Casting in Fly Fishing

Casting is a fundamental skill in fly fishing. It is the foundation of the sport thus it should be done correctly to achieve the desired results. Below are a few things about casting that one should keep in mind when going fly fishing for the first time.

- It all starts out with the grip. The proper casting grip is one which has the thumb on top of the rod. This helps the fisher apply a greater force when casting.

- Before casting, any slack on the line should be removed. This would allow for a smooth forward and backward cast.

- The line must fly towards the direction where the person points the rod during the cast.

- The size of the loop depends on how the rod tip is moved when casting.

- The distance of a typical cast is usually a number of meters away from the caster. Long distance casts are achieved by tons of practice.

The newbie may not get it right on his/her first few tries at casting. However, with the proper guidance from a more experienced companion and a lot of time dedicated to practice, the correct way of casting can be achieved.

Ideally, 15-30 minutes spent on practicing per day can help improve the beginner's technique.

As a word of warning, practicing casting can be a dangerous activity. That is why beginners are advised to do their practice away from the water and away from a lot of people.

Fields are ideal spots to do this as there is a large room to accommodate errors that may prove dangerous in otherwise constricted areas. …Read more >>

Fly Fishing Knots

Learning how to do fly fishing knots, or any fishing knots for that matter, is an essential skill that any fishing enthusiast should have.

Different knots serve different purposes like tying two lines together, shortening a particularly long line, to name two.

Below is a list of some of the most popular knots used in fly fishing. A description accompanies each of them to show how they are used in real-world fishing situations.

Slip Knot - this is probably one of the most basic and most important knots in fishing. This knot is used to fasten the line to the spool.

Constriction Knot - this is the type of knot which is used to tie two lines together, especially those made with different materials. However, its use isn't advised on modern lines made of different materials.

Albright Knot - not to be associated with the former British Prime Minister, this knot is primarily used to tie the backing to the fly line. It can also be used to join lines of different diameters.

Surgeon's Knot - a simple and neat way of tying to lines together. It can be best described as a double overhead knot.

Barrel Knot - also known as the Blood Knot, this is another way of tying two lines together. Although weaker and more complicated than the Surgeon's Knot, it is a neater way of tying a knot.

There are several more knots that fishing enthusiasts do, but those listed above are by far the most popular and effective. …Read more >>

Fly Fishing Equipment - Fly Rod

There are several pieces of equipment used in fly fishing. This article will discuss one of its most fundamental equipments which is the fly rod. This is where the fly line is attached.

The fly rod comes in several sizes. Its length typically ranges from as short as 6 ft to as long as 13 ft.

Aside from the length, fly fishing rods are measured by their weight. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the value of the weight, the smaller the fish it can catch.

For example, a fly rod of 0wt (zero weight) is enough to catch a small trout. For bigger types of fish such as a salmon, a fly rod of a heavier weight is used.

A fly rod's weight is also important in determining the weight of the fly line that can be used with it. So a rod of 10wt requires a #10 line and could not use a line of a different size.

There are rods which can accommodate a variety of weights but they tend to compromise performance for flexibility.

Bamboo is the traditional material used as a fly rod. It is prized by fly fishing enthusiasts for its surprising strength in typical conditions.

It can be pricey though, which is why others choose rods made of alternative materials such as fiberglass and graphite. The two are chosen for their durability (they are not prone to rusting) and performance (they are lighter compared to other materials).
…Read more >>