Archive for October, 2010

Trout fishing near Stainland. Fishing in the p...
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Trout are cold blooded creatures and are directly affected by the change in water temperature, so the colder the water the slower their rate of metabolism. To accelerate their metabolic rate they are going to stay close to the surface in the direct sunlight where it is more effective so they can warm up their body.

The quicker a predator can swim the more they can eat. Of course the faster their food source can swim the hungrier the predator will get so it’s important to get that first direct sunlight in order to be the fastest.

I have noticed when the water reaches a certain temp, typically late spring, they tend not to lay in the sunlight as long.

Fishing During The Burning Hot Summer Days

From the beginning of spring through the beginning summer months fish, small and big, are making an effort to warm up. But, when early spring moves into summer the high temperature coming from direct sunshine gets a lot more extreme. At this time they tend to search for protection out of the burning rays of sunlight.

Fish have a tendency to try to find deeper, cooler water or just about any barrier that offers shade from the sunlight.

It’s at these times angling becomes extremely enjoyable because fish could explode on a lure from the cover of weeds.

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smallmouth-bass-fly-fishingSmallmouth bass fishing here in New Brunswick is great fun but I am sure I would be having fun fishing smallies just about anywhere.

Bass fishing is always fun with my spinning gear but what I really enjoy is fly fishing for smallmouth bass. They are almost as much fun as Atlantic salmon but a whole lot easier to get the strike.

To make bass fishing even more exciting you have to try it from a float tube. My first fly fishing for bass trip was to Lake George New Brunswick on the hottest day of the year.

It was so hot the fish seemed to shut right down so we had to hunt for locations where the water temperature was cooler so I suggested we make the mile long trip to the other end of the lake.

My fishing buddy wanted no part of it, it was just too hot. Then I suggested we use the car to take our float tubes to the other end of the lake. He was down with that.

The other end of the lake has so much more rock, weeds and lily pads for the bass to get out of the direct sunlight.

My fishing buddy for the day was kinda dragging his butt. I admit it was hot and I wanted to find some shade for myself but I was more interested in seeing if I could get a smallmouth to strike.

deer-hair-mouse-flyI was a good 10 minutes away from Kerry. He was still puttering around the shoreline as if he was ready to go home. Then a huge bass hit my top water Deer Hair Mouse – Size 1/0 and I yelled FISH ON. That got my buddies attention and he immediately perked up and headed my way.

From that point on we had bass hitting all day long, none stop. I had found the perfect spot.

These smallmouth bass were not really monsters by any stretch of the imagination but they were big enough to spin us around in our float tubes.

I have to get Jamie to Lake George next year. We wanted to go this year but the pickerel here in New Brunswick kind of kept us busy all summer long.

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Casting In Fly Fishing

Saltwater Fly Fishing Guide Alec Griffin with ...
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Casting is a fundamental skill in fly fishing. It is the foundation of the sport thus it should be done correctly to achieve the desired results. Below are a few things about casting that one should keep in mind when going fly fishing for the first time.

It all starts out with the grip. The appropriate casting grip is one which has the thumb on top from the rod. This helps the fisher apply a greater force when casting.

  • Prior to casting, any slack on the line ought to be removed. This would enable for a smooth forward and backward cast.
  • The line must fly towards the direction where the person points the rod during the cast.
  • The size created with the loop depends on how the rod tip is moved when casting.

The distance of a typical cast is normally several meters away from the caster. Long distance casts are achieved by tons of practice. The newbie might not get it right on his/her very first few tries at casting. Nonetheless, with the proper guidance from a much more experienced companion and a lot of time dedicated to practice, the correct way of casting may be achieved.

Ideally, 15-30 minutes spent on practicing per day can aid improve the beginner’s technique. As a word of warning, practicing casting can be a hazardous activity. Which is why beginners are advised to do their practice away from the water and away from a lot of folks.

Fields are ideal spots to complete this as there is really a big room to accommodate errors that might prove harmful in otherwise constricted areas.

Arguably the best way for fly fishing novices and experienced gurus to improve their technique is through fly fishing books. There is a gigantic selection of books available online which teach great fly fishing technique along with other skills such as those found within fly tying books.

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Fly Fishing And Being Safe

Fly fishing on the South Santiam river in Oregon

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New Brunswick has great fly fishing waters and like any other type of fishing one needs to keep safety in mind so that they enjoy the sport with injury to themselves or others.

A Few Fly Fishing Safety Tips

1. Bring a Wading Stick

I can’t tell you how many times I have watched people on a river that take one step and right over their heads into the drink. A walking staff would have helped them avoid getting soaked. It could also help to save their life, so bring one with you.

I have a telescope type walking stick that hangs over my shoulder when I don’t need it. But when I am not sure about my footing it’s there ready for use.

I’ve even thrown it back across a river so that one of my fly fishing buddies could use it instead of looking around for a long stick. He now owns one as well.

2. Wear A Hat

There is a couple of reason one should wear a hat fishing.

  • The hat will keep the sun off your head, which in my case allows me to stay out in the hot sun much longer.
  • Your hat can save you a trip to the hospital to have a hook removed from your head.
  • The sun visor on the hat helps to keep the direct sunlight out of your eyes making it easier to see.
  • It looks cool and keeps bird crap out of your hair.

Also a hat with a wide brim all the way around can help to protect your ears and neck from too much sun, but it’s really best to wear sunscreen as well.

3. Wear Sunglasses

Well they don’t actually have to be sunglasses but you need protection for your eyes, both from the sun and stray hooks flying through the air.

4. A Good Pair of Waders

Here in New Brunswick we have some rivers that stay pretty cool all year long so it’s good to have waders. Also some of the spot we fish the water is pretty nasty with lots of leeches so a pair of waders keeps those things off you.

5. A Good Pair of Wading Boots

Note: Your waders may have boots built in so be sure you know that soles of the boots are going to be good on slippery rocks. Felt bottoms are good and have saved me from slipping many many times.

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A Few Fly Fishing Terms

Portrait of Dan Bailey, circa 1970s

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Like in any other sports, fly fishing has its own set of terms and jargon to talk about everything related to this activity.

While it makes communicating with other fly fishing enthusiasts easier, it could be confusing to the average individual, much less to those who are just starting out with fly fishing.

To help out beginners, below are some fly fishing terms which will let newbies get the hang of them and let them understand what other more-experienced fly fishers are talking about.

Back-cast – is the act of casting the line by first throwing it backwards, letting it unfurl, then casting it forward.

Buzzer – a term that refers to flies or any other insect that flies over the water.

Cover – the act of casting a fly to an area with a great number of fish.

Fly – an artificial lure which attracts fish by imitating a natural lure or by obtaining its attention with the lure’s bright colours.

Fly Line – the line normally produced of synthetic material to which the hook is attached.

Fly Reel – the object which holds the line. It comes in several kinds depending on several factors which consist of the materials employed and function.

Fly Rod – the rod utilized specifically for fly fishing. It is generally produced of bamboo, fibreglass and graphite.

Jig – a small and metal-headed artificial lure which usually has feathers on it.

What is listed above is only the most common terms utilized in fly fishing. Nevertheless, they are enough to let beginners get by in conversations about the activity.

You can find others more out there that beginners can pick up as one gains experience in this angling method.

Probably the best way for fly fishing novices and experienced anglers to improve their technique is through fly fishing books. There is a massive selection of books available online which teach great fly fishing technique along with other skills such as those found within fly tying books.

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An Introduction To Fly Fishing

Fly Tying Demonstration At Atlanta Fly Fishing...
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Fly Fishing is an angling method that aims to catch fish using artificial flies. Traditionally, salmon and trout are the types of fish caught using this method. But in recent times, a wide variety of fish have been added to the list like pike, carp and striped bass.

As an angling method , fly fishing differs from other techniques in its technique for casting. Other methods rely on the weight with the lure to pull the line.

But in fly fishing, the line is cast rather than the lure since the lures utilized in this approach are too light to be cast.

Casting in fly fishing may be compared to the way a whip unfurls when it can be being cracked. It can be said that a excellent angler can unfurl his/her line even prior to he/she does the return motion when casting.

This angling approach has been around as early as 200 AD. It was first mentioned in a book entitled ‘Natural History’, written by a Roman author named Aelian.

One chapter of his book mentioned in passing the Macedonians’ way of catching their fish. It talked about how they tried to lure fish utilizing imitation flies that they made themselves.

Based on Aelian’s description, the procedures that they used are closely similar for the procedures and purpose with the modern-day fly fisher in catching fish.

While it has been around for two millennium, fly fishing remains a relevant and exciting approach of angling until this day and will remain so in generations to come.

One of the best ways for fly fishing novices and experienced gurus to improve their technique is through fly fishing books. There is a very large selection of books available online which teach great fly fishing technique along with other skills such as those found within fly tying books.

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