De-Mystifying Fly Fishing

Written by Cameron Larsen


Continued from page 1

While dry fly fishing gets allrepparttar attention, truth be told, fish consume up to 90% of their diet underrepparttar 133014 water. So you are apt to catch more fish using ‘wet flies’, then you are dry fly fishing. Especially if you are just beginning, fishing sub-surface is going to result in more fish being caught. While fish are feeding onrepparttar 133015 surface they are very skittish, and very selective. Almost any fault in technique, rigging, or fly selection will result in scaring offrepparttar 133016 fish you are trying to catch.

Equipment

There are some basic pieces of equipment that you must have or borrow to first try fly fishing. The first is a fly rod, (never a pole). The instrument you use to fly fish with is a rod. We have written a whole article on ‘Choosing a Fly Rod’, that will give you enough basic information to at least be able to ask educated questions when shopping. The second is a fly reel, we also have an article called ‘Choosing a Fly Reel’. If it were me, and budget is of concern, (and when you seerepparttar 133017 prices of fly rods, it probably will become one), scrimp onrepparttar 133018 reel and notrepparttar 133019 rod. Casting a quality fly rod is a thing of joy, sometimes I can become so lost inrepparttar 133020 rhythym of fly casting I actually forget aboutrepparttar 133021 fish. I fished for years using a Pflueger Medallist. If you were to poll fly fishers over 40 and I bet over half have owned one of these.

The next thing you will need isrepparttar 133022 fly line. If you are to purchase just one, get a floating line, you can always add weight torepparttar 133023 leader and sinkrepparttar 133024 fly. But it is virtually impossible to float a sinking tip line. Fly line is very thick and it is what you actually cast. Unlike other forms of fishng whererepparttar 133025 bait and weight are casted. Afterrepparttar 133026 fly line comerepparttar 133027 leader and tippet and finallyrepparttar 133028 fly.

Waders and wading boots are also mandatory, if one is planning on wading. With perhapsrepparttar 133029 exception of summer, when wet wading can be a relief fromrepparttar 133030 heat. Anymore decent Neoprene waders can be had for around $60, and felt soled wading shoes for aboutrepparttar 133031 same. Although these aren’t top ofrepparttar 133032 line, and comfort and performance suffer somewhat, they will be more than adequate.

The idea behind fly fishing is to showrepparttar 133033 fish what they actually feed on as naturally as possible. The first time I fly fished, I was amazed at how much more I actually fished. You don’t need to reel in and cast out again, just lift up and cast again. More time with your fly inrepparttar 133034 water equals more opportunity to catch fish. The actual motion of simple fly casting is easy enough to pick up, it is much likerepparttar 133035 motion of hammering. Accelerating onrepparttar 133036 downstroke. In an afternoon of practice you could easily masterrepparttar 133037 motion well enough to have a reasonable chance of catching a fish.

There you have it. While fly fishing can become unneccessarily complicated. In it’s essence I believe it isrepparttar 133038 simplest form of fishing there is. So basic is its form, and so exact isrepparttar 133039 role of its instruments, you could call it perfect. And there are times when one can get caught up inrepparttar 133040 act of exercising this perfection, thatrepparttar 133041 entire world fades away, until it is just you andrepparttar 133042

Cameron Larsen is a retired commericial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. http://www.bigyflyco.com/flyfishinghome.html He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. This article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at Http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html


What’s In Your Hiking Pack?

Written by Chuck Fitzgerald


Continued from page 1

The total weight of my hiking pack not counting water, is 10 pounds 14 ounces. My pack has a shoulder harness system that takesrepparttar weight off of my lower back and distributes it evenly across my shoulders and upper back. I hardly notice my pack when I’m wearing it. One last point, if you carry something – make sure you know how to use it.

We’ve all heard quotes about being prepared, such as “Chance favorsrepparttar 133013 prepared mind.” – Louis Pasteur and “The will to win is important, butrepparttar 133014 will to prepare is vital.” – Joe Paterno and “Chance fights ever onrepparttar 133015 side ofrepparttar 133016 prudent.” – Euripides. I suggest carrying a well thought out pack is a good habit and a good outdoor life-skill. One day it may save a family member, an outdoor companion or even you.

Plan ahead before you venture into our backcountry, even if you plan to be gone only an hour or two. It makes good sense. With just this small amount of planning you’ll getrepparttar 133017 most out of your backcountry experiences. Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time.

Get Outdoors!

Chuck Fitzgerald is the President of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry specialty gear and educational information for outdoor enthusiasts. Visit www.BackCountryToys.com to receive the free newsletter "FreshAir” or call (800) 316-9055.


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