Once you've learned the basics of casting, selected flies and assembled your essential fishing gear, you're ready to head to the stream. Following are some pointers to help get you started.
Getting Started
To assemble your rod and reel, you'll first need to seat your reel. A bracket on the reel slides into a slot or beneath a collar at the base of the rod and is tightened in place by means of a threaded ring (figure A). To make certain the reel is secure and operating properly, pull out a little bit of line and make sure that the reel's drag engages. You should be able to hear and feel it. Check the manual that came with your reel for adjusting or changing the drag.
Once the rod and reel are assembled, thread the line through the eyelet guides on the rod. The line will be easier to thread if you feed it through as a loop (figure B) rather than trying to feed the end of the line through each guide.
Once you've threaded the line through the last loop, pull out about 10 feet of leader and line. You can now tie the fly on the end of your leader or tippet with your knot of choice. With the fly secured, you're ready to select a location and begin casting.
Fishing Techniques
Learning to read the stream and various conditions such as weather is part of what makes for successful fishing. Begin by observing the types of insect life you see in or around the stream. This may give you a clue as to what may be the best category of fly to use. - To find a location likely to yield good fishing results, observe the water's surface along the stream. Be alert for signs of fish breaking the surface -- indicating that they are feeding on insects at the surface. In that case, you may want to use dry flies. If you see bulges from fish moving just below the surface, this usually indicates the fish are feeding on emergers below the surface. In that case, consider trying wet flies or nymphs.
- Fish tend to congregate in holding water -- areas of the stream where the current is not moving very rapidly but that are in close proximity to moving water. In that way, fish expend little energy trying to fight the current, but they're near enough to moving water that food materials come drifting by. When selecting a location for fishing, look for seams or areas of transition in the current between slow and fast-moving water. Fish in areas in front of or just behind rocks or boulders (figure C). Search out pools and eddies.
- One likely spot where fish tend to congregate is beneath an undercut or overhanging ledge of stream-bank (figure D). The bank provides shade and cover, and the current is generally slow. Swifter current a few feet out from the bank carries food by.
- During hatchings, when insects are flying off the water, try fishing rippled and shallow areas of the stream (figure E). Fish tend to feel more secure feeding under rippled surface than under flat, clear surface.
- Fish are usually facing upstream and are accustomed to seeing food drift by them from in front. Cast your line so that your fly lands upstream from the fish, and let it slowly drift by along a natural path. Be careful not to "line" the fish -- frightening the fish by allowing it to see your line.
- Watch your fly closely as it drifts on the surface of the water (figure F). Though your fly may look real to a fish, it won't taste like the real thing. The fish may strike the fly for only a second, so you need to be prepared to set the hook if it does.
- Set the hook by quickly jerking the tip of the rod back. There's a delicate balance between setting the hook skillfully and jerking the fly out of the fish's mouth or breaking the leader.
- When you do get a strike and successfully set the hook, let out some line and let the fish run a bit. When the run stops, begin reeling the line back in, but be prepared to let the fish run again if it continues fighting. Keep your rod tip up to keep tension on the line and hook as you bring the fish in (figure G).
- Once you've got the fish in close, move the tip of the rod up and behind you. The rod will bend sharply. Gently net the fish with your free hand.
Catch and Release
Fly-fishing is a civilized sport, and increasing numbers of fishermen advocate participating in such a way that doesn't damage the fish population or the stream ecosystem. Enjoy the challenge of stalking and catching a fish, but once you've landed or netted a fish, carefully remove the hook and gently release the fish back into the stream. Some fishermen even remove the barbs from their fly-hooks. Barbless hooks add challenge to the sport while minimizing any injury to the fish.
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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