Monday, February 21, 2011

Why I Love Fly Fishing, and a Couple of Tips

Fly fishing is often received something pressing past in the sense that many people consider it to be elitist. There is some truth in that, especially when it comes to fly fishing for salmon, but in general terms fishing the fly and especially fishing for trout is genuinely open to all. In fact people are enjoying fly fishing for catching what have in the past been considered the preserve of the course fishermen, for example Pike. There is also growing market in saltwater fly fishing.
Before I took up fly fishing I had been a regular course fishing guy for as long as I can remember. I still enjoy sitting by the riverbank either watching afloat or waiting for my bite indicator tell me that I'm into a fish.
However, I also enjoyed the prospect of stalking fish, where one keeps low to the bank to prevent being seen by one's quarry. This is partly because I do get rather impatient sitting in one place, and like to actively search out the fish. Whilst one can do this using traditional course fishing methods, there comes a time where one carries such a vast amount of tackle and bait that moving around becomes a chore. On the other hand, with a decent fly fishing vest, one can carry most of one's gear and travel light, making it very easy to move around in search of fish.
One of the things I like best about fly fishing is that one is continually busy. One does not need a degree in entomology but a small knowledge of insect life can be useful. This is because with so many different types of fly available it can be helpful to know what sort of insect the fish are taking on any particular day, so that one can try and match one's fly accordingly.
For me, the early and late part of the season represent the most exciting times. This is when one fishes the dry fly. This is quite simply a fly which floats on top of the water. There is nothing like the excitement of seeing the water boiling as a trout moves in to take your fly!
The most difficult but important thing to learn is the cast. I have known several people give up on fly fishing having been unable to master the technique. However this is a terrible shame, because it isn't in fact that difficult to learn, but it's very different to any other form of casting in angling.
I would therefore say that for anyone thinking of taking up the sport, the two most important things are spend some money on lessons, and buying a good quality fly rod. You probably only need a couple of lessons, because even if you don't fully master the technique under instruction, you will at least know what it is you should be doing and can therefore practice developing the correct technique.
Because it is the Rod that does most of the work on the cast, it is often true that the better quality rod will be easier to cast and cast further. In fact, most manufacturers have what we call fishing combos, where they will sell you a rod, reel and line, and often throw in a good selection of flies as well, at a discount. The great thing about the sordid deals, particularly from quality manufacturer, is that you are buying equipment that has been matched correctly.
Zac is a keen fly fisherman. For some great tips and deals, visit his latest website about fly fishing combos where you can get information on buying balanced fly fishing combos which is generally cheaper than buying the individual components you need.