Mar 30 2006
Fly Fishing
What is Fly Fishing?
If you believe Wikipedia …
Fly fishing is a distinct and ancient angling method, developed primarily for salmonids (trout and salmon, mostly) and now extended to other species such as pike, bass, and carp, as well as a wide range of marine species. Artificial flies are constructed — "tied" onto a hook with thread, fur, feathers and other materials — in sizes and colours to match naturally occurring food or simply to excite a fish (more …)
Fly fishing is not simply the act of casting out a fly, waiting for a fish to gobble it down and hauling it in. It is far more than that. It is the hours of planning, scanning topographic maps, looking for streams that no-one else goes to; the crafting of flies that we hope the trout will see as food; the first glimpse of the river; the anticipation while stalking the quarry and the rush that results from tricking the fish into believing that your fake bug is real.
Pretty much any fish species can be taken on fly, you just need to do your homework. If you can tie something on a hook that looks like their main food group, and make it move through the water like the thing you are imitating then you have a vary good chance of hooking up.
How do I get started in Fly Fishing?
Firstly I would get along to your local fly fishing club. I have yet to find a club that will turn away a newcomer who is interested in finding out more about the sport. If you are in Australia, you can find a comprehensive list of clubs on the FlyLife website. If you are somewhere else then I would suggest getting down to your local tackle store and ask them. They'll be glad to point you in their direction.
Before you go out and purchase any gear, I would strongly suggest you get some casting lessons. There is a vast array of different rods, and they aren't exactly cheap (well they aren't in Australia anyway), and you really need to be armed with some knowledge before you hand over your hard earned cash.
What gear do I need to get into Fly Fishing?
Questions about suitable tackle would be one of the most common in fly fishing. There is a wide range of gear available out there and it is a major source of confusion to people wanting to get started in the sport.
In a nutshell, you will need the following to get started.
A Rod:
Fly rods are quite specialised. They come in a variety of lengths (from about 6' up to about 17' long) and a range of 'weights' (essentially a power rating) with. In addition to this, each brand of rod will bend in a different way, commonly referred to as 'action'. Now, if this all sounds quite confusing, don't fret. A mid range, 9' rod can be used for most applications. I would again recommend heading over to your local club and have chat with them and they will be able to help you out with your choice.
A Reel:
Reels too come in many shapes, sizes and prices, starting from around $10 up to $1500. Unless you are chasing hard charging salt water pelagics, you can get away with quite a cheap reel. For freshwater applications, reels are essentially simple line holders, and adjustable drag is not really important. I have one that I got for $5 at the local tackle store that has served me well. If you do plan on chasing big salty fish, then you would be better off getting something that will be up to the task. Cheap reels just will not cope in this situation.
A Line:
A fly line is a unique piece of equipment. Where conventional bait fishing setups use a sinker as weight to assist casting, fly lines distribute the weight along the length of the line. When you cast, you actually cast the line, as opposed to the sinker, and this carries the almost weightless fly out onto the water. Fly lines, like the rods, come in many different shapes and sizes and must be selected to suit your rod, casting, and fishing application. Again consult your local tackle guru, or fly fishing club. Lines are not something you should skimp on. A cheap line will make casting much harder than it needs to be, where as a high quality line will cast far more easily. Do yourself a favour and buy the best line you can afford. You wont regret it.
A Leader:
This is an light extension which is tied on between the end of the fly line and the fly. The type of leader will influence the way the fly is delivered at the end of the cast so it must be selected to suit the application. It also helps to hide the line from the fish, and provides a cheap consumable piece of line to which we can tie the fly. A simple knotless tapered leader, rated around 5lb, would be a good place to start.
Some Flies:
Flies come in many shapes and sizes. They are essentially lures made of fur/feather/synthetic materials tied onto hooks, and designed to look somewhat like the food items of the fish species we are trying to catch. For more information check out the Fly Tying Page
Other Accessories:
There are numerous different trinkets that can be found that are supposed to make the art of fly fishing simpler. You can go absolutely nuts here, and unload a substantial amount of money. I find a vest very handy, a pair of clippers for cutting line (nail clippers will do), a pair of hemostats (forceps) is great for removing hooks. This sort of stuff depends on your tastes as well as what sort of fishing you are doing (for example forceps are not exactly suited to removing 4/0 hooks).
Where do I go from here?
As mentioned above, get some casting tuition early on. Poor casting is one of the major sources of frustration for both beginning and experienced fly fishers, and habits are hard to break if you leave them too long. Tuition is available through most clubs, as well as from professional casting instructors, though clubs are cheaper.
All of this is just a starting point. I know it is a cliche, but learning to fly fish really is a "life long journey". The most important thing that you can do is get out there, catch a few fish and start having fun. I cant think of a better way to escape from the daily grind.
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