Fly Fishing On the Mighty Madison
Image by Roche Photo via Flickr

Getting tired of fishing all the same ole spots over and over? Perhaps you haven’t given fly fishing a try yet. Once I was introduced to the sport of fly fishing my fishing experience changed considerably.

For those fishers who have only ever used a spinning rod it’s time to give fly fishing a go, you can thank me later.

Fly fishing is fun and exciting and when you hook that first fish you’re going to see a whole new angle to fishing.

You only have to understand a few simple things and you will be fly fishing and catching in just a few short minutes. It’s not rocket science.

Be sure you have the fly fishing supplies you need, nothing sucks more than to go fishing and find left things behind. I like to visit all the fly fishing stores in our city and any other city I happen to pass through but I also like to check out eBay for some great deals. I do try to keep my money in our local economy of course.

Of course eBay isn’t the only place online that you can buy fly fishing supplies but that’s for another post.

I wasn’t fly fishing for a week and I was already tying my own flies for catching brook trout. Yes you can even get fly tying supplies on eBay if you don’t have shops locally.

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The Sage Xi2 Saltwater Fly Rod

Saltwater fly fishing gear is heavier than freshwater fly fishing gear for two main reasons. Firstly, saltwater fish species are generally larger than freshwater fish species, and you will need stronger rods, reels and lines to catch these fish species. Secondly, saltwater fly fishing requires longer casting with larger flies, and normally there is some wind to deal with. You cannot cast very far in windy conditions with a light fly rod using a light fly line. The saltwater fly rod, saltwater fly reel and saltwater fly line make up the essential saltwater fly fishing gear you will need for saltwater fly fishing.

Saltwater Fly Rod

Your most important item of saltwater fly fishing gear is the saltwater fly rod. A 3 weight to 7 weight fly rod is normally used for freshwater fly fishing. For saltwater fly fishing, the lightest fly rod usually used is a 7-weight rod. A 16-weight fly rod is the heaviest rod that can be used for saltwater fly fishing. The saltwater fish species that you are trying to catch determine the weight of your saltwater fly rod. To catch sailfish such as Marlin you might use a 13-weight rod, but then use a 8-weight rod to catch Bonefish. For saltwater fly fishing, look to buy a specialized saltwater fly rod, specifically designed for saltwater fly fishing.

A good saltwater fly rod will have a fast action, and will generally be quite stiff. A fast action rod allows you to cast further in windy conditions and makes it easier to land larger saltwater fish species. The guides for a saltwater fly rod should be made of stainless steel or another metal that won’t rust. Because of the additional punishment of saltwater fly fishing, the guides should be extra strong on s saltwater fly rod. A good saltwater fly rod will have a padded fighting butt which will provide more comfort when fishing for extended periods of time. The saltwater fly rod that is rated as one of the best all-around saltwater fly rods is the excellent Sage Xi2 saltwater fly rod.

Saltwater Fly Reel

A saltwater fly reel is an essential item of saltwater fly fishing gear, and is more important for saltwater fly fishing than for freshwater fly fishing. A saltwater fly reel needs to be better quality than a freshwater fly reel. It is important that you buy a saltwater fly reel made of components that are saltwater resistant, so the reel will not rust. It is also important that the saltwater fly reel has a very good drag system and sufficient line capacity for your backing, fly line, and your leader. As saltwater fish species normally run further with your line once caught, 100 to 300 yards of backing is normal.

Saltwater Fly Line

The saltwater fly line most commonly used for saltwater fly fishing is a floating line, which is used to catch fish near the water’s surface. A fly line that sinks slowly, called an intermediate line is sometimes used. A sinking line or a sink-tip line can also be used to catch fish at deeper levels. A weight forward line is normally preferred for saltwater fly fishing in order to be able to cast longer distances in strong winds. The fly line weight used normally matches the fly rod weight, but sometimes a slightly heavier line weight is used, especially in windy conditions.

 

For more information about saltwater fly fishing gear, take a look at the news feed for Fly Fishing Elite (Feedage.com).

A large stream, part of the headwaters of the ...
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It would be impossible to fly fish without having the right fly fishing tackle. Fishing rod, reels, lines, flies , waders and a tackle box are some of the fly fishing items which will be useful for fresh angler and experienced angler. You will certainly need to pick a rod that can help you to accurately cast the fly line and which has artificial flies attached to it and the fly reel is designed to hold your fly line as well as allows you to supply drag whenever it is required which will surely be the case whenever you land an especially heavy fish or even a fish that is very quick.

Fly Line Fly Fishing Tackle

The fly line is designed to help you cast with ease and a terminal tackle is often used for connecting the fly line to an artificial fly. In addition, to these items of fly fishing tackle you must also take along the right kind of accessories including all tools and gadgets as well as clothing that will help ensure safer and more enjoyable fly fishing. You need accessories to help you prepare and maintain your fly fishing tackle and to also deal with the fish after it has been caught; in addition, you need accessories to help you stay comfortable and safe and it also makes sense to include fly boxes into which you can place as well as transport artificial flies.

A fly fishing tackle box is of course essential for transporting your fly fishing tackle and in case you plan on spending an entire day out fishing you will also need to take along sufficient food as well as drinks and of course your fly fishing tackle; so makes sure that the fly fishing tackle box is large enough to hold all the required items.

You need to also pay special attention to wearing the right kind of clothing which in turn will depend on where you plan on fly fishing and also the type of fish species you are trying to land. For example, when fly fishing for salmon you will need clothing that allows you to spend an entire day in the river and these clothing items must also ensure that you stay warm and are protected from water and they should have sufficiently large pockets to get what you need in a hurry.

Shopping for discount fly fishing tacklescan prove to be a daunting task unless you know where to look for the best deals. Going through tacklebargains.com site is necessary for anyone who is going to buy such types of fly fishing tackles.co.uk which is committed to providing you with the most attractive bargains.

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Puget Sound Fly Fishing
Image by lx-88 via Flickr

More and more people around the world for all walks of life are fishing as a form of relaxing and pleasure. Perhaps fishing is a form of mantra but to most it is an art. This form of art, which most people have invested in lots of time and money and even, pasted on from generation to generation is priceless.

To learn to think like a fish is a lesson that is crucial and will be a deciding factor whether ones fishing trip will be successful or not. There are many things to take into consideration when planning to take up fishing as a hobby or art.

Fly fishing gear is first and foremost item that should be considered. The search for perfect fly fishing gear should not be painstaking procedure as one would rather be fishing than shopping for fly fishing gear. Fly fishing gear is dependent on the type of fish sought.

How To Choose The Correct Gear For Fly Fishing

It is pretty easy to choose the correct gear when one knows how to:

  • Select the correct fly rod with matching fly line
  • Choose a fly fishing fly (that is fly fishing lure)
  • Cast the fly line
  • Start to retrieve
  • Hook into you your fish.

In fly fishing gear the type of rod and waters to cast fly is very important. It is good to have heavier the rod for stronger currents. The reel is less important in fly fishing in comparison to the rod.

Most modern day commercial fly fishing gear leaders usually achieve having multiple portions of the fishing gear in one product. This is not quite advisable for a beginner to use as it takes away the essence of the art of fly fishing; a skill learnt and passed on from generation to generation.

However one wish to invest in the sport there should is always an alternative by purchasing discounted fly fishing gear. Many leading sales outlets sells this discount fly fishing gear. Over and above, fly fishing gear can be purchased on the Internet and other resources. However, should one wish to really take the art of fly fishing seriously, it will be good to invest if top of the range rod and reel.

On average a rod will cost on a range on $15 -$1 000 but if one would opt to go for cheaper fly fishing gear, it would catch you that fish but it would be more effective as a decoration.
So, go ahead and catch that fish!

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Fly Fishing Casting Made Easy For All

Fly Fishing The Colorado
Image by 50%ChanceofRain via Flickr

If you are planning to go fly fishing using free fishing lures, it is important that you are good at casting your rod or you are going to have some problems actually catching the fish. Many casters are not very proficient at dealing with different types of situations. So it is important that you learn more about how to cast the right way. With the following tips and a lot of practice, you should be able to improve on your fly fishing casting techniques.

One great tip that will help you when casting free fishing lures is to make sure you get rid of the slack before you start the cast if you want to get the line to effectively go through the air. This is important for both back casts as well as forward casts. You will waste some of the casting stroke if you don’t get rid of that slack first.

Whether you are doing back casts or forward casts, you need to accelerate and then come to a stop. This means that when you make the cash, you need to increase the speed of the cast, and then suddenly stop. This will help to really allow your line to go out and it will give your cast plenty of travel as well. You’ll get a nice cast when you keep this tip in mind.

Remember to keep your rod tip of free fishing lures in the right direction when you are casting out your line. The line is going to go in the direction that your rod tip is pointing. If you end up accidentally curving the tip of your rod by the way that you hold it or cast it, then the line is also going to end up curving when you make the cast. So be aware of the tip of the rod when you are trying to get your cast to go in the right direction.

Being smooth is very important when it comes to fly fishing casting. The best fly casters are very smooth. You need to learn to get the right timing on your cast, and then later you can work on the distance. The more you work on getting smoother, the better your casting will become. Of course this is going to take a lot of practicing on your part to accomplish.

Don’t aim at the water when you are casting with your rod. Instead you should figure out where you want to cast, then aim about eye level above that point. This way you avoid casting down, which will stop your cast up short. Aiming at eye level will help to give your homemade lures the distance that you want and it will be smoother for you as well.

These are just a few important free fishing lures tips that can definitely help you to improve your cast when you go out fly fishing. Start working on these tips and continue to practice. With enough practice, eventually you’ll start getting the cast right, which will improve your fishing.

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Fly Fishing for Women – A Beginner’s Guide

Women Learn Fly Fishing Tips

Women have been fly fishing for nearly as many years as men have, but in recent years the sport of women’s fly fishing has really taken off. There are more women participating in the sport of fly fishing each day, as more women discover the tranquillity of fishing outdoors close to mother nature, as well as the relaxation of fly fishing.

There are many clubs and organizations around now that deal specifically with woman’s fly fishing. One such organization is International Women Fly Fishers, an international non-profit organization which brings women interested in fly fishing together from all over the world, and also have a directory of women’s fly fishing in the United States and from around the world.

Fly Fishing Gear for Women

Men and women are not created equal in body shape. For many years if you were a woman wanting to get into the sport of fly fishing, you would have had to purchase gear tailored for a men. Recently the variety of fly fishing gear available for women to buy has improved considerably. Most of the large fly fishing manufacturers have realized that women are a growing percentage of the fly fishing market, and they have started making fly fishing gear designed to meet the requirements of women. Whether a woman is looking to buy freshwater fly fishing gear, or saltwater fly fishing gear, there is now equipment specifically available.

Gear made specifically for women include fly fishing rods which are designed to be lighter, and have smaller grips to suit the smaller hands of women. Waders designed to fit the shape of a woman’s body are also now available, as well as women’s wading boots. Manufacturers are now also making fishing vests and chest packs shaped for the woman’s body.

Sage, makers of some of the finest fly rods in the fly fishing industry (such as the Sage Smallmouth Fly Fishing Rod), now make a fly fishing rod tailor made for women, the Sage Z-Axis Small Grip Fly Rod. Winston also make the Winston Joan Wulff Fly Rod, which is another high quality rod. Both these rods are lightweight and have the smaller grips which are better suited for women.

Simms have now launched waders that are specifically shaped to fit women, the Simms Women’s Headwater Waders. These stockingfoot waders are excellent quality, and are made from 3-layer Gore-Tex material. Simms also make wading boots specifically designed for women, the Simms Women’s Headwaters Boot, which are narrower than equivalent men’s wading boot, are lightweight, and are ideally suited for women.

Investing In A Shakespeare Fly Fishing Rod

Fishing
Image by James J Jenkins via Flickr

Shakespeare has become a very popular name in fishing over the years.  The company was founded over 100 years ago by a William Shakespeare.  As time has passed Shakespeare fly fishing rods have increased greatly in popularity for a number of different reasons.  One of the main reasons that people buy Shakespeare fly fishing rods is that they tend to be reasonably priced when compared to other similar models.

Shakespeare produces a large variety of different types of fishing gear.  They even make several lines of fishing gear designed specifically for children.  From saltwater fly fishing to telescopic rods Shakespeare has got just about anything an angler could hope for.

Different Things To Look For When Purchasing A Shakespeare Fly Fishing Rod

One of the first things many fishermen look at when selecting an appropriate rod is its size.  Depending on where and what you will be fishing, the length of your rod will vary.  For fishermen looking to catch salmon a longer rod will be necessarily.Most Shakespeare fly fishing rods designed for salmon fishing will be between 12 feet to 15 feet in length.

Another thing to consider when selecting your Shakespeare fly fishing rod is how many sections is it.  If you plant to travel with your Shakespeare fly fishing rod on a regular basis you might want to select one that breaks down into several pieces.Some of the more portable rods offered by Shakespeare are made up of 7 sections to really help make them easy to carry and easy to store when you are not using it.

An item that is often overlooked when purchasing a Shakespeare fly fishing rod is a carrying case.  Many rods come with a carrying case that was specially designed to accommodate it.  There are also cases that can be purchased separately if the fly fishing rod you are considering buying does not come with one.  Cases can come in a few different forms.  One popular style is the tube case.  This is a hard shell case that protects your rod from damage.  Another popular case is a waterproof case.  It was designed to be lightweight which makes it easy to carry but will protect your rod from damage and water.

Before you purchase your Shakespeare fly fishing rod make sure to get a good feel for it.  Head to a local fishing supply store and see if they have a display model on hand.  See if the grip feels right for you and that you are comfortable with the rod overall.

Go here for more about fishing tips and bass fly fishing techniques.

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Choosing An Antique Fly Fishing Rod

When you walk through the aisles of a fishing store you may be surprised at the selection of fishing rods that are available to choose from.  You will see everything from Shakespeare fly fishing rods to some very sophisticated handcrafted rods.  While there may be numerous different types of fly fishing rods available to choose from many people prefer to use antique fly fishing rods instead. 

There are a variety of different reasons that a fisherman would pick an antique fly fishing rod.  Many fly fishing enthusiasts take up a second hobby of collecting antique fly fishing supplies.  This can include anything from an antique fly fishing rod to tackle. 

Many fishermen have unintentionally gotten involved with antique fly fishing equipment.  Perhaps a trip to a grandfather’s house unveiled his collection of antique fly fishing rods that eventually makes its way to you.  Instead of purchasing new equipment to fish with why not use the antique rods.

It should not come as a surprise for those wishing to purchase and collect antique fly fishing rods that there is typically a large price tag attached to them.  Collecting these antique rods and other antique equipment is quickly becoming a popular hobby for many fishermen and price tags tend to reflect that.

Different Types Of Antique Fly Fishing Rods

Wooden antique fly fishing rods are some of the most popular around.Depending on where they were made their overall appearance can vary greatly from one model to the next.  Some of the first antique fly fishing rods that were made were extremely long.These are frequently harder to find and fishermen tend not to like them because they are so long.

The more popular antique fly fishing rods tend to be those that are between 6 feet and 9 feet in length.  They are mostly made out of split bamboo.  Many antique rod collectors look for the shortest split bamboo rods that they can find as they tend to be the most valuable.  As with most things antique, quality matters. 

Always beware when purchasing antique fly fishing rods.  Try to verify that the entire rod is original and made from a worthy maker. It is not uncommon for a fly fishing rod restorer to add parts of a high quality rod like a handle to a low quality rod to pass it off as an original when it really is not.  You do not want to waste your money on items like these.

Go here for more about fishing tips and bass fly fishing techniques.

Many people that are passionate about fly fishing will notice that there are several other ways to enjoy fly fishing without ever getting near the water.  Some people enjoy tying their own flies while others like to build their own fly fishing rods.  Both offer great alternatives when fly fishing itself may not be a possibility. 

One great example of a time when building your own fly fishing rod is particularly satisfying is on a rainy day.  If you had intended to get up on a particular day to head to your favorite river to do some fly fishing only to find out that the weather has wrecked your plans you can chose to spend your day building a new fly fishing rod instead.  This allows you to enjoy one of your favorite hobbies even when the weather is not cooperating.  It is also a great way to build your fly fishing rod collection. Before you know it your collection will include antique fly fishing rods and your own home made ones too.

Different Ways To Learn How To Build Your Own Fly Fishing Rod

One popular way that fly fishermen learn to build their own fly fishing rods is by taking a class.  These classes are typically conducted by skilled craftsmen who are particularly passionate about both rod making and fly fishing.  They will typically have a wealth of knowledge regarding best techniques for building your own fly fishing rod as well as great recommendations for which tools work best to build them.  The classroom environment is also a great place to meet other fly fisherman looking to branch out into this new hobby as well.

Another great way to help you learn to build a fly fishing rod is by instructional book.  Several books have been published over the years that will give you the general procedure that you will use to build a fly fishing rod.  When looking for a good book to use, make sure that there are plenty of pictures and diagrams that you can work off of.  Also it will be a good idea to choose an instructional book that covers all of the different tools that you may need when you build your fly fishing rod.

While it certainly might not be the easiest way to go about it, many people like to tinker and experiment on their own.  Take a fly fishing rod that you particularly like and try to construct something similar to it.  Local hardware stores and fishing stores will likely have all of the parts you need to get started.  The process of experimenting on your own might yield some pretty impressive results.  It might also take you several tries to master a particular technique so make sure you do not give up right away.

Go here for more about fishing tips and bass fly fishing techniques.

If you have suddenly decided that you want to take up fly fishing you might realize that you need to do a bit of research before you can get started.  One trip to a fishing store might scare off a few people that do not know much about fly fishing.  This is because that there are aisles and aisles of different products that fishermen will use for fly fishing. 

Among the many products that you will find in a fishing store are rods and reels.  Because there are so many different types and combinations of products it is easy to be overwhelmed.  One way to solve the problem is to select a fly fishing rod and reel combo.  This type of fly fishing gear is already put together in a way that the products are geared towards particular types of fish or different types of fishing locations.

In order to pick a fly fishing rod and reel combo all you really need to know is what you intend to fish and where.Then you can just simply select a fly fishing rod and reel combo that has been designed to accommodate your needs.  Seasoned fisherman may chose to build their own fly fishing rods but a combo is a great place for a beginner to start.

Different Types of Fly Fishing Rod And Reel Combos

While there are many different weights of fly fishing rods available to choose from the two weights that are the most popular are likely to be the 5 weight and the 8 weight.  If you are looking for a general purpose fly fishing rod and reel combo then choosing a 5 weight will most likely be a good decision for you.

If you intend to fish for large fish such as salmon, pike, or snook you might be benefited by the purchase of an 8 weight fly fishing rod and reel combo.  This rod will be heavy enough to handle the bigger fish that you intend on catching.

If on the other hand you are looking to fish for trout, bluebill, or pan fish you will likely find that a 5 weight makes the most sense for you to buy.  There is no need to invest in a heavy duty fly fishing rod and reel combo if you have no need to take it to its limits.  You will also save money purchasing the 5 weight over the 8 weight if you do not need the added durability of the rod.

Go here for more about fishing tips and bass fly fishing techniques.