Archive for July, 2007
Fly Fishing Rods - Getting The Bends
Posted in Fly Fishing Rods on the July 7, 2007
Picking a fly fishing rod is a tricky endeavor. Do you go with your ego, expected fishing environment or something else? While length is a factor, the bend or action of the rod is a key factor.
Flexibility
Fly fishing rods are often defined by their flexibility. In laymen’s terms, flexibility means how far the rods will bend when the same casting effort is used.
Minimal Bend
A fly fishing rod that has minimum bend is often called a “fast” rod. The lack of bend lets the angler get lots of speed on the cast. This speed allows you to cast very accurately and farther away than rods with more bends. While these benefits may sound great at first glance, a fast rod can be frustrating. There is no room for error when using the rod. If you are going to use one of these rods, you need excellent motion and timing. Generally, only anglers with a lot of experience should have a go at using fast rods.
Moderate Bend
The next step down from a fast rod is one with medium flexibility. These rods tend to have good flexibility, but the bend is restricted to the top half of the rod. The rod requires less perfection of motion and timing, but is fairly accurate. If you’ve been angling for a while and have the basic techniques down, a moderately flexible rod is worth a try.
Slinky Bend
If you are just taking up fly fishing, you should use a rod with maximum flexibility. While others suggest a moderate bend is better for beginners, a “slinky bend” rod gives you a lot of leeway when it comes to learning to cast.
Fly fishing is relaxing and enjoyable. Pick the wrong rod, however, and it can quickly become frustrating and stressful. If you use your brain, not your ego, when picking a rod, you will have a blast.
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"OSCAR" TRAVEL FLY FISHING ROD 9ft 5 piece # 7/9 + case
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NEW PFLEUGER Complete Fly Fishing Starter Kit! 8' Rod!
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NEW SUMO XS GAME AND TROUT FLY FISHING ROD 9ft # 7/8
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NEW SUMO XS GAME AND TROUT FLY FISHING ROD 10ft # 6/7
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About the Author
Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - makers of writing journals for fly fishing anglers. See Fly Fishing Journals on our site.
Understanding Fly Fishing Targets On Flowing Water
Posted in Fly Fishing Tips on the July 5, 2007
When it comes to fly fishing, the jargon can get a bit overwhelming if you let it. Here’s the plain English scoop on some common terms used.
Understanding Fly Fishing Targets On Flowing Water
Fly fishing is many things to many people. For some, it is a zen like way to interact with nature. For others, it is test of skill in the act of competing with tricky little fish. For yet others, it is a ballet of artistic movements and techniques to obtain the perfect cast for the perfect fly placement that produces the perfect catch. For most, it is just good, clean fun. Whatever your preference, fly fishing has a definite language you will need to learn.
Traditionally, fly fishing takes place on flowing water such as a river or stream. There are variations for lake or ocean destinations, but they represent a minority. Given this fact, following is an explanation of some of the terms associated with traditional fly fishing.
A “riffle” is an area with fast moving water broken up over some solid structure, most often rocks. A rifle can be an excellent location to cast for a number of reasons. The riffle tends to be an area where insects congregate. Where there are insects, there are fish. In particular, try to cast to areas just downstream of blockages as your catch should be residing in such locations.
A “pool” is an area where fast flowing water enters a deeper pool of water. Often found just after riffles, a pool offers little in the way of prospecting in the interior. It does, however, offer excellent prospects in the areas where water flows in. More than a few species of fish feed at such locations as the water flowing into the pool brings food and nutrients with it.
“Dead water” refers to an area where there is little or no current. This tends to occur in odd geographic areas, large rivers or areas with flow problems. Dead water is rarely a good place to fish, so avoid it like the plague.
Although not a term per se, vegetation that grows out into the water and shady shoreline locations are often excellent places to fish. These locations offer the combination of shade and nutrients, which are popular with fish. When referring to shade, it is important to understand that fish are not generally worried about sunburns. Instead, they are worried about dive bombing birds such as Osprey. A fish that cruises along the top of a pool of water in direct sunlight tends to have a very short life span.
Obviously, the above represents a small sampling of terminology related to rivers and moving areas. Nonetheless, you will at least know why so many anglers talk about riffles.
About the Author
Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of fly fishing journals. Visit us to read more articles about fly fishing.
Fly Fishing for Trout - Casting or Hunting
Posted in Fly Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing on the July 4, 2007
Fly casting is a skill that most fly fishermen would probably consider the most integral skill of fly fishing for trout. Certainly it is the most recognizable trait of fly fishing.
BUT, if catching fish is as important to you as a great looking cast is, then you may actually need to be careful just how much casting you do.
Fly fishing has far more in common with hunting than it does with other forms of fishing. This is because trout are such a timid creature and are so easily spooked. Although it is not such an issue if you are fishing deep in large bodies of water or in wide, fast flowing streams, it is still for this reason that casting can also be your worst enemy when trout fishing.
The classical Long cast, although a beautiful thing to behold, and even more beautiful to perform, does have its limitations. It was designed to deliver a lure to a timid quarry, who would be spooked by splashing sinkers or floats or any of the traditional fishing equipment and tackle generally used for other, less discerning species. The whole concept of doing this with a whip-like rod and line was indeed an ingenious one.
Trout, and particularly Brown Trout, see everything. And the bigger the trout, the more they see. The fly fisherman standing plain view false casting is an obvious predatory threat and will cause a fish to disappear into the depths, without you even knowing the trout was ever there.
To catch good, wild trout in smallish or still waters you must become an ambush predator and learn to think like a hunter. This, the element of surprise, is one of your greatest skills when fly fishing for trout. Believe it or not, even above good casting skills.
Dressing to be reasonably well camouflaged, keeping low and not making any fast or large movements, all play a role in not alerting a potential target trout to your presence. Even making sure you dont step heavily on the ground as you approach the fishing spot, keeps your footsteps from resonating through the water. Sound travels very well under water, particularly for a creature who has receptacles designed to hear within an aquatic environment.
Without a doubt, you will have to cast, and the better practised you are at casting with a fly rod, the less movement you must make to get your fly into the position you want it. So there is a good argument for spending time casting, just for casting sake. This is best done in an open place, preferably over water if you have the luxury, like a dam or lake, but anywhere that you are not going to catch any unwanted items will do to improve your skills.
If you want to be successful, dont just trudge up to the waters edge and start casting out into the middle of the lake or stream. The bulk of the aquatic life that the trout source as their food items are usually located towards the edges of the water, and near to the aquatic plant life also.
With this in mind, the trout will more likely be keeping as far out of reach of their own predators as possible, while maintaining a presence (cruising in still waters, on station in faster waters) close to their preferred food source. Larger fish preferring deeper water for security, and structures or irregularities for potential dietary supplies.
Wayne Smith author of the acclaimed Fly Fishing For Trout - A Quiet Revolution
Making Your Own Fly Fishing Lures
Posted in Fly Fishing Flies on the July 3, 2007
Tying or making your own fly fishing lures is a great way to find something to fill in those cold winter nights until fly fishing season hits again. Flies are not difficult to tie, plus using your own supplies and designing your own patterns is a great way to find new flies for those huge trout and bass in the spring and summer months. Basically the easiest type of fly to make for a first timer at making their own fly fishing lures is a dry fly.
Basic Dry Fly Fishing Lures
Start tying a dry fly it is important to get the supplies together that you need. Typically this will involve a small vice to hold the hook, a basic hook, some thread, some small feathers or course animal hair such as deer or elk hair or synthetic materials found in sporting goods stores for making fly fishing lures usually called hackle barbs.
1. Place the hook in the vice with the bend of the hook clamped tightly and the shank end of the hook facing away from the vice. If you are right handed, hold your left forefinger along the shank of the hook and begin wrapping the thread by holding it closes to the bend with the left finger and wrapping it several times up to the end of the shank or the eye. There will be lots of hook showing through the thread. When you get to the end switch direction and bring the thread back, crossing over each of the previous loops to form an X pattern around the shank. When you get back to the original first wrap slide the left finger away and leave the thread hanging, holding everything in place.
2. Measure the tail material, and cut off the excess length. In standard fly fishing lures the tail will be the same length as the same length as the hook shank length but remember that there will be a slight amount needed to tie the tail to the hook. Position the hackle barbs or the hairs so they will butt up against the wings about half way down the length of the hook shank. Loosely wrap the hanging thread around the tail bundle on the side closes to you, then tighten the thread and pull to the other side, moving the hair bundle to the top of the hook bend. Secure with extra wraps of thread.
3. To make the thicker part of the body you need dubbing, which is twisted onto the thread and then the thread is wrapped around the hook shank, creating the desired shape. The body or dub should start just behind the wings and taper through to the tail.
4. Cut the hens feathers or hackle tips to the desired length, which is the same length as the shaft of the hook from the start of the bend to the eye. Angling the center shaft of the feather on the side of the hook you are working and down, start to wrap the front of the feather shaft, holding the feather straight. Increase the wrap and then push the feather more upright, wrapping behind the shaft of the feather. This will pull the wings into the upright position. Repeat on the other side then gently spread the wings apart and position.
5. Add additional hackle feathers to the front of the fly fishing lure, using finer feathers the further forward on the fly you travel. Three to five wraps should be all that is needed to secure these fine feathers.
To tie off the thread make three or four loose loops letting the thread bobbin fall through the loop and then pulling tightly. This will secure the tie and ensure that your fly fishing lures will not unravel in the water.
About the Author
Cornel Tanady pursues a lot of niches. Currently, he is very much into fishing and boating. To learn everything you always wanted to know about fishing and boating, please visit www.fishing-guide-online.com and www.bestboatingcourse.com for free guides and reports.
Fly Fishing For Largemouth Bass
Posted in Fly Fishing Bass on the July 2, 2007
Like all bass fishing, bass fly fishing has exploded in popularity. The largemouth bass is considered by many the greatest of all gamefish. Once limited to just the Eastern United States, the largemouth bass has been introduced all over the continent. When most people think of bass fishing they think of, stiff fiberglass rods, heavy lines and large lures. But more and more fisherman are finding the advantage of fly fishing for this game fish.
Advantages of fly fishing:
Fly fishing allows the angler a wider variety of food imitations. While large lures only imitate a small number of food sources, flies can imitate virtually all the sources of bass food, including small organisms like nymphs and even dry flies. Fly fisherman can also cast out mice, frog, and a variety of other food sources for these opportunistic feeders. Many times bass are found in shallow water, hiding under or near logs or snags or in weeds. Fly casters have the advantage of more accurate placement, and being able to place their offering quietly without spooking skittish fish.
Bassy Water:
Largemouths usually emerge in early spring albeit a bit sluggish, but nevertheless with a speeding up metabolism, they are seeking food. Most largemouth’s will seek food in the shallows, being territorial the best hiding places will go to the biggest fish. Recognizing a good bass hiding spot is the first step in successful bass fishing. Fallen logs or weedy areas will provide cover for the wary lunker. Often times bass can be spotted by the careful observer, in clear water bass will appear green to pale olive across the back and white to pale yellow in the belly. In some areas a partner system will be beneficial with one angler standing above the water to provide a bird’s eye view. Float tubes can also be helpful allowing an angler to cover a lot of water in shorter amount of time, although you give up some of the advantages of sight angling.
When to Fish:
Largemouth Bass emerge in the early spring from deeper water. The exact timing depends on the region and the severity of the winter. But when ice begins to thaw and the water warms up, the largemouths metabolism begins to quicken albeit slowly at first. The strikes won’t be as hard, as the reticent fish, slurp in minnow patterns. Much like a trout slurps up an emerger pattern.
But once the water begins to warm to 60 degrees. The largemouth’s thoughts turn to spawning. In many areas this is around April. And the bass feed furiously, and seemingly without much thought to selection. It is during this time, that the bass fly fisher can found in their true natural environs. Bass cruising the shoreline in 1-3 feet of water, needing to bulk up for the upcoming spawn. It is then that the bass are the easiest to catch. Being fiercely territorial and in a feeding frenzy, they will attack anything in their path with a ferocity that makes this fish legendary.
After the spawn the bass seeks out deeper water, however, early morning and evening in particular can give one great action all summer long. And with the cooler waters of fall, bass return to activity that makes a trip to your favorite bass whole a worthy endeavor.
Techniques:
Early in the morning, I usually fish the banks with steamers. Casting out Woolly Buggers, Woolly Worms, Muddler Minnows, and even a leech pattern or two. One to three feet of water is where I concentrate, while the bass cruise actively looking for fish to eat.
In the spring time by afternoon I have switched to floating bass bugs. The very thing that makes bass fly fishing so fun. Casting one toward a nice looking bass hiding spot, I allow it to sit there for a few seconds. If you allowed the fly to ‘pop’ upon landing and have a nice bass picked out, often times this all that is needed for the bucketmouth to inhale your offering. Make sure your rod tip is at the proper angle to absorb the hit, or the game will be over before it begins.
If after a few seconds the ‘hit’ doesn’t occur, begin retrieving your fly at intermittent intervals like would occur in nature. This ‘popping’ action is what attracts the bass to your offering. Watch for the wake as the great hunter is not at all shy, and remember especially trout anglers, the bass’s mouth is huge and these animals were built for eating.
Flies:
Well, The Big Y Fly Co. (http://www.bigyflyco.com) is about selling flies, so you didn’t think we would forget that did you. If it is still unclear bass are opportunistic carnivores with huge mouths, that will eat anything. There are the usual bass bugs that float like the Frog, and the Mouse Rat. Then there are the divers, that float and then sink when you retrieve them, like the Dahlberg divers. And then there are the streamers, like the Woolly Buggers, Clouser minnows. Furthermore for those hot days or big reservoirs, there are sculpins and leeches, that like bass will seek deep water.
The great Largemouth Bass has soared in popularity like few other game fish. If you haven’t ever experienced fighting one of these, you are missing out on something special. Now introduced virtually everywhere throughout the continent on North America, there bound to be some great bass fishing not for from your door.
About The Author…
Cameron Larsen is a retired commericial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. www.bigyflyco.com. He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. The above article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html