What is fly fishing?

 

Fly fishing is an amazing sport that you will love once you get into it. Apart from the fish you are after, this sport exposes you to the serenity and peace of nature. It also challenges your brain to outsmart the fish.

 

Fly fishing is an angling method whereby anglers catch fish using an artificial fly. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted lines.  The fly should resemble the natural vertebrates, fish, or crustaceans as close as possible in size, form, and movement to effectively lure the fish to bite the fly.

 

The whole idea of fly fishing may seem overwhelming for a beginner as it is a bit different from conventional fishing. Most beginners are familiar with casting a heavier lure with the fishing rod followed by the line. But fly fishing is different.

 

You will first cast the heavier line, then the fly comes after it. Read on to understand more of this.

 

Let me explain three different variations of fly fishing.

 

Dry Fly Fishing

The first is dry fly fishing. The angler casts a buoyant fly that resembles aquatic insects. The dry fly is made to naturally float with the current. The striking fish will easily be noticed because of the visibility of the floating fly.

 

Wet Fly Fishing

The second variation is wet fly fishing. This method involves the use of a fly that sinks. You may also add a little weight to the fly to cause it to sink. The fly is then made to drift at a pace equal to that of the subsurface currents.

 

Streamer Fly Fishing

For streamer fly fishing, the fly used resembles a bait fish. The angler swings the fly across the currents as he waits for the target fish to strike. The retrieval pace should be rapid to evoke the predatory instincts of the target fish.

 

Without a second thought, the fish strikes the bait and it’s on! Streamers are used to imitate juvenile game fish and minnows. Big fish really love streamer patterns.

 

Fly Fishing Streamer

A Streamer Fly. Image Courtesy: Mike ClineShane Budd [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

Conclusion

Giving yourself enough time to fly fish will also do you good. Don’t try and rush into catching fish. This may ruin the whole sport and you will end up frustrated instead of deriving pleasure from it.

 

Some beginners tend to go for the cheapest fly fishing equipment on the market because of budget constraints. I am certainly not for this. I urge you to get quality equipment that will serve you for a long time. Breaking your fly rod on the very first day of fishing will disappoint you, to the extent you may feel like quitting. Therefore, invest in quality equipment and accessories.

 

It is my hope you enjoyed reading this Fly Fishing Tips & Techniques guide for beginners. You can use most of these fly fishing tips & tricks to get started with fly fishing.

 

Here is a quick recap:

 

Fly fishing is a bit different than other conventional fishing methods like surf fishing.

The fly fishing techniques take some time to become an expert in

You must learn the feeding habits of the target fish, so you fish the best spots where they are likely to be found.

 

Leave a Comment