Fly Fishing

Fly tying is an art form and a science that requires selectively placing various materials on a fishing hook in an attempt to imitate an insect. The hook is rigidly held by a vise while the fly...

Adding fly line to an empty fly reel is a fairly easy endeavor that requires the use of a few knots. Having worked as a fishing guide and in a fly shop for five years, I know that it can take some...

Fly fishermen wear fishing waders to allow them to stand in water for long periods without becoming unduly cold or soaked. Fishing waders can either be hip boots (boots that come up to the mid- or...

Fly tying entails taking a fishing hook and tying twine, wire of a variety of colors and sometime even feathers to mimic a fly that would land on the water to make a trout strike it. These flies...

Fly tying tools can become overwhelmingly expensive and as a result it makes the most sense to fashion your own tying tools to avoid the high costs and to complement your own tying style. There...

Crystal River Fly Rods and Reels are popular equipment for the fly angler. Like all fly reels, Crystal River reels use a type of line specifically designed for fly fishing, which comes in two...

Learn how to make your own dry fly fishing flotant at home using common materials. It works as well or better than store bought flotant and costs pennies to make.

Fly fishing is a fascinating sport that combines the excitement of catching fish with the opportunity to develop refined fishing techniques, which eventually translates into catching more fish,...

Fly-tying enthusiasts use a dubbing loop to apply dubbing materials, usually fur, in a manner that imparts a particularly fuzzy or rough look to a fly pattern. A dubbing loop is generally used to...

Few sport-fishing experiences can match the thrill of catching a muskellunge (muskie) on a fly rod. The muskie's primary diet consists of fish, so an angler using dry flies or nymph patterns is...

This knot is a great way to attach a heavy leader to a loop or double line. It is simple, quick and strong. But I don't know why it has no name. This knot works in any situations. The only...

Fly fishing gloves are used mainly in colder environments where you don't want your hands to freeze to your reel. The issue with gloves and fishing is the warmer the glove is, the harder it is to...

A well-designed tapered leader is a crucial part of an effective fly-fishing outfit. A tapered leader consists of monofilament line segments knotted together to form a line that incrementally...

Fly fishing is an exciting way to catch fish. It is fishing in its simplest form: A stick and a string with a reel that has a one-to-one gear ratio.

Whether you use your waders once a year or once a week, there will come a time whena lack of care will cause you some repair. There may also come a time when those "old" waders have just plain...

A fly fishing rod in skilled hands can be poetry in motion. The floating line wafts overhead in a rhythmic motion until the angler drops the dry fly dead-center in a pool of still water, where a...

Saltwater fly fishing combines the challenge of hooking hard-fighting fish with relatively light tackle for unparalleled angling excitement. Catching a tarpon or even a mako shark on a 7-inch...

Saltwater fly fishing is not the same as fishing off the pier or going deep sea fishing. There is a skill to casting that must be practiced, and nearly everything about it takes quite a bit of...

The most common use for a blood knot is to join two monofilament lines of equal size. It’s a secure knot even with light line and preserves more of the line’s strength than other knots used for...

Of the virtually hundreds of different patterns and variations in the design and construction of fishing flies, they all fall into one of five general classifications based on the type of baitfood...

When most people think of fly-fishing, casting for trout, salmon, panfish and the occasional bass comes to mind. Not many think of going after the elusive and utterly fierce muskie with flies....

Fly fishing is a popular form of recreational fishing, most commonly used to catch trout, salmon, bass, carp and pike. Instead of using a traditional bait and lure, fishermen instead use an angled...

Fighting in a steelhead is one of fly fishing's greatest rewards. It's also a big challenge to know the right technique for the given location, the time of year, and both the speed and clarity of...

Jigs have long been a favorite of spin fishermen, and rightfully so, because they are highly effective for many different species of fish. On the contrary, the jig is not usually associated with...

There is a saying among anglers that big fish generally want a big mouthful. This can present difficulties for a fly-fishing enthusiast because most lures used with a fly rod represent insects...

Fly fishing typically involves long casts requiring an obstacle-free casting area that extends at least 30 feet behind the angler. Frequently; however, an angler will be forced to make a cast with...

In order to rig a fishing line for trout fishing, there needs to be a floating line coming off the fly rod and a good, tapered leader of different lengths, depending on the fly. Find out how to...

When targeting rainbow trout on free stone streams, the first step is to gain knowledge from a local fly shop regarding which flies to use. Learn about dry and wet fishing for rainbow trout with...

Beginner fly fishermen should pay attention to the flexibility of his fishing rod, as a graphite rod will make learning how to fly fish a much more enjoyable experience. Learn about the importance...

In order to make a fly fishing leader after a pre-made leader has broken, try tying a double surgeon's knot to the butt end. Discover how a leader should get lighter as it moves away from the butt...

When fly fishing for trout, it's important to know the differences between fishing for them wet or dry, and to understand the good times to fish. Learn about fish rising and tractor patterns with...

The best way to test the strength of fishing line is by adjusting the tightness of the drag for proper tension. Avoid snapping the tippet or the leader when testing line strength with help from a...

When fly fishing in different currents, it's important to understand how to do both a soft line mend and a hard line mend. Perform a soft mend without pulling on the fly with help from a fly...

There are two types of fly fishing flies, and they are distinguished as surface and sub-surface flies with the surface ones being called dry flies. Discover examples of surface and sub-surface...

Equipment for fly fishing includes a wading staff, wading shoes, sunglasses, angled forceps, a hook cone and more. Learn about the practical applications of fly fishing gear with help from a fly...

Foam-bodied fly patterns are inexpensive to make and easy to tie. These flies can be used effectively when fishing for various species. Popular species such as panfish, bass and trout can all by...

Your choice of a fly reel is another important part of a balanced fly fishing outfit. The fly fishing reel stores your backing, fly line and puts resistance on your line through its “drag” system...

A fly rod is one of the most important pieces of equipment you will own and learn to use because it helps you cast accurately and land fish. This article will provide you with the basic...

Trout are freshwater fish similar to salmon that are found in streams and lakes in North America, Asia and Europe. They prefer cool water and feed on other fish or insects. The life cycle of trout...

Handmade fly rods are expensive and anglers who fish in a variety of locations or for more than one species of fish, may find they need a few rods to handle different fly line weights. One way to...

Unlike standard dry flies, parachute dry flies are constructed by winding hackle feathers horizontally around an upright wing. These horizontal feathers allow the parachute fly to lie lower in the...

Fishing nymph patterns in rivers and streams is one of the most effective forms of fly fishing. The following instructions are for a basic nymph pattern that can be adapted to various situations...

Fly fishing for bass is one of the top activities for any experienced angler. It is a test of skill and intelligence and fly fishing for bass is an outstanding challenge. In order to feel the...

Success when fly fishing for bass, whether the target is largemouth or smallmouth bass, depends on proper fly selection and presentation. Often the angler will be casting larger flies, such as...

Ever wondered how to fly fish? What you need to get setup for fly fishing and how to put it all together before you start casting? This simple guide will have you set-up for the river in no time...

Trout rise to the surface of a stream to take their food only about 25 percent of the time--the rest of their meals consists of aquatic insects found along the river bed. To catch fish when they...

To properly set up a reel for fly fishing, backing, fly line, leader and tippet must be properly tied together and secured to the spool. Traditionally, fly fishermen have used a variety of knots...

One of the most frustrating things when steelhead fishing is seeing the fish in the water and not knowing what will make them strike! This article will shed some light on catching more steelhead...

This article is for the steelhead fly fishing beginner. Here are the determining factors for selecting a good steelhead fly rod.

The Wooly Bugger is by far the most popular fly in the United States. Every fly shop and sporting goods store carries many sizes and colors of this popular fly. It works well on all species of...