Why Fly Fish?
April 9th, 2012 | Fly Fishing News | No Comments »Why should you fly fish, when you can catch both trout and salmon with spinning gear or live bait, each of which are way easier ways of learning the correct way to fish?
Fly fishing is a much older technique than either of those other fresh water fishing strategies and dates back at least 6 centuries. So there is some satisfaction in carrying on this long tradition that calls for more ability than other kinds of fresh water fishing. Despite the traditional origins, fly fishing still remains a completely unique and productive way of fishing. In lakes, where bait fish are bounteous, spoons and lures that imitate minnows are typically effective in catching trout. In streams nonetheless , marine insects,eg mayflies and caddisflies, make up the majority of a trout’s diet. These common foods of trout can only be imitated with synthetic flies and even the smallest spinning lures are much too big. In addition, the artificial flies themselves are too light to be cast by a standard spinning rod and reel.
With fly fishing gear any trout food can be imitated, from the synthesised flies that imitate the tiniest midge to the steamers that simulate minnows. The best trout fishing on streams happens during the continual insect hatches. When rising to a hatch, trout usually ignore all other types of food. So fish could be rising all around but without the right lures that can “match the hatch” chances of participating in the frantic action are slight.
While it is not very unlikely to catch trout with a spinning lure during a hatch, the likelihood of catching fish by casting flies are better. Finally many famous trout streams have “flies-only” regulations on the whole brook or at a minimum on some of the more productive sections. It is awfully annoying to come on a good looking stretch of water with spinning gear only and not being ready to fish it due to these rules.
Some anglers are hesitant to try fly fishing as it looks so difficult with its complicated riggings, match the hatch lingo, chest waders and the incessant two movement casting strokes. It definitely is correct that studying how to fly fish requires time and practice. To become extraordinarily proficient may even take several seasons of real fly fishing experience. But it’s also right that after one or two practice sessions you’ll have enough skill to start catching fish, so a lot of the learning will take place while you are having a good time on the water.
Bob Long is an avid fisherman who also enjoys professional sports and working in his garden. He maintainss several websites including Redington Waders and Youth Waders.