River Fly Fishing

A quiet morning, a small moving stream and the fish are biting. If this sounds like something you dream about, you are a fly fisherman at heart. So for those of you that are new to the sport, here is a little fly fishing guide to get you started. Even some of you fly fishing gurus might be able to get a little brush up here!

Fly fishing is alot more then just casting a line and wishing for the best. Many other things must be taken into account, i.e....the fly rod, the fly line, the fly reel, casting, and finally the tackle needed. I hope to cover all of this here in a very short amount of time for you.

The rod: Fly fishing rods come rated like 3-weight or 5-weight. All that means is that the rod will effectively cast that size line. Now this is not a scientific fact, but a 5-weight rod casts 5-weight line better than any other. In discussing fly fishing for beginners, a little experimentation is in order.

A trip to a fly shop will be good for that purpose, but you are going to see another aspect of the rod called "action". "Action" determines how soon the rod begins to bend. This is important to lure presentation as well as in certain conditions.

The line: There are many types of fly fishing line. All of them are designated by letters like "DT" (double taper) or "WFF" (weight forward floating), "WFS" (weight forward sinking) and a few others. Each has it's own applications.

For the most part, a DT or WF line is recommended by most fly fishing guides. Again, with fly fishing for beginners, the line is the most crucial part of your gear. A good line will cast well on the worst pole ever made.

The reel: This element can mean the difference between landing the fish of your dreams or watching your prize fish swim back into the depths from where it came.

Reels can cost anywhere from around to thousands of dollars. The most important part of the reel? A good drag system that is adjustable. Without a drag system on the reel, you run the risk of running the reel out of line and damage can occur.

As a fly fishing guide line, get yourself a decent reel and load it with some GOOD line to match the rod.

Casting: Fly fishing for beginners wouldn't be complete without a word or two on casting. Start by moving the rod back and forth. The cast has two parts; the back cast and the front cast. On the back cast, the line will travel behind you. Then on the front cast, the line will unroll and travel out in front of you.

Practice this front/back casting and watch the line as it travels. Keep the line in a large "C" shape. When you have this down, start to tighten the shape into a "J" shape. This is THE method for fly fishing for beginners and is taught by many fly fishing guides as it is the main cast used in fly fishing.

Flys: This is the most important factor in fly fishing. If you are familiar with the water you are fishing then load up with flies that resemble the natural insects there.

On new rivers or lakes try match the flies you are using to any kind that seems to be on or in the water. Then match that as closely as possible from your fly arsenal.

It is always a good idea to research the water you are going to fish before you fish it, however this is not always possible so sometimes it is best to match the fly to the insects you see around you or ask a local where possible.

Martin Fly Fishing Multiplier 3:1 Ratio Fly Fishing Reel with Disk-Drag
Quick retrieve makes quick work of even the toughest fight, and when an irate 20 lb. steelhead decides he's going to make a run ri...

OKUMA MAGNITUDE ML-7/8 LARGE ARBOR MAGNESIUM FLY REEL
Unbelievably light! the ultra-light Magnitude series by Okuma is one of the world's only magnesium fly reels. This fresh-water...

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Our goal is to bring the best technology in reels to any given price point. We?ve now addressed the important $ 100+ price point wi...

Fenwick Cartridge Fly Reel (Capacity 7-8/100)
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Crystal River Fly Fishing Combo Kit

• 8 foot 3 piece fly rod, 6/7 weight rod and reel, Emerald Green E-Glass Blank, Eva Foam Grip, Graphite Reel Seat w. Stainless Steel hoods
• Aluminum oxide stripper guide
• Graphite body, Right hand retrieve reel, Built-in hook keeper
• Fly line, Tapered leader
• Two flies, Instructions for tying five basic fishing knots and general fly fishing

Over 70 years of experience has produced tackle that's better than tactics. Pre-packaged combos make selecting the right equipment for getting started a snap eliminating the guesswork that can be so intimidating to a newcomer. For anyone after a simple, well balanced fly combo, the Crystal River Series is just plain hard to beat. These are serious combos that will more than hold their own against the most stubborn of fish. Anglers with discerning tastes will be proud to walk down to the stream's bank with this excellent Fly Fishing Combo Kit.

Rating: (out of 8 reviews)

List Price: $ 49.99

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Shakespeare® 8' Fly Fishing Combo
Shakespeare Fly Fishing Combo, perfectly affordable and COMPLETE to get you into that river! A "beginner" price on a rig for succe...

Silver Lake Fishing Flies Assortment
You’ll be pulling fish from water in no time with this excellent assorted set of hand tied flies and streamers. With 55 of today...

Martin Caddis Creek Series Fly Fishing Combos
Without sacrificing performance, Martin® offers Caddis Creek™ matched combos as an entry-level outfit perfect for the budget-co...

Berkley Cherrywood 2 Piece Fly Rod (7'6", 6 Guide, 4-5 lb. Line Wt.)
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Temple Fork Outfitters Fly Fishing Outfit
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Product Description
Wild Water's new 4 piece Switch rods. This is a redesigned version of the popular River Run two piece single handed rods. The blank has been changed to four pieces to make traveling with the rod much easier. The foregrip and extension butt have been lengthened slightly to accommodate two handed casting. The stripper guides arrangement has been improved by adding a third, larger stripper. The blank taper is redesigned so the four piece design maintains the same comfortable, in-control, power feeling as the original 2 piece River Run rod. The reel seat slide ring has been changed to provide a firmer lock on the reel foot with less tightening required. The reel seat is anodized in a Gunsmoke color and is in a Downlocking configuration. Rod Specifications: Line Weight: 5 or 6; Rod Length: 11 Feet; Number of Sections: 4; Rod Case Length: 38 Inches; Flex: Mid; Rod Action: Medium-Fast; Rod Material: IM8; Rod Weight: 5.7 ounces; Grip: Switch; Rod Blank Color: Dark... More >>
Wild Water Fly Fishing 5/6 Weight 11 Foot 4 Piece "River Run Series" Switch Rod

Product Description
Designed to match lightweight graphite rods the Cahill Rim single action fly reel has an accurate drag system and features a lightweight yet extremely durable graphite frame and spool. Great for light trout, pan, and bass fishing. FEATURES: Lightweight graphite frame,counter balanced spool,ultra smooth wide range disk drag system,left or right retrieve,Rated for 5/6/7/8 weight leader and line. Model: CR-0002A... Click Here For More Info >>
Crystal River Cahill Rim Fly Fishing Reel