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June 21, 2009
Fly Fishing – an Introduction
Introduction To Fly Fishing
Over the last 2000 years humans have employed numerous methods of archery, fishing and hunting in order to find food. Over that time, fly fishing has become seen by many anglers as the essential method of fishing requiring skill, patience and stealth. Indeed trout fishing is by far the most rewarding fishing whether boat fishing or bank fishing.
When compared to other forms of fishing and the fishing equipment required at the bank, fly fishing stands out above the rest due to the limited fishing equipment that is needed; allowing greater stretches of a river or lake to be explored in a session. By employing what is essentially a fishing lure presented in such a way as to convince the fish it is a living creature worth devouring encompasses all that relates to the history of archery, fishing and hunting.
Which Rod?
There are several things that you need to think about when choosing the right type
of fly fishing. Every reel and fly fishing rod has a certain function and knowing the function is critical to its success.
One of the first things that you need to consider is comfort. Is the rod that you’re
using comfortable for you to hold? If you’re shorter than about 5′5″ you won’t
want to use a rod that is seven feet. Choose a fly fishing rod length that is easy for you to hold and cast for a few hours at a time.
Most of the fly fishing rods on the market today are designed to allow you to feel when a fish takes the bait. The shaft of the fly fishing rod is called a “blank” and when the rod is first manufactured the blank is made from fiberglass, graphite, or other materials. Each
of these blanks has an action that is either: light, medium, medium/heavy, or
heavy. The upper portion will also have an action that is either: extra light, light,
or regular. Both ends of the blank are assembled and the final result is a fishing rod, complete with a handle and guide. No matter what type of rod that you’re using, the “action” of the rod will refer to the “blank”. The action of the rod will have a great
deal to do with the type of fishing that you’re doing.
Now go to your local tackle shop and ask to try out a range of rods in order to decide which best suits yourself. This will be an individual thing and the only way is to try the rods bearing in mind .
Which Reel?
Reels – There are three main types of reels that you can choose from when it
comes to fly fishing: (1) baitcasting reels, (2) spinning reels, and (3) spincast reels. The reel that you choose will depend your own personal preferences.
Baitcasting reels: Baitcasting reels have better accuracy and control of the lure
than other reels. They are better equipped to handle lines that are ten or more
pounds in weight. The one thing to be aware of when using a baitcasting reel is
that they often have the tendency to snarl or fight back when the spool starts to
spin faster than the line that is being played out. This is particularly true if you are
casting into the wind.
To prevent these backlashes, baitcasting reels have a magnetic braking feature but
you’ll want to count more on the control of the spool tension, which is a knob that
is usually located right beside the handles. You’ll need to set the spool tension
knob for each lure by holding the rod straight and disengaging the spool. Loosen
the tension just until the lure begins to drop down and then tighten the spool just a
bit.
When you’re casting the reel you’ll disengage the spool and then hold it tight with
your thumb. When you want the lure to move forward you’ll simply loosen up on
the pressure. After some practice you’ll learn to control the speed of the spool so
that you have better accuracy.
Spinning reels: Spinning reels are reels that have a spool that is stationary. The
line is spun onto the spool as a device called a “bail” rotates around it. Spinning
reels can be used for any size of line but more experienced fly fishers will use it
for lightweight lures with a weight less than ten pounds. Spinning reels tend to
perform a little better than baitcasting reels when you’re casting into the wind.
One disadvantage of using a spinning reel is that there is the inevitable twisting of
the line which will create tangles and knots. When your line becomes twisted the
best thing that you can do is replace the line with a new one. One way that you can prevent some of these tangles from occurring is by putting the spool into a glass of
water for about 24 hours before you head out to go fishing, giving it a chance to
soak.
To cast the spinning reel, hold the handle of the rod with one hand, making sure
that the spinning reel is on the bottom side with your middle finger placed in front
of the “foot” of the reel. Slowly open up the bail and pull the line behind the first
knuckle of your index finger. Release the line by pulling your index finger into a
straight position. You can control how far you cast the line by letting the line
move along your index finger as close to the spool as possible as the line unwinds.
When you want to stop the line you simply push your finger against the lip of the
spool.
Spincast reels: Spincast reels are also known as “push button” reels. They are
closed-face and are very easy to use. They are almost impossible to tangle and can
be cast in smooth, long arcs without twisting. The main portion of the spool is
encased in a covering and it remains in one place while a pick-up pin spins around
the spool. When buying a spincast reel make sure that you don’t buy the most
inexpensive one since you want to pay for good quality. Many beginner fly fishers
do well with a spincast reel.
To cast the spincast reel all you need to do is depress the push button and hold it
down. You’ll release the button when you want your lure to move in a forward
position. Most spincast reels are able to be used with any weight lure or line size.
Which Line?
Most of the lines that you’ll use for fly fishing will be made of nylon
monofilament. However, other lines are becoming just as popular such as lines
that are (1) braided, (2) co-filament, or (3) fused. No matter what type of line you
buy make sure that it’s a “premium” line. Premium lines are more durable and
even than cheaper lines. You’ll want to match the fishing line that you buy to the
following criteria and conditions:
· Strength: Strength is measured in the pounds of force that is needed to
break the line. You’ll find that most lines will break at higher weights than
they are sold at.
· Resistance to Abrasion: When you’re fishing in areas where there are a lot
of brush or rocks you’ll want to use a line that won’t break easily when it is
constantly rubbed.
· Line Diameter: The diameter of the line will affect the way the line is cast
as well as how deep your lure will run. Diameter also has an affect on the
visibility and stretching of the line. The thinner a line is the harder it will be
for the bass to see it. Thinner lines will also give some bait, such as grubs, a
more realistic flowing action. The one good thing about lines with a thicker
diameter is that they are better able to withstand abrasion.
· Stretch Lines: Stretch lines won’t break as easily when they are being
pulled by a fish. They are beneficial in letting you detect strikes as well as
help you in setting hooks.
· Line Stiffness: The stiffness of the line is related to its stretch. The stiffer
the line is the harder it will be to cast. The advantage to having a stiff line is
that is more sensitive than flexible lines.
· Line visibility: In clear water it’s important that your line is as invisible to
the fish as possible. However, you’ll want to have a line that is highly visible when your fishing lures are on a subtle strike, such as worms, grubs,
and jigs. This is so that you can easily detect any movement on the line that
may indicate a fish is biting.
Holding your Rod Effectively
It’s important that you learn to hold your rod effectively under any fishing
conditions. You want to make sure that you maintain good control at all times
without gripping too hard. You can adjust the power of your hold when you’re in
the middle of a cast. This will allow you to minimize the vibrations of each
movement. With just a bit of practice you’ll be able to increase the tightness at the
same as you learn to relax your grip.
Which Bait?
Following is a list of some best bait choices as recommended by the experts:
? Grubs: Grubs are small lures that are usually used to catch larger fish.
Grubs are great for use in highland reservoirs where there is little cover for
the fish. The grub is much like a bare jig head that has a soft plastic body to
attach to the hook. You’ll want to use them most often in clear water
conditions.
I am a quality engineer working in the nuclear industry. I live and work in the Lake District in the United Kingdom. I have 4 children, one of which can be seen in my profile picture. I have been hooked on fishing since childhood and love taking my two twins fishing on the many lakes, tarns and rivers in the Lake District.
If you’re thinking of fly fishing in Alaska, you should recognize the fish species in the area, understand their preferred flies and know what to expect. So, read on for a general overview of the fish species in Alaska.
Pacific Salmon Varieties
The four most populous Pacific salmon varieties in Alaska are: silver salmon, reds or sockeyes, pinks, and Chinook or king salmons. Overall, the Pacific salmon is a great game fish that can put up a fantastic fight and pose an incredible challenge.
Pacific salmon only spawn once in their lifetime and then die. And though they don’t eat upon returning to fresh water, they will strike surface and subsurface flies. Fly fishers also need to be prepared to do battle with strong fighters. With sockeyes and chums weighing in at 3 to 10 pounds and king salmon tipping the scales at 12 to 100 pounds or more, fly fishers need to be ready.
The Steelhead (Trout Family)
The steelhead is actually a type of rainbow trout, named for its beautiful silver body and steely color. Like salmon, they like to swim in open ocean or bigger lakes, however they’ll spawn in nearby rivers. The steelhead will spawn multiple times in its lifetime.
Because the steelhead is rare, fast and hard to catch, it’s a prized fish and a respected catch. On average, the steelhead will weigh between 4 and 12 pounds, but can go much larger in size in the Alaskan waters. To catch the steelhead, fly fishers need to be patient and persevere.
Grayling
The graying is a unique fish, easily identifiable by its high and broad dorsal fin and almost neon blue color on its body and fins. For fly fishing, Alaska graylings are both prized and easy to catch. The fish aren’t very discriminating and tend to go for almost any fly.
That said, Alaska graylings do have a few preferences. They tend to like active, moving insects, smaller insects and also dry flies. The fish will also feed on minnows and crustaceans, though traditional light flies seem to be the most effective.
An Alaskan grayling will typically grow to about 4 pounds, but they’re a tasty catch and well suited to the dinner table.
Alaskan Arctic Char
The Arctic char is a member of the trout family that prefers clean, clear and cold lakes or streams to survive. They are strong, active and aggressive, but also a fantastic catch. They predominantly feed on insects, minnows, aquatic worms, fish eggs and crustaceans. Most fly fishers agree that the Arctic char is generally more gullible than its trout cousins. For fly fishing, Alaska arctic char are plentiful and easy.
Fishermen who are able to squeeze in the time to enjoy a fishing excursion off the Alaskan coastline will return home with some of their most fond lifetime memories. Not only are the fish themselves fascinating to both watch and catch (and eat!), but the beauty of the overall landscape and wildlife is breathtaking and could itself fill a picture album.
June 2, 2009
Fly Fishing Is A Unique Experience
Fly-fishing is a form fishing that uses a different method of catching the species that live and breathe under water. The method is referred to as angling. This method is used to target mostly trout and salmon. Recently the target list has extended to fish like bass, pike and carp. Historically fly fishing an ancient method of catching fish that originated in Scotland and Northern Europe.
There are many and various types of flies being used in fly-fishing. In modern fishing methods there are various types of fish being used to catch the designated target. The following is a list of types of fish; dry flies and emergers (for example midges or stoneflies), nymphs (for example mayflies or eggs and worms), streamers wet flies (for example buggers and leeches), saltwater flies (for examples sailfish and marlin), bass and panfish flies (for example crawfish and eels), salmon and steelhead flies (for example Atlantic salmon flies).
Certain gear is needed when fly-fishing. The first item on the list is fly rods, in which size and usage is important. It is important to match the fly rod with the fly line according to weight. Matching the weight of the two items is important to have positive casting results. The size of the fly rods can be anywhere from #0, #1, #2 and are used for the lightest trout and panfish rods up to powerful and heavy #16 rods for the largest saltwater game fish.
Another item needed for fly-fishing is a bamboo split cane. This allows for a better performance in the freshwater trout fishing situations. Synthetic fly rods are usually used and offer a greater versatility, stiffness, power and performance than a bamboo split cane. The advantages are that they are less expensive and require less maintenance. Finally, fly reels are manually operated. Although in recent years, more advanced models have been developed to deal bigger fish and more demanding situations. These models increase the drag and retrieval performance.
Fly-fishing is an ancient method of catching fish. It is more demanding because you are limited to the types of fish you can catch. You need the appropriate gear to catch the trout or the salmon. Today’s modern techniques used in fly-fishing have been developed to meet more challenging situations, such as bigger weight of the fish. These modern advancements prepare the fly fisherman to successfully meet his quota by using the methodology appropriately.
There are many popular locations for fly-fishing mostly in the Northern United States and Canada. Alaska is another popular place for the activity. Some places in the United States are Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Montana and California are just a few places.
For more information on all aspects of planning your fishing, and to download a free guide, visit The Fishermans Guide
June 1, 2009
Alaska Salmon Fishing: Enjoy Some Chinook Catches
Alaska is the US state that is also known as the salmon country. In fact, this state is considered one of the most popular destinations when it comes to fly fishing and angling. It is also the state to go to if you are someone to loves to catch the King Salmon fish, one of the largest of its species. If you are in Alaskan salt waters, you can catch this fish by trolling or angling into the waters.
Actually it is not just Alaska salmon fishing that one can enjoy catching in this state. All angler and fishers from the state itself and likewise those from out of state would continuously troop to the its waters, both fresh and salt, never worrying about the possibility of having no catch as the streams, rivers, lakes, and seas in and surrounding Alaska are bountiful in all kinds of fish.
Still, Alaska salmon fishing is the one that is very popular in this state simply because the it is available for catching all throughout the year. Here are the popular salmon species that you can catch.
Chinook or King Salmon – is the largest, weighing from 20 to about 40 pounds. Although Alaskan records show that the heaviest caught is over 110 pounds. One distinguishable mark is its bluish green spotted back. Other names for this species are springs, tule and tyee.
Sockeye salmon is another popular species. It is very much sought after because of its thick flesh that has a deep reddish hue. When cooked, it can give a very rich and delectable flavor.
The Silver Salmon, also known as Coho, belongs to the small species of salmon. On the averages, the Coho weighs from 8 pounds to 12 pounds at its heaviest. The silver salmon loves to spawn on the smaller bodies of waters such as the streams. Spawning periods of silver is from the month of July running up to November.
For more white bass fishing, angling advices and other fishing articles, do visit our Fly Fishing Greats blog.
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