Art Of Fly Fishing Essay, Research Paper

There are six main elements of fly fishing; a fly rod (usually around

9 feet long), a fly reel (a round shaped real with a 1:1 relative

ratio), a fly line (around 90 feet long), fly lining backing

(fills up the reel and is spare line in case the fish takes a

long run), a tippet to tie to the front end of the fly line so

it does not scare the fish (around 9 feet of clear line), and a few

flies (lures made from winding furs, feathers, glitter and various

other things around a hook). Picking the “right fly” in itself can be

made into an art. In fact interested enthusiasts often choose to tie

their own flies in order to obtain the “perfect fly”. Aside from that,

like almost any aspect of fishing, fly tying is a hobby. As I stated

before fly-fishing differs greatly from lure fishing. One of the

biggest differences, and adjustments to fishing style, is that it is

not the sinker of the lure that provides the fisherman with the weight

to cast, but rather that the fly line itself provides the angler with

the weight necessary to cast. The easiest cast on a fly line to learn

to cast on is a weight forward line. This means that most of the

weight in the line is in the first ten or twenty five feet. This cast

allows the fisherman to make short and accurate casts. This method has

been proven very effective in clear water streams where you sight a

desired fish to catch. Once you have obtained all the necessary

equipment you need to locate a good fishing hole. (Even if you are

with an experienced angler who has a favorite fishing hole it is a

good idea to know how to read the river, because with time the rivers

change, and if you are relying on a favorite fishing spot to always

be there you may be in for a big surprise with the change of the

seasons.) You have to remember that you are attempting to imitate

food for a feeding fish. In order to do this you have to do two

things, choose a fly, and choose a fishing spot. When choosing a fly

look around in your environment to see which bugs the fish are feeding

on. If you have trouble-locating insects shake a bush or a branch and

note what flies out. Next you should observe your environment in order

to see where the fish are feeding. If you are fishing in slow or still

water it may be easy to see surfacing fish, however in faster water

the ripples often make it difficult to see where the fish are seeking

refuge. A good rule of thumb is to find a spot where the fish will be

forced to excerpt as little energy as possible. This often means

finding a rock and floating a fly right by it, or finding an eddy

where the current is detoured and slowed. Now you are ready to fish!

The first thing that you have to do when casting a fly rod is to get

a nice firm grip on the handle. Hold the rod with fingers wrapped

around the handle and thumb facing forward, like you would grip a golf

club. Run about ten to fifteen feet of line out of the reel and let it

fall to your feet. Make sure there is nothing for the line to get

caught on or around. Now flick the line out through the rod with

small flicks of your wrist so the ten or fifteen feet of line are

lying out in front of you. Now raise the rod and swing it back to

about one o’clock, using your forearm and not your wrist. In about

two seconds you should feel the line tighten behind you and the tip

of your rod should bend back slightly. When you feel such resistance,

push the rod forward and give a small flick of the wrist so that the

rod ends up at about ten o’clock. The line should speed out in front

of you and lay flat on the ground. (Be careful not to hook yourself

or others nearby.) You will soon find yourself performing trick casts

around trees and mangroves. Remember the right way to fly fish is

what ever way works. Fly-fishing is as a practice of modification.

Most importantly remember to have fun, if you are not catching anything

don’t get frustrated, grab a book or a bite to eat and enjoy life and

the outdoors!