The Joy of Fly Fishing in New Brunswick

Image via Wikipedia

Now imagine the same scenario but this time you are using a fly you tied yourself. That adds a whole new level of excitement for me. Now you have the excitement of fly fishing but it’s just so much more.

It doesn’t matter to me if I am fishing for Atlantic salmon, Smallmouth bass, brook trout or even Chain pickerel tying artificial flies for them just makes for more excitement.

Tying artificial flies doesn’t have to difficult at all. A few fly tying tools and materials and you are ready for a new experience that will be with you for life.

Where To Start Tying Artificial Flies

I would suggest that you first find someone that will show you the ropes. I had someone show me and in no time at all I was out buying my own vise and materials.

Having someone show you how to tie flies and then letting you try your hand at it will give you a good indication of whether you will want to do this for yourself. I was hooked right away but I have a few friends that would rather just buy their artificial flies.

My fly fishing friends and myself of course look for fly tying supplies on eBay . It’s a very affordable way to get started. I also use eBay to buy the artificial flies I don’t want to tie myself or just don’t have the time to tie.

Required Fly Tying Tools

The Fly Tyers Vise

To begin with you will need a vise to hold your hook while you are tying. It just doesn’t work when you try holding the hook with one hand.

There are a variety of vise types. I personally have a very basic, inexpensive vise that has worked for me these past 30 years. But you can get some really nice vises. The only thing I wish my vise did would be to rotate the hook when I need to, it would make tying even easier.

Price range for Fly Tying Vises: $30 - $200

Fly Tying Scissors

Scissors are extremely important. I like to have two pair of small scissors. One pair have straight cutting blades while the other has curved blades.

The curved blades make trimming your fly so much easier, especially the body of the fly as it’s usually oval and not square so the curved blades follow the shape making it easier to trim.

I have been using the same two pair of scissors for at least twenty years, maybe a bit longer, and the only thing I have ever had to do was to sharpen them.

Price range for Fly Tying Scissors:

You will need fly tying materials like feathers, hair, yarn and of course a variety of thread colours.

I started by buying a fly tying kit and later I purchased all the supplies and tools a friend I worked with at Sears was selling when his health took a turn for the worse and he no longer went fishing. I still have a lot of things he sold me and that was some twenty years ago.

I have found eBay to be a great place to get the best deals on all things fly tying.

Image via Wikipedia

Fly fishing for bass certainly will not win you any fishing tournaments. But it is the most challenging way you will find to catch bass. It is far removed from most fly fishing techniques, such as fly fishing for trout in a mountain stream.

The rod used is heavier than those used for catching trout. Rods for bass fishing are usually 8 weight, a rod such as this is required because this type of fish takes some landing. Also the fly used would be larger as well. The leader used for this type of fishing would be shorter as well, 4-6 feet, with the tippet at around a 8 pound test line.

The best way to catch your first fish, is to cast your line from a boat towards shore, making sure it lands underneath trees and there branches. A technique that is known to work well, is simply letting the fly rest on the water for a period of time, then snap it across the water quickly, this is a great way to get the attention of any bass that are there. You will find that the popping sound of this action will attract the fish and then you can make your first strike.

Some of the best fishing you will find is in smaller bodies of water. Small county lakes and slow moving creeks are perfect for fly fishing. Slow moving creeks are a favorite, this is because can use the shore to cast from and position your fly in a favorable position, such as, beneath trees.

The thing about this type of fishing, is the fight the fish will put up, will make it seem far larger than it is. A two to three pound bass caught will seem and feel like a six pound fish. All this adds to thrill and excitement of your new fly fishing experience.

Fly fishing for bass is not only an exciting experience, it is also fun to do. So next time you are thinking of going fishing for bass, put aside your normal rod and reel, then give fly fishing a try. You will not regret doing so and will have the most thrilling fishing experience that you will ever have. Also just think about the tales you will be able to regale your friends with, about your new found experience. So are you up to this challenge?

If you would like to learn the art of Fly Fishing Mastery, then try visiting Fly Fishing Tips.

Image by AA7JC via Flickr

Although its purpose may be straightforward, there is nothing straightforward in choosing the right fly for the right fish.

In the past, choosing a fly is easy enough because there are specific flies for a specific fish.

For example, a trout fly is to be used exclusively on trout and a salmon fly on salmon. But in the present, there are more specific flies that cater to the varying diets of a particular fish.

So for example, a trout does not only have a singular trout fly, but also has flies that imitate frogs, worms, etc.

Another source of confusion, at least for beginners, is that categories of US fly types are named differently than their British counterparts.

For example, what are called dry flies in the United States are simply called dries in the UK.

But despite the difference in taxonomy, they usually have the same set of sub-categories. Again using the dry flies as an example, the sub-category of mayflies can be found in both categories.

Aside from its different types, flies also differ in sizes. Usually, a fly’s size ranges from #2 to #22 with the former being the largest.

Not to worry though as the confusion can be resolved by a good advice from reputable and experienced fly fishing equipment vendors. It is always a good idea to ask them when in doubt of which type of fly to buy when one goes fly fishing.