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Fly Fishing Casting Guide for Beginners

Dec 5

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Fishing | No Comments


Classic Triumph Bass Fly tied by Jeremy Acre
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Fly Fishing Casting – Overhead casting

With a little bit a practice, it is not all that difficult to become a good fly fishing caster – even though to the novice angler, the art of fly fishing casting may look extremely tricky. It is important to know how to cast with fly fishing, and it doesn’t matter what equipment or fly collection you have – if you can’t cast properly, you will not be successful. It’s important to be able to land a fly fishing fly on an exact location on the water’s surface when fly fishing casting. The fundamental fly fishing casting techniques required by the novice angler are described within this article.

It is recommended that the beginner learn fly fishing casting from a fishing instructor, but there are plenty of books, DVDs, and online guides that teach fly fishing casting. The two main fly fishing casting techniques used today are the overhead cast, and the roll cast, and all other fly fishing casting techniques are variations of these two techniques. The beginner will start with the easier dry fly fishing method where a floating line is used which floats on top of the water. It is far easier for beginner anglers to see the fly line and detect a strike on the line when dry fly fishing. Also, using a bulky fly fishing vest can impede your casting stroke, and beginners are advised to use a smaller fly fishing chest pack or lumbar pack – there are a wide range of cheap Fishpond pack models to choose from for the beginner angler.

When practicing fly fishing casting it is important to ensure you practice in a location with enough clear space, such as a open field. You need to have 45 feet of open space in front and behind you if you are practicing 45 foot casts, and for this distance also ensure that you have 20 feet of space on either side of you. It is recommended that you wear protective goggles/glasses and also a hat to be safe. A fly with no hook, which is called a yarn fly, should be used on your fly line. It’s recommended to place targets (at specific distances) out in front of you, and you must attempt to hit these targets in your fly casting drills.

Overhead Cast

This is the most commonly used fly fishing casting technique, and most beginners should start using this technique. This technique has two sequences, the back cast, then the forward cast. With the back cast, you are lifting the fly line off the water in front of you, and up over your head until the fly line is behind you. Before the fly line touches the ground behind you, initiate the forward cast sequence. Bring the fly line back over the top of your head for the forward cast – the fly should land as near as possible to the target you were aiming for when you initiated the cast.

Roll Cast

The roll cast is used when you have obstructions behind you, such as bushes or trees, that prevent you from doing the back cast using the overhead casting technique. This technique is also useful in strong winds where you don’t want to lift the line too high into the air. The technique for performing a roll cast is also fairly simple. Lift the fly rod up vertically until it just passes the one o’clock position, which is just past your ear. This causes the fly line to slide back on top of the water’s surface, without the line lifting off the surface. Once you are in this position, you just perform a firm forward cast to finish the cast.

For more information about saltwater fly fishing gear, take a look at the Fly Fishing Elite news feed at Feedcat.net.

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Beginner Guide to Saltwater Fly Fishing Gear

Dec 3

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Fishing | No Comments

Fishing reel
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The Sage Xi2 Saltwater Fly Rod

Fly fishing gear for saltwater fly fishing is normally heavier than fly fishing gear used for freshwater fly fishing – there are two reasons for this. Firstly, saltwater fish species are generally larger than freshwater fish species, and you will need stronger rods, reels and lines to catch these fish species. Secondly, saltwater fly fishing requires longer casting with larger flies, and normally there is some wind to deal with. You cannot cast very far in windy conditions with a light fly rod using a light fly line. This guide covers the essential saltwater fly fishing gear for saltwater fly fishing, which is the saltwater fly rod, fly reel and fly line.

Saltwater Fly Rod

Your most important item of saltwater fly fishing gear is the saltwater fly rod. Normally for freshwater fly fishing, a 3 weight to a 7 weight fly rod is used. A 7-weight fly rod is normally the lightest fly rod used for saltwater fly fishing, and the heaviest fly rod used for saltwater fly fishing is a 16-weight fly fishing rod. The saltwater fish species that you are trying to catch determine the weight of your saltwater fly rod. To catch Bonefish you might use a 8-weight rod, but to catch sailfish such as Marlin you could use a 13-weight rod. For saltwater fly fishing, look to buy a specialized saltwater fly rod, specifically designed for saltwater fly fishing.

A good saltwater fly rod will have a fast action, and will generally be quite stiff. A fast action rod allows you to cast further in windy conditions and makes it easier to land larger saltwater fish species. The guides for a saltwater fly rod should be made of stainless steel or another metal that won’t rust. The guides should also be strong enough to handle the additional punishment of saltwater fly fishing. A good saltwater fly rod will have a padded fighting butt which will provide more comfort when fishing for extended periods of time. Currently, one of the top all-round saltwater fly rods currently available is the outstanding Sage Xi2 saltwater fly rod.

Saltwater Fly Reel

A saltwater fly reel is an essential item of saltwater fly fishing gear, and is more important for saltwater fly fishing than for freshwater fly fishing. A saltwater fly reel needs to be better quality than a freshwater fly reel. In order to prevent your saltwater fly reel from rusting, use a fly reel containing components that are saltwater resistant. It is also important that the saltwater fly reel has a very good drag system and sufficient line capacity for your backing, fly line, and your leader. As saltwater fish species normally run further with your line once caught, 100 to 300 yards of backing is normal.

Saltwater Fly Line

The saltwater fly line most commonly used for saltwater fly fishing is a floating line, which is used to catch fish near the water’s surface. A fly line that sinks slowly, called an intermediate line is sometimes used. A sinking line or a sink-tip line can also be used to catch fish at deeper levels. The preferred taper for a saltwater fly line is a weight forward line – this allows you to cast further in the windy conditions encountered at sea. The fly line weight used normally matches the fly rod weight, but sometimes a slightly heavier line weight is used, especially in windy conditions.

For more information about saltwater fly fishing gear, take a look at the Feedage.com news feed for Fly Fishing Elite.

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Fly Fishing Tips for the Novice

Dec 3

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Fishing | No Comments

An angler on the Kennet and Avon Canal, Englan...
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Important Fly Fishing Tools

Fly fishing has become extremely popular in recent years, and is a fun and relaxing pastime. Fly fishing for the beginner angler can also be extremely challenging. For the beginner angler, this article lists ten essential fly fishing tips. These tips will help beginners become successful anglers and also help them learn some essentials of the sport.

Tip 1: For Success Keep Silent

Silence is important if you want to catch fish and not scare them away. Also you do not want to disrupt the concentration of other anglers. Leave noisy equipment such as radios at home.

Tip 2: Respect Other Anglers

When fishing, respect the space of other anglers fishing in the same river, lake or dam. To ensure everybody enjoys the sport of fly fishing, follow common fishing etiquette and don’t create loud noise.

Tip 3: Dress for Success

Fish have good eyesight, so avoid wearing bright colors and do not wear a white hat. Wearing colors such as earth tones is a good idea for fly fishing. Whilst fishing, layering your clothing is recommended, as the weather conditions may change quite a bit during an extended fishing session.

Tip 4: Your Fly Fishing Vest Should Be Organized

A fly fishing vest (or handy fishing chest pack) is designed to carry your essential fly fishing accessories and gear whilst you are on the water. In order to locate essential fishing items and accessories as quickly as possible, it’s important to keep your fishing vest organized according to some system.

Tip 5: Learn a Few Basic Knots

On the subject of fly fishing knots, there are many books, DVDs and online guides available. The nail knot, Albright knot, improved clinch knot, and double surgeons knot are the essential knots to learn.

Tip 6: Get a Tackle Box

A tackle box (or waterproof gear bag) is handy if you have a lot of fly fishing gear to carry. In order to keep your fly fishing gear secure, organized and dry, using a tackle box is recommended.

Tip 7: A Wading Staff for Stability

When fishing in a rocky stream or river with unstable footing, a wading staff will increase your stability whilst wading. Getting a good pair of wading shoes will also give you improved stability and grip whilst wading in the water.

Tip 8: Protect Yourself Fron The Sun

Fly fishing for hours in the sun can do great harm to your skin. A decent sun block product will help to protect your skin. A good pair of polarized sunglasses will also protect you from the glare that is reflected off the the water.

Tip 9: Terminology of Your Rod and Reel

  • guides – metallic rings on your rod through which you feed your fly line.
  • butt – bottom section of the fly fishing rod where you hold it.
  • reel seat – the reel fits onto the rod at the reel seat.
  • locking ring – the ring that is tightened to secure your reel to the rod.
  • foot of the reel – the part of the reel that attaches to the rod.
  • drag knob – knob on the side of the reel which can be tightened to increase line drag.
  • spool – part of the reel around which your fly line is wrapped.
  • arbor – central part of the spool to which you attach your backing line.

Tip 10: Don’t Break the Bank

Fly fishing can be an expensive sport to get into. Buying a fly fishing outfit is a cost-effective way of getting your essential fly fishing equipment at a reasonable price. A package containing a fly fishing rod with a matching fly fishing reel and fly fishing line is known as a fly fishing outfit.

In order to find out more information on fly fishing, check out the news feed for Fly Fishing Elite (LeighRSS).

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A Guide to Beginner Fly Fishing Gear

Dec 3

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Fishing | 1 Comment

Fly rod and reel with a brown trout from a cha...
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Essential Beginner Fly Fishing Gear

Besides having you fly fishing rod, fly fishing reel, and fly fishing line, there are other beginner fly fishing gear that you should get before you can start fly fishing. This guide describes the essential fly fishing gear and tools required for the beginner angler.

Fly Fishing Flies

An essential part of fly fishing – you won’t catch any fish with the wrong fly fishing flies. The species of fish you intend to catch determines the types of flies that you should buy. When starting out, a fly selection package is a cost-effective way of building up your fly collection. A fly selection package is a selection of flies packaged for a specific region or fish species. Its also a good idea to get a fly box to store all your flies in. A fly box consists of various compartments so that you can organize you fly collection.

Leader and Tippet Spool

A leader is a length of tapered nylon line that sits between the fly line and the tippet. Your fly is separated from your fly line by the leader. When your fly line is cast, the leader ensures that there is not a disturbance in the water nearby your fly. As the leader is made from clear see-through material, it is invisible to the fish. Leader line normally tapers, and you tie the thick end of the leader to your fly fishing line. Leaders come in different break strengths and lengths (normally between 7 to 9 feet), and you normally buy a specific leader to match the type of fish you intend to catch.

A tippet is tied onto the leader, and is used so that whenever you replace a fly on your line, you don’t have to cut your leader line down. The species and size of fish you intend to catch will determine what tippet line you need to buy – tippet line is available in different diameters and breaking strengths. You normally use between 1 to 3 foot of tippet, and your fly is tied onto the end of this tippet. The diameter of your tippet line must match the diameter of the tippet (thin end) end of your leader line. For example, you will need a 5X tippet line if your leader has a 5x tippet diameter.

Fly Fishing Waders

Waders are waterproof gear that allow anglers to stand in deep water without getting wet. You get hip-height, waist-height, and chest-height waders depending on the depth of water you are fishing in. If you are fishing in cold climates, in cold water, then waders are essential. When fishing in warm climates, it may not be necessary to wear waders. Stockingfoot and bootfoot are the two main types of fly fishing waders. Bootfoot waders come with the boot built into the wader, and stockingfoot will require that you buy separate wading boots or sandals. The Gore-Tex Simms waders are reputed to be the best waders available today.

Fly Fishing Accessories

There are essential fly fishing accessories that all anglers should have. A pair of clippers is essential, and is used to cut the line – nail clippers can also be used. In order to get a hook out of a fish’s mouth (and to mash down the barbs on a fishing hook), a pair of fishing pliers, or a hemostat will prove to be very useful. In order to keep your hooks sharp, another useful item to have is a hook file.

Sun Protection

You will be in the sun for extended periods, so its essential to wear a hat and sunglasses to reduce the glare you get off the water. Polarized sunglasses will help you see what is happening above and below the water.

Fly Fishing Vest

A fly fishing vest is recommended, and is extremely useful to keep all your fly fishing accessories and tools organized without losing items. Vests can also be used to keep you warm and dry. Here is a guide to help you buy the best fly fishing vest to suit your requirements.

That covers the essential beginner fly fishing gear that you will require in order to get started with fly fishing.

For more information about the sport of fly fishing, take a look at the Feedest.com news feed for Fly Fishing Elite.

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A Guide to Selecting a Fly Fishing Rod

Dec 3

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Fishing | No Comments

fly fishing rod
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How To Select the Right Fly Fishing Rod

Fly fishing rods today are manufactured from many different types of material. Fly rods also come in many different lengths, and have different degrees of flexibility, which make it confusing when selecting a fly fishing rod. Buying the correct fly fishing rod in extremely important, as the fly rod is one of the more important pieces of fly fishing equipment that you will buy. The oldest and most basic fly fishing rod is the bamboo fly fishing rod. A bamboo fly fishing rod may look aesthetically pleasing, but these bamboo rods are more expensive and heavier than the modern fly fishing rod.

1. Rod Materials

Fly fishing rod are manufactured using the following materials:

  • Fiberglass – Commonly used in the less expensive fly rods. Fly rods made of fiberglass are generally more durable than rods made of graphite. Beginners normally use fiberglass rods. You can use these fly rods for most types of fishing.
  • Graphite – More expensive than fiberglass rods. Rods made of graphite have greater fighting power than fiberglass. Graphite fly fishing rods are lighter than fiberglass rods, and are easier to cast more accurately. Expert and beginner anglers are able to use these rods.

2. Rod Action

Rod action is the amount of stiffness in the rod, and how much the rod will flex when you are casting or are fighting a fish. The action of a fly rod can categorized as:

  • Slow-Action – These rods have the most bend or flexibility. These fly rods can be difficult for beginner anglers to learn to control, but these rods have more accuracy when it comes to short-range casting. Use these fly fishing rods to catch light fish.
  • Medium-Action -These rods bend in the middle of the rod and at the rod tip. These rods can be used for short and long-range casting, and are recommended rods for beginners.
  • Fast-Action – Beginners find these rods difficult to handle. These stiff rods only flex at the rod tip, and are good rods for long-range casting, and reeling in large fish. Slow-action fly rods have better casting accuracy than these rods.

3. Rod Weight

The weight of the fly fishing rod you choose should match the weight of the fly line you intend using. This is not the actual weight of the fly rod itself, but an indication of the fly line weight that the rod has been designed to use most effectively. Fly line weights are categorized 1 to 15, and you choose your fly line weight according to the fish you intend catching:

  • 1 to 3 Weight – Small trout and other small fish using small flies.
  • 4 weight – Small to medium sized trout and other similar sized fish with small to medium flies.
  • 5 or 6 Weight – Medium sized trout, small bass and other similar sized fish using small to large flies.
  • 7 or 8 Weight – Large trout and bass. You can use streamers and large flies.
  • 9 Weight and Above – Steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fish with saltwater flies.

4. Rod Length

The length of a fly rod determines the action of the rod. Shorter rods are more suitable for fly fishing in tight, confined spaces such as narrow streams, but longer fly rods have a faster action than shorter fly fishing rods. Fly fishing rod length can be categorized as:

  • Short (less than 8 feet) – Use in tight fishing situations where bush, trees or stream size restrict your movement.
  • Medium (8 feet – 9 feet) – Recommended rod length for trout and bass fly fishing. These rods allow you to handle more weight and to cast further.
  • Long (longer than 9 feet) – Ideal choice for longer casting and fishing for big-game fish.

Take a look at the beginner fly fishing rod guide for more information about fly rods, and how to choose a fly fishing rod.

For more information about the sport of fly fishing, take a look at the Feedraider.com news feed for Fly Fishing Elite.

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Bass Fly Fishing – An Introductiory Guide

Dec 3

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Fishing | No Comments

Transparent PNG of Smallmouth bass (Micropteru...
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Bass Fly Fishing Tools and Tips

The sport of fly fishing has in the past been all about catching trout. Today though, just about any fish can be caught using fly fishing techniques, whether it be freshwater or salt-water fish. Because of the fighting qualities of bass, bass fly fishing has become extremely popular throughout the world. Pound for pound, bass fight harder and longer than any trout (except for the very large steelhead trout). Bass have quite a flat body shape – this increases the drag when you try to pull them through the water using your fly rod, which also makes them a tougher fight. Bass fly fishing is slightly different from tout fishing, but the basic skills used are the same.

Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing Technique

Smallmouth bass are found in rivers and streams. With fishing rivers and streams, quite often there are trees and bush lining the river or stream, and therefore not enough room behind you to make a full overhead cast. Therefore learning to roll cast is recommended. Take a look at the following fly fishing casting techniques guide for more information on roll casting. Alternatively, you can wade far enough into the river or stream to give you enough room for an overhead cast.

When fly fishing rivers and streams its also important to know how to mend the line. With the different currents within the river there may be areas flowing quicker than others, which may cause the fly to overtake the line, or the line to overtake the fly. This will disturb the natural drift of the fly line, and may spook the bass. The technique whereby a section of the fly line is lifted and moved to re-align it with the drift of the fly is called mending. Smallmouth bass mostly sit and wait for prey in the small pools in the river which are formed by submerged rocks, trees, or other objects. When casting for smallmouth bass, try to target these pools. With smallmouth bass fly fishing, using streamers that look like crayfish or small baitfish often produce good results.

Largemouth Bass Fly Fishing Technique

Largemouth bass are found mostly in ponds and lakes. Flies used for largemouth bass fly fishing tend to be quite large. The most popular flies used for bass fly fishing are deer hair flies and poppers. Terrestrial flies (flies which resemble land based insects that land on the water by accident) are also quite effective. When casting dry flies for largemouth bass, its a good idea to land your fly near to weeds, rocks, lilies or other underwater objects where largemouth bass love to hide when stalking prey. After the dry fly hits the water, just let it float for a few minutes – then make the dry fly twitch, before retrieving the fly slowly. Often the bass will strike the fly as it hits the water.

Bass Fly Fishing Equipment

You can use the same equipment for bass fly fishing that you would use for trout fly fishing. With bass fly fishing a 6 to 9 weight fly fishing rod is normally used, along with a fly line with a matching weight. It’s not necessary to have an expensive rod and reel for bass fly fishing, and a good fly rod for someone starting out in the sport of bass fly fishing is the fairly priced St Croix Triumph Fly Fishing Rod. You can use the same double-tapered line used for trout fly fishing, but its recommended that you use a weight-forward line for bass fly fishing. Although you can catch bass with normal trout flies, you will have more success with bass specific flies.

Additional flt fishing information, tips, techniques, and fly fishing equipment reviews can be found at the Fly Fishing Elite news feed at Feedage.com.

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An Introduction to Fly Fishing for Women

Dec 3

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Fishing | No Comments

Women Learn Fly Fishing Tips

Although women have fly fished for nearly as long as men have, women’s fly fishing has recently become a very popular activity and sport for women. The relaxation and challenge of fly fishing, as well as the tranquillity of the great outdoors appeal to both men and women, and more women are flocking to this exciting sport day-by-day.

Women’s fly fishing clubs and organizations now exist for women who are interested in fly fishing. One such organization is International Women Fly Fishers, an international non-profit organization which brings women interested in fly fishing together from all over the world, and also have a directory of women’s fly fishing in the United States and from around the world.

Fly Fishing Gear for Women

Men and women are not created equal in body shape. Until recently, a woman would have had to purchase fly fishing gear made for men if they wanted start out in the sport of fly fishing. Recently the variety of fly fishing gear available for women to buy has improved considerably. Most of the large fly fishing manufacturers have realized that women are a growing percentage of the fly fishing market, and they have started making fly fishing gear designed to meet the requirements of women. Whether a woman is looking to buy freshwater fly fishing gear, or saltwater fly fishing equipment, there is now equipment specifically available.

Gear made specifically for women include fly fishing rods which are designed to be lighter, and have smaller grips to suit the smaller hands of women. Women’s fly fishing waders designed to fit the shape of a woman’s body are also now available, as well as women’s wading boots. Fly fishing manufacturers now make fly fishing chest packs and vests tailor-made for women anglers.

Sage, makers of some of the finest fly rods in the fly fishing industry (such as the Sage Smallmouth fly fishing rod), now make a fly fishing rod tailor made for women, the Sage Z-Axis Small Grip Fly Rod. Winston also make the Winston Joan Wulff Fly Rod, which is another high quality rod. These rods designed with smaller grips, and are lighter in weight to better suit women anglers.

Simms have now launched waders that are specifically shaped to fit women, the Simms Women’s Headwater Waders. These top quality waders are made from a 3-layer Gore-Tex material, and are stockingfoot waders. Simms also make wading boots specifically designed for women, the Simms Women’s Headwaters Boot, which are narrower than equivalent men’s wading boot, are lightweight, and are ideally suited for women.

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