| Fly fishing is an interesting sport with a growing | | | | hatches to determine which artificial fly would be |
| number of people participating. When people start | | | | most successful. Different artificial flies are |
| out fly fishing they usually just buy all of the gear | | | | successful on different water at different times. |
| that they need, including their artificial flies. Once | | | | Artificial flies were originally made using natural |
| people get hooked on fly fishing though they | | | | materials like feathers, fur, wool and similar |
| often start thinking about making their own | | | | materials. Most artificial flies are now made using |
| artificial flies as a way to stay involved with the | | | | synthetic materials. Another recent development |
| sport during the off-season months. While some | | | | in artificial fly design has been the use of the |
| artificial flies can be tricky to make others are | | | | barbless hook. Many fly fishers practice "catch and |
| actually well within the abilities of the average fly | | | | release" and extracting a barbed hook from a fish |
| fisher. Even children can learn to tie artificial flies | | | | after landing it can be quite difficult. While barbless |
| and this is an excellent way to get them involved | | | | hooks make it somewhat more challenging to |
| in the sport. | | | | keep the fish on the hook they are easier to |
| The earliest description of tying artificial flies dates | | | | extract - from the fish or the angler! |
| back to the 2nd century. Macedonian anglers, | | | | Artificial flies are now made in thousands of |
| fishing on the Astraeus River, had devised a | | | | designs and styles. The number of choices can be |
| method of fly fishing using artificial flies. These | | | | quite overwhelming to new fly fishers. All artificial |
| Macedonian fly fishermen started with a hook and | | | | flies have certain basic characteristics though and, |
| then tied red-dyed wool around the hook. They | | | | despite newer materials and more choices, the |
| would then tie small feathers onto the red wool | | | | basics of artificial fly manufacturing has not |
| to complete the artificial fly. Apparently these | | | | changed much in two thousand years of fly |
| fishermen were quite successful with their | | | | fishing. All artificial flies start with a hook. The |
| primitive artificial flies. | | | | hook is then disguised to resemble an actual |
| 18th century American fly fishermen took the | | | | insect that the target fish eat or to attract the |
| design of artificial flies to a new level while | | | | target fish with color, motion, etc. |
| studying the trout streams of the New York | | | | The materials that the hook is decorated with |
| Catskill Mountains. These fishermen discovered | | | | have changed over the years but some of the |
| that their success with fly fishing could be greatly | | | | classic designs have not. Wool, fur and feathers |
| improved by designing artificial flies that mimicked | | | | were once common choices for artificial flies. |
| the native insects around the stream. These | | | | Newer materials include plastic, mylar, foam and |
| artificial flies successfully fooled the trout into | | | | metals. These materials are either tied or glued |
| thinking that a real insect had landed on the water. | | | | onto the hook in special patterns to attract fish. |
| This knowledge gave rise to studying insect | | | | |