| Â | | | | you can prevent some of these tangles from |
| Introduction To Fly Fishing | | | | occurring is by putting the spool into a glass |
| Over the last 2000 years humans have employed | | | | ofwater for about 24 hours before you head out |
| numerous methods of archery, fishing and hunting | | | | to go fishing, giving it a chance tosoak. |
| in order to find food. Over that time, fly fishing | | | | To cast the spinning reel, hold the handle of the |
| has become seen by many anglers as the | | | | rod with one hand, making surethat the spinning |
| essential method of fishing requiring skill, patience | | | | reel is on the bottom side with your middle finger |
| and stealth. Indeed trout fishing is by far the | | | | placed in frontof the "foot" of the reel. Slowly |
| most rewarding fishing whether boat fishing or | | | | open up the bail and pull the line behind the |
| bank fishing. | | | | firstknuckle of your index finger. Release the line |
| When compared to other forms of fishing and | | | | by pulling your index finger into astraight position. |
| the fishing equipment required at the bank, fly | | | | You can control how far you cast the line by |
| fishing stands out above the rest due to the | | | | letting the linemove along your index finger as |
| limited fishing equipment that is needed; allowing | | | | close to the spool as possible as the line unwinds. |
| greater stretches of a river or lake to be | | | | When you want to stop the line you simply push |
| explored in a session. By employing what is | | | | your finger against the lip of thespool. |
| essentially a fishing lure presented in such a way | | | | Spincast reels: Spincast reels are also known as |
| as to convince the fish it is a living creature worth | | | | "push button" reels. They areclosed-face and are |
| devouring encompasses all that relates to the | | | | very easy to use. They are almost impossible to |
| history of archery, fishing and hunting. | | | | tangle and canbe cast in smooth, long arcs |
| Which Rod? | | | | without twisting. The main portion of the spool |
| There are several things that you need to think | | | | isencased in a covering and it remains in one place |
| about when choosing the right typeof fly fishing. | | | | while a pick-up pin spins aroundthe spool. When |
| Every reel and fly fishing rod has a certain | | | | buying a spincast reel make sure that you don't |
| function and knowing the function is critical to its | | | | buy the mostinexpensive one since you want to |
| success. | | | | pay for good quality. Many beginner fly fishersdo |
| One of the first things that you need to consider | | | | well with a spincast reel. |
| is comfort. Is the rod that you'reusing | | | | To cast the spincast reel all you need to do is |
| comfortable for you to hold? If you're shorter | | | | depress the push button and hold itdown. You'll |
| than about 5'5" you won'twant to use a rod that | | | | release the button when you want your lure to |
| is seven feet. Choose a fly fishing rod length that | | | | move in a forwardposition. Most spincast reels are |
| is easy for you to hold and cast for a few hours | | | | able to be used with any weight lure or line size. |
| at a time. | | | | Which Line? |
| Most of the fly fishing rods on the market today | | | | Most of the lines that you'll use for fly fishing will |
| are designed to allow you to feel when a fish | | | | be made of nylonmonofilament. However, other |
| takes the bait. The shaft of the fly fishing rod is | | | | lines are becoming just as popular such as |
| called a "blank" and when the rod is first | | | | linesthat are (1) braided, (2) co-filament, or (3) |
| manufactured the blank is made from fiberglass, | | | | fused. No matter what type of line youbuy make |
| graphite, or other materials. Eachof these blanks | | | | sure that it's a "premium" line. Premium lines are |
| has an action that is either: light, medium, medium | | | | more durable andeven than cheaper lines. You'll |
| heavy, orheavy. The upper portion will also have | | | | want to match the fishing line that you buy to |
| an action that is either: extra light, light,or regular. | | | | thefollowing criteria and conditions: |
| Both ends of the blank are assembled and the | | | | · Strength: Strength is measured in the |
| final result is a fishing rod, complete with a handle | | | | pounds of force that is needed tobreak the line. |
| and guide. No matter what type of rod that | | | | You'll find that most lines will break at higher |
| you're using, the "action" of the rod will refer to | | | | weights thanthey are sold at. |
| the "blank". The action of the rod will have a | | | | · Resistance to Abrasion: When you're fishing |
| greatdeal to do with the type of fishing that | | | | in areas where there are a lotof brush or rocks |
| you're doing. | | | | you'll want to use a line that won't break easily |
| Now go to your local tackle shop and ask to try | | | | when it isconstantly rubbed. |
| out a range of rods in order to decide which best | | | | · Line Diameter: The diameter of the line will |
| suits yourself. This will be an individual thing and | | | | affect the way the line is castas well as how |
| the only way is to try the rods bearing in mind . | | | | deep your lure will run. Diameter also has an |
| Which Reel? | | | | affect on thevisibility and stretching of the line. |
| Reels - There are three main types of reels that | | | | The thinner a line is the harder it will befor the |
| you can choose from when itcomes to fly fishing: | | | | bass to see it. Thinner lines will also give some |
| (1) baitcasting reels, (2) spinning reels, and (3) | | | | bait, such as grubs, amore realistic flowing action. |
| spincast reels. The reel that you choose will | | | | The one good thing about lines with a |
| depend your own personal preferences. | | | | thickerdiameter is that they are better able to |
| Baitcasting reels: Baitcasting reels have better | | | | withstand abrasion. |
| accuracy and control of the lurethan other reels. | | | | · Stretch Lines: Stretch lines won't break as |
| They are better equipped to handle lines that are | | | | easily when they are beingpulled by a fish. They |
| ten or morepounds in weight. The one thing to be | | | | are beneficial in letting you detect strikes as well |
| aware of when using a baitcasting reel isthat they | | | | ashelp you in setting hooks. |
| often have the tendency to snarl or fight back | | | | · Line Stiffness: The stiffness of the line is |
| when the spool starts tospin faster than the line | | | | related to its stretch. The stifferthe line is the |
| that is being played out. This is particularly true if | | | | harder it will be to cast. The advantage to having |
| you arecasting into the wind. | | | | a stiff line isthat is more sensitive than flexible |
| To prevent these backlashes, baitcasting reels | | | | lines. |
| have a magnetic braking feature butyou'll want to | | | | · Line visibility: In clear water it's important |
| count more on the control of the spool tension, | | | | that your line is as invisible tothe fish as possible. |
| which is a knob thatis usually located right beside | | | | However, you'll want to have a line that is highly |
| the handles. You'll need to set the spool | | | | visible when your fishing lures are on a subtle |
| tensionknob for each lure by holding the rod | | | | strike, such as worms, grubs,and jigs. This is so |
| straight and disengaging the spool. Loosenthe | | | | that you can easily detect any movement on the |
| tension just until the lure begins to drop down and | | | | line thatmay indicate a fish is biting. |
| then tighten the spool just abit. | | | | Holding your Rod Effectively |
| When you're casting the reel you'll disengage the | | | | |
| spool and then hold it tight withyour thumb. When | | | | It's important that you learn to hold your rod |
| you want the lure to move forward you'll simply | | | | effectively under any fishingconditions. You want |
| loosen up onthe pressure. After some practice | | | | to make sure that you maintain good control at all |
| you'll learn to control the speed of the spool | | | | timeswithout gripping too hard. You can adjust the |
| sothat you have better accuracy. | | | | power of your hold when you're inthe middle of a |
| Spinning reels: Spinning reels are reels that have a | | | | cast. This will allow you to minimize the vibrations |
| spool that is stationary. Theline is spun onto the | | | | of eachmovement. With just a bit of practice |
| spool as a device called a "bail" rotates around it. | | | | you'll be able to increase the tightness at thesame |
| Spinningreels can be used for any size of line but | | | | as you learn to relax your grip. |
| more experienced fly fishers will use itfor | | | | Which Bait? |
| lightweight lures with a weight less than ten | | | | Following is a list of some best bait choices as |
| pounds. Spinning reels tend toperform a little | | | | recommended by the experts: |
| better than baitcasting reels when you're casting | | | | ? Grubs: Grubs are small lures that are usually |
| into the wind. | | | | used to catch larger fish. |
| One disadvantage of using a spinning reel is that | | | | Grubs are great for use in highland reservoirs |
| there is the inevitable twisting ofthe line which will | | | | where there is little cover forthe fish. The grub is |
| create tangles and knots. When your line | | | | much like a bare jig head that has a soft plastic |
| becomes twisted thebest thing that you can do is | | | | body toattach to the hook. You'll want to use |
| replace the line with a new one. One way that | | | | them most often in clear waterconditions. |