Fly fishing is a method of fishing that involves using an artificial fly as opposed to using bait or worms. It differs from traditional fishing in that fly anglers cast a hook that usually has tiny pieces of yarn, feather, foam, fur or other similar and often colorful material using thread to make what is called a “fly.” The most common kinds of fish to be caught by using a fly are the salmon, chars, trout and most game fish although most types of fish can be caught with this method. Trout are the most popular to catch since they live and feed in shallow waters and eat small insects. On a recent trip to the lake, I woke up early in the morning from my cabin in the Shuswap and was able to catch 3 fish before dawn even broke.
Fly fishing is a very popular sport. Most fishermen will agree that it is a relaxing hobby which can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life. Most anglers would also agree that it is not just about catching fish. This type of fishing appeals to those who are more environmentally conscious since it is less harmful to the fish overall than numerous other techniques and the majority of anglers return their catch.
There are two main kinds of fly fishing. The classic method is known as dry fly fishing. This is when the fisherman uses an artificial fly which is cast so that it will float on top of the water. The theory is that the fly will pass over the fish which will rise up and bite it. Once on the hook, the fisherman then tries to control the fish’s attempts to escape. The fisherman will tire out the fish during the retrieval process so he can take the fish from the water with a landing net.
Many anglers prefer this kind of fishing style since everything is visible. The fisherman casts at a fish he can see, the fly is visible as it floats on the surface of the water, and he can watch the fish take the fly. One drawback to fly fishing is that trout and other fish naturally tend to feed underwater, so they may not be as likely to come up to take a dry fly.
This brings us to the second kind of fly fishing, a method known as nymph fishing. When real flies lay their eggs in the lake or river, the eggs hatch out as nymphs, which make their way to the surface where they hatch into a fly. Nymph fishing uses imitations of different nymphs that are weighted down to stay below the water surface. This kind of fishing is often regarded as more challenging by anglers since all the action takes place beneath the surface.
Freshwater fly rods are generally small, lightweight, and flexible. The typical rod for fly fishing in freshwater will be about two or three metres in length and geared toward catching salmon, trout and greyling. Slightly larger rods may be purchased for bagging salmon or seatrout and these will be used with slightly stronger fishing line.
Copyright (c) 2011 Gerry StringerWhen it’s cold outside in Colorado, or how the winter of 2010-2011 is shaping up for Colorado’s mountains – epic snowfall – fly fishing in the state’s wonderful rivers and streams is difficult, at best. Anglers used to landing trout up high in the Rockies often turn their attention to a new experience: tropical fly fishing. Tropical fly fishing can be quite different than mountain fishing, but the lure is irresistible. The weather is warm, of course, and from Key West down through the Caribbean rim countries, there is outstanding salt water fishing and inland freshwater venues, and the challenges, not to mention the memories, are outstanding. Look for such monsters as barracuda, bonefish, cobia, grouper, kingfish, marlin, permit, sailfish, shark, snapper, tarpon, tuna, sea bass, dorado, snook and wahoo in the saltwater flats. To find exotic catches like mojarra, bobo, machin, tepe, guapote and machaca, go inland on the rivers and streams. Renowned fishing spots populate the Caribbean from the Keys to the Yucatan Peninsula, the Caymans, the Bahamas and St. Lucia, St. Thomas, Turks & Caicos, Puerto Rica, and in the coastal waters and inland streams of such countries as Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras. Tropical fishing is also great in Cuba, however the trip can be challenging considering all of the travel restrictions. The help of an experienced local fishing guide is recommended for Colorado anglers who are unfamiliar with tropical fly fishing, especially where the catch can be many and quite sizable. They usually can be found through most fly fishing shops around the country which offer destination travel options, and of course searching the web is helpful as well. These in-country guides know the waters, are familiar with the various species in their area and when they run, and they also are equipped with the proper fly fishing gear appropriate for the task(s) at hand. For instance, a guide in Costa Rica recently posted an article on the web that indicated finding tarpon in freshwater lagoons in that country which were plentiful up to 200 pounds. To reel in a giant like that, no less than a #10 rod is required. He brought along both floating line, for when the fish are striking at the surface, and sinking line for those days when the fish tend to hug the bottom of these relatively shallow (up to 20-feet deep) lagoons. The next Google search turned up an 8-day fly fishing excursion in Honduras. For $1700 for the week, all inclusive, this outfitter was offering 5 days in that country’s Bay Islands looking for permit fish, bonefish, snook, snappers, jacks and more, with travel and sightseeing days wrapping around. There are, of course, tropical fly fishing opportunities worldwide, with such popular destinations as Hawaii, Fiji and Tahiti high on the list of the most desirable. However, the Caribbean basin offers the widest set of options for both salt water and freshwater adventures.S. making these areas easy to get to from any place in the country. Tropical fishing and deep-sea fishing are memorable experiences in any context, but adding in the romance and challenge of fly fishing for some of the most fierce fighting fish in the world is an experience of a lifetime, say those who have been there. However, they warn nearly every tropical fishing novice who is familiar with Rocky Mountain streams will want to return to the tropics annually for their winter trip. Be prepared to be hooked.