Essential Fly Fishing Tools

Fly fishing has become extremely popular in recent years, and is a fun and relaxing pastime. Fly fishing for the beginner angler can also be extremely challenging. For the beginner angler, this article lists ten essential fly fishing tips. These tips will help beginners become successful anglers and also help them learn some essentials of the sport.

Tip 1: Enjoy the Silence

Silence is important if you want to catch fish and not scare them away. Also, other anglers who are concentrating on fishing will not appreciate being disturbed. Radios and other noisy equipment should be left at home.

Tip 2: Respect Other Anglers

When fishing, respect the space of other anglers fishing in the same river, lake or dam. This will also ensure that everyone else enjoys the sport, and is common fishing etiquette.

Tip 3: Don’t Wear Bright Colors

Fish have good eyesight, so avoid wearing bright colors and do not wear a white hat. Wearing colors such as earth tones is a good idea for fly fishing. Whilst fishing, layering your clothing is recommended, as the weather conditions may change quite a bit during an extended fishing session.

Tip 4: Your Fly Fishing Vest Should Be Organized

A fly fishing vest (or small fishing chest pack) is designed to carry your essential fly fishing accessories and gear whilst you are on the water. In order to locate essential fishing items and accessories as quickly as possible, it’s important to keep your fishing vest organized according to some system.

Tip 5: Knowing Basic Knots is Essential

On the subject of fly fishing knots, there are many books, DVDs and online guides available. The nail knot, Albright knot, improved clinch knot, and double surgeons knot are the essential knots to learn.

Tip 6: Get a Tackle Box

A tackle box (or waterproof gear bag) is handy if you have a lot of fly fishing gear to carry. In order to keep your fly fishing gear secure, organized and dry, using a tackle box is recommended.

Tip 7: A Wading Staff for Stability

When fishing in a rocky stream or river with unstable footing, a wading staff will increase your stability whilst wading. Getting a good pair of wading shoes will also give you improved stability and grip whilst wading in the water.

Tip 8: Protect Yourself Fron The Sun

Fly fishing for hours in the sun can do great harm to your skin. A decent sun block product will help to protect your skin. A good pair of polarized sunglasses will also protect you from the glare that is reflected off the the water.

Tip 9: Rod and Reel Terminology

• guides – metallic rings on your rod through which you feed your fly line.
• butt – bottom section of the fly fishing rod where you hold it.
• reel seat – the reel fits onto the rod at the reel seat.
• locking ring – the ring that is tightened to secure your reel to the rod.
• foot of the reel – the part of the reel that attaches to the rod.
• drag knob – knob on the side of the reel which can be tightened to increase line drag.
• spool – part of the reel around which your fly line is wrapped.
• arbor – central part of the spool to which you attach your backing line.

Tip 10: Don’t Break the Bank

Fly fishing can be an expensive sport to get into. Buying a fly fishing outfit is a cost-effective way of getting your essential fly fishing equipment at a reasonable price. A fly fishing outfit consists of a fly fishing rod with a matching fly reel and fly line, bundled into a single package.

For more information about the sport of fly fishing, take a look at the LeighRSS news feed for Fly Fishing Elite.

Trout Fly Fishing Tips – Where to Locate Trout in Rivers

Fly fishing for trout is an art form, and there is a lot of material providing trout fly fishing tips and techniques for any beginner fly fisherman. The following trout fly fishing tips will help you become a more successful trout fly fishing angler:

• When approaching the water you intend fishing in, make sure that you walk slowly and quietly. Sound is transmitted more rapidly through water than air.
• Wearing drab clothing with muted colors will help you to blend more effectively into your surroundings. The chances of the trout being spooked will be reduced.
• Take a thermometer with you and check the water temperature before fishing for trout. Trout tend to be far more active when the water temperature is between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Trout become lazy and inactive outside this temperature range, and your chances of catching them are reduced.
• A good quality fly rod that provides accurate casting and good feedback and line feel can make all the difference for trout fly fishing – check out the Sage Z-Axis fly fishing rods for some of the best fly fishing rods that money can buy.
• To be successful at trout fly fishing, its important that you use the correct type of fly. The water temperature determines the size of the fly you should use. You should use larger flies in cold water. You should use smaller flies with clear, warm water. Yellow, orange or black flies tend to work better at the beginning of the season. Different flies work best in different locations, as the prey that trout feed on will vary from location to location. Its a good idea to check with local fly fishing shops, or speak to local fly fishermen to determine what flies work best for trout fly fishing in that location.
• Keep your fly line clean. With a fly line that is not clean, the line will tangle more frequently, and a dirty line will create more friction in the guides of the fly rod. You can buy products which are used specifically to clean fly lines.
• Learn to roll cast. When fishing for trout in rivers and streams, there will be times where there is not enough space behind you to perform the back cast using the standard overhead casting technique. The roll casting technique does not require any space behind you, and is also useful when fly fishing in strong wind.
• Always cast upstream when fishing in rivers and streams. Then allow your fly to drift backwards towards you. The trout find sheltered areas of the river to lie and wait for their prey. By staying out of the main current of the river, the trout expend less energy. These areas may be in front of or behind rocks jutting up from the riverbed.
• You will be more successful trout fly fishing in lakes and dams if there is a small breeze blowing across the water. Trout are more easily spooked in still waters.
• When using a fly fishing net, do not swipe at the fish. With this sudden movement, the trout may be spooked. This will cause the trout to break the tippet on the fly line and thus escape.

More useful fly fishing tips can be found in the article: top fly fishing tips for beginners

For more information about the sport of fly fishing, take a look at the Feedcat.net news feed for Fly Fishing Elite.