Of Flies…

There is a particular fly for every fish, location and situation. There are basic flies like the Woolly Bugger and millions of exotic ones. You can buy thousands of them, but it will set you back a pretty penny. So, it’s time to tie your own.

The first step in the fly process is getting some educated advice at the bookstore. You’ll need to browse the fishing section for the hundreds of books on the subject. You’ll see books like “Flies for Idiots”, “Be One With The Fly”, “I Fly, You Fly, We All Fly” and other mythical titles. Pick the one that seems tailored to your needs, buy your tools and supplies and head home.

One of the first flies most people try to tie is the Woolly Bugger. It can be used for most situations and seems fairly simple to tie. Since this is your first time, you’ll actually be tying the Frankenstein Fly whether you realize it or not. This is true regardless of the specific fly you try to tie.

With the Woolly Bugger, you’ll use a jam knot, a fluffy piece of marabou, lead wire and so on. You’ll follow the directions in detail. You’ll wind. You’ll strip fuzz. You’ll wrap like you’ve never wrapped before. In the end, you will have followed every step in agonizing detail. As you finish the last step, whip finishing your fly, you’ll step back to admire the best Woolly Bugger.

At this point, you’ll look at the book and your masterpiece. Then you’ll jump on the Internet and pull up pictures of Woolly Bugger flies. Then the neighborhood will shake with a piercing scream. Yes, you’ve created something that faintly looks like a Woolly Bugger, but strikingly like Frankenstein.

Congratulations, you’ve tied a Frankenstein Fly. Welcome to the league of mad tie scientists.

Have Faith

Tying flies is definitely an art. You will almost never get it right the first time. Don’t be discouraged. Keep at it. Who knows, maybe the fish will find your Frankenstein Fly to be a tasty treat.

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Fly fishing is one of the most popular forms of angling on the planet.  It is far superior in the way of skills that are required and that means that you will be having a grand time no matter what.  A fly fishing vacation is not for everyone.  There is something special about this type of thing that not everyone will enjoy.  Fly fishing requires so much more that many people do not find it enjoyable to say the least.  That is why there are not a lot of top locations that are specific to fly fishing but there are some and that means a lot of action for the few that will make the trip. 

Madison Valley River provides a great place for a fly fishing vacation.  There are several cabins that are allocated only for the fly fishing parties that come in.  The fishing is well above the bar.  The trout come running down the river at certain times of the year and you can catch your limit within a few hours time. 

Yellowstone River makes the best of a fly fishing vacation.  This area is one of the best when it comes to fly fishing and people from all over the world fly in for that reason. There is only walking or boating access to the fly fishing vacation areas so that means that you can have a quiet and exciting vacation without all the hassles of the more crowded areas.

South Fork Snake River is a wonderful spot for the fly fishing vacation that you are planning.  The main problem is the fact that so many know about it and it can be hard for you to get a spot.  The reservations are taken a year ahead of time and they are limited to one week of fishing.  This is not a problem because there is some serious action in this area and catching your limit is more than easy.

Henry’s Lake provides all the best in fly fishing action.  The fish are large in this area so prepare for a fight when one is hooked.  There is more than enough room to stay and you can have a cabin for up to one month.  Be careful though as the license costs are on the rise in this state.

Big Hole lake is probably one of the largest areas to take a fly fishing vacation.  There is enough room for a large amount of people and that means that it can get a bit crowded if you go at the wrong time of the year.  Early spring is best and offers some great action.

Image via Wikipedia

Fly fishing can be a surreal experience mending the soul of any person. That is, until you have to deal with the one that got away!

The One That Got Away

I’ve battled the crowds, seen the masses of fish in the crystal clear water, and been skunked by the some of the most educated trout around on the Green River below the Flaming Gorge Dam.  On a float trip last fall, I experienced the true meaning of …The One That Got Away.

This fight and escape was like no other that I have experienced in my 10 years of fly fishing. This fish was not just big, but the most aggressive and determined trout I have ever seen!!  It was a picture perfect moment; I spot a large rising fish on the left side of the river about 50 down.  We row into position. I make the perfect cast and my drift is right on target. Suddenly, the fish comes almost completely out of the water.

Now you are probably thinking, big deal, what makes this the ultimate one that got away story?  It’s not the size of the fish or even the amount of time the fish was on, it’s all about the angler.

Moments before my fly drifted over this fantastic fish, a dive-bombing Osprey snagged him out from under me nose, or more accurately, the nose of my fly!  Maybe their eyesight is not quite as good as I thought, because this bird chewed off way more than he should have! 

It was a perfect snag, both talons sunk into the back of the fish.  The bird was able to pull the fish almost completely out of the water with a few extremely labored flaps before he went down. Yep, the Osprey was completely dragged under by the heavy, powerful and extremely determined fish.

Amazingly, the Osprey surfaced still clutching the fish and made another attempt to conquer the beast. Dragging the fish half submerged across 10 feet of river, the bird was once again almost completely submerged. Again the Osprey surfaces, well, almost surfaces. Only one wing comes out of the water and flaps frantically. One had to wonder who was having who lunch!  

Unbelievably, it started to look like the fish was going to roll the Osprey under it. Sure enough, the fish came over the top and was partially in the air while the Osprey was completely submerged under it! The trout made a vicious twisting movement and the Osprey apparently thought oxygen was a better meal. It let go of the trout. The soaking wet bird laboriously returned to a nearby perch for a well-deserved rest.

We all stared at each other in complete shock. Now that is one hell of  a One That Got Away story!!

Jerry J. Jansen
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You take the time to get into just the right location in that great stream that your friend told you about.  You have been waiting for so long to enjoy this time, alone, fishing to your heart’s content.  There are many amazing moments in life but fly fishing is one of your favorite.  You’ll get into the waders, getting into just that right location so that you can cast.

The tip of your rod should be in the four o’ clock position with 20 feet (6 meters) of line extended beyond your rod’s tip. Trap the line between the rod handle and your index finger. To begin the back cast, bend your elbow, raise your forearm and move the rod tip from four o’clock to eleven thirty and lift the line from the water. Pause for a moment at this point to allow the line to extend behind you before casting the rod forward. Allow the rod to follow through as the line extends to its full length in front of you. Then continue to work the line in this manner. A fish strikes. The fight is on and you successfully land the fish. This is fly casting.

Fly fishing is an old method of angling. It was primarily developed to catch trout and salmon. Today, it is still used to fish these species, but is also used to catch bass, carp, pike and a wide range of saltwater fish. The difference between casting and fly fishing is that in casting you use the weight of your bait, sinker and bobber to propel your cast. In fly fishing, the weight of the line propels your line forward and puts your fly into position. The fly cannot do this, as it is essentially weightless. The goal in fly fishing is to present the fly gently and to always be in control of it.

When you fly fish, you need special fishing equipment that includes a fly rod and reel, a special fly fishing line and artificial or live flies. These are tied onto your hook with feathers, fur, thread or other materials in colors and sizes that represent natural prey. The key to successful fly fishing is balance. The rod, reel and line, as well as the tippet all have to match in order to have a positive fly fishing experience.

Rod, Reels and Lines
Fly fishing rods are lightweight and long. The line provides the casting weight and is heavy. It can be of differing density, depending on whether you want the fly to sink or float. Line is matched to your rod by weight. Look near the fly rod butt to find out what line weight must be used. Graphite rods are best because they can produce any action that you wish to use. If you are a beginner, buy a basic and moderately priced rod, or borrow one from a family member or friend.

Flies and Leaders
Flies weigh very little. The fly is usually attached to the line by a leader that is two to three meters in length (6 to 9 feet). The leader often tapers to a fine end. This is called a tippet. Tippet size range from 8X, which is the smallest, to 0X, which is the largest. Tippets are set in units of .001 inches. To match the tippet to the fly, you must subtract from eleven and multiply by .001.

For example to find the diameter of a 4X tippet, you would subtract four from eleven. That equals seven. Now, multiply by .001. This size would be .007. What if you have a # 18 fly? How would you calculate tippet size? You would put eighteen over four and calculate. The answer would be 4.5. Since there is no 4.5 X tippet, you would move to the next largest size, which would be 5.

Types of Fly Fishing
There are two types of fly fishing – dry and wet. Wet flies are fished beneath the water surface and are divided into several types, including live wet flies, lures and nymphs. Dry flies float on the water surface and are coated with a substance called, ‘floatant’ to make this possible.

If you are interested in fly fishing and can’t decide which equipment you need to have a positive fishing experience, ask an experienced angler for help. This can be a family member, friend, someone from the local angler’s club or a staff member of the local fly fishing shop. Fly fishing is not as hard to learn as it appears to be. Have fun and enjoy that big catch.

The best way to enjoy your catch is to take the time to enjoy the many wonders that the fishing experience offers.  No matter what that first adventure turns out to be, you can make it amazing by spending some time learning the skills from an experienced fisherman.

Jerry J. Jansen
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Basically, fly fishing is not only one of the fastest growing sports; it is one of the foremost forms of conserving  natural resources as well as providing aquatic recreation.

Fly fishing is, very simple when three things are right: you must have a suitable rod; you must get a line to match it; and you must learn correct casting technique.

For people who wish to know some tips on fly fishing, here is a list of some pointers that could help anglers harness their fly fishing skills:

1. Material of the rod

For one of moderate means, and especially for the beginners, hollow glass is advised since it will require less care than bamboo and will not take a set if improperly handled or stored.

2. Line

Your fly casting skill will not progress with a mismatched rod and line. About 99 times in 100, the troubled fly caster has a line much too light to bring out the action of his rod.

That is why it is important to know that on any given rod, the fly fisherman should use the same size line for anything from small trout and bluegills up to the largest sea fish.

In choosing the size line, anglers should get a C level, an HCH double-taper, or a GBF three-diameter. This choice is based on the fact that a high percentage of fly rods bought nowadays are hollow glass, and that a great majority of these works best with lines of those sizes, almost regardless of lengths or weights.

3. The correct casting technique

In casting, it is important to get about 20 feet of line out front. Anglers should always remember to cast a straight line. Avoid jerky movements even if it is on a faster mode in order to do so.

Best of all, the angler should be relaxed because taunt muscles will ruin his casting.

Boiled down, there should be no reason why you should not learn the fundamental principles just as easily as those who now enjoy fly fishing.

Probably, the best and surest way to learn to cast successfully is to spend a day on the stream with some fisherman who is a competent caster.

Lessons learned on the stream are the best tips you can acquire anywhere in your quest for learning fly fishing.

Jerry J. Jansen
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