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In the world of fly fishing there are many words that are good to know. Some of the fly fishing terms are a bit unusual or may mean something else to most who don’t fly fish. Here is a list of some of the more unusual and double meaning words utilised by fly fishers.

Action: an over-all term often accustomed to try to describe the design of the rod – such as sft, hard, slow, or fast

Attractor: usually a bright colored fly that’s not usually tied so it imitates a specific type of food

Belly: the sagging percentage of a fly fishing line

Blank: a rod with out a handle, reel seat, or guides

Blood Knot: the most popular name for a barrel knot

Chalk Stream: a stream, usually found in valleys, that is spring fed and slow moving with plenty of vegetation

Complex Hatch: the simultaneous hatching of countless types of type of insects

Compound Hatch: the masking, or hiding, of an hatch of smaller insects with a hatch of larger insects occurring on the same day

Cutthroat Trout: a genuine trout that is certainly found mostly inside the western the main United States

Dapping: a fly fishing technique in which the fly is repeatedly bounced off and on of the top of the water

Down Eye Hook: a hook which has the eye bent below the shaft

Dropper: the secondary fly which is attached to the leader inside a cast of flies

Emerger: a condition that is used to describe any insect that moves up towards water’s surface preparing to hatch in the adult stage

Feeding Lie: the place where a trout goes into order to actively feed

Flat-butt Leader: a fly utilized in fly fishing in which the butt section is actually created into a ribbon shape

Freestone Streams: quick, tumbling streams with rock covered bottoms

French Snap: a smaller clamp, often utilised by a fly fisherman to install his net to his vest

Holding Lie: when a trout generally remains you should definitely actively feeding

Leisenring Lift: an approach used in nymph fly fishing where the line is lifted, inducing the imitation fly to go upwards, in front from the trout’s suspected lie

Midge Rod: a short, light weight rod

Natural: – a full time income insect, in contrast to an artificial, or man-made, insect or fly

Nymphing: any oaf the different fishing methods of which the fly fisherman presents an imitation with the underwater stage of your insect

Presentation: the process of locating a fly the location where the fish is probably to see it; includes the way in which in which the cast in completed and the method in which the fly is fished

Rise: the action of the fish taking an insect from the water’s surface

Run: a condition used to describe a particular stretch of moving water

Shooting: a casting technique

Spate: high water

Stripping: quickly retrieving line or pulling line through the reel

Terrestrial: of or in relation to an insect whose life-cycle is completely spent on land or even in plants

Waders staff: a sturdy rod about of up to the armpit of the individual fly fishing used by support in heavy water

There are several words and terms which can be unfamiliar to many people but not to those who enjoy fishing.

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My love of fishing began just about 50 years ago when I moved from Toronto to a foster home in the country. It was a 100 acre beef farm with a river running through the back end. I spent a lot of hours fishing for catfish. It was were I went get rid of stress.

Those memories of fishing are as fresh in my mind today as they were 50 years ago. Take a kid fishing and change a life.

I couldn’t wait to get out of that foster home and eventually moved to New Brunswick Canada where I still had blood relatives.

It was New Brunswick where I learned how to use a fly rod for the first time and spent the next 5 years finding and fly fishing every trout streams, brook and beaver pond I could find. I also spent a lot of time fly fishing for Atlantic salmon but that’s for another post.

Trout Fishing Tip #1 – Patience Wins The Day

As many years as I have been fishing I still get more excited the closer I get to a fishing spot.

I used to be the first to the water and usually the first to catch a fish but I wonder just how many bigger, wiser fish I spooked being in such a hurry.

I remember watching brother-in-law Joe, the guy who taught me to use a fly rod. He was slow and pokey but it turns out that he was more methodical about fly fishing and would always catch the bigger fish. it took me a few years to calm down enough to pay attention to him.

Joe would get all geared up, then he would creep down to the edge of the water, find a comfy rock and have a coffee while watching what was going on in and around the water.

Trout Fishing Tip #2 – Being Stealthy Wins The Day, Again

I learned a bit of patience from Joe but I learned to be a stealthy fly fishing from a college professor who was an avid fly fisher.

My professor asked me if I wanted to go fly fishing after supper as he knew I carried my fishing gear everywhere I went.

Well he took me to a spot I have fished many times and caught some nice fat 12 and 13 inch brookies. Nothing any bigger than that there, I thought.

Well I was about to find out there were much bigger brookies in that brook.

We didn’t take the same path I usually took to fish this spot. He took me up river a bit where we crossed to the other side and came back down to where I usually start fishing.

Before getting to the brook he started to crouch and almost crawled to a tree right on the river bank. From behind the tree he pointed out a little riffle of water going under an overhanging tree on the other bank.

He made one false cast to get the line out and then changed his direction and landed a small dry fly at the beginning of the riffle and let it drift under the tree. A huge splash and he had on a brook trout that could eat the trout I usually catch there.

I was blown away when he netted the first 18 inch brook trout I had ever seen.

He said to give that spot a break for a few minutes and we moved to the next spot where he did the same thing. Kinda crawled to a spot he could get a good cast with his fly, without being seen by any fish. Heck I used to just walk up and start casting.

This time he hooked into a 16 inch brookie.

The next spot it was my turn. I did all the stealth and tried to keep low in the tall grass. I had a bit of trouble making a cast in that position and my fly slapped the water. Big mistake when you’re fly fishing spooky fish like brook trout.

I did hook a 13 inch brook trout. Guess he wasn’t as smart as those bigger brookies who took off when I smacked the water.

Trout Fishing Tip #3 – Learn To Read The Water

Back to brother-in-law Joe who taught me to fly fish with a bit of patience. Well Joe also taught me about reading my surroundings. Something I have taught many people over the years.

He’d sit there sipping his coffee and reading the river for potential fish locations were we could take a fish.

Once he had them pointed out we would watch those spots. It was amazing to me when we would see a brookie take something from the surface, exactly where he showed me.

The more I observed the better I got at observing which showed in the numbers of fish I was catching on the fly. I actually got to the point where people I took fishing were impressed with my talents, talents I had to learn from others.

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RON WARD/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

My son just came into my office a couple of minutes ago and told me I might be interested in an article in Times & Transcript’s website. My first thought was more of the bad news happening to Japan and was going to say no. My heart so goes out them but I can only watch so much.

Then he said it was a fly fishing article and I perked up right away.

So for any of you guys and gals interested in fly fishing and fly tying I might just see you there. It will be my first time there as I have missed it every single year but heard about it later.

Fly fishing Forum Set For The End of March

Fishermen of every stripe have circled the weekend of March 26 and 27 on their calendars, the dates of the eighth annual Dieppe Fly Fishing Forum. From very humble beginnings, this initiative of the Dieppe Fly Tying Club has grown into a must-see event for recreational anglers of every kind, but especially for fly fishermen.

True to their roots, the show still aims simply to promote the graceful, relaxing art of enticing a fish to an artificial fly. In particular, it’s geared towards under-represented segments of the population when it comes to fly fishing, like young people and women. But make no mistake, even some of the greatest fly tyers and fishermen in the world will find something interesting at the forum.

“It’s simply a gathering of all fly fishermen and all people interested in fly fishing,” Heroux points out.

Dieppe Fly Fishing Forum Article Continued…

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Fly Fishing Muddler Minnows

If I had to pick only one fly I could only fish with all year long, I would have to choose the Muddler Minnow. I like this fly pattern because it is so versatile, and it seems to produce on big rivers, small streams, and lakes. Popular sizes ranges from size 4 down to size 10 and it doesn’t have to be tied perfect to be effective. In fact, I have a friend of mine who once told me that “the worse it looks, the more fish it catches.” So if you are tying your own Muddlers and they don’t look that good, do not worry they may still catch fish.

The Muddler Minnow is a great fly for Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Brook Trout, Steelhead, and most other game fish. This fly has two major things going for it. First, it looks like a wide variety of fish forage. For example, to the fish, a large Muddler may look like a grasshopper, big stonefly, or even a small field mouse. The smaller Muddlers may look like caddis flies, small minnows, or small sculpins. Second, it can be fished just about any way you want using a dry line or a wet line, dead drifted on the surface, down and across the current, or cast and striping the fly. Don’t be afraid to give the Muddler some action. Make it look like alive trying to get away from a predator, or make it look like a big fly trying to get off the surface of the water.

A Muddler Minnow fishing tip that works when fishing slower currents or lake fishing: Cast out to a spot. As soon as the fly hits the water, twitch the fly a couple of times while stripping in about 2 feet of line, and then let it sit for 5 seconds, then twitch and strip in again working the fly back to you. Make another cast to a different spot about 6 feet from the first spot. Try not to fish over the same place over and over.

Just as there are endless variations of the Muddler Minnow, there are just as many ways to fish the Muddler. For example, in the summer, you can fish it like a hopper; twitch and pause making it look like a big insect has just fallen in the water. Skate the Muddler, and make it wake across the current while at the same time giving the fly the action of an injured minnow trying to escape a charging predator. In the springtime try the smaller sizes, and fish the fly with a sinking tip line close to shore, giving it a short stripping action. During early mornings and late evening of summer and fall use the larger sizes of the Muddler, giving it action along the edges of deep pools and cut banks.

Please remember to be careful while you are on the river, do not harm our wonderful land, don’t litter, and please practice catch and release for the next generation.

Stanley Stanton is an Oregon Fly Fishing Guide and McKenzie River fly fishing guide, Visit: http://www.oregon-fly-fishing-with-stan.com For additional fly fishing tips and information about Fly-fishing for Rainbow Trout, Steelhead Fly fishing and salmon fishing. Email: stan@oregon-fly-fishing-with-stan.com The above author authorizes distribution of this article and that it be reprinted or Published in its entirety, including this resource box.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stanley_Stanton

Tying the Muddler minnow I use is pretty straightforward. Check it out the Muddler minnow in our fly tying section.

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Image by James River Association via Flickr

Where are the Brook Trout?

Brook trout are looking for oxygen and water that is at least 53 degrees or colder. The stronger the current, or the more rapids there are, the more oxygen will be created in the water. As the seasons change, the these trout follow the cooler water.

Spring time, with fast flowing and cooler water, is a great time for catching brook trout. However, as summer comes and the water becomes warmer, the trout will migrate to cooler waters. Here is where you need to understand the waters where you fish.

As warmer surface water flows from the lakes to the rivers, the water becomes too warm for the brook trout. Typically they will migrate downstream where they find rocks as well as natural springs running into the river. Both of these cool the water. However, if the head water of a creek is fed by a spring fed lake, the trout will head up street to cooler waters. In the summer time, you will need to determine which way the cooler water is – upstream or downstream. That is where you will find your trout you are looking for.

What to Use for Bait and Lures?

Brook Trout will hit worms and natural insects They like grasshoppers and mayflies. They also like any artificial flies that mimic the natural bait.

A good bait to use is one that you can roll up into a round ball that resembles a salmon egg. Put this on your hook and see what you can catch. This type of bait comes in a small jar and molds just like Silly Putty, which makes it very convenient.

A 6 or 4 pound test line with small hooks is best for brook trout fishing.

Why can’t I catch Any Brook Trout?

One of the most difficult times to catch one is when the suckers are spawning. The Trout love to gorge themselves on these eggs. That means they will not be interested in what you have to offer them. If this is the case, you will need to go further up or down stream to find some Brook Trout that are hungry.

All trout are very sensitive to sound and smell. They can actually smell you, so leave your smell good stuff at home. They also scare easily, so if you go traipsing through the water making lots of noise and splash, they will hide from you. If you offend their senses, they will swim away to their favorite hiding places.

One more reason Brook Trout may be difficult for you to catch is because they often are at the base of a waterfall or rapids area. They like deep pools and bubbles but they may be in areas that are too deep for you to wade in thereby making them very difficult for you to reach.

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Look out Chain pickerel, we have some extremely hard to resist flies that have your name on them. But fear not as we always practice CPR, catch, photo and release and sometimes a little kiss just before we send you back to family and friends again.

Hey, we’re trying to take a picture here.

Casey and Jamie have taken me fishing so much in past few years I could never say thanks enough but in that time they have never done any fly fishing for pickerel so you can imagine my surprise when Casey emailed asking if I have any flies for chain pickerel. I am so looking forward to 2011.

My first adventure for pickerel on the fly was with my fishing friends Roland and Paul. We headed out on a little body of water I won’t mention here but we were in our float tubes. At the beginning it didn’t look like we were going to catch anything making us wonder if there were any fish in this place.

Once we reached the opposite side from where we launched our float tubes we had our first attack and then it was non-stop for hours and hours. We didn’t hook into any large pickerel on this trip but we did get into numbers that had us laughing for most of the day. I showed Jamie this little spot as we passed it on our way to do some trout fishing on the fly and I am sure we will be there with the float tubes this year.

Some of the flies we used on that trip were small brook trout dry flies, the same kind that I caught my very first pickerel with. They worked really well. Of course we had to a few Atlantic salmon flies, like the Mickey Finn. They worked as well but the three of us really love the top water action so we went back to top water flies like deer hair bugs and poppers I tie for the smallmouth bass I fly fishing trips.

I am going to be tying a few of the flies I have mentions, enough for Casey, Jamie and myself but I have also been looking online to see what other flies I might want to tie that will attract more chain pickerel.

Wooly Bugger Leech Pattern

I really like the wooly bugger, leech pattern and so does the chain pickerel here in New Brunswick but they didn’t last very long as we were fishing without any leader and I lost the only two wooly buggers I had. So I will certainly be tying a few wooly bugger patterns for the three of us, however this time around I will be sure to use some fluorocarbon leader and maybe keep those flies longer than one cast each.

Tip For Fishing The Wooly Bugger – It took me a little while to figure out the best retrieve for the wooly bugger but the minute I got it right I had immediate action. Kind of like the pickerel was looking at the leech and wondering why it didn’t swim right. Once I started giving it about 6 inch stripes and pausing they would strike and strike hard.

I am going to start with the wooly bugger and I will tie up a hand full of those. Then I will look up a pattern for a popper for next week and tie some of those. At that time I will add another video showing how it’s tied. Untill then enjoy the video and hope to see you on the water.

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Smallmouth bass have been one of my favourite species of fish to go after here in New Brunswick. They are a most aggressive fish and can fight as strong as any fish their size. When they hit quite often one thinks they have a much bigger fish on, they hit that hard, especially if you happen to be using your fly rod and that favourite popper.

I’ve had heart healthy issues for the past 10 years and have a few limitations. Fly fishing was one for what seemed like a life time, even though it was only about 5 years but now I have some of my upper body strength back and of course permission from my doctor, which makes my wife happier when I go fishing. Now it’s time to get that old fly rod out for next year, even though it’s still months away.

In the meanwhile I have been watching videos. One of those videos brought back some awesome memories of fly fishing for smallmouth bass using my fly rod and a few choice poppers.

Just casting a popper into some spots doesn’t give you any chance to try making it pop before a smallie pops it. I am always so tense when I cast a popper into lily pads or around weeds. I have been fishing long enough to know they are just waiting for something like that. But when it doesn’t get smacked as it hits the water I get to stripping in fly line and making it pop, which can take a bit of practice so I decided to add the following video so that you can learn how to pop that fly like a pro.

It’s not really very hard to pop the popper but of course one you know how it’s easy, right. Have some fun with it.

Learn to tie your own bass poppers for fly fishing and save yourself a lot of money, learn a new skill and enjoy using the flies even more. I know I always enjoy catching fish on the flies I tie myself. Just jump over to my fly tying section and check out the tying a bass popper fly video.

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