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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

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.

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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During the 1960s I was a kid growing up in central Ontario, Canada. I did a lot of fishing in the river that ran through the back of our farm. The only thing I ever caught there was catfish although there were some big pike in the river, I just didn’t have the gear for them.

I remember my older brother Chuck catching a huge walleye on one of his fishing trips. I was always to young to go on those trips as there was a lot of drinking. Anyways he didn’t call the walleye a walleye, ever. He always called it a pickerel.

I was actually 30 years old and living in New Brunswick Canada before I saw my first Chain pickerel and realized they weren’t the same species.

Chain pickerel are also known as “federation pickerel” and in SE U.S. they are nicknamed “jack fish”.

Caught My First Chain Pickerel on The Fly

It’s kind of cool the way I found out about pickerel here in New Brunswick as I mostly fished brook trout. I consider myself blessed to have caught my first real pickerel on the fly rod while fly fishing for trout so it was a happy accident.

Fishing A Flooded Forest on The Fly Rod

It feels like a lifetime ago I had been invited to go fishing with a fly fishing buddy. Wayne wanted to take me to a little spot he wants to keep secret. He told me we would be able to catch some big brook trout on the fly.

Once we arrived I could not believe he expected me to actually use a fly rod in there. It was a forest that had been flooded years earlier when busy beavers had blocked the flow of water and flooded a large patch of timber.

Wayne told me there was 16″ brookies within. I didn’t call him a liar however I’d been thinking it. I did become a believer after he landed the first 16″ brook trout.

Fly fishing through trees was really a brand new experience. I had fished ponds and brooks for trout using the fly rod, had even learned to deal with trees behind me just not a forest all around me.

I spent most of my time staying out of the trees but did get a few trout. As usual when it comes time to leave I usually need to get a couple more casts. Just as I pulled the fly from the water for that final cast a pencil like 10″ fish flew from the water and grabbed that fly.

I couldn’t imagine just how intense this tiny fish was. That was when I learned the difference between a walleye and a pickerel.

These days I fish Chain pickerel every chance I can. My record continues to grow from that first 10″ chain pickerel to 25″.

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As fly fishing rods today are made of many different types of material, and come in varying degrees of stiffness and in various rod lengths, choosing a fly fishing rod today can get quite confusing for the novice. The fly fishing rod is one of the most important items of fly fishing equipment, so buying the correct rod is essential. The oldest and most basic fly fishing rod is the traditional bamboo fly rod. A bamboo fly fishing rod may look aesthetically pleasing, but these bamboo rods are more expensive and heavier than the modern fly fishing rod.

1. Rod Materials

Fly fishing rod are manufactured using the following materials:

• Fiberglass – Commonly used in the less expensive fly rods. These rods are generally used more by beginners, and fiberglass rods are normally more durable than graphite rods. You can use these fly rods for most types of fishing.
• Graphite – More expensive than fiberglass rods. Rods made of graphite have greater fighting power than fiberglass. Graphite fly fishing rods are lighter than fiberglass rods, and are easier to cast more accurately. Beginner and expert anglers can use these fly fishing 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 rods can be difficult for beginner anglers to learn to control, but these rods have more accuracy when it comes to short-range casting. Use these fly fishing rods to catch light fish.
• 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. These rods are quite stiff, and can only flex near the tip of the rod. You can cast longer distances with these rods, and can also handle the bigger fish. These rods do not have the casting accuracy of slow-action 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 fly fishing rod guide for beginners 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 news feed for Fly Fishing Elite (Feedraider.com).

Fly fishing is one of the most recognized and distinct methods of catching fish or angling. This method has been popularly used to catch trout and salmon.Fly fishing have been used by many anglers to catch a wide range of species. There is different equipment used to make the process a success. One of the most important is fly fishing flies. They are normally cast using a fly rod by the angler. A fly line also comes in handy at this point. It is absolutely necessary to have the right fly fishing flies for good success; and a great catch.

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. Fly fishing flies are made from fur, feathers, hairs and others. 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. The following are some of the most popular kinds of fly fishing flies that you will find out there. 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.