I don't know how many of you subscribe to Bass Pro, Gander Mountain or Cabellas but I've been noticing a lot of clearance ads hitting my email box lateley. I can only imagine the economy has been hitting these fishing equipment shops pretty hard. Christmas sales for most stores was way below normal and I'm sure Bass Pro, Orvis and many of the other more popular sporting goods shops had the same problem.
If you aren't an active member of any of these fishing equipment dealers I suggest you atleast sign up for their newsletters and specials. Dont use your regualar email address, I have one that I only use to sign up for free fishing deals and fly fishing shops to get their ads and online deal notifications. Bass Pro is one of my favorites as they dont cater to primarily fly fisherman so often you can find excellent clearance deals on their White Rivers, Sage and Redington fly rods and reels. Cabellas also has regular sales on their house brand Cabellas fly fishing equipment. I'm sure Orvis while usually not as inexpensive has some good deals going on as well since they announched their new Spring 2009 fly fishing equipment.
Dont think just because your buddies all brag about their expensive hand crafted rods and reels that you have to go out and do the same. With today's economy and everyone trying to save a buck take the time to shop around for your fly fishing equipment. The online vendors like Bass Pro, Cabellas and Gander all have clearance outlets and sections on their sites where they list their discontiued and marked down fly gear.
Fly Fishing Equipment Stores Holding Sales
Fly Fishing Gear | Father's Day
Father's Day is another of those wonderful holiday's all beginning fly fisherman should look forward too. Sorry Ladies you had your day already. Now is the time to fill all your fly fishing equipment dreams. Shoot for the moon. Do you want a new top of the line Orvis fly fishing rod and reel? Perhaps your in need of a new pair of lightweight waders for the summer fishing. For me its a time to upgrade my fly tying vice and get a few more fly fishing and tying tools I don't have. Next to Christmas, Father's day is the second best day of the year for Dads. Take advantage of the opportunity to ask for a fly fishing combo, wading shoe, or fillet knife, no gift is too large or small. :)
Now in return for this day of gratitude from your kids you must return the favor and pass on your love and knowledge of the timeless sport of fly fishing. If you haven't already taken the time to teach your children how to fly fish, Father's Day is the perfect time to introduce them to the wonderful pastime. Heck if the wife or girl friend hasn't learned the art of fly fishing take them along too. Fly fishing isn't just about conquering that huge brown trout with your high tech fly fishing equipment, It's about sharing and enjoying the experience that fly fishing brings.
Here's hoping that on June 15th not only do you dads get all the fly fishing gear you have been lacking, but also that you pass along your love for the sport. If fly fishing isn't your Father's thing you can't go wrong buying something for the grill. The Grill Daddy For a unique Fathers Day gift seems to be a hot item.
Fly Fishing For Beginners | What Is The Best Bait To Use
Many people visiting this site are looking for tips on the best bait to use to catch a trout. Well many fly-fishing purists wont like this but good old worms and night crawlers have passed the test of time to be the best bait for trout, bass and all sorts of pan fish. Yeah I know we have all spent tons of money on fancy dry and wet flies, and lures of various types but sometimes we would be better of just throwing a worm on a hook. I’ve often seen guys fishing for trout using canned corn and they swear by it. I’m not sure if the corn is an imitation of a natural bait or if trout farms have conditioned fish to look for corn.
The best answer for this question though is the bait that catches the fish. I don’t care what you use if your catching fish you have the right bait. Taking time to scout the stream or lake for signs of insects, minnows and other living trout or bass prey is your best bet in deciding which fly to use. If your not seeing any top water activity why would you tie on a popper or dry fly? Learning to read the signs nature gives you is one of the key ingredients in choosing the right fly or bait for your fly fishing trip. Learning how to match your flies to what nature is offering the fish is one of the fun parts about fly-fishing in my opinion. I like to think of it as a chess match with the trout. Can I outwit my opponent and fool him into taking an artificial fly instead of natural bait? When you do finally find the right combination of fly and presentation the satisfaction you get from landing that trout will make the whole game worth it.
fly fishing vacation
Fly Fishing For Beginners | Common Fly Fishing Questions
Fly Fishing For Beginners has been receiving several questions from fly fishing beginners. Last week I listed some common fly fishing mistakes, today I'll cover a couple of the most common fly fishing questions I've been getting.
1. What is the best fly fishing combo. I've discussed in several of my initial articles that it's not the equipment that makes the fisherman its the technique. If you spend time to learn the basics correctly you will be able to use any fly fishing equipment effectively. Some companies that make decent starter fly rods and reels are Martin, Shakespeare, Crystal Creek. These can usually be purchased at local retail stores and tackle shops. If you have the money and want to purchase a more durable fly fishing combo, Cabelas and Orvis both make excellent beginner fly fishing combos for around $100.00.
2. Do i need waders? - No, waders are not an absolute necessity but if you plan on fishing in streams and rivers with colder water I would highly recommend them. Make sure and get a pair the fit properly. Waders that don't fit properly will create trip hazards, cause rubbing, blisters and fatigue. You want to enjoy your time on the stream not feel like you ran a marathon.
3. Can I fly fish from a boat? Absolutely, I often take my Jon boat out to local lakes and ponds for a day of fishing. Fishing from a boat requires good casting skills to keep everyone safe. Fly fishing a lake or pond also requires learning to read the water to determine where the fish are hiding. This will all depend upon what type of fish your after, read up on the habitat your particular prey likes.
4. What time of day is best? First, fly fishing can be done at anytime of day if you know what type of cover the fish your after likes. Most will have the best luck fishing in early to mid morning and late afternoon to dusk. Another key factor in when to fly fish is the hatch. Learn your area and when the types of insects hatch. Matching your fly to the current hatch will result in much better fly fishing results. Another good time to fly fish is right before or after a weather change like a thunderstorm.
I hope this answers some of Fly Fishing For Beginners questions and I'll be happy to answer others as they come up. Now its time to go fishing. I'll catch you all later.
Fly Fishing For Beginners | Common Fly Fishing Mistakes
Learning from your mistakes will only make you a better fly fisherman. Far too often I've stood along side a steam watching a beginner fly fisherman creating so many mistakes they have no chance of catching a fish. You can have the best fly fishing gear in the world but if you don't know how and where to fish your just kidding yourself.
Common fly fishing mistakes:
1. Standing where you should be fishing- many beginners at the art of fly fishing think they need to wade deep into a stream to catch a trout. I cringe every time I see a fly fisherman enter a stream without looking first. My son was guilty of this the first time I took him out. I told him to wait for me and I would show him how to read the stream and locate prime fishing spots. Did he wait? Heck no he plunged into the water in his new waders cut across stream thinking he had to get out into the middle. Little did he know he pretty much ruined that spot I saw several skittish trout dart for cover never to be seen again. Take your time on the banks scouting the stream before you jump in and scare every living thing away.
2. Forcing the cast. Casting a fly rod takes finesse not brute strength. You cant force a fly cast. You have to lift the line , let the rod load , begin your forward cast and the line will carry the proper distance. Trying to gain distance in a cast by brute strength is just going to cause you frustration. Take the time necessary to practice proper casting techniques in your back yard before wasting your time in a stream.
3. Beating the water into a froth. Have you ever seen a fly or other insect fall into the water from a tree or the air. Usually once they hit the water they freeze for a second, flutter lightly and then drift away with the current. Many times I watch new fly fisherman so excited they learned to cast that they never give the fly time to attract a fish. Its funny sometimes you see a trout rise to take their fly and before it can get there they rip their line back out of the water to cast again. Fly fishing takes patience and observation. Take some time to observe how insects and other prey react in the water. You want your fly presentation to imitate life as much as possible.
4. Not fishing area thorough enough. Many times a beginning fly-fisherman will make just one or two casts to an area that looks prime for holding fish. Reading a stream and spotting trout takes experience. If your instincts are right chances are you picked a spot holding fish. Make sure to take enough time to completely cover the area. I'm not talking about beating the hole to death with your fly and scaring everything, but make several well placed casts not just one or two. If this doesn't result in a fish, pick another area and come back to that spot a bit later. It will really make you mad if you leave a hole and another fly fisherman comes in right behind you and lands a nice 19" brown trout. I must admit Its happened to me more than once.
I know this post was a bit long, but I was out this weekend scouting out a new stream and watching a few new fly fisherman. As I watch I just kept wondering to myself if they realized they were pretty much wasting their time, unless their goal was a good workout for their arm. Anyway hope you beginner fly fisherman find this helpful.
Fly Fishing For Beginners | Fly Tying Kits And Supplies
In the previous post I discussed several different types of tool every fly tying beginner will need to get started. In addition to the tools you will need some materials to make your flies. The basic fly tying materials include:
1. Hooks - You'll need an assortment of hooks designed for tying wet, dry, nymph, and streamer flies. The general size range will be from size 10-16 depending on what you will be tying. Mustard makes a good quality hook and they can be found at most quality sporting goods or tackle stores. In this category I'll include bead heads and head cement as well.
2. Hackle - These are long narrow feathers usually from the neck or saddle area of a rooster or chicken. Hackle is often died and usually available in a wide range of assortments, various hades of browns, blacks and tan will be the most common.
3. Dubbing - This is the material used for making fly bodies and you will want an assortment of colors in this as well.
4. Thread - Here you want to look for colors generally in shades of brown, black , tan an olive. they come in various sizes but 3/0 and 6/0 will be the ones you'll use the most often.
5. Fur and hair - squirrel tail, deer fur, fox fur, calf tail are all common in fly tying. The squirrel tail will be the one you definitely need to have on hand. All of these can be found online fairly inexpensive at eBay.
This is a basic list of the types of materials that the beginner at fly tying will need. Often the easiest thing to do is purchase kit with an assortment of all of these items. Before you go out and purchase a bunch of materials read some books, look online , rent some videos about fly tying to give you a better idea of what types of flies you want to start out making. You don't want to buy a fly tying kit or materials and get them home and find out you don't have what you need to make the fly you want. If there is a local fly tying club in your area I highly recommend joining and teaming up with an experienced fly fisherman to help instruct you.
Fly Fishing Gear For Beginners | Ways to learn and Improve
I began this site with the idea in mind that everyone think a lot like I do. Guess what! I was wrong. In some of my earlier Fly Fishing For Beginner articles, I mentioned my distaste for reading directions and prefer to learn as I go. Many beginners don't necessarily like this Idea so here are some suggestions on other ways to learn and improve upon your fly fishing.
1. Join a club. In every area where you can fly fish there is almost always a local fly fishing or fly tying club that offers beginner classes. Most of these clubs meet once a month to discuss various fly fishing gear and techniques. They will also usually hold several group fly fishing outings. These fly fishing trips are an excellent place to learn from more experienced fishermen, that have a desire to share their knowledge. I learned from my father, sort of a 1 man club :)
2. Hire a guide. Most fishing guides offer both instructional sessions and guided fly fishing trips that are bound to be successful. Depending on your area the prices will vary greatly. If you are fortunate to live in an area where fly fishing streams and lakes are plentiful then chances are you can find a guide for a fairly inexpensive price. Before booking a lesson check to see if they provide the gear or if you need to bring your own.
3. Plan a vacation. There are hordes of fly fishing lodges, camps and vacation destinations throughout the US and Canada. If you are planning a vacation why not make it one where you can both learn the art of fly fishing and get some quality time away from work. If you plan a fly fishing vacation several lodges and resorts offer not only fly fishing lessons but the use of their gear as well. This might be an expensive way to learn but I guarantee you'll enjoy the memories for years to come. There's nothing quite like fly fishing in Canada or taking a Smoky Mountain vacation.
However you decide to learn or improve your fly fishing is up to you. The main goal is to enjoy the sport. Don't get so wrapped up in technique and results like many golfers that your ruin the experience. Fly fishing is a time to relax, enjoy nature and share time with fellow fisherman. Hopefully, someday you will have learned enough you can teach the next fly fishing beginner.
Fly Fishing For Beginners | Fly Fishing Legally
I have discussed several different fly fishing gear related topics. Today, I'll shift gears just a bit and cover the legal necessities of fly fishing. Those of you visiting the site that are experienced fly fisherman will probably find this a waste of time, however the focus of this site is for the beginning fly fisherman. Many that visit this site have probably never fished a day in their life, let alone try fly fishing.
OK, enough of the chit chat, back to my topic fishing legal requirements.
The first thing you will need to purchase before fishing for the first time is a fishing license. The penalties for getting caught fishing without one are costly. Much like hunting without a license, it is considered a form of poaching and can result in fines or jail time depending on the severity of the offense, and how stringent the laws are in your area. In addition to a typical fishing license, most states, maybe all of them I'm not sure, will require you to purchase a trout stamp if you plan on fishing for trout. Some national parks, private lands and possibly state run facilities may not require the trout stamp. Before fishing please read all the rules and regulations for the area you will be fishing.
In these rules and regulations you will find other requirements that must also be followed. Usually there are limits on the size, number and types of fish you can keep. These limits are often statewide but each individual stream, river or lake you fish may have additional size and catch limits for that particular location. In my area there are also time restrictions as well. There is an opening day for all trout fishing and further restrictions on certain stream and lakes involved in restocking programs. Fishing in general on some of the streams I fish are restricted during certain hunting season and other times of the year. Again read the rules and regulations for your area.
Trespassing is another legal concern you should be consider. Never cross into private waters or land without the owners permission. I personally have the owners sign a permission slip so that if stopped by the DRN I have proof that I'm allowed to fish that particular location. DNR officers can often times be worse than regular law enforcement officers, I'm not sure why this is. If you happen to be a DNR officer please don't take offense. I have just seen my fair share of nasty ones. :) Fortunately for me every time I have been asked I have all the required licenses. Hopefully I have got my point across, I would hate for anyone new to the sport of fly fishing to violate the rules and ruin their fishing experience. If you take care to fish legally and teach others the same your new hobby will be a great enjoyment for you.
Fly Fishing Gear For Beginners| Fly Fishing Gear Overlooked
In several of my previous post I have mentioned various types of fly fishing gear that are a must for the beginner. In my haste to create a valuable list of this gear, I overlooked two very important pieces of gear that are essential for all fly fisherman.
1. The fly-fishing vest- Why is this so important do you ask?
Answer: fly fishing in a stream often requires wading from hole to another in search of that trophy trout. You can’t very well do this if you keep running back to
shore to grab your tackle box. Having a fly vest allows you the ability to carry all the necessities on your person to keep you mobile. Extra leader, tippets, net, fly box stocked with the appropriate assortment of flies, pliers, etc.... You get the picture.
2. A wading belt - Why do I need a belt if I have shoulder straps?
Answer: Have you ever tried to fetch your pliers from the foot of your waders after you carelessly dropped them inside your waders? I know this sounds crazy but anyone who has been fly fishing for long has dropped something down his or her waders. If you had your wading belt on it would prevent this from happening. In addition to this nice convenience this often overlooked piece of fly fishing gear can save your life. How is that possible you ask? It will help to keep air trapped inside and water out for that occasion where you step without looking and plunge in over your head. It helps keep you floating instead of sinking like a rock. Nothing ruins a good day of fishing like drowning!!!
Like many of the different types of fly fishing gear I have discussed on this site, these too can be purchased second hand via eBay or garage sales, often on clearance at local shops, or if you feel froggy from a high priced fly fishing shop. In closing let me apologize for not mentioning these often overlooked pieces of fly fishing gear in my earlier fly fishing tips for beginners.
Fly Fishing Gear For Beginners | Fly Fishing Safety
Here are a few fly fishing tips on safety. Fly fishing beginners, as well as, the experienced fly fisherman needs to be concerned with safety. Besides the possibility of hooking yourself or another member of your party, fishing in rivers and streams can be quite dangerous at times and caution should always be taken. Any time you enter a stream be on the lookout for sudden drop offs or deep pockets of water. During spring fishing and when the water is muddy often these hazards are hard to locate. Underwater structure, slippery rocks, submerged logs and many other types of hidden trip hazards can easily ruin what might have otherwise been a wonderful day of fly fishing.
High water conditions and stream currents are often very deceiving. When first entering a stream you should pick an area where you can see the bottom and the water level is not above the knees. I have seen way to many beginning fly fisherman step right off the bank into swift current or water deeper than they expected only to see them face first in the water. Usually those watching just chuckle and poke fun of you for the day, but if you were to hit your head, break a leg.... the fun is over before it starts.
Fatigue is another safety concern that needs to be kept in mind when fishing streams and rivers. It is amazing how much force a rivers current puts on your legs over the course of a day's fishing. Anytime you feel fatigued take a few minutes and head to shore. Accidents happen much more often when your muscles are sore and tired. I personally wear a back support when I fish as the river can take a toll on my lower back. Event the most physically fit fly fisherman can wear out when standing thigh high in fast running water.
Hypothermia is another nasty hazard that can creep up on you, especially if you have a leak in your waders. It doesn’t take long in early spring or late fall, depending on the climate in your area, for your body temperature to start dropping drastically. Always bring a dry set of clothes, blanket and extra towels when fishing during these periods of time when the water is colder.
I didn’t write this to scare the beginning fly fishermen. I just wanted to provide a few fly fishing tips on safety to help ensure your fishing experience is a good one.
Fly Fishing For Beginners | Where To Fish
All fly fishing beginners need to know where to look for the fish. There are three key places to look for fish in a stream.
1. Undercut banks - This is where the water has worn away the underside of the bank leaving an area out of the current and sun where the fish can hide. Often these undercut banks create very deep pockets and can hold some big fish.
2. Behind large rocks, logs or other objects in the water. The current will wrap around the sides of these objects and create a deep pocket behind the rock or log. This creates a place where the fish can wait in ambush of prey floating past without having to fight against the current.
3. Just outside of the main current. Look at the flow of the stream and river and you can easily spot the path of the main current. Fish will hold up just outside this main flow in little pockets or pools. This also provides a nice ambush location for the fish as well as a deeper area for them to hide.
Make sure you wear some polarized glasses when you go out to the stream and try to locate fish in these areas. Then cast you fly just upstream of these locations and let them float into the key area just like natural prey would. Often times a single hole or pocket will hold several fish so even if you land one don’t abandon the location until you've fully fished it. Even though you’re a beginner at fly fishing you shouldn’t have much trouble if you fish these types of areas.
FLy Fishing For Beginners|Getting Started On The Fly
Getting started on something is always the hardest part, even for the beginning fly fisherman. Before you run out and purchase all kinds of expensive gear you need to ask yourself "why exactly do you want to learn fly fishing?” For me it was a natural progression from bass fishing in streams as a young boy with my father. Nothing can beat the feeling you get from spending an early morning or late afternoon fishing your favorite stream surrounded by all that nature has to offer. Except of course, that sudden burst of adrenaline you get when you spot that big trout raising to your fly. So take a minute to reflect on why you want to learn to fly fish and what you expect to gain from it.
Now that you’re in the right frame of mind there are several things to consider before getting started. Before you can start you need to have the proper gear. There are many different rod types, reels, flies, lines, and waders to choose from, so where do you start. If your like me you don’t want to spend tons of money and countless hours deciding on the perfect fly fishing equipment, you just want to get out there and do it. I suggest hitting up your local big box retailer and purchasing one of the rod and reel combos they offer. These usually are under $50.00; include a basic rod, reel, line and sometimes a selection of flies to get you started. In addition, they usually have some basic casting; knot tying and fishing tips to help you get started. My first fly rod was bought for $5.00 at a local garage sale. Expensive gear doesn’t make you a good fly fisherman, practice does.
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to practice, once you have your basic gear in hand. Spend some time in the back yard practicing casting. Stick with the basics and soon you will be casting like a pro. The worst things you can do are rush out to a stream, strip out some line and fling it around like some crazy man swatting at bugs. You'll just end up spending your afternoon getting fly caught in trees, brush and maybe even your buddy’s ear. I suggest starting at a local farm pond with plenty of clear bank. It is a good way to get used to the how the line and fly react on the water without getting all snagged in bushes. Heck you might even catch a few gills or a small bass to break in your new rod.
As a beginner at fly fishing if you take the time to practice, read a few books on fly fishing, understand the basic mechanics you'll be well on your way to being hooked for life like me. I know this article wasn’t exactly the how to manual on fly-fishing, but hopefully it will nudge you in the right direction. I'll get into more detail on specifics as I continue this series of tips for the beginning fly fisherman.
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