Learn the art of tying fishing flies.
Fly-fishing may be just another sport to you but if you want to get some real satisfaction out of it, why not learn to tie your own flies? Experienced fly-fishermen who tie their own flies will tell you there's nothing like catching a fish with one of your own hand-made flies.
You will have to get yourself some instructions-it's not the easiest thing in the world to do-but with a bit of patience and some good diagrams, you'll be able to tie some basic flies in minutes.
The first thing you'll need is a fly-tying kit available at sports stores. The kit will contain all the basic essentials like a vise, feathers and animal fur, thread, sharp scissors, bobbins for the thread, clamps and hooks. Don't expect this kit to be cheap although it will be well under $100. Once you really get into tying your own flies, you could get carried away and invest thousands of dollars in the hobby.
Artificial flies imitate bugs at various stages of their hatch so the fly you make will depend on what you want to fish for. Take a look at your fishing spot to determine what bugs are on the water. Tip over rocks to see the bugs that are underneath. Then look in the book that came with your kit for that species.
You will need good eyes and a well-lit work area. You'll also have to be pretty flexible with your fingers but there are lots of tools that can aid you as well. Tying flies involves winding one element after another onto the hook. Once finished, you'll have created a tail, a body, wings and a head including the eyes.
If you're a beginner and can't master the whip-finish, a half-hitch finishing knot will work just as well.
Keep in mind, you won't be an expert overnight but with a little patience and a well-stocked kit you'll soon be a successful fly-fisherman catching fish with flies you created yourself.
