Fly-fishing is all about outsmarting fish, and most accomplished fly-fishermen will attest that it's more of an art than a science. It's the art of fooling fish using the right bait and the right techniques at the right time -- something that's more complex than you might imagine.
The first step in the challenge is to find out as much as you can about what fish like to eat. Once you do that, you can attempt to duplicate some of their favorite delicacies and serve it to them with a hook in it. The trick, however, is presenting the bait in such a way that the fish can't distinguish it from the real thing.
In this segment, DIY Family Outdoors host John Nickel talks about some of the more common categories and examples of artificial "flies" used in fly-fishing.
Real Bugs
The diet of freshwater sport-fish such as trout is made up, to a large extent, of insects. Many species of insects -- known as aquatics -- spend their entire life cycle both in and around the water. They actually start out their life as larvae that live completely in the water. The larvae, known as nymphs, typically comprise part of the diet of fish. The adults of aquatic insect species may emerge to fly around or live on land, but they generally have short life spans (in some cases only a day or so), which they spend near the body of water where they hatched. When they fall into or rest on the surface of the water, the adult insects may become prey to hungry fish as well. Other insects -- called terrestrials -- spend their entire life on land but may inadvertently fall into the water and thus become fish food.
Some of the aquatics that make up the diet of fish include the following: - Mayflies
- Caddis flies
- Stone flies.
Some of the terrestrials that also contribute to the diet of fish include the following:
The objective in fly-fishing is to use artificial baits that visually mimic (at least from a fish's perspective) these insects at their various stages of life. Following are the basic categories of flies used in fly-fishing.
Dry flies mimic bugs on the surface. They are designed to stay dry and remain afloat (figure A). Wet flies absorb water and sink below the surface (figure B). They are designed to look like insects just emerging from the larval stage or, alternately, drowning adult insects. Nymphs are designed to sink below the water and are made to look like the insect in their early, aquatic larval stage (figure C).
Your selection of flies will be based on a number of considerations such as time of year, time of day, weather conditions and your own fisherman's instincts. Your choice of line and which rod you use may be determined by what type of fly you select.
Following are a few recommended flies that may prove successful in a number of situations.
Dry Flies
- The Adams fly (figure D) is designed to mimic various real insects, including mayflies, deer flies and caddis flies.
- The elk-hair caddis (figure E) is made to look like a female caddis fly laying its eggs on the water.
Both the Adams and elk-hair caddis flies are a reliable choice in a variety of situations. Purchase a selection in sizes 14, 16 and 18, and just try each one out until you find what the fish are biting. You might also try artificial ants in sizes 8 and 12.
Wet Flies and Nymphs
- Wooly buggers come in a number styles and are made to imitate a variety of insects. Try them in sizes 10 and 12 (figure F).
- Flash-back pheasant tails resemble a mayfly nymph or a caddis-fly pupae. Try sizes 14, 16 and 18 (figure G).
When you embark on a fishing trip, one of the best ideas for finding out what the fish are striking on is to stop in a local fly-fishing outfitter and ask. Most salespeople in these shops are also avid fishermen and are likely to have good current information.
RESOURCES :
Kids Book of Fishing
Model: 0894808664
Author: Michael J. Rosen
(June, 1991)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Workman Publishing Co. Inc.
New York, NY 10003-9555
Phone: 212-254-5900
Fax: 212-254-8098
Federation of Fly Fishers
P.O. Box 1088
W. Yellowstone, MT 59758
Web site: www.fedflyfishers.org
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fly Fishing
ISBN: 0028629531
Author: Michael D. Shook
REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.)
A comprehensive site with equipment and clothing for camping, hiking, climbing, cycling, paddling, fly fishing, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking and other outdoor activities.
REI
Sumner, WA 98352-0001
Website: www.rei.com
Fly Rod & Reel magazine online
The online version of Fly Rod & Reel, the magazine of American fly fishing.
Web site: www.flyrodreel.com
Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine
The online version of the fly-fishing magazine, Fly Fishing & Fly Tying .
Web site: www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk
flyfishing.com
Comprehensive online resource about fly fishing and related topics.
Web site: www.flyfishing.com
The American Museum of Fly Fishing
Web site: www.amff.com
Fly Fisherman: The Virtual Fly Shop
Informational online resource about fly fishing.
Web site: www.flyshop.com
The Complete Book of Fly Fishing
Author: Tom McNally and Tom Beecham
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (GORP) Web-site -- fly-fishing
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages (GORP) is an informational Web site about outdoor activities.
Below is the link to their section on fly fishing.
Web site: www.gorp.com/gorp/activity/fishing.htm
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