fly fishing reels Archives

Learning How To Cast Using A Fly Rod

Bamboo fly rod (51481672)

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I have had so much fun in the past thirty years, since I first learned to use a fly rod. I am not saying I haven’t had a few times that I wanted to throw everything in the drink but practice has helped. My older brother did get fed up one day, angry is more like it, and threw all his gear including his rod and reel in a lake and said he was done with fishing. What a temper Bobby Boy.

I never let him live that one down.

In all seriousness fly casting isn’t that tough to learn and you can be on the water catching fish in just minutes. The thing is that bad habits always seem easy learn but are rather tough to break so take the time to learn correctly from square one and you will have a new hobby to enjoy for a lifetime.

Oh by the way it’s never really too late to learn how. Just ask my good friend Casey the next time you see him on the water because he is going to learn how to fly fish for the first time in his life and let’s just say he’s older than I am and I learned when I was 30 and that was 30 years ago.

Here’s a video I found on Youtube this morning that goes into the details of fly casting. What is the difference between casting using a fly rod and a spinning rod. Information that’s useful to know. Even a bit about safety so you can stay on the water longer without sticking a hook in yourself.

But today it’s all about learning how to make the fly land on the water where you want it to. So here it is, enjoy.

Let me know how you liked the video and share an experience with our readers using the comment box.

Doug Swisher Scientific Anglers Basic Fly Casting Video - DVD - Line/term/acc/boats
Offer by: Bass Pro Shops
Price: USD 17.95
For years Scientific Anglers fly fishing instructors have been helping anglers of all levels improve their skills and increase their fishing productivity. In this Basic Fly Casting DVD, expert angler and teacher Doug Swisher guides you through the basic principles of fly casting by teaching you how to make accurate straight casts, the principle of loop control and how to recognize your casting mistakes and correct them. You can pick the perfect fly, but if you can't cast, you don't stand a chance. Running time: 62 minutes. For years Scientific Anglers fly fishing instructors have been helping anglers of all levels improve their skills and increase their fishing productivity. In this Basic Fly Casting DVD, expert angler and teacher Doug Swisher guides you through the ba
''Lefty Kreh on Fly Casting'' Video - DVD - Video/book/mags/electrnic
Offer by: Bass Pro Shops
Price: USD 26.95
This comprehensive fly casting video will help you fish like a pro. "Lefty Kreh on Fly Casting" features the basics of fly casting in detail, with Lefty demonstrating casting aids and exercises that will help even advanced fly casters improve their distance and accuracy. Lefty also demonstrates 20 specific casts that every fly fisherman should know, including instruction on:Casting in the wind Various roll casts Double-hauling techniques Casting in tight places Changing directions quicklySpecial Feature: This DVD provides an optional second angle of viewing for most of the demonstrations. This allows the viewer to analyze Lefty's technique from both the side and from behind the cast, fully demonstrating how the body motion determines the motion of the rod and line. Learn from Lefty's video and amaze your fishing buddies with your new techniques! 68 minutes. This comprehensive fly casting video will help you fish like a pro. "Lefty Kreh on Fly Casting" features the basics of fly casting in detail, with Lefty demonstrating casting aids and exercises that will help even advanced fly casters improve their d
Davy Wotton WET FLY WAYS - Line/term/acc/boats
Offer by: Bass Pro Shops
Price: USD 34.95
In this highly-acclaimed video, professional angler and fly fishing instructor, Davy Wotton provides viewers with an introduction to the traditional style of wet fly fishing where multiple flies or a cast of flies are placed on a leader and fished to every quadrant of the stream. Assisted by, Gary Taylor, professional angler and guide, Wotton teaches how the traditional style leads to catching more trout, even under the toughest of conditions on both lakes and rivers. Plus, Wotton discusses the proper wet flies in a cast, what flies to select and for what position in the cast and how to assemble the cast, including the correct knots to use. This is an excellent method for all circumstances besides trout it&8217 s deadly for bass and panfish, and Wotton has even used this method in saltwater for bones and reds. 100 minutes. In this highly-acclaimed video, professional angler and fly fishing instructor, Davy Wotton provides viewers with an introduction to the traditional style of wet fly fishing where multiple flies or a cast of flies are placed on a leader and fished to
Temple Fork Outfitters? Prism Cast Large Arbor Fly Reel - 7 8 - Rods/reels
Offer by: Bass Pro Shops
Price: USD 84.95
Reel Consistent with Temple Fork Outfittersamp 8217 tradition of crafting high-performing fly reels at a great price, the lightweight Prism Cast Large Arbor Fly Reel are made from cast aluminum making them ideal for freshwater or saltwater applications.
Temple Fork Outfitters? Prism Cast Large Arbor Fly Reel - 7 8 - Rods/reels
Offer by: Bass Pro Shops
Price: USD 99.95
Reel Consistent with Temple Fork Outfittersamp 8217 tradition of crafting high-performing fly reels at a great price, the lightweight Prism Cast Large Arbor Fly Reel are made from cast aluminum making them ideal for freshwater or saltwater applications.

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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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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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Top Five Tips For New Fly Fishing Enthusiasts

fly fishing
Image by screenpunk via Flickr

Challenges of all varieties exist in sport fishing and individuals should address them in order to be a better angler. Some challenges may well be more hard to handle than other ones. One particular challenge is knowing the right methods for fly fishing. There are usually fly angling experts you can observe to learn the the very best methods to be successful.  But exactly how will you know and make be sure that your receiving the correct results?

The answer then is knowledge. There is nothing easy if you do not comprehend it, don’t understand how to get it done. And to get great outcomes with beginner fly fishing you simply need to understand more about what works and exactly what does not.

Read this to Increase Your Knowledge

Here then are five ideas for beginner fly fishing:

1. Be sure to take care of the fishing equipment and also the fishing line. When the line is cluttered with algae it’ll be tougher to cast, so its imperative that you clean the line frequently making use of freshwater..

2. You shouldn’t rush your cast manoeuvre.  Spend some time and then try to produce a slow and smooth casting motion.  When you cast make certain the rod tip is operating along a straight line, so that the line can release once the rod is near to the 10 o’clock position.

3. Don’t purchase cheap.  The reason behind this will be fly angling gear will be offered from inexpensive to pricey. Most dealers may offer some sort of reduced package, but do not base your choice soley on price. Research your options since you want a rod that you can cast nicely and be very durable.

4. Use the right clothing and gear. Why is this important. Probably the most essential gear will be eye protection. Most people will wear polarized shades, which can help you see fish much better within the water. However, the main cause eye protection is required is that at a crowded fishing spot there is lots of “back casting” occurring. Beginner fly fishermen won’t often look behind them when casting, so you will to keep an eye out for them. A hook inside your eye can do serious damage.

5. Distance isn’t everything.  Most people feel that they will require a long cast to achieve success. With time you will learn to cast better but in the meanwhile know that large fish can be caught in the closer fishing holes and spots where many fish stay.

Just mindfully following the five ideas above and you will expect excellent results in beginning fly fishing.

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The Basics Of Saltwater Flyfishing

Saltwater Fly Fishing Guide Alec Griffin with ...
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Before you start panicking, this is not as big an undertaking as you might think. They are certainly been an overwhelming amount of information published about saltwater fly fishing and accessories. This can be confusing to someone who has never picked up a fly rod. However, just as with any other type of fishing fly fishing can be simple, or it can be complicated. It really does depend on what you wish to make of it. Getting started does not have to involve huge amounts of knowledge or equipment. In fact, you will quickly discover that there is no need to spend your life savings on equipment that will help you put a fish in your boat. Here are some of the basic equipment needs that will help you get started.

Naturally, the first thing you will need is a decent fly rod. Anything lighter than the seven weight rod is not a good investment. In fact, it is typically recommended that eight or nine weight is the perfect place to start for your average saltwater fish. This includes Northeast fish like bluefish and striped bass. You will find that for the most part, rod lengths are about 9 feet. These offer the leverage that anglers need to cast the line with little effort and they are easy to handle. A good quality rod should not cost you more than $100 at most tackle shops.

The next most important piece of equipment that you will need is a good reel to match your rod. The good news is the confusion is easy to wade through. Since reels and fishing rods are rated the same, and an eight weight reel will match up with an eight weight rod. If you plan on using your fishing rod primarily in salt water settings, a large, arbor reel is typically a best choice. The benefits of these include wider deepest pools that allow you the room that you need for a couple of hundred yards a fly line backing, as well as your fly line. This additional line is necessary in the event that you hook a large fish that make a long run. This type of fly reel system can be purchased for well under $100.

The next part of your tackle should be fly line and backing. There is no need to use expensive lines in the beginning. Your line weight should match your fishing rod and reel, and it is preferable that you go with a floating weight forward line. You will not need sinking lines until much later. The majority of your spool should be filled with the fly line backing before the fly line is attached. The best fishing line for this is Dacron, typically weighted for 20 to 30 pound test. It would be prudent to ask a tackle shop that has line winding equipment to put the appropriate amount of backing onto your reel and then attach the fly line to the backing.

Finally, you will need leaders and flies. The best leaders are made from monofilament of fluorocarbon line. This piece of line should be the same length as your rod, and should be attached to your fly line before you tie on your fly. Your local retailer will be more than happy to make recommendations the leader sizes and this will depend on the type of fish that you are going after. Tapered leaders allow for unfurling at the end of the cast.

Talk to others who fish locally for deciding which type of flies to use. As a general rule of thumb, a small selection of surface flies and streamers are usually sufficient. For those just starting out, the employees in a local tackle shop can provide this information. After you have been fishing a few times, you will start to figure out what works best for you.

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The Perks of Using a Fish Finder

Brown Bear with fish at Mammoth Lake, California
Image by moonjazz via Flickr

Many outdoor enthusiasts look to sophisticated technology to help them in their outdoor pursuits. For these individuals, utilizing a fish finder is a handy device to help them catch fish. Many individuals swear by old tried and true techniques to find the best fishing holes. But when used properly, advanced technology will take some of the speculation out of catching the big one.

If you can use the characteristics of the fish finder with accuracy, you will not have to trust your intuition to find the fish you’re looking for. Sonar technology, very much like porpoises use, creates the images and the information that you see on the fish finder’s screen. Once you learn to correctly adjust the finder you ought to be able to discover where the fish are hiding easily.

A fish finder relies on sonar to find the fish that you are searching for. The sonar sends out sound waves to determine depth. When the sound waves bounce off an object or the bottom of a lake, the distance can be measured and objects can be detected on the screen.

When you find a great location for your fish finder you will want to ensure that you are mounting it in compliance with the directions. Misaligning the equipment can lead to faulty readouts. Finding the ultimate sensitivity setting for the finder is an interesting trick. Most manuals come with recommendations, yet on the whole you want the sensitivity settings to reflect the region which you fish. If you’re out on open deep waters you might find a higher sensitivity is effective.

Using this type of equipment does have a learning curve. Frequently a person will mistake a tree branch or other debris for the presence of fish. It may take several tries for you to completely understand how to find precisely what you are searching for.

The technology has progressed to the place that you can now see to depths of 50 feet. And many units can spot objects as small as the tiniest lure. If the fish finder is advanced enough, it can distinguish the kind of fish that are below you. You can set the equipment to notify you when it locates the type of fish that you are trying to find.

You can still use all of your intuition when fishing. Actually, making use of a fish finder tends to work better if you still utilize your gut feelings and put your well earned knowledge into action. Keep in mind that this is a tool designed to help create a better experience for you, so you get to be in charge of how much you rely on it.

Need help deciding on the right fish finder? From the Humminbird 997c SI combo NVB color fish finder to the Eagle Cuda 300, there are fish finder reviews to make the choice easier for you.

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An Introduction to Fly Fishing Flies

Fly Fishing Flies (Orvis Fly Fishing School)

Traditionally, fly fishing has been used to catch salmon and trout, but today fly fishing can catch a variety of other fish species from smallmouth and largemouth bass, to your larger saltwater fish species, such as marlin and tarpon. Unlike bait fishing where live bait is used to catch fish, artificial fly fishing flies are used to catch fish when fly fishing. The equipment used for fly fishing also differs from fishing equipment used for bait fishing. For fly fishing it is important to select the correct fly line, fly rod and flt reel before you start fishing. It is also extremely important to use the correct fly fishing flies to match the species of fish you want to catch.

An Introduction to Fly Fishing Flies

Artificial fly fishing flies are commonly used in fly fishing. Artificial fly fishing flies are available all over the world, and many companies produce fly fishing flies. Fly fishing flies come in great varieties with respect to size, shape and even color. Fly fishing flies are made from materials such as fur, feathers, hairs and other materials. These materials can either be natural or synthetic. Many fly fishing flies available today imitate the food that a particular fish may eat. You also get fly fishing flies that don’t imitate anything in nature.

Fly fishing flies are made with the aquatic appearance of local fish and insects in mind. If you are trying to catch a fish in a particular location, the fly fishing flies you use must match a food that the fish eats in that particular location. You can also change the patterns and colors of fly fishing flies that you purchase so that these flies are a more suitable match for the particular location you are fishing in. Many fly fishermen make their own fly fishing flies for fishing or as a hobby. To meet the different specifications of fly fishing flies required all over the world, gifted experts are employed all over the world to create artificial fly fishing flies. It is actually quite a fun and rewarding hobby to create your own artificial fly fishing flies. Synthetic materials are more popular when it comes to creating flies.

If you are looking to purchase a quality fly fishing rod, check out the Sage fly rod range.

Categories of Fly Fishing Flies

There is an incredible variety of fly fishing flies that are available. Fly fishing flies can be broken down into the following categories:

  • Dry Flies – Designed to float on the water surface and imitate the adult stage of aquatic insects, or land-based insects that have fallen into the water (such as ants or beetles).
  • Wet Flies – Designed to float just below the surface of the water and imitate immature aquatic insects, or drowned insects.
  • Nymphs – A type of wet fly that imitates the larval form of aquatic insects.
  • Streamers – A type of wet fly that imitates minnows or small fish which are the prey of larger fish.
  • Surface Lures – Surface lures are designed to look like mice or frogs. Are usually very colorful, and are fished in a way to create a commotion to attract large predatory fish.

If you are looking to purchase a fly fishing float tube, check out the Outcast float tube guide.

For more information about saltwater fly fishing gear, take a look at the Feedest.com news feed for Fly Fishing Elite.

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Bass Fishing for fun

Bass fishing is a great sports which doesn’t need the skills possessed by a football athlete or the resilience of an acrobat. You need to be obsessed with the 'catch'. Hours of practicing can elevate you to the level of being called a pro. Bass fishing is about catching various species of bass – large mouth bass, small mouth bass, Kentucky bass, spotted boss, etc.

Experts opine that the beginners should start bass fishing in smaller ponds. They should avoid large lakes for this purpose. Once you have gained enough confidence, then only move to deeper areas in lakes. Bass fish loves to play hide and seek. Their natural habitat is behind rocks or plants or any such structures in the water body. Look for bass in such places. It is not necessary that the fish will be around large structures only. In fact, you have an equal probability of finding fish near a smaller structure.

Bass fish have a great vision - they can easily see in the night as well. Their see and feel organs work simultaneously. Bass fish are also supposed to have taste buds outside their mouths and inside too. This can help them avoid any unwanted situation. These characteristics make bass fishing such an exciting sports activity and a great pastime for people in leisure time.

One needs a set of equipment for bass fishing. This includes a pole, reel, hook and baits. Baits are available in many varieties chiefly, jigs, crank bait, spinner bait and plastic worms. It is recommended to beginners to start with crank baits and then advance themselves through spinner baits to plastic worms.

Enthusiasts from all over the country take part in the tournaments. Bass fishing brings so much excitement today that it has become the most valuable freshwater sports industry.

The author is a building inspector who is ethusizstic about fishing and promote fishing Auckland and home security.

Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing Introduction

Fly Fishing Tips – How to Catch Rainbow Trout

Fly fishers, both men and women spend a great deal of their time hunting trout, and particularly rainbow trout. The beautiful rainbow band that runs along the the sides of a rainbow trout (from their head to their tail) is how one can identify a rainbow trout. As rainbow trout is a delicious fish to eat, and as they also provide excellent sport because of their fighting abilities, rainbow trout fishing has become very popular. Unlike other trout species, rainbow trout can also be tempted to take properly presented flies as well as streamers and nymphs, and are therefore the ideal fish for fly fishing.

Today, rainbow trout can be found in many regions in the United States, but the rainbow trout species originated west of the Rockies. Rainbow trout prefer cool streams, rivers and lakes, and are found in the northern parts of the US where the water temperature falls between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The main diet of rainbow trout includes plankton, immature and adult insects, worms, crustaceans. They sometimes even feed on small fish. Rainbow trout will remain in streams until they reach 6 to 9 inches in length, and then migrate to lakes or oceans where they spend years bulking up before returning to streams and rivers to spawn. Rainbow trout that have adapted to the saltwater environment are known as steelhead trout.

Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing Equipment

The fly rod used to catch rainbow trout varies depending on the size of trout you want to catch and the body of water you are fishing on. When fishing for medium to large rainbow trout in lakes and large rivers, use a 4 weight through to a 8 weight fly rod. When fishing for small to medium size rainbow trout in small streams and rivers, use a 1 weight through to a 4 weight fly rod. A recommended rainbow trout fly fishing rod for small streams is the extremely light Sage TXL fly rod.

The fly line used for rainbow trout fly fishing is typically a floating line if dry fly fishing on the water’s surface. When fishing below the water’s surface using a nymph or streamer, a sinking tip fly line is used. A fly fishing reel is not essential for rainbow trout fly fishing, and some anglers prefer hand stripping the line to using a fly reel. A fly reel is often just used to recover and store fly line and backing not in immediate use. For more information on fly reels, take a look at the following fly reel introduction.

Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing Flies

Two basic types of flies are used for rainbow trout fly fishing, wet flies and dry flies. Dry flies masquerade insects are used with a floating fly line which floats on top of the water. A wet fly can imitate a bug, a worm, a minnow, small fish or any other water creature that lives under the water surface. A wet fly is different from a dry fly in that it sinks under the water’s surface. Nymphs and streamers are classified as wet flies and are used normally with sinking tip fly fishing lines.

For rainbow trout fly fishing, different types of flies are used in different regional areas. It is a good idea to find out what flies, nymphs and streamers work best from local fly shops or local anglers for that particular region. A good technique when fishing for rainbow trout is to start out with dry flies on the water’s surface, which causes less water disturbance. If you have no success with dry fly fishing, then start using wet flies below the water’s surface.

For more information about saltwater fly fishing gear, take a look at the news feed for Fly Fishing Elite (Feedraider.com).

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