Bodkins, Hackle Pliers and Ty Vices, oh my
Saturday, February 28th, 2009Fly Fishing Rods by Type and Function
Suggested resource: Fly Tying, Casting, Flyfishing Tips
Fly Tying for Fly Fishing
Suggested reading:
Fly Tying Tutorials
Tips for Great Bass Fishing
One of the best parts of fly fishing is learning the art of fly tying. While you can buy pre-made flies, there’s nothing more satisfying than tying your own flies and being able to share with your friends the fact that you caught a 20 pound fish using a fly you made yourself. While it’s not complicated, fly tying for fly fishing can be a very delicate art.
The first piece of equipment you will need when undertaking fly tying is a fly vice. These hold your hook while you are tying it together. You’ll want a vice that can hold all sizes and shapes of hooks and that is easily adjustable.
Get a bobbin that will hold your thread. A bobbin will keep your thread tight and organized while you are tying your fly. Bobbins come in a variety of sizes, but they all basically do the same thing. Spend just a little bit more money on a bobbin and you won’t have to worry about cut threads before you are through.
You need to also splurge on a good pair of scissors. To start out with, one pair of scissors is enough, but as you get better at fly tying, you’ll want to have a variety of shapes and sizes to meet the needs of the flies you are tying. The loops should fit your fingers comfortably, and they should be kept sharp.
Hackle pliers are small pliers with enough constant tension designed to wrap hackle feathers around the hook. As with scissors, they come in all shapes and sizes, but they all do basically the same thing.
Find a good bodkin too. A bodkin is basically a needle in a handle. You can use a bodkin not only to tie the fly, but also for delicate work that requires a small, sharp point like separating out pieces of feather and fur.
Of course, you’ll also need a large selection of feathers and fur to match the different types of flies you want to match. Mink fur and pheasant feathers are good materials to work with as are peacock feathers.
There are several books and websites available that can teach you fly tying for fly fishing as it can’t really be explained in a few short paragraphs. The best way to learn how to tie your fly fishing ties is to experiment and keep doing it. You’ll eventually find techniques that work for you and be well on your way to becoming an expert on fly tying for your fly fishing needs!
Read the rest of our series on Fly Fishing:
Fly Fishing Rods Information
Saturday, February 28th, 2009Fly Fishing Rods by Type and Function
Suggested resource: Fly Fishing Success with Trout, Bass and Salmon
What about your Fly Fishing Rod?
Suggested reading:
Fly Fishing Rod Buying Guide
Safe Boating Tips
In the sport of fly fishing, your rod is one of your most important pieces of equipment. Fly rods come in various shapes and sizes, and which one you choose depends a lot on how you are going to be using the rod.
Fly fishing rods come rated in terms of the net weight they can handle (designated by nwt). That means if you are fishing waters for fish up to 8 pounds, you should use an 8 nwt rod. The higher the number, the bigger fish the rod will be able to handle.
Some rods are multi-rated (i.e. 8-10 nwt). These rods are good because they can handle a variety of situations, but you will sacrifice flexibility in the performance of the rod. A multi-rated rod is good for beginning fly fishermen because of it’s ability to adapt to various fishing scenarios.
Rods are made of three different materials: fiberglass, graphite, and bamboo. Fiberglass rods are the best choice for beginners. They are durable and considerably less expensive than the alternatives. Most fly fishing rods are made of fiberglass.
Graphite rods are a little more expensive, but they are lighter than fiberglass. They are better at casting than other rods and can handle many types of fishing situations. Graphite rods are strong so they’ll give you more fighting weight when trying to finish your catch.
Bamboo rods were the earliest rods used in the sport of fly fishing. Today, bamboo rods are quite expensive, but they are amazing strong and durable. These rods are suited for a slow, soft casting style associated with slow, leisurely fishing. Bamboo rods are very graceful, but they can be difficult to handle in certain situations, so this is not a good choice for beginners.
The length of your rod makes a difference as well depending on what type of fishing location you are in. Rods less than 8 feet long are good for tight, narrow places and areas with overhanging trees. Eight to nine foot rods are ideal for trout and bass fishing in open areas where you can get casting distance. Anything nine feet and over is for wide open waters and long distance casts. You can also use a nine foot and above rod for fishing from a float tube.
Put some thought into your fly fishing rod. While it’s not the only piece of gear that matters, it can be the one piece of gear that can help you bring in a monster fish or a baby fish. Think about what you want to accomplish on your fishing expedition and choose a rod that you help you achieve your goal.
Here fishy, fishy
Saturday, February 28th, 2009A Lure is Truly a Lure in Fly Fishing
Suggested resource: Learn Powerful Fly Fishing Tactics
Fly Fishing Lures
Suggested reading:
Fly Fishing Articles and Techniques
Snagging the Big Bass
In the general sport of fishing, you use lures to catch your fish; however, when you are fly fishing, the word lure only marginally applies. Sure, you are trying to lure the fish to your bait, but when you are fly fishing, you use flies to entice the fish. So when we talk about lures in the sport of fly fishing, we are really speaking about flies.
You see, fish eat bugs. They rely on flies, grasshoppers, and other insects for their food source. When you are fly fishing, you attempt to mimic the look and movement of their food. Therefore, the lure that you are providing them with are called flies.
There are all sorts of fly fishing lures, or flies, that you can use depending on the area you are fishing and the type of fish you want to catch. Most of these lures are available at commercial retail outlets, but you can also make them yourself. The key is to have several different lures available to you so you can adapt to the situation you are fishing in.
Take a few moments when getting on the river or stream to observe the types of insects that are around you. Take a small net like they use for goldfish and skim the top of the water. See what you collect inside and then use a lure that looks like the bugs in the net.
Whatever type of fly or insect that is predominantly in the area is what the fish are feeding on. You’ll catch more fish when you lure them with what they already know are food sources. While most fish will eat whatever they can find, if they are used to seeing may flies on top of the water, they will be more apt to bite than if you dangle a caddis fly over their heads.
Your fly fishing lures should be simple. Regular fishing lures are often huge with all sorts of shiny danglers and bright colors. They, too, are meant to mimic food sources, but the idea of fly fishing is to catch fish using the natural food that is always available. That’s why flies are kept simple looking and small.
You can lure fish to your line using a variety of tools. But when you are fly fishing, lures become one of the most important tools you can have in your arsenal. Using the right lure, or fly, is so important. It can make a big difference between catching a ton of fish or just a few. Choose your lures carefully when fly fishing and reap the benefits!