AceFlyFishing.com

Picking a fly fishing rod is a tricky endeavor. Do you go with your ego, expected fishing environment or something else? While length is a factor, the bend or action of the rod is a key factor.

Flexibility

Fly fishing rods are often defined by their flexibility. In laymen’s terms, flexibility means how far the rods will bend when the same casting effort is used.

Minimal Bend

A fly fishing rod that has minimum bend is often called a “fast” rod. The lack of bend lets the angler get lots of speed on the cast. This speed allows you to cast very accurately and farther away than rods with more bends. While these benefits may sound great at first glance, a fast rod can be frustrating. There is no room for error when using the rod. If you are going to use one of these rods, you need excellent motion and timing. Generally, only anglers with a lot of experience should have a go at using fast rods.

Moderate Bend

The next step down from a fast rod is one with medium flexibility. These rods tend to have good flexibility, but the bend is restricted to the top half of the rod. The rod requires less perfection of motion and timing, but is fairly accurate. If you’ve been angling for a while and have the basic techniques down, a moderately flexible rod is worth a try. Read the rest of this entry »

When fly fishing, many anglers prefer to catch and release their fly fishing prizes. Still, what should you do when you’re the prize?

That’s Gotta Hurt

If you become a fly fishing fanatic, you will inevitably hook yourself one day. Of course, this has never happened to me, but my “friends” have done it repeatedly. Being a thoughtful and observant person, I’ve seen how they go about unhooking themselves from a fly. Again, this is never happened to me. Ever. No, I won’t take a lie detector test.

The Barb

The best hook removal method depends on the location of the hook barb. The barb is the part of the hook that keeps the hook from simply sliding back out of the fish or, in this case, you. The essential question is which direction will result in the least damage from the barb.

A “friend” of mine once managed to hook himself through the flap of skin between the thumb and forefinger. The hook penetrated from the top of this hand through to the palm. The barb had gone all the way through the skin. In such a situation, the best method is simply to cut the line at the base of the hook and push it the rest of the way through the skin. This technique will result in a minimum of damage. Read the rest of this entry »

When we refer to fly fishing tackle, we are really talking about the tools and supplies you need to become an effective fly fisherman. Tackle is basically the equipment you use to catch fish. The basic tackle includes a rod, reel, line, and hooks and lures. You will want to pay special attention to the type of tackle that you carry with you when you are on a fly fishing trip.

Your rod is your most important part of fly fishing tackle. It will make or break your fishing trip. Having the right rod for the right conditions is very important. You need to take into consideration what you will be fishing for and where you will be fishing at. The higher weight rod, the bigger the fish you can catch. But you won’t want to overdo it either. Choose your rod carefully and practice using it.

Your line is also an important part of your fishing tackle. Again, it will depend on what you are fishing for as to what strength of line you will be using. You may have to switch in the middle of your fishing trip when you begin to find different types of fish. Having a variety of lines available at your disposal will make your experience satisfying.
Fishing lines serve as the link between the angler’s reel and the lure or bait. The most popular line used for sport fishing is monofilament nylon line, which is strong and durable and has a certain amount of stretch, which helps when an angler sets the hook. The line comes in a variety of strengths, from 2-pound test to more than 100-pound test. Pound test is the amount of pressure that can be put on a line before it breaks. Most monofilament is clear, making it difficult for fish to see.
There are many different types of fishing line available to you. Choose the one that fits both your budget and your needs.
Of course, you will want to have many different types of flies and lures to bring the fish to your line. What you are trying to do when fly fishing is to mimic the look and actions of the fish’s natural food source. If the fish in the area you are fishing are used to dining on may flies or caddis flies, you will want to have these types of lures to increase your chance of bagging the big one.
A fly is a special type of lure used in fly-fishing. Flies are made of feathers, hair, and plastics, which are wrapped around a hook and designed to imitate water insects such as mayflies and stoneflies, or land insects such as beetles or grasshoppers. They come in a variety of types: dry flies, which float and imitate adult aquatic insects; wet flies, which lie below the surface and imitate immature aquatic insects; nymphs, which resemble the larval stage of aquatic insects; and streamers and buck tails, which imitate small fish.
Having the right amount of tackle along on your fly fishing trip is important. However, don’t overdo it. You may find yourself bogged down with way too much equipment which will make you uncomfortable. A little research before your trip can go a long way and tell you about the type of fly fishing tackle you will need.