Are you ready to try fly fishing? Well fly fishing is a lot different to bait fishing but these differences are what make it such a beloved sport of many anglers. In this article, I'll give you a few fly fishing basics to save you the headache of assimilating new knowledge and help you more easily make a start for yourself in this fascinating type of fishing.

The Rod

The rod is very simple and quite different to a spinning rod. First, the rod often comes in several pieces which make it much easier to carry as a set. They connect together easily in a similar way to tent rods. The reel is incredibly simple. It features a single small handle and a knob to increase or decrease the tension.

In general, the larger the flies that you use then the larger the rod you need. If you are fishing mainly trout then you can get away with a smaller rod but if you want to also fish for larger, more exotic fish then you really need to use a separate rod.

Flies

Fly Fishing does not use any live bait or even prepared bait. Instead, "flies" are created from natural or synthetic materials such as threads, furs or feathers. While you can make your own, they are also easily found in your local fishing store.

Artificial flies work because they resemble real prey. Fish are attracted to them either because they move like prey or because some other feature of them draws the fish into an instinctive response. There are many different flies available depending on the job you want them to fulfil. Some, such as nymphs, resemble immature flies and sit under the water. Others, such as dry flies, are buoyant and float on the surface of the water.

Do your research before you head out and determine which types of flies you need. Unlike live and prepared bait, flies are tiny and it is not too expensive to carry a large set of them around with you that will be fit for most scenarios.

Casting

With bait fishing, the line is light and it is the bait that is flung out forward, carrying the line with it. With fly fishing, the opposite is the case. The flies weigh practically nothing but the line is much thicker than that used for bait fishing because it is coated in plastic.

The casting action is also different. Think of a metronome that makes only small angles to and from the vertical. This is similar to how a fly fisher casts his line. The casting action is done with the forearm. Some anglers use their wrist but this is generally considered incorrect form. To get close to your fish, you may need to walk into the water. You may have seen waders being used for this purpose. They are like a pair of boots with watertight, chest high trousers attached.

Fly fishing is great fun. You will need to practise however. Once you start off you'll find you'll want to learn more and more until you become a true fly fishing expert.

Small Mouth Bass Fly Fishing

There are two different types of bass fish: small mouth bass and large mouth bass. Bass fly fishing takes into consideration both of these types of fish. For small mouth bass fly fishing, you have to use a small fly fishing fly. Certain colors also entice certain small mouth bass. For example, when bass fly fishing for yellow and white bass, you should use red, yellow, or back number 12 or number 14 poppers on a five or six weight rod with a floating line. These specific things actually entice small mouth bass like yellow and white bass.

If you want extra action on your rod, tie an eight inch dropper that has a small streamer behind the bend of the hook. When you are small mouth bass fly fishing, a float tube, small boat, or small canoe is a great way to explore the small ponds and rivers. Small ponds and rivers are natural habitats for small mouth bass and should be explored for small mouth bass fly fishing. Make sure to look near any structures like weed beds, overhanging brush, duck blinds, rocky points, downed trees, and submerged rock piles as small mouth bass love to lurk and prowl around such places.

Large Mouth Bass Fly Fishing

Unlike small mouth bass, larger fish have much larger bite size. When large mouth bass fly fishing, you must use a larger fly fishing fly. Larger fish naturally eat larger flies and insects, so you have to mimic these with the fly fishing fly. For larger mouth bass fly fishing, you have to have flies that mimic baitfish, frogs, and crayfish. Because your flies will be bigger and heavier, you have to have a larger rod for fishing for large mouth bass. Try a number four to number three for hair frogs and crayfish. An eight weight rod will be perfect. This is the standard bass rod and you can use it for any of the bass bugs that you will put on your line. A stronger rod will also make it easier to reel in a large mouth bass as you can prevent the bass from diving into difficult brush or weeds when it gets the fly.

So when you are preparing for bass fly fishing, make sure that you know what type of bass you will be fishing for so that you can adjust your material appropriately.

Where To Go

Many community colleges offer non credit courses. These courses include dance, acting, foreign languages, and community service. Some community colleges offer fishing classes or, more specifically, fly fishing instruction classes. If you are serious about becoming a strong fly fisher, you may want to consider taking classes like this from someone who truly knows what he or she is talking about. You will, of course, have to pay a small fee, but you will be paying for real fly fishing instruction. You will have the guarantee that your instructor is trained and is a hired professional. In your fly fishing instruction course you will probably get actual fishing time with your instructor. This can be invaluable to you as your instructor will be able to tell you what you are doing right and if you are doing anything incorrectly.

Finding A Mentor

If you do not have the time or money to take a fly Fishing instruction course at your local community college, you should look into finding a fly fishing mentor. If you live in an area where there are many fly fishermen or women, this should not be difficult. Ask someone you know who fly fishes to take you under his or her wing and teach you what he or she knows. You will learn firsthand from someone who has been there and done it many times. This mentor should be able to tell you what, specifically, will work for your area or region, and what rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water are the best places to fly fish.

Why You Should Not Do It Alone

Fly fishing seems like a very mild sport, but the fact is that several people die every year from fly fishing accidents. If you want to learn how to fly fish and be safe while doing it, you need to either take a fly fishing instruction course at your local community college, or find a fly fishing mentor.

Why A Video?

Watching a fly fishing video can be invaluable in your fly fishing instruction. You could simply read a book and try to learn how to fly fish, but it will not be nearly as helpful as a fly Fishing video. A book is simply words and pictures. Even if you can understand the concepts behind fly fishing, it is much harder to actually do it. If you look at the pictures in a book, you may begin to grasp some type of understanding on how to cast your line, but if you watch it in action on a video or in person, you will actually be able to see how it is done.

A video is like watching a live person perform the steps for fly fishing. In a fly fishing video, you will have most, if not all, of your questions answered. You will see how someone actually casts their line, how they make their bait, what the bait looks like, and how the bait moves in the air. You will see the various obstacles that a fly fisherman or woman is presented with, including wind or rough currents. Instead of simply reading about them, you will see it happen.

A fly fishing video can help prepare you for fly fishing more than a book or a magazine could. However, it still might be helpful to read a fly fishing book or magazine in conjunction with watching a fly fishing video or two.

Beyond The Video

Even after you watch a fly fishing video, you may still want to find a fly fishing mentor. The only way you can learn completely is to do, and a fly fishing mentor can help to show you what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. In addition, there are some dangerous aspects of fly fishing. A video may explain the basic dangers, but someone who has been doing it for years will know these dangers in depth and can help you avoid them.

So instead of just reading a fly fishing book, look for both a fly fishing video and a fly fishing mentor before you head out to fish!

Fly Fishing Tip Number One: Cast Into The Wind

Casting into the wind can be a difficult task to master. However, if you learn how to do this, you will be able to catch fish when others are simply blown off of the water. Here is a fly fishing tip on how to do this. If the wind is blowing in your face, many people end up driving the fly rod tip down to generate more energy and line speed. Do not do this because all you are doing is widening the fly casting arc, which means a wider open loop that the wind will blow back in your face.

What you should do is put more force into the cast and focus on having a tighter loop that will slice through the wind easier than a wider loop. Make sure that the angle of your loop is making it inches above the water instead of the usual feet above. That way the wind will not have enough time to blow it off of where you want it to go. Do this by rotating your arm ever so slightly at the shoulder, making your elbow move back and up just a little bit.

Fly Fishing Tip Number Two: Lubricate Your Knots

The fly fishing knot is crucial to fly fishing. Without a properly tied knot, you will simply lose your fish. However, if you lubricate your knot before you seat it, your knot will be much stronger. Tighten the knot just enough so it will not unravel on its own. Then lubricate the knot by dipping it into the water or with a little bit of saliva. Wrap the line around your fingers a few times and pull continuously and steadily until you feel the line stop stretching. Voila! You now have a perfectly tied, and perfectly tight, fly fishing knot.

Fly Fishing Tip Number Three: Wear A Wading Belt

While the first two tips will improve your fly fishing, this third fly fishing tip may save your life. People die every year fly fishing when they slip and fall or get pulled into deeper waters and do not have a wading belt. This belt will prevent water from getting into your waders and dragging you down. So before you head out, make sure that you have belted your waders with a wading belt.

Do Your Research

The first part of learning fly fishing basics is to do your reading. Research fly Fishing basics on the internet and at your local library. There are many different magazines devoted solely to fly fishing and fly fishing basics

History Of Saltwater Fly Fishing

The earliest records of fly fishing come from the third century AD in Macedonia. However, most of the saltwater and freshwater fly fishing that you see today is of a direct lineage from England. Several writings of fly fishing were made between the late fourteen hundreds and mid sixteen hundreds. In the mid seventeen hundreds, North American fly fishing began. In the mid eighteen hundreds, saltwater fly fishing in particular began. James Henshall's book, "Camping And Cruising In Florida" was published in 1878 and is the first written record of anyone fishing for saltwater fish like Redfish, Ladyfish, Bluefish, Snook, Tarpon, and Jack Crevalle. Since then, saltwater fly fishing has become a booming sport in areas like southwestern Florida.

Saltwater Fly Fishing Materials

Saltwater and freshwater fly fishing began by covering the hook area of the rod with animal fur and feathers as to look like an aquatic insect, like a mayfly, stonefly, or caddisfly. Today's saltwater fly fishing "flies" still imitate these aquatic insects. Flies are usually quite light and because of this they cannot be cast in the typical fishing manner. With saltwater fly fishing, the fly rod casts a heavy line, not a heavy sinker. The heavy line forcibly pulls the fly to its destination. As much as thirty feet of line extend past the end of the rod, and this line weighs equal to or more than typical lures or sinkers.

The materials for saltwater fly fishing make it different than general fishing. The line is what weighs the entirety down, not the lure. And the lure is not something that was ever alive, like traditional bait, but is something that mimics a live creature.

Saltwater fly fishing is different than freshwater fly Fishing because in saltwater you face different obstacles. The buoyancy is different in fresh versus saltwater fly fishing, and the seasoned fly fisher will be able to take this into consideration. In addition, many fishers feel that the fish found in saltwater are much more interesting than freshwater fish. Plus, the terrain is usually different than freshwater. Whatever the reason, spending the afternoon saltwater fly fishing can be relaxing and entertaining at the same time.