Whether you like to practice the age-old art of tying your own fly fishing lures, or you would rather buy your lures, fly fishing is considered a popular sport among fishermen. In fact, in many areas of the country, fly fishing has increased in popularity. Many newspaper sports sections now offer information and schedules on local fly tying classes. Men and women, young and old, are learning the art of fly tying, casting, and finding the perfect fly fishing creek.
A fly used in fly fishing is basically a particular type of lure that is made up of hair, feathers, and plastics attached to a hook. The basis behind fly fishing is fisherman are trying to imitate such insects as grasshoppers, mayflies, stoneflies, willowflies, beetles, crickets, etc. In other words, these flies are meant to imitate the natural food of fish.
In normal rod and reel fishing, many anglers use rooster tail baits, and these baits carry the weight of the line out into the water. Fly fishing differs from this in that the bait is actually very light, and the line itself is the weight that carries the bait into the water.
Many people think that fly fishing is used for trout only. People generally believe this because trout are picky eaters, and anglers generally have more success fly fishing for them. Fly fishing, however, can be used successfully in just about any creek and for a variety of fish including bass, bream, pike, among other. You just want to try to imitate the range of motion that insects use in landing on the water’s surface.
In order to understand how to fly fish, an angler must realize that there are basically two types of flies: sub-surface flies and surface flies. Sub-surface flies are flies that go below the surface of the water. Surface flies land on top of the water.
Some sub-surface flies are made to represent an insect that is still in its young stage before it sprouts wings. These are usually referred to as wet flies, and sometimes nymphs. Because they don’t have wings, additional weight is usually added so that they can be cast accurately and into the appropriate depth in the water. Another type of sub-surface fly is the streamer. These flies have long, narrow wings, and they are created to look more like small bait fish.
There are basically two types of surface flies: poppers and dry flies. Poppers are the weightier of the two surface flies. They can be formed to resemble baitfish or frogs, and they are usually made out of a different material, such as cork or foam. Dry flies are created to look like adult small insects. Their feathers help keep them on top of the water.
Of course, flies are incomplete with the help of a hook, and there are various hook sizes to be considered. Basically, hook sizes are represented by even numbers. The lower the number the larger the hook will be, and the higher the number, the smaller the hook will be.
Of course, with hook sizes running from a 2 to a 28, it can be confusing as to which hook size to use for which type of fish. You can keep it fairly simple by using sizes 2 through 10 for bass, 6 through 20 for trout, and 8 through 16 for fish such as bream.
If you aren’t sure what type of fly to use at a particular period of time in a certain creek, observe the water. What type of insect is on the surface of the water and in the air during that time of the year? Fish are extremely sensitive to the color and shape of lures, so if one particular fly isn’t working, then try another.
If you are just beginning, ask fellow anglers what type of lure they have had the most success with. Visit your local fishing supply store, and ask them for any literature they might have that includes information and tips on fly fishing in the area. Even if you are not as successful as you’d like to be, remember that even experienced fly fisherman are constantly learning how to improve both their casting and their choice of flies.
