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Importance Of Fly Fishing Gear

Fly Fishing
Image by cbruno via Flickr

More and more people around the world for all walks of life are fishing as a form of relaxing and pleasure. Perhaps fishing is a form of mantra but to most it is an art.

This form of art, which most people have invested in lots of time and money and even, pasted on from generation to generation is priceless.

To learn to think like a fish is a lesson that is crucial and will be a deciding factor whether ones fishing trip will be successful or not. There are many things to take into consideration when planning to take up fishing as a hobby or art.

Fly fishing gear is first and foremost item that should be considered. The search for perfect fly fishing gear should not be painstaking procedure as one would rather be fishing than shopping for fly fishing gear. Fly fishing gear is dependent on the type of fish sought.

How To Choose The Correct Gear For Fly Fishing

It is pretty easy to choose the correct gear when one knows how to

Select the correct fly rod with matching fly line
Choose a fly fishing fly (that is fly fishing lure)
Cast the fly line
Start to retrieve
Hook into you your fish.

In fly fishing gear the type of rod and waters to cast fly is very important. The heavier the rod the more suitable will it be for stronger currents. The reel (single action or multiplier) is somewhat less important in fly fishing than is for the rod.

Most modern day commercial fly fishing gear leaders usually achieve having multiple portions of the fishing gear in one product. This is not quite advisable for a beginner to use as it takes away the essence of the art of fly fishing; a skill learnt and passed on from generation to generation.

However one wish to invest in the sport there should is always an alternative by purchasing discounted fly fishing gear. This discount fly fishing gear is sold in most leading sales outlets. Fly fishing gear can be bought on the Internet and from other resources. However, should one wish to really take the art of fly fishing seriously, it will be good to invest if top of the range rod and reel.

On average a rod will cost on a range on $15 -$1 000 but if one would opt to go for cheaper fly fishing gear, it would catch you that fish but it would be more effective as a decoration.
So, go ahead and catch that fish!

A Guide to Selecting a Fly Fishing Rod

Choosing the Correct Fly Fishing Rod

Fly fishing rods today are manufactured from many different types of material. Fly rods also come in many different lengths, and have different degrees of flexibility, which make it confusing when selecting a fly fishing rod. One of the most important items of equipment that you will buy for fly fishing will be your fly fishing rod – selecting the correct fly rod is therefore imperative. The fly fishing rod that is the oldest is the classic bamboo fly rod. Whilst a bamboo fly rod is a work of art, these rods are heavier and more expensive than the fly rods made today.

1. Rod Materials

Fly fishing rod are manufactured using the following materials:

  • Fiberglass – Commonly used in the less expensive fly rods. Fiberglass rods are usually more durable than graphite, and are generally used by beginners. These fly fishing rods can be used for many fishing situations.
  • Graphite – More expensive than fiberglass rods. Fly fishing rods made of graphite are lighter, which make them easier to cast more accurately. Graphite rods also have greater fighting power. Expert and beginner anglers are able to use these rods.

2. Rod Action

Rod action is the amount of stiffness in the rod, and how much the rod will flex when you are casting or are fighting a fish. The action of a fly rod can categorized as:

  • Slow-Action – These rods have the most bend or flexibility. These fly fishing rods are the most accurate when it comes to short-range casting, but are difficult for beginners to learn to control. Fishing for lightweight fish is the main use of these rods.
  • Medium-Action -These rods bend in the middle of the rod and at the rod tip. Rods in this category are suitable for the novice angler. These fly fishing rods can be used for both short-range and long-range casting.
  • Fast-Action – Beginners find these rods difficult to handle. The tip of these rods can flex, but the rest of the rod is quite stiff. These rods allow you to cast long distances, and to reel in larger fish. Slow-action fly rods have better casting accuracy than these rods.

3. Rod Weight

The weight of the fly fishing rod you choose should match the weight of the fly line you intend using. This is not the actual weight of the fly rod itself, but an indication of the fly line weight that the rod has been designed to use most effectively. Fly line weights are categorized 1 to 15, and you choose your fly line weight according to the fish you intend catching:

  • 1 to 3 Weight – Small trout and other small fish using small flies.
  • 4 weight – Small to medium sized trout and other similar sized fish with small to medium flies.
  • 5 or 6 Weight – Medium sized trout, small bass and other similar sized fish using small to large flies.
  • 7 or 8 Weight – Large trout and bass. Large flies and streamers can be used.
  • 9 Weight and Above – Steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fish with saltwater flies.

4. Rod Length

The length of a fly rod determines the action of the rod. Shorter fly fishing rods have a slower action than longer fly rods, but they are better suited to fly fishing in tight confined spaces than longer fly fishing rods. Fly fishing rod length can be categorized as:

  • Short (less than 8 feet) – Use in tight fishing situations where bush, trees or stream size restrict your movement.
  • Medium (8 feet – 9 feet) – Recommended rod length for trout and bass fly fishing. These rods allow you to handle more weight and to cast further.
  • Long (longer than 9 feet) – Ideal choice for longer casting and fishing for big-game fish.

Take a look at the beginner fly fishing rod guide for more information about fly rods, and how to choose a fly fishing rod.

 

For more information about the sport of fly fishing, take a look at the Feedraider.com news feed for Fly Fishing Elite.

All About Good Fly Fishing Flies

Fly Fishing The Colorado
Image by 50%ChanceofRain via Flickr

Fly fishing is one of the most recognized and distinct methods of catching fish or angling. There is nothing quite like casting your fly out on the water and have it explode immediately.

This method has been popularly used to catch trout and salmon but I also fly fish for smallmouth bass and chain pickerel. What a blast.

There is no limit to the species of fish you can catch fly fishing.

There is different equipment used to make the process a success. One of the most important are the artificial flies you use while fly fishing.

The fly rod and fly reel you use isn’t all that important as I have used inexpensive rods and reels for years but I do buy good fly line and leader. It really sucks to lose a good fish, even if you practice catch and release.

An Overview On Fly Fishing Flies

Artificial fly fishing flies are commonly used. There are many companies that make them. This is to say that they are widely available in the market all over the world.  The following is just an overview of what goes into making these fishing flies. They come in great varieties with respect to size, shape and even colour. Fur, feathers, hairs and other materials are used in the making of fly fishing flies. These materials can either be natural or synthetic. A fly fishing lesson will reveal some of these aspects of flies. The flies are created by tying the materials onto a thread and hook.

Fly fishing flies are made with the aquatic appearance of local fish and insects in mind. This is because there must be a match that will be attractive and similar for success in angling to be achieved. They are also customized with regard to colour, and patterns to create fly fishing flies that are suitable. Creating the fly flies is an art and in different places in the world, experts who are gifted and skilled are employed to create flies that suit different specifications. It is a pleasurable and exciting art that continues to prevail. Synthetic materials are more popular when it comes to creating flies.

For many, fly fishing is a sport that employs the use of different varieties of fly fishing flies. To produce the variety, many companies have emerged to create or make fishing flies. These are a few most popular kinds of fly fishing flies. There are dry flies, wet, trout, nymph and UK trout flies. These are some of the most recognized. However, different cultures or communities will have their very own flies which have been in their society for a long time. This is the case for many angling communities.

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My Rod and ReelImage by neutralSurface via Flickr

I am the guy who never throws things away. Although I do practice catch and release fishing but that’s not what I am talking about today.

Heck, I still have clothes older than my 23 year old son. They’re fine and have no holes so why would I get rid of them.

Well the fly reel I have been using, I have been using for about 20 years or so and saw no need to change it. I usually out fish my fly fishing buddies and still get a longer cast even though my gear is older than some of the guys I fish with.
This year I decided to retire that reel and keep it as a back up fly reel just in case my new one isn’t as good as the old Pflueger Medalist I have been used to.

It’s a bit funny thinking back to when I first started using my trusty reel. I dropped it and it landed face down on a big rock and broke a piece that holds the spool in the reel. Not a good way to start with new reel.

I had a second reel, already spooled and just switched it up and it’s been like that for the past 20 years. I never changed the reel again and I am sure that I have only used maybe 4 fly lines with that reel.

I just took the old spool out this morning so I would remember where I damaged it and believe it or not it still has the same fly line I had put on it the day I bought it.

I stopped in at Canadian Tire and picked up a new Crystal River – Royal Coachman fly reel. I will give it a try the next time I am on the water to see how I like it. It’s bigger than my old reel so I am not sure if it will feel different or not.

Maybe next year I will buy a new fly rod to match my new reel.

Some Basic Facts about Fly Fishing Gear

Green Highlander salmon fly. The hook length in this example is 4.5cm.Image via WikipediaIn fly fishing, it is very important to an angler’s success that he starts with the proper equipment. He/She may purchase or own the finest fly fishing equipment in the world, but when it is assembled and put into use, it may prove to be a very decided handicap.

To guard against this, it is important that the individual items of tackle be properly balanced one with the other. Unbalanced equipment has been responsible for more difficulties and failures of beginners than any other single factor. Poorly matched equipment is what allowed me to out fish my fly fishing buddies, well until I helped them pick their next rod, reel and line. Then I actually had to start working a bit harder to beat them.

Fly Fishing Rod

To fish with a good fly rod is to really enjoy fishing. It is much easier to learn with a good rod than with one of an inferior quality. This is no commercial plug to encourage the sale of expensive fly rods, but just a word of warning to prevent any possible or unnecessary discouragement because of using a rod that would be decided handicap to a competent caster.

Fly Fishing Lines

This item of fishing gear must be selected with some careful considerations if anglers are expecting to enjoy fishing or casting.

This is because the size and weight of fishing lines made by various manufacturers are not entirely uniform, that is, the diameter of the line by one manufacturer may be slightly larger or smaller than a line by another manufacturer even though both bear the same size marking.

The Leader You Choose To Use

The leader is also a very important item, and unless it is selected with care and consideration in comparison with the size of the line, the caster will have trouble in making it extend straight out from the line when casting.

The chief function of the leader is to serve as an invisible connection between the line and the lure.

Fishing Flies

The flies may range in size, from the tiniest used, which might be number 18 or 20, up to flies tied on number-2 hooks or larger. The heavier flies you create the more wind resistence. It also requires the use of heavier equipment or more power on the part of the caster during the back cast and forward cast.

I prefer to tie my own trout, salmon, bass and pike flies myself. It saves me time and it’s so cool when you catch that lunker on your own creation.

Fly Reels

The fly reels may be automatic or single action, but in any event, it should be larger enough to hold the usual 30 yards of fishing line without crowding it on the reel spool.

The fly reel should weigh from 1 ¼ to 1 ½ as much as the bare rod. The reel itself is of no specific use in casting or fishing except as a storage place for the line.

Consequently, the entire equipment should always be in good condition. Other wise, achieving success in fishing is impossible.

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How To Choose The Right Fly Rod For You.

Choosing the right fly rodHow To Choose The Right Fly Rod

There isn’t one fly rod that is ideally suited for every situation. By answering a handful of questions, a beginning fly fisherman can determine the rod which best suites their needs, whether it’s a G Loomis or St. Croix. Fly lines are rated by “weights”, generally ranging from 1-9 weight. For example a Royal Wulff 2 weight fly line represents the lighter end of the scale, while 9-weight lines are much heavier. A fly rod of a certain weight is specifically designed to cast its corresponding weight line.

What are the major factors you should consider when choosing a fly rod?

1. Species you will be fishing for
2. The types of water you intend to fish
3. The action of the rod

Read more on ‘how to choose the right fly rod” here.

Advertisement: Once you have the fly rod of your choice selected you can see what’s available on eBay at a better price.

How do you choose a fly rod? by ‘TheFlyFishingFanatic

There are many ways to choose the right rod. For the beginner this can be a daunting task, as they do not know what to look for. I will write a little about what to watch for, but you will need to do some research into the rods after you have taken a look at them at the shop.

Read the entire ‘How Do You Choose A Fly Rod’ article here.

My fishing buddy Kerry and I love the Bass Pro Shop catalog.

I love Bass Pro Shops catalog. It keeps me up-to-date on all the things I am interested in about fishing. Cool place to get great prices on fly rods.

I like to visit the local shops and if their prices are favorable to my wallet at the time I purchase local but sometimes I have other priorities and have to stay with in budget, that is when I use Bass Pro Shops.