Fly Fishing Basics

Everyone knows the basics of fishing. There’s a rod, reel, fishing line, hook, bait; you cast the line, wait for a bite, and reel in your dinner. Experienced fishermen know there is more to it than that, but for most of us that description appropriately sums it up. However, there are many types of fishing, such as salt water and fresh water, and perhaps the most artful of them all, fly fishing. You have probably heard of fly fishing - it has been in recorded history for nearly 2000 years - and you probably know that it does not involve fishing for flies, but if that is all you know then a primer in fly fishing basics can bring you up to speed.
Unlike other forms of fishing, fly fishing does not typically use any kind of organic bait, live or dead. Instead, fly fisherman use artificial flies – ribbon, string, hair, feathers – as a lure to attract fish. The artificial flies are attached to the hook and line, and the fisherman attracts fish with movement that makes the fly look like an insect that is moving on or above the surface of the water. The nature of that artificial bait is the first and most important element to understand when examining fly fishing basics.
Another aspect of fly fishing basics, an aspect that separates fly fishing from most other variations of fishing, is the way the line is cast. Other kinds of fishing rely on casting a line and attracting fish with the bait, but fly fishing requires a much more skillful method of luring the fish. A fly fisherman casts his lure toward the fish and uses rhythmic movements to make the lure fly above the water, skimming the top, or even diving under the surface, all in an effort to replicate the movements of an insect that might entice a hungry fish to strike.
If you understand fly fishing basics, you might wonder what you need to give it a try. Fly fishermen usually use rods that are longer and lighter than typical fishing rods. The reel used is typically quite simple because it is generally used only to retrieve the hook and lure – and hopefully a fish! Before casting, fly fishermen usually create slack in the line by pulling some from the reel. That slack allows the lure to fly freely to the targeted area. Choosing the proper lure is another aspect of fly fishing basics that one should understand before setting off to cast their line.
Fly fishing implies that the lure is intended to resemble the characteristics of flies, but fly fishing is hardly limited to that. The sport has evolved in recent years, and many fly fishermen now choose lures and casting techniques that mimic the primary prey of the fish they are attempting to catch. However, specific baits and the eating characteristics of various species of fish are beyond the realm of fly fishing basics.
An understanding of fly fishing basics is not enough to prepare one to head off to the nearest lake or stream. If you are interested in expanding your knowledge, or trying fly fishing yourself, spend some time reading on the subject, and if possible seek the tutelage of an experienced fly fisherman. Only then can you begin to understand more than fly fishing basics, such as specific recommendations on rods, reels, line weight, lures, and most important, the great places where fly fisherman must make a pilgrimage.
For easy to understand, in depth information about fly fishing basics visit our ezGuide 2 Fishing.
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So you want to start Fly Fishing

If you are considering taking up fly fishing as a hobby then two of the reasons probably include enjoying the beauty of nature and breathing in the beautiful fresh air. Fly fishing is one of the sports where you can truly enjoy the nature around you and experience the calming effect of the water.
There is no speed involved with things flying by you too fast to notice, there is no rush to go anywhere, and there are no guarantees that you will catch any fish.
These attributes of fly fishing make it an ideal weekend or vacation sports if your purpose is to be outside in nature and fully relax far away from the hustle and bustle of normal day to day life.
The fly fishing rod is lighter and shorter than the average rod used for other types of fishing. These rods are on average around 9 feet long with a weight of about 5 ounces. However, the length of the rod will depend on the size of the stream that you want to fish in. Smaller streams will require that you purchase and use a shorter rod.
The fly fishing line is usually heavier than the usual line used for other types of fishing. These lines are manufactured to either float on the surface of the water or to sink into the water.
The fly lure that you choose will depend on the type of fishing that you want to do and the species of fish that you want to catch.
Some fish seek their food from amongst objects that float on the water surface and to catch these fish your lure needs to mimic floating insects. Other fish get their food from objects in the water and to catch those you lure needs to mimic those objects.
The experience fly fisherman always carries a wide selection of fishing lure because what worked yesterday might not necessarily work today.
With fly fishing, the time of the day, the temperature of the water, the glare of the sun on the surface of the water, the speed of the water in the stream, and other factors determine what type of lure will work.
Fly fishing is such an established sport that the fishing lures have been divided into official categories. These are the dry flies and emergers, the nymphs, the streamers, the wet flies, the saltwater flies, the bass and panfish flies, and these salmon and steelhead flies.
Enjoying fly fishing requires a little bit of preparation and knowledge acquisition and thereafter it is learning from experience whilst enjoying the beauty and serenity of nature.

For more information on fly fishing visit InformationAttendant.com, where you can also find a wide selection of information and knowledge with RSS feeds for website syndication.
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