Fly Fishing Basics

Fly Fishing Basics

In fly-fishing’s earlier days, it was pretty much used only as a method for catching trout and salmon. Today, however, it’s becoming more popular for different types of fish, such as bass, panfish, carp, and pike. It is also used to catch certain marine species, such as striped bass, snook, redfish, tarpon, and bonefish. Also, fishermen have reported catching other types of fish such as chub, rudd, and bream while attempting to catch things like trout and salmon with the fly method. Some fishermen make it a point to try and catch as many different fish as possible!

The term ‘fly-fishing’ is almost literal, because fishermen use fake flies on a fly rod and fly line. The fly line is heavy, so as being able to send the fly right out to the fish. If the artificial fly is not in proportion (as in weight) with the line or rod, they can break, so you want to make sure that if you’ve got a big fly, you use heavy line and a big rod. Also, the reverse effect can happen with a small fly. The line will not go out as far as you want it to. (The fake flies are made with things such as feathers and fur to attract the fish. Some line is made to sink, and some is made lighter to float.) You’ve got to decide what you’re fishing for, and which type of fly, rod, and line you need.

Bass Fly Fishing Basics

Bass are very attracted to fly-fishermen. The flies dazzle them, and curiosity overtakes them, just in time for you to hook them. If you’re fishing for small-mouth bass, you’ll obviously need a small fly, and somewhere around a 6 to 8 pound line. It would be a good idea to tie an 8-inch dropper with a small streamer behind the bend of the hook for better action. The best way to explore these waters is with a small float-tube or a small boat or canoe. The fish like to hang around weed beds, rocky points, overhanging brush, duck blinds, downed trees, submerged rock piles, and docks.

When a hatch is removed, the small fish come up to the surface and take the escaping naturals. Most of the time, though, it’s easy to find the fish moving quietly alone the shoreline and casting to shore cover, letting the popper sit, then moving it, and letting it sit again, then popping it again to draw a strike.