Fly fishing is a water sport that can be enjoyed by everyone. People as young as 14 years have taken to the sport and adults as old as 80 have too. Fly fishing in a stream can be a gentle sport and this gentleness should be reflected in the way we fish for game in the rivers and streams.

Fly fishing etiquette is nothing but common sense that should prevail while fishing in a stream. Nevertheless there are things many young and old fishermen unfortunately forget during a fly fishing session. This etiquette we refer to is with regards to the other fly fishermen in the area.

Remember that there are other people fishing the same waters that you are. The first rule is to remember that it is not good etiquette to fish near another fisherman. There should be at least 20 meters distance between you and anyone else who is fishing, unless the person has consented to you fishing the same waters. It is considered very rude for someone to setup his or her fishing gear near another person already fishing in a place and is getting a lot of bites.

A fisherman will never disturb the waters where another fisher is already fishing. If they notice someone fishing they stop at a reasonable distance so as not to disturb the fish and ruin any chances of a good catch. It is ok to stand and watch the fisher fishing for a while, you never know what you might learn.

People who have a common interest in a sport such as fly fishing seem to have an instant bonding when they meet. It pays to be friendly to another fly fisherman you may happen to meet along the stream on one of your fishing trips. Invariably there is an exchange of advice and mostly it leads to something you learn. It is best to enter into a friendly conversation, you might just find out what fly fishing techniques are working for the fisher that particular day. Many people have been introduced to the sport of fly fishing just by talking to others about the sport. So if you meet someone at a fishing expedition exchange a few pleasantries, you never know who you could introduce to your favorite sport.

Now the most important thing about fly fishing etiquette, the environment, remember that the water and the surroundings are the home of the fish and a place where other people visit to partake in a sport you all have learnt to love. It will only be good etiquette to keep the place clean. Clean the surrounding when you leave the spot after a fishing trip. Try to leave it cleaner than you found it. Remember it only takes a few minutes to cleanup after you. This will keep the fishing spots looking beautiful and inviting for everyone.



By: Abhishek Agarwal


About the Author:

Fly-fishing is an art as well as a sport. The art is choosing the correct presentation and the right flies for your targeted species. And, of course, knowing where to find the fish! Is it cheating to hire a guide? Like art, the only way to cheat is to steal someone’s style or present his or her work as yours.

Is a guide cheating?

Using a guide is no more cheating than getting someone else’s opinion. That is exactly what a guide does. They give you enhance your experience by sharing what they have learned through their own experience. By using a guide, you will only enhance and improve your abilities as a fly fisherman. You haven’t stolen anything from them, simply because they showed you how and when.

When should you hire a guide?

Now that we have cleared that up, the next question becomes when to use a guide.

The frugal angler will hire a guide for the first few days of a fishing trip. It will relieve all the frustration of finding new spots and new flies. The guide can make it a trip that last forever in your memory as a good fishing trip.

If you are fishing in familiar waters or locally you probably will not need a guide. This is the time you can clear your pallet and discover your talents. Paint your memories of the big one you caught or the quantity you caught.

By hiring a guide when you are making a trip to unfamiliar waters or unfamiliar species,you can enjoy his or her style and learn from him/her. Experiencing different guides is like going to an art gallery and discovering the many ways art is created. Guides can help you become a better angler by sharing their way of catching the fish.

A Guide to Out Do Others

The sport is catching that trophy fish or out fishing those around you. Fly fishermen are competitive also and that is what makes fishing such a great sport.

It is not cheating to use a guide. After all, they can’t catch the fish for you. They show you were to fish and what the fish like. All these things you could discover yourself, given time. However, you don’t have that kind of time on vacation. Therefore, hiring a guide is a good way to go.

Summing up, use a guide when you are traveling to catch a new species or when you are fishing in unfamiliar waters. Think of the guide as your own personal tutor to fly fishing.



By: Robert Joe Wallace


About the Author:

For many anglers, fly fishing is their true passion. Whether you’re seeking the noble salmon or the elusive trout, there’s nothing better at the end of the day to sit down to a delicious dish of pan-fried fish you’ve caught fresh just hours ago. To ensure success, it’s critical to have the right fly fishing tackle. With so many brands to choose from, it sometimes seems that all brands are alike. Nothing could be further from the truth. The legendary Hardy brand stands above most others. Here’s a brief review of a great fly reel from Hardy, the Angel 2 TE.

About the Hardy Angel Fly Reel

This reel boasts an innovative design from Hardy with an ultra-fast action that gives the angler a distinct advantage. This reel has nearly perfect balance, thanks to high-tech computerised weight distribution. The result is superb performance characteristics that you’re sure to appreciate whenever you wade into a cold, fast-flowing stream. From the first cast, you’ll experience the reel’s exceptional smoothness, which is partly due to the Angel 2 TE’s superior design. All these features converge to deliver a fly fishing reel that’s superbly precise.

Features of the Angel 2 Reel

One of the first things you’ll notice is the Angel 2 TE’s exceptionally light weight and amazingly durability. When using this reel, you’ll find that you can drop fast-sinking fly lines with accuracy and precision. The Angel 2 TE is supremely responsive, a feature that ensures a quick snag-and-pull style which virtually guarantees even large fish will stay securely on the line. Even expert anglers appreciate how a rod fitted with this reel quickly becomes a seamless extension of the arm, allowing for optimal performance. The Hardy Angel 2 TE gives the fly fisherman a distinct advantage in all types of fishing venues and conditions.

About the Angel Reel and Rulon™

Priced at about £251.00, this is a feature-rich reel. Whether you you’re out for light brook trout or fishing for large salmon, you’re sure to appreciate the Angel 2 TE’s superior features. It has a new, redesigned clutch and converts quite easily from left- to right-handed operation. The redesigned Angel 2 TE features an all-metal handle that has a reverse ***** fitting. The drag adjusts instantly by way of a uniquely shaped, ergonomic knob. The hard anodised finish is exceptionally durable. I also like the concealed check system and the improved Rulon™ drag. Rulon™, by the way, is a high-performance plastic that’s widely used in plastic bearings and gears because of its low coefficient of friction, extreme corrosion resistance and ability to perform effectively in a wide range of temperatures. It does not deform under load, is stiffer and has a higher compressive strength. Rulon™ is used extensively for chemical, electrical and mechanical industrial applications.

If you’re looking for a new piece of fly fishing tackle, you really should consider the remarkable Angel 2 TE reel from Hardy.



By: Tommy Lee Jones


About the Author:

When it comes to trout fishing there are two styles of fishing that are employed min almost all cases. There is trout fishing with ultra light spin fishing gear and there is fly fishing. Both methods of fishing for trout are effective and one of the most important aspects of attempting to catch trout are the knots that are used for attaching tackle to your line and/or tying two lengths of line together. In this article I will outline and discuss three of the best fishing knots for trout fishing so that they can be added to your “memory bank” for the next time that you are out on the water fishing for these beautiful fish.

Whether you are an ultralight spin fisherman or a fly fisherman, you need to know how to tie these fishing knots when you are out on the water attempting to catch trout. I will provide some tips as to what each of the following knots can be used for as well as what the knot is called, but there is little doubt that these knots are three of the best knots when attempting to catch trout.

The Dropper Loop – This knot makes a loop in the middle of your line. There are applications when fly fishing where the Dropper loop comes in handy, and also when attempting to catch fish with ultra light gear and a bottom rig. The dropper loop is the perfect knot to know for making a loop in the middle of line no matter what the fishing application may be. The Uni Knot – This is a reliable terminal tackle fishing knot. This method of attachment can be used by both fly and spin fishermen. Some say this knot is as easy to tie as fishing knots get, and it could easily become your “go to” fishing knot when you are out on the water fishing for trout. The uni knot is perfect for tying on any piece of terminal tackle onto your line. It is a strong and reliable way to attach lures, flies, hooks, or swivels to your line or leader. The Surgeon’s Knot – This knot is a great way of attaching two pieces of line together. This obviously comes in handy for fly fishermen as they attach their leader to their fly line, but for spin fishermen as well when they need to tie two pieces of line together. This is a strong and “easy to tie” knot for both of these trout fishing scenarios.

Now, are these the only knots that need to be known when fishing for trout? Who knows? Manners of attaching fishing line together and attaching terminal tackle, lures, or flies to fishing line are largely up to personal preference and style, but these three knots are all great ways to accomplish these tasks and should be a part of any serious trout fisherman’s arsenal.



By: Trevor Kugler

About the Author:

Although its true that most trout feed below the surface most of the time, my favorite kind of fly fishing is dry fly fishing. This is where you present an imitation of an adult insect that has reached maturity and is floating on the surface film of the water. The excitement I receive from seeing a large trout come from below and take the fly is how I got hooked onto fly fishing in the first place. Most fly fishermen will have success catching trout, but at the expense of watching a strike indicator all day. If you’re like me, the sight of a rising trout will make your heart skip a beat. Know in advance that if you only fish dry flies, you will probably catch less fish than your friends that are nymph fishing. However, these 5 tips will greatly increase your productivity and help you catch more trout on dry flies.

1) Read the water: Often, beginners are guilty of walking right up to the water and casting. To be effective as a fly fisherman you will need to take the time to learn how trout live and feed. Subsequently, you will then understand where likely trout lies are in the water. When you approach the water look for places where fish can hold without expending much energy and where they have protection from predators. Now, hopefully you are wearing the requisite polarized glasses so you can learn to identify a holding trout under the water. Focus on those spots where they should be and wait for any shadows to move. Those moving shadows are feeding trout. the biggest clue to where a trout is holding is when they are feeding on the surface. Look for small ripples that accompany the small splash of a surface feeding trout. Now keep watching and you will see that trout come to the surface.

2) Use as long a leader as you can: When trout feed on the surface, they are obviously looking up to see their meals coming to them. Because of this, if your fly line is too close to your leader the trout will see it and will not take the fly. Make sure to have on as long a leader as you are comfortable fishing to prevent unnecessary spooking of the trout. Sometimes there is too much foliage to have a long leader. I try to have at least 9 feet of leader and more if possible. Longer leader is harder to manipulate, so practice, practice, practice.

3) Match the hatch: Take notice of the bugs flying around you. Give the bushes next to the water a little shake a get a good look at what flies off. It is good to know the color of the naturals around you, but it is imperative that you have the right size. The right color fly that is too large will leave you empty handed where as the fly that is close in color and is the right size will still be very effective.

4) Cast upstream: Stealth is on your side if you take this approach. As I’ve already mentioned, if a trout sees your fly line, it wont take your fly. That goes the same for you. If you step into it’s view you will have a very frustrating experience. Cast your dry fly upstream. Now, any trout that you may be trying to catch are facing away from you and should be in direct line with your fly that is now traveling downstream towards you and the fish on the current. As the fly makes its way back towards you strip in the loose line so that when trout takes the fly you can set the hook. Avoid casting directly upstream from where you are. This causes your fly to directly follow the fly line and will also make trout wary.

5) Limit false casting: Trout can be very shy and easily put down. The less false casting you do, the more opportunity you will have to catch trout. You should only be false casting to dry your fly. If you are false casting because you lack accuracy, then move closer and perform shorter casts. Move slowly to keep your stealth advantage. when you do false cast, try to change the direction of the cast so the line doesn’t fly over the water you are fishing. Practice your casting. Eventually, you should be able to pick up your line and cast it with accuracy the first time.

Put these tips to use and I know your dry fly fishing will improve. Now, go practice and catch some fish.



By: Paul Schackman

About the Author:

The Rod

In fly fishing a fly fisherman’s tackle will comprise of a rod, reel, line, leader and a variety of artificial flies to tempt that illusive fish. The purpose of this tackle is to gently yet accurately place the artificial fly or lure on the water with minimum disturbance. To achieve this result, fly fishing tackle utilizes a uniquely manufacture tapered line with an engineered light weight rod. Traditionally trout fishing and salmon fishing fly rods were manufactured out of bamboo cane with the hexagonal split cane rod being the mostly widely used from 1900 to the 1950′s. From 1950 onwards the glass fiber rod started to dominate due to the lower manufacturing costs. In the late 1970′s carbon fiber was invented and the weight of fly rod’s plummeted, this made line weight a critical factor in the performance of the rod.

Throughout the world the trout fly rods vary quite a bit although they will usually comprise of two or three sections which can be dismantled and stored safely in a rod tube. Trout and Salmon Fly rods are said to have a tip action or a through action. Tip Action – This refers to the tip of the fly fishing rod being worked to about halfway through its length with the lower end closest to the reel doing minimal work.

Through Action – In contrast to the tip action fly fishing rod, the through action fly fishing rod will work through its entire length. The best way to find out which fly fishing rod suits you best is to go to your local retailers or trout fishing retail event where you can try the different fly fishing rods with line and leaders to determine which best suits your style of casting. The type of trout fishing water together with the species of fish being sought impacts on the required length of a rod. For example, a fisherman trying to tempt a wily Salmon will usually use a rod of between 12 and 14 feet. A lake fisherman looking for a crafty trout will usually use a rod of some 9 feet in length. The same angler if fishing a small stream could use a rod as small as 6 feet in length. Obviously the length of a rod impacts greatly on the weight of the rod. Long length Salmon rods will tend to be close to 1 lb in weight while the smaller stream rods may only way a couple of ounces. The average weight of a lake rod will be in the region of 4-5 ounces or perhaps as low as 1

]]> http://www.fishing--fun.com/2011/09/fly-fishing-38/feed/ 0 http://www.fishing--fun.com/2011/06/fly-tying-part-1-introduction/ http://www.fishing--fun.com/2011/06/fly-tying-part-1-introduction/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:31:03 +0000 admin http://www.fishing--fun.com/2011/06/fly-tying-part-1-introduction/

norvise asked:

Nor-Vise Fly Tying System. Created by Norm Norlander, this is a great tool for any fly fisherman who wants to learn how to tie their own flies. Website: www.nor-vise.com

Fly Fishing Equipment

Fly rods

Fly fishing rods come in different sizes and with varying degrees of flexibility. It is very important that the fly fishing line used on a rod is correctly matched to the rod. If the line is too thick and heavy for a lighter rod, the casting action will be negatively affected or worse yet the rod could suffer permanent damage due to the stress. Rods are marked in sizes, from the lightest #0 or #1 to the stronger and much heavier #16 which is used predominantly for game fishing at sea.

There is a small margin of variance which can be considered when matching a line to your rod. It is usually safe to use a line rated for a rod either one size heavier or lighter than your own. In other words, if you have a 7wt fly fishing rod, it is safe to use a 6wt or 8wt line.

There is a difference between fresh water fly fishing rods and their saltwater counterparts. Saltwater rods generally need to handle stronger fish and need to cast heavier flies over longer distances; this means that the rods need to be heavier and stronger with a thicker line. Fighting **** reel seats and anti-corrosion fittings are necessary to ensure a longer life for these rods in a salty environment.

Fly fishing reels

These reels are sometimes referred to as casting reels. In fly fishing casting the line is pulled from the reel by hand as the other hand casts. The reel then comes into play when pulling the line back in with the rotation of the reel. As fly fishing has become more popular in conditions which place more demand upon the fly fisherman and his equipment, the technological enhancement of equipment has had to keep pace. These days there are specially produced reels for saltwater fly fishing and for those who are after larger fish.

Increased speeds in retrieving line as well as a reduction in friction are characteristics of newer reels. Another innovation is the use of disc drags which allow for smoother action and the use of much lighter tippets.

Fly fishing flies

Flies are extremely light and are attached to a piece of line known as a leader, which narrows from where it is attached to the line towards the fly end, called the tippet. The leader can vary in length between three to twelve feet. Sizes of flies vary greatly, size #2 being a larger fly and #22 being a rather small fly.

More about Fly Fishing Equipment

By: Angela Drummond

About the Author:

Appropriate gear is important in fly fishing. Most experts believe that for you to be able to fly fish properly, you must have a complete set of gear. Thus, every fly fisher, novice or expert, has different fly fishing gear that are meant for different fishing locations. And if you’re a beginning fly fisherman and need to buy gear for your sport, there are a variety of choices available. But, it will do you better to find reviews of fly fishing gear first before heading out to buy them. Fly fishing gear reviews will give insights about the different gear that is available in most angling supply stores and dealers. You will learn the pros and cons about the different kinds of fly fishing gear you can purchase.

As fly fishing experts write most reviews, you can rely on the information. Angling magazines and other printed material about fly fishing offer reviews and articles on where to go, what gear to use and what to catch. You’ll even find great deals on fly fishing gear. columns; you might as well try reading some of their advices on how to find great deals on gears and equipment.By reading as many reviews as you can, you’d be able to compare the products they mention and decide what gear is best suited to you.

Most reviews about fly fishing gears will help you The Internet offers lots of sites containing reviews of different angling and fly fishing gear as well. They mostly offer information on the technologies and characteristics of a certain brand of gears.

By: Ross Bainbridge

About the Author:

Although its true that most trout feed below the surface most of the time, my favorite kind of fly fishing is dry fly fishing. This is where you present an imitation of an adult insect that has reached maturity and is floating on the surface film of the water. The excitement I receive from seeing a large trout come from below and take the fly is how I got hooked onto fly fishing in the first place. Most fly fishermen will have success catching trout, but at the expense of watching a strike indicator all day. If you’re like me, the sight of a rising trout will make your heart skip a beat. Know in advance that if you only fish dry flies, you will probably catch less fish than your friends that are nymph fishing. However, these 5 tips will greatly increase your productivity and help you catch more trout on dry flies.

1) Read the water: Often, beginners are guilty of walking right up to the water and casting. To be effective as a fly fisherman you will need to take the time to learn how trout live and feed. Subsequently, you will then understand where likely trout lies are in the water. When you approach the water look for places where fish can hold without expending much energy and where they have protection from predators. Now, hopefully you are wearing the requisite polarized glasses so you can learn to identify a holding trout under the water. Focus on those spots where they should be and wait for any shadows to move. Those moving shadows are feeding trout. the biggest clue to where a trout is holding is when they are feeding on the surface. Look for small ripples that accompany the small splash of a surface feeding trout. Now keep watching and you will see that trout come to the surface.

2) Use as long a leader as you can: When trout feed on the surface, they are obviously looking up to see their meals coming to them. Because of this, if your fly line is too close to your leader the trout will see it and will not take the fly. Make sure to have on as long a leader as you are comfortable fishing to prevent unnecessary spooking of the trout. Sometimes there is too much foliage to have a long leader. I try to have at least 9 feet of leader and more if possible. Longer leader is harder to manipulate, so practice, practice, practice.

3) Match the hatch: Take notice of the bugs flying around you. Give the bushes next to the water a little shake a get a good look at what flies off. It is good to know the color of the naturals around you, but it is imperative that you have the right size. The right color fly that is too large will leave you empty handed where as the fly that is close in color and is the right size will still be very effective.

4) Cast upstream: Stealth is on your side if you take this approach. As I’ve already mentioned, if a trout sees your fly line, it wont take your fly. That goes the same for you. If you step into it’s view you will have a very frustrating experience. Cast your dry fly upstream. Now, any trout that you may be trying to catch are facing away from you and should be in direct line with your fly that is now traveling downstream towards you and the fish on the current. As the fly makes its way back towards you strip in the loose line so that when trout takes the fly you can set the hook. Avoid casting directly upstream from where you are. This causes your fly to directly follow the fly line and will also make trout wary.

5) Limit false casting: Trout can be very shy and easily put down. The less false casting you do, the more opportunity you will have to catch trout. You should only be false casting to dry your fly. If you are false casting because you lack accuracy, then move closer and perform shorter casts. Move slowly to keep your stealth advantage. when you do false cast, try to change the direction of the cast so the line doesn’t fly over the water you are fishing. Practice your casting. Eventually, you should be able to pick up your line and cast it with accuracy the first time.

Put these tips to use and I know your dry fly fishing will improve. Now, go practice and catch some fish.

By: Paul Schackman

About the Author: