| According to the official Boy Scouts of America Field | | | | little bit of line and hold it in your hand, then release it |
| book, "Fly casting is a skill you can learn in a few | | | | as you cast. This can look a little silly, but considering |
| minutes, and then spend the rest of your life trying | | | | the low weight of a fly-fishing rig and the precision |
| to perfect." This certainly rings true, and it is certain | | | | required in fly fishing to drop your fly right where |
| that there are few fishing activities more enjoyable | | | | you want it, directly over the fish, it is a necessity. |
| than the noble art of fly-fishing. This article will focus | | | | So, before you actually cast, swing the rod back and |
| on the "few minutes" part of that quote, and get | | | | forth over your head a few times, getting a feel for |
| you on the way to fishing enjoyment with a | | | | it and feeling the loading energy go from the rod to |
| minimum of fuss. | | | | line and back. As you do this, use the hand that is |
| When fly-fishing, your equipment will consist of a rod | | | | not holding the pole to feed out the line from the |
| 6-10 feet long, a winch reel located below the rod, | | | | reel and control the length of it. After about half a |
| and the line, which is weighted to be heavier than | | | | minute, you will have enough line looping in the air to |
| regular fishing line. When fly-fishing, instead of putting | | | | cast, so swing the rod tip out toward your target, |
| a sinker on the end of your line to carry it out as | | | | watching the line arc out over the water. Where you |
| you cast, fly fishermen use no sinker: the line itself | | | | put the fly will depend on the current of the water: if |
| acts as a weight. Don't make the mistake of trying | | | | it is still, place it right on top of the fish. It is moving, |
| to use your regular fishing gear for fly-fishing: take it | | | | place it a little above the fish and let it float down to |
| from me, you won't get anywhere. The good news | | | | them. |
| is, though, you can get set up for fly-fishing relatively | | | | Other types of fishing may get you bigger fish, but |
| cheaply, and then you can fish as much as you want | | | | one thing is true: no other fishing experience in the |
| for the cost of the gas to get to and from your | | | | world can top the satisfaction of expertly casting out |
| favorite fishing hole. | | | | a fly and watching a big bass explode out of the |
| Now, as you cast, the main difference that you will | | | | water for it. It doesn't matter how many times you |
| notice from conventional fishing is that you do not | | | | see it happen: when that water pops, you'll jump. |
| leave the line in the reel: you will actually pay out a | | | | |