences, they take what they are given. And the nice thing about little fish is they are always present.
In most rivers and lakes there will be almost always be fish fry of one kind or another present. With the predominant season for fish fry being the spring, they easily will be present until late fall, and often year around. But even if fry are not around, minnows are present year around, sculpins, silversides, alewives, smelt, the list is endless. And even if you say there are no minnows available where you fish, well, trout are cannibalistic, if your fishing waters have big trout, then it also has little trout. In short, the 'hatch' is always on when you are fishing streamers.
Besides year around availability, another advantage of fishing streamers, is your average catch is going to be larger. Fish are masters of energy conservation and expenditure. They will not pursue food if it costs more energy to catch then they will receive from its consumption. That is why in the winter they will not chase food, you literally have to hit them in the nose with it. This fact, helps us to understand the feeding habits of large trout. A large trout holed down deep, not particularly interested in eating, will consume a minnow, if given the opportunity, no matter what. They might not rise up to devour size 22 Tricos, unless they are in a feeding mode, but given a minnow that they only have to lunge for, is an opportunity they won't turn down very often. That is a lot of energy consumed without a lot of energy exerted.
Techniques for fishing streamers vary from nymphs somewhat. A little action imparted by your rod tip, can help convince your targeted prey that the minnow is injured, thereby increasing strike potential. If casting into a river, the current will help you greatly in imparting 'swimming' action onto your streamer. Raisng and then lowering your rod tip, can also aid in the action. Vary the tempo until you find something that works. If fishing in lakes and ponds or from a boat on a river, you will need to retrieve. Again vary the tempo, using short bursts followed by a count or two of idleness. Allow your streamer to fall, often times the strikes happen when your fly is falling.
Favorite trout streamers include Woolly Buggers, both beadhead and non-beadhead. Mickey Finns, Jannsen's Minnows, and of course the veritable Muddler Minnow and its cast of imitators. Bass fisherman have also used the same patterns for years and years. Saltwater patterns all virtually fall under the streamer category with perennial favorites being the Lefty's Deceivers, Clouser Minnows, and Crazy Charlies. As well as various crab and shrimp patterns.
Trout fisherman might have to bulk up their gear a little, depending on what they are used to fishing with. 6 wt rods are usually preferable, with enough stoutness to cast the bigger fly, and fight those sure to come bigger fish.
About the Author
Cameron Larsen is a retired commercial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. http://www.bigyflyco.com/flyfishinghome.html He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. This article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at Http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html
In most rivers and lakes there will be almost always be fish fry of one kind or another present. With the predominant season for fish fry being the spring, they easily will be present until late fall, and often year around. But even if fry are not around, minnows are present year around, sculpins, silversides, alewives, smelt, the list is endless. And even if you say there are no minnows available where you fish, well, trout are cannibalistic, if your fishing waters have big trout, then it also has little trout. In short, the 'hatch' is always on when you are fishing streamers.
Besides year around availability, another advantage of fishing streamers, is your average catch is going to be larger. Fish are masters of energy conservation and expenditure. They will not pursue food if it costs more energy to catch then they will receive from its consumption. That is why in the winter they will not chase food, you literally have to hit them in the nose with it. This fact, helps us to understand the feeding habits of large trout. A large trout holed down deep, not particularly interested in eating, will consume a minnow, if given the opportunity, no matter what. They might not rise up to devour size 22 Tricos, unless they are in a feeding mode, but given a minnow that they only have to lunge for, is an opportunity they won't turn down very often. That is a lot of energy consumed without a lot of energy exerted.
Techniques for fishing streamers vary from nymphs somewhat. A little action imparted by your rod tip, can help convince your targeted prey that the minnow is injured, thereby increasing strike potential. If casting into a river, the current will help you greatly in imparting 'swimming' action onto your streamer. Raisng and then lowering your rod tip, can also aid in the action. Vary the tempo until you find something that works. If fishing in lakes and ponds or from a boat on a river, you will need to retrieve. Again vary the tempo, using short bursts followed by a count or two of idleness. Allow your streamer to fall, often times the strikes happen when your fly is falling.
Favorite trout streamers include Woolly Buggers, both beadhead and non-beadhead. Mickey Finns, Jannsen's Minnows, and of course the veritable Muddler Minnow and its cast of imitators. Bass fisherman have also used the same patterns for years and years. Saltwater patterns all virtually fall under the streamer category with perennial favorites being the Lefty's Deceivers, Clouser Minnows, and Crazy Charlies. As well as various crab and shrimp patterns.
Trout fisherman might have to bulk up their gear a little, depending on what they are used to fishing with. 6 wt rods are usually preferable, with enough stoutness to cast the bigger fly, and fight those sure to come bigger fish.
About the Author
Cameron Larsen is a retired commercial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. http://www.bigyflyco.com/flyfishinghome.html He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. This article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at Http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html
Wednesday 27 January 2010
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