| Often we are faced with fish that for a variety of | | | | and LL Bean. But the most common way I see, are |
| reasons are extra spooky or that just won't hit a | | | | people who are self taught. Teaching yourself isn't a |
| lure. Some of the causes include bright sunlight, clear | | | | bad route to go as long as you have the space to |
| water and small baits. When this happens the | | | | do it. It has become much easier over the years with |
| tendency is to downsize the lure and make longer | | | | the number of excellent DVD's and books on the |
| casts to the fish. Many times this works. But there | | | | market by fishing celebrities like Lefty Kreh or the |
| are the times when the fish still don't hit our lure, | | | | late Mel Krieger. These DVD's are easy to understand |
| even after we've thrown everything we got at | | | | and illustrates how easy fly casting really is. |
| them. Remember, going smaller, hence lighter with a | | | | Rods and reels. These two items can cause a lot of |
| lure makes those longer casts harder. Sometimes to | | | | debate among veteran fly fishermen, each who |
| have greater success we need to use a lure made of | | | | seems to have their own brand loyalty. In reality, all |
| materials that are extremely light and provide a more | | | | of the major fly tackle manufacturers make quality |
| realistic look to the fish. A lure that isn't heavy | | | | rods and reels. In the beginning I suggest keeping |
| enough to be cast in the conventional way. | | | | things inexpensive, simple and of very good quality. |
| An alternative way to present or cast the lure to | | | | Rods in the $200 range can easily get you started |
| these fish is to change the technique and instead of | | | | and if need be, you can do okay around the $100 |
| using the weight of the lure to carry the line, we use | | | | mark. Orvis, Sage, St. Croix and TFO all make rods in |
| the weight of the line to carry a relatively weightless | | | | this category. |
| lure. To do this we need to change our tackle and | | | | For the beginner the brand is not near as confusing |
| the lure. Yes, I'm talking about fly fishing. | | | | rod sizes and actions. Simply, rods are sized by |
| For years fly fishing was considered the domain of | | | | number, with the higher numbers given to the |
| the freshwater angler, and it was. Early in the 1900's | | | | heavier rods. In other words, a 10 weight is a heavier |
| there was a very small group of fishermen who | | | | rod than a an 8 weight. Actions can also be simplified |
| started pursuing saltwater fish with fly rods, but it | | | | to slow, medium and fast. Without getting into a |
| wasn't until later on, during the middle of the 20th | | | | lengthy discussion, a rod in the fast to medium-fast |
| century that fly fishing pioneers like Joe Brooks | | | | range is most useful and easy to learn with. Rod |
| began popularizing the technique. Since the 1970's and | | | | weights in 8, 9,or 10 will cover most fish, with the 8 |
| 80's the growth of saltwater fly fishing has been | | | | weight being for the smaller fish, the 9 next and the |
| huge, led by fishing personalities like Left Kreh, Bob | | | | 10 weight for the larger fish like big stripped bass and |
| Popovics, Lou Tabory and others. The quality of the | | | | the small tunas. Companies like Orvis have some very |
| tackle has improved to the point that for many | | | | good information on their website to help in choosing |
| adventurous saltwater fly rodders, no fish is off limits. | | | | a rod for the species of fish you are most likely to |
| But, I'm not going to get into blue water fly fishing, | | | | encounter. |
| but rather a quick and easy way how the inshore | | | | Reels don't need to break the bank either. Ross |
| saltwater angler can add to his bag of tricks. | | | | Reels, Orvis and a few others make quality reels at a |
| Remember, earlier I said we can use the weight of | | | | reasonable price that will give you a lifetime of use. |
| the line to carry the lure. That's all fly fishing basically | | | | What you want to look for first in a reel is that it's |
| is. What's needed is some basic equipment like a rod, | | | | saltwater proof. This means machined aluminum and |
| reel, line and flies. The flies are nothing but lures, | | | | high quality drags at the least. Try to stay away |
| called flies more as a tradition stemming from the | | | | from cast aluminum reels as they tend to have less |
| origins of fly fishing when the lure did indeed imitate | | | | strength. Reels of this quality can be had from the |
| an insect. In the salt the flies are used imitate bait | | | | low $110's to mid $200's. The only other thing you'll |
| fish, crustaceans, like crabs and shrimp, and | | | | need is a fly line. Start with a floating or intermediate |
| sometimes worms like sand and cinder worms. The | | | | line matched to the rod. In other words, a 10 weight |
| materials used in making, or rather tying, flies provide | | | | line for a 10 weight rod. Any of the major brands will |
| a translucency and realism unattainable with metal, | | | | do the trick. Here again, brand loyalty can run strong |
| plastic or wood. The motion and texture created can | | | | among veteran fly casters. Just keep in mind if it's |
| far surpass other artificials. | | | | sold by Scientific Angler, Rio, Orvis or Cortland it's not |
| The most important part of fly fishing is learning to | | | | junk and will do the job. |
| cast. Too often this is shrouded in a mysterious, | | | | Aside from the flies, which you're best buying locally |
| jargon riddled explanation leaving the first timer to | | | | if possible, the other tackle you'll need are leaders. |
| think it's some type of art form. It isn't. Fly casting is | | | | The same line you use for conventional fishing will |
| a skill for sure and just as spin casting and bait | | | | suffice as leader material, but if you want to seal the |
| casting require different learned skill sets, so does fly | | | | deal and maybe make things just a little easier on |
| casting. The best way, and perhaps the only way to | | | | yourself spend the few extra bucks and pick up a |
| learn how to cast is when you're not fishing. When | | | | couple of pre made leaders. The very end of the |
| you try to learn while you're fishing the focus always | | | | leader where you attach the fly is called the tippet. |
| becomes trying to catch a fish and the learning curve | | | | By having a few varying sizes of mono or |
| becomes greatly lengthened. This is really no | | | | fluorocarbon spools, you can keep the leader to its |
| different in learning to use a bait caster, for example. | | | | original length when it gets shorter from changing flies |
| You can approach the learning phase in several ways. | | | | or a fish breaking off. The breaking strength of the |
| One is to use the services of a pro. Not a bad choice | | | | tippet can also be changed without changing the |
| if you can afford it since this would jump start the | | | | whole leader to compensate for changing situations |
| whole process. Another way is to have someone | | | | of conditions. |
| you know, who you know what he's doing, teach | | | | Learning this additional fishing method could give you |
| you. This isn't as easy as it sounds. Many competent | | | | opportunities you didn't have before. At worse, you'll |
| amateurs lack the teaching skills needed to convey | | | | experience greater enjoyment. It could become, like |
| the concepts. There are also the many fly fishing | | | | it has for many, your preferred fishing method. But |
| clubs that frequently offer clinics for free or at a | | | | whichever direction fly fishing takes you it's still |
| minimal cost. On the higher priced end are the fly | | | | nothing more than fishing, just with different tackle |
| fishing schools like those run by The Orvis Company | | | | for different situations. |