| Fly-Fishing Equipment and Fly-Line Basics |
From "Family Outdoors"
episode FAO-201 |
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Good-quality fly-line is essential for good casting and making a natural-looking presentation to the fish. "Natural-looking presentation" means that the fly gently drops onto the water leaving barely a ripple. If the fly appears or moves in an unnatural way, the fish are likely to be frightened off or won't be inclined to take the hook. The type of fishing you'll be doing will determine what type of flies you'll use. The type of flies, in turn, will determine what type of line and rod you'll use. Fly-fishing specialist Bob Gilmore offers some advice to DIY Family Outdoors host John Nickel about fly-line basics as well as some of the essentials and accessories used in fly-fishing.
Line Selection
"With traditional types of fishing, with a spin-cast rod and reel, it's the weight of the lure that carries the line out," says Bob Gilmore. "With fly-fishing, it's just the opposite. It's the weight of the line that's going to carry and present your fly."
For fly-fishing, there are three basic types of line: - Weight-forward line can be cast well even in windy conditions.
- Double-tapered line is ideal for making perfect, delicately placed presentations. It is used typically with dry flies.
- Weight-forward, sinking-tip is used for presenting the bait beneath the water, as with wet flies and nymphs.
Rod Selection
Rod selection is based on where and how you plan to be fishing. In terms of length, shorter rods are suited to high-country fishing in small streams where casting conditions may be tight. Longer rods are used for lake fishing and other more open-water settings; their greater length and flex helps the fisherman maximize casting distance. Rod weight is will vary according to the size of fish you're going after. Rod weights are designated by number, with heavier rods having higher numbers and being designed for landing larger fish. Bob Gilmore recommends a medium six-weight rod, in a nine-foot length, for beginners and general-purpose fly-fishing.
Line Elements
There are actually four elements to the line that extend from reel to fish:
- Backing is essentially "insurance" for when the regular floating line runs out (figure A). Typically, a reel is equipped with about 35 yards of floating line. If you hook a fish and it begins to "run," that line will be used up quickly. Brightly colored backing lets you know when the fish has pulled out all of your line and gives you room to let the fish play.
- Floating line is the essential portion of line that allows you to cast and present the fly (figure B). It comes in the three types described above: weight-forward, double-tapered and sinking.
- Leader is the vital portion of the line that allows your fly to "sneak up on the fish." It's a length of clear, monofilament line to which the fly is tied, and it is (the fisherman hopes) virtually invisible to the fish. It's thicker at the base end that connects to the floating line, and it tapers down to a very thin end to which the fly may be tied.
- Tippet is tied to the end of the leader to prevent the fisherman from using up all of the leader throughout the day as flies are removed and replaced. Once the fine end of the leader begins to get used up, tippet (figure C) can be added so that the end of the line will always remain thin.
All four types of line are connected, in succession, to the rod and reel (figure D).
Other Accessories
- Floatant is a chemical preparation that's applied to the line to help keep it afloat (figure E).
- Nets are used to help land fish and keep them from escaping as you remove the hook (figure F).
- Other essentials include a hat, sunscreen, polarized sunglasses and insect repellent (figure G).
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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