tbgoutdoors.com

Cabin Fever Part 3

administrator — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:15:58 +0000

Time for a show down!

Well it had to happen.

It was going to be me or that turtle.

(Imagine the music from the old TV show “Mission Impossible.”)

Fuel up the Gator, check.

Load fishing equipment

Load Savage 22-250 rifle with scope for long range shot into Gator, check

Slide High Standard 22 pistol and holster on belt, for close-up shot, check.

Load two, one gallon, milk jugs complete with heavy cord and treble hooks into Gator, just incase I didn’t see him, check.

One package chicken livers for bait, check.

Thermos of coffee, bottle of water, bottle of pop, ham sandwich, jerky, candy bar, chips, cell phone and I’m off for the day.

(OK, turn the music off.)

Now, the two mile, drive to the pond. Except for the dust of each passing car or truck the trip wasn’t that bad.

DAMN, I FORGOT THE KEY TO THE GATE!

Two miles back to the house, more dust, get the key and off again.

Normally this is a quiet country road with little traffic but today I think there was a parade going by. Lots more dust!

Once through the gate the cows just looked at me and must have determined I wasn’t worth it and parted like the Red Sea.

Within fifteen minutes I was on a hill top looking down on the pond. Scoping the area with my rifle, I found it, “strutting” his stuff, along the Eastern edge.

This would have been an easy shot; it was only eighty-five yards away. But five things saved his ugly hide. One, the sun was just high enough to cause a squint and to blur my vision. The other four things weighed about twelve hundred pounds each and any one of them would have cost me over a thousand dollars. Just one little ricochet off of the water surface, a rock or even the hard back shell of that mossy old SOB, and I’d spend the rest of the day skinning beef.

I don’t know if it was the vibrations of the Gator or the running cattle, but ole’ Destiny dived beneath the surface and out of sight.

I scanned the water looking for a ripple, bubbles or those beady little satanic eyes looking back at me. Nothing! This made me nervous.

I walked back to the Gator, to get the milk jugs and chicken liver, as I walked through the tall grass I carefully eyed each step, by now, in my mind, this turtle was as tall as a cougar, twice as vicious and out to get me.

Back at waters edge, I baited the hooks on the jugs with the liver and threw each one as far out into the water as I could. I watched as the weighted lines caused the jugs to roll in the water as they pulled the hooks and bait down. Now the trap was set. Now all that was left to do was fish.

With what was I to fish?

In my haste to lay the perfect plan for vengeance, I forgot my fishing rods and tackle. The voice of an old friend played in my mind, “What a smuck.” To add insult to injury, the bass were top feeding on just about anything that landed. While my Loomis rested in a tube at home, I was watching a great day slip by.

It was time to eat. Twist the top off of my pop bottle. Unzip the bag holding my ham sandwich and take a bite. As my teeth clamped down to tear that bite of tasty morsel away, I looked across the crust and saw movement in the water.

The jug to my right was bobbing up and down and had started circling an area in the pond. At one time it submerged only to come up again thirty or forty feet away from where it went under. This brought great joy to my mind and improved the taste of an otherwise common sandwich as I watched.

The next two hours were spent with great jubilation. I called three friends to share the excitement only to get three voice mails. I called home only to get, “That’s good. Did you know you left your fishing pole here?” The only creatures showing any emotion about this great event was me and that turtle. I was happy and he was pissed.

So now my attention turned to figuring out just how to retrieve my prize. The turtle free jug had drifted close enough to shore that, with the help of a stick, I could drag it into reach. Removing the line from the jug and the liver from the hook, I now had a twenty foot throw line.

I positioned myself along a narrow area of the pond and waited for the next lap to come within reach of my line. Swinging the weighted end around like David with a sling, I let it fly, out and over the other line. YES! But now what?

I let the line sink just enough to snag the other line and gave a yank. Got it!

The next twenty minutes was spent trying to convince that turtle that it was all over but the shouting. Finally getting him to shore, I dragged him from the water and listened to his hissing and snapping and to all the turtle talk of what he was going to do to me when he got loose. There was one major flaw with his threats. I was armed, he was not. Thus the conversation ended.

No, I didn’t let it go to waste. We have a code that says if you shoot it or catch it, you usually eat it or turn it back. So Destiny was cleaned and consumed in several meals and shared with several of my friends.

They say turtle meat has the flavor of several different kinds of meat. But no matter how I fixed it. Each bite tasted like fish.

Cabin Fever

administrator — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 04:49:25 +0000

By T.L. Bush

I gave up fishing once. It was the worst day of my life!

I know this may sound strange for this time of year, but I had it, CABIN FEVER, I don’t usually get it until late winter when all the hunting seasons are over and it’s too damned cold to go out for just anything. For over two weeks the wind in Iowa had blown over 25 miles an hour every day. I don’t know how many knots that is but there is only one not that was important. I was NOT going to take my boat out on the lake in that wind!

So here I sat, nothing good on TV (never is). I couldn’t get in the writing mood. There is only so much surfing the web that I could take. I almost started watching soaps full time.

The rain had soaked in and there was about 3 inches of mud under the grass. You couldn’t drive anywhere, even in four wheel drive, without fear of getting stuck. My movements were like those in the movie, “The Living Dead”, slow, distant and all those other things. I actually started to feel sorry for the man in the mirror, unshaven, what hair he had was unkempt, teeth were being brushed individually instead of the usual back and forth scrubbing, droopy eyelids, and bags packed under each eye. It was tough being me for those days.

Finally we got a break in the weather. The rain had stopped for a while and I knew where there was a pond I used to catch Bass in. If I checked everything right I could drive so far on gravel, then walk the rest of the way in and I could cleans myself and remove the awful stench created by having not handled a single fish for days. I was going through withdrawals, I needed a fix, I needed a fish and the Grandkid’s Gold fish wouldn’t bite on anything I gave them. I tell you it was awful.

I keep my Suburban loaded with most of my fishing stuff so it didn’t take long to be underway. I drove to the gate, parked my rig, opened the back hatch and pre-walked my journey in my mind. Let’s see, looks like it could rain, hour-by-hour weather on my site said it might rain later but would probably go north. Fine, two rods, one tackle box, a stringer, that would be plenty of weight for a twenty minute walk to the pond and a few fish added to the stringer wouldn’t add that much weight for the return.

I’m finally off. There were tears in the corners of my eyes. Not tears of joy, the damned wind was still blowing about twenty miles an hour right into my face.

Go through the gate, wade the first six inch mud path, walk down the first hill, wade six more inches of mud and water in the bottom of the ditch. Ok I expected that but now the unexpected. A herd of cattle didn’t think I needed to be in there so a little detour was in order. Forty minutes later I arrived at the pond.

Strange thing, the fish aren’t biting! I could always catch Bass or Bluegill in this pond. I believe old Neptune himself was laughing at me. Finally about ten minutes pass and they start hitting my black worm. I hadn’t caught anything but they were biting.

All of a sudden I thought Jaws himself must have grabbed my bait. The line went tight and sounded like a high note on a Harp, the rod bent double and the drag was out to lunch. I was a happy man! We fought each other for a few minutes and then the fight was over. As I reeled in I would get an occasional wiggle. It felt like he had taken me into moss before he gave up and I was reeling in dead weight.

Wading knee deep into the mud and water in preparation for reaching down and grabbing the big beautiful mouth and safely landing the biggest Bass ever taken out of that pond. He was now within three feet of me and still under the surface of the muddy water. Now all I had to do was raise my rod tip bend down and grasp my prize.

Holy Crap it was the Loch Ness Monster, Jaws, Godzilla and every other SOB, I had ever seen in a movie that could and would eat you! It was a Snapping turtle the size of the top of a fifty-five gallon drum.

I looked into his eyes, he looked into mine, I was stuck in the mud and scared and he was hooked and pissed!

Without a second thought I reached for my belt, took out my knife and being the fine good hearted fellow I am, I set him free.

I pulled myself out of the mud and fought my way back up the bank, deciding I had had enough fishing for the day. The wind was starting to blow a little harder and the sky was shooting lightning, for some reason I hadn’t even noticed, so I began my journey out.

Just as I was crawling through and straddled the third wire up in a barbed wire fence that surrounded the pond, my cell phone went off, it sacred the Hell out of me, I thought I had been struck . Now hung-up on a barb, my pants were not going anywhere; I answered the phone in a less than pleasant tone. On the other end I heard, “You better get out of there. There’s a severe storm heading our way and it’s supposed to be here in less than half an hour. Oh, and it could have a tornado in it. Don’t get wet. Bye.”

Little did she know how trivial, a tornado sounded at that time. I was hung-up on a barbed wire fence, now with two barbs embedded in my pants, lightning striking all around me, at least a forty-minute walk back, trying to convince those cows I was coming through even if they didn’t like it, the six inch mud was now deeper and I had been face to face with the grim reaper disguised as the Evil Do-err of the lake.

I didn’t catch any fish, I did get really wet, and the cows probably could sense my mood and the tornado didn’t form.

When I got to the final gate, the mud was almost knee deep; I turned and looked back at the pond and in my best Arnold possible I uttered, “I’ll Be Back.”

It ain’t over. I’ll tell you more the next time.

Cabin Fever Part 2

administrator — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:53:35 +0000

By T.L. Bush

Cabin Fever is never a good thing. It makes you do dumb things.

By T.L. Bush

If you slap me on my face, don’t expect me to turn the other cheek. I’ll knock you on you butt faster than you can say “rubber worm”. I hate being slapped.

That’s what I felt like had happened with my run in with “King Kong of the lake.” (Read Cabin Fever to get the whole idea.)

The next day the rain had stopped and the wind was down to ten or fifteen miles an hour so I could have gone to the big lake on my boat. NOT GONNA’ HAPPEN! The match was on. It was him or me. I’ve stood face to face with a Grizzly Bear, within three feet of a herd of stampeding Buffalo, counted the tines of a Twelve Point Buck by hand and stood behind a Bull Elk and whistled louder then he did! You can do the same thing if you visit the Bass Pro Shop by Des Moines. So I wasn’t going to let a great adventure like this escape the pages of my “Life’s Story.”

It was time to return to the hidden dangers living in the murky waters of the, Bass Pond!” Sounds kinda’ scary don’t it.

Well enough of the crap. I got my stuff together and headed out. This time, however, I drove my friends Gator down to the pond. No mud to wade, cows to argue with just me and Destiny. That’s what I named the turtle, he was now my Destiny.

As I neared the pond I stopped high on a hill. That doesn’t sound right. I stopped on a high hill and took my binoculars and scanned the pond looking for the creature. There he was patrolling the banks of his domain. Too far for a good shot, did I mention I was armed this time, so I restarted the Gator and ventured onward.

As I got closer he must have felt the vibrations of the machine and I watched him as he quickly dashed back into the waters edge and dive out of sight.

Gun in hand I slowly walked along the bank looking for any sign of movement from the beast. Nothing!

Ok, he’s gone, I’m here, let’s fish.

The weather change must have awakened the hungry bone in the fish. They were hitting on everything, even the Blue Gill were active. I must have caught and released twenty or thirty Bass and Gills. I finally decided to keep a few, two pounders, for the freezer. I was catching them like somebody was down there putting them on my hook.

I kept six in all and had them on my stringer and decided to catch just one more and call it quits. I hadn’t seen the Beast so I guess, in my way of thinking, that he was more afraid of me than I of him. One more fish and I could return the “Victor”.

Then it happened. Bumps, a tug, then WHAM. Just as the day before. My line went tight, my rod bent double my drag said, “Forget it” and I saw parts of my life flash before my eyes.

Out of instinct I reached for my knife to cut the line, but my hand landed on the grips of my pistol. Yes! Yes! I’ll fix this SOB. I’ve got a gun and he doesn’t.

So for the next twenty minutes it was a push-me, pull-me sort of thing, do you know how hard it is to raise your rod tip, crank in line and hold on to a gun at the same time? Well it ain’t easy. Then finally the dead weight, just like the day before, but this time I wasn’t stepping in the water. This time when his eyes met mine I was going to give him a third one right between those other eyes of Satan.

Here he comes, ten feet out, six feet, five feet, four, three, rod tip lowered to just below the surface so I can get a shot when his evil head breaks water. I see line, swivel, and moss and just as the hammer is cocked to end this madness, I see one of the nicest Large Mouth Bass I’ve seen in a while.

With the adrenalin rush calming and the just plain stupid look I must have had on my face slowly disappearing from my reflection in the water, I finally laughed out loud. I laughed so loudly the cows even looked at me.

Gun now back in holster, I finished reeling him in. I weighed him and he topped right at the four and a half pound side of the scales and as usual, I turned him loose. I don’t keep big fish, as a matter of fact; I don’t keep many fish that I catch. Just when I want a few for a meal or they have swallowed the hook and would probably die.

Still laughing at myself, I walked up the bank to retrieve my stringer of six fish. As I pulled them from the water something didn’t look right. I only had five and a half fish. The back half of my largest was gone. Everything from the gills back was shredded and brutally ripped away. Upon additional inspection half of the face of the next fish had been devoured as well. Jack the Ripper had returned to remind me whose pond it really was.

As I stood there in total disbelief, with five and a half fish in my hand, I cast my glance across the pond, maybe looking for an answer different than the obvious, but it was not to be.

There, about twenty yards from the bank, I saw a small island swimming away. I swear his tail was standing straight up as if it were a hand waving good by with only one finger.

But I’m not done. There’s more.

Now it’s your turn!

administrator — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:21:45 +0000

Now it’s your turn to tell me what you want to read about! Fishing – Hunting – you name it. I will not sell, give away or otherwise let anybody have you information. If you have a comment please let me know.

Thanks

What Bugs a Hunter?

administrator — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:27:25 +0000

Hunter Becomes the Hunted

By T.L. Bush

There are many possibilities for hunters to get sick. Many critics consider these aspects to be nature’s defense mechanisms towards human interference. Whatever the case may be, care must be taken when outdoors at all times to avoid these diseases and these problems. There are many precautions one can take to avoid getting sick in the great outdoors, so attention must be paid at all times to the surroundings and to the natural habitat in which the hunt is taking place. Without proper care and attention, there is no telling as to what type of affliction can set upon a camp.

There are many diseases that are spread by mosquitoes. These are called “arboviral” because they are spread by flying insects. These diseases are known to produce clinical illnesses in humans that require the attention of a medical professional. Mosquitoes and other flying insects transmit what are called “alphaviruses” to the patient, causing typically mild symptoms but sometimes release harmful after-effects. Another arboviral disease that is getting a lot of mention lately is the West Nile virus. This is also spread by mosquitoes, but originates in birds. Mosquitoes feed on the birds and then spread the virus to humans by feeding on the humans, mixing the blood types. For this reason, always bring bug spray and always ensure that mosquitoes are instantly swatted or squashed as they appear.

A bacterial infection that hunters can find themselves with is brucella. Brucella is a bacterial infection that is typically spread from animal to animal as they feed on one another. As hunters kill and eat animals, there is a potential for brucella to be present. Brucella are actually bacterial organisms that are highly infectious. The food is typically the highest source of infection and the most likely area of capturing brucella infection. Fortunately, there are very few incidents of person-to-person brucella transmission but it still is possible. Standard precautions should be taken at all times in dealing with hunted meat. The kill must be cleaned and cooked properly. Hand washing is also a must.

Lyme disease is a common disease for outdoors-people. This is an illness that may affect joints and bones, creating a possibility of skin and nervous system problems. Lyme disease can affect people of all ages and is considered to be the most frequently diagnosed of the outdoor afflictions, making precautionary measures especially important. This affliction is actually caused by a bacterium that is transmitted by the bite of a tick. The Deer tick bite will sometimes appear as a “bulls’ eye” type rash, with the bite being in the middle and a circular rash around it. Persons with Lyme disease will likely start feeling the symptoms around seven to fourteen days after the tick bite, starting with chills and joint pain. Precautions should be taken to keep ticks off of the skin at all times. When returning home the hunter should immediately remove and clean their clothing. If ticks are present they could crawl onto other family members.

There are many other bacterial infections that can be caught in the great outdoors. With taking the proper precautions, however, most hunters can avoid having serious incidents and can simply concentrate on the hunt. Clothing should be kept relatively light but tight fitting, making it hard for bugs to get on the skin and easy to spot the bugs. Of course, the problem with light clothing on the hunt is that it also makes the hunter more visible to the animals. Compromises can be reached, however, and there are those that suggest the risk of disease is far too great to take a chance on not being prepared.

Regardless of the point of view, there are numerous afflictions in nature that should be avoided and considered when hunting. It may well be nature’s way of protecting itself, but some of these afflictions and diseases can spread from the hunter to the family members, making for a dangerous situation. When planning any kind of trip to the outdoors, research the area of travel and find out all there is to know about the possibilities for diseases and afflictions in that area.

The Beginner Fly Fisher

administrator — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:04:13 +0000

The Beginners Fly Fishing Tips

By T. L. Bush

Introduction

Fly fishing is a very popular fishing sport that can be both relaxing and challenging at the same time.

The following tips and tricks are ideal of beginners. When you’re just starting out learning to fly fish you’ll want all the help and advice that you can get.

Tip: Do you speak fish?

The more you know the language, or lingo, of fly fishing the more fun it will be as you fly fish with your friends and family. Some of the language that you should know includes:

•

v Fly: The fly is light weight lure that is used to attract a variety of fish including trout and salmon. The most common fly is the mayfly.

v Leader: The leader is attached to the end of fly line since the fly line is too thick to hold flies. The leader can be identified as a tapered clear piece of monofilament.

v Tippet: The tippet is a clear piece of monofilament. It is attached to the end of the leader so that the leader’s end taper is preserved.

v Woolly Bugger: The Woolly Bugger is a fly that has a very simple design with a long tail feather on the end. This fly is very popular among experienced fly fishers.

Tip: Rods

There are several things that you need to think about when choosing the right type of rod for you. Every rod has a certain function that you need to be aware of.

One of the first things that you need to consider is comfort. Is the rod that you’re going to use comfortable for you to hold? Choose a rod length that is easy for you to hold and cast for a few hours at a time.

Most of the rods on the market today are designed to allow you to feel when a fish bites. The shaft of the rod is called a “blank” and when the rod is first manufactured the blank is made from fiberglass, graphite, or other materials. Each of these blanks has an action that is either: light, medium, medium/heavy, or heavy. The upper portion will also have an action that is either: extra light, light, or regular.

Both ends of the blank are assembled and the final result is a fishing rod, complete with a handle and guide. No matter what type of rod that you’re using, the “action” of the rod will refer to the “blank”. The action of the rod will have a great deal to do with the type of fishing that you’re doing.

Tip: Rods and Guides

Another aspect of your rod that you should get to know is the guide, or the eyes. The guide is what transmits the signals of the line to the rod so that it’s easy for you to feel the fish on the other end. There are several different types of guides available today.

Some guides have rings that are made of ceramic placed inside the outer metal frame. Still other guides have inner rings that are made from silicone carbide, aluminum oxide, chrome plating, or gold aluminum oxide. The rings of the rod are what aid in the reduction of friction that can cause your line to fray.

The length of the rod handle is important as well as what the rod is made of, such as foam or cork. You’ll want to choose a rod handle that is still easy for you to hold if your hands become wet.

One last thing that you should focus on when you’re buying a new rod is how the guides are attached to the rod. The wrapping must be sufficient so that the guides don’t become loose and need to be replaced.

Tip: Using a Slow-Action Rod

A slow-action rod is sometimes called a full flex rod. This is one of the easiest types of rod to cast, however it can often be a bit too wobbly for beginners to use. This type of rod isn’t very effective if you are fly fishing for larger fish because you won’t be able to use the rod’s butt stiffness to hold up against a strong fish. The slow-action rod is one of the least expensive rods that you can buy.

Tip: Holding your Rod Effectively

It’s important that you learn to hold your rod effectively under any fishing conditions. You want to make sure that you maintain good control at all times without gripping too hard. You can adjust the power of your hold when you’re in the middle of a cast. This will allow you to minimize the vibrations of each movement. With just a bit of practice you’ll be able to increase the tightness at the same as you learn to relax your grip.

Tip: Storing your Rod

The one and only thing that you need to do to keep your rod in great shape is to store it correctly. The first thing that you need to do is store the rod in the sock and a hard tube. This way nothing can damage it when you’re not using it. After you’re done using your rod make sure that you clean it. All of the dirt should be rubbed off and the rod left until it is completely dry before you put it away.

When you’re washing your rod, use warm water that has been laced with a mild soap. Use a soft cloth. Make sure that you wash all parts of the rod including the rod guides, feet, cork grip, and the reel. When you’re finished take the time to rinse the rod with warm water. This procedure will keep your rod looking and performing great for a long time.

Tip: Types of Fly Lines

Most of the lines that you’ll use for fly fishing will be made of nylon monofilament. However, other lines are becoming just as popular such as lines that are (1) braided, (2) co-filament, or (3) fused. No matter what type of line you buy make sure that it’s a “premium” line. Premium lines are more durable and even than cheaper lines. You’ll want to match the fishing line that you buy to the following criteria and conditions:

v Strength: Strength is measured in the pounds of force that is needed to break the line. You’ll find that most lines will break at higher weights than they are sold at.

v Resistance to Abrasion: When you’re fishing in areas where there are a lot of brush or rocks you’ll want to use a line that won’t break easily when it is constantly rubbed.

v Line Diameter: The diameter of the line will affect the way the line is cast as well as how deep your lure will run. Diameter also has an affect on the visibility and stretching of the line. The thinner a line is the harder it will be for the fish to see it. Thinner lines will also give some bait a more realistic flowing action. The one good thing about lines with a thicker diameter is that they are better able to withstand abrasion.

v Stretch Lines: Stretch lines won’t break as easily when they are being pulled by a fish. They are beneficial in letting you detect strikes as well as help you in setting hooks.

v Line Stiffness: The stiffness of the line is related to its stretch.

v Line visibility: In clear water it’s important that your line is as invisible to the fish as possible. However, you’ll want to have a line that is highly visible when your fly is on a subtle strike. This is so that you can easily detect any movement on the line that may indicate a fish is biting.

Tip: Protecting your Fly Line

There are many things that can damage your fly line that includes: casting the line without a leader, stepping on the line, or pinching the line between the frame of the reel and the spool. Take steps to avoid these hazards. There are also many liquid items that can damage your fly line. Make sure that you keep the line away from insect repellent, sun block, fuel, and some line cleaners.

Tip: Cleaning your Fly Line

Keeping your fly line clean is essential to the performance of fly fishing.

Dirt will get on your line from algae that are found in the waters where you fish. Over time the dirt will get on your line and this can cause your line to become stripped down. You’ll know when your fly line is too dirty because it won’t float as well nor will it slide smoothly through the rod guides.

Cleaning your fly line is easy: use a cleaning pad that you can buy at most angling stores. Or you can also wash the fly line with a few drops of a mild soap (avoid detergents). Just rub the line gently with a damp cloth.

Tip: Storing your Fly Line

Your reel is the safest place for you to have your line. The only thing that you need to make sure of is that your line isn’t exposed to chemicals, high heats, direct sunlight, or solvents. There will be times when your line has been stored for a while and it will coil. If this occurs you need to stretch it slowly; it will soon start to give and you can use it safely once again.

Tip: Leaders

When it comes to leaders you have two choices: you can buy them or you can tie your own. If you’re going to tie your own you’ll want to get an instruction book that shows you how to do this. If you’re going to buy them you’ll want to look for a leader that is suitable to the area where you are going to be fishing.

Tip: Knotless Tapered Leaders

For freshwater fishing it’s best to use a knotless tapered leader instead of a knotted tapered leader. This is because you will experience less tangles when you’re casting and the leader won’t get caught on debris that can be found in the water or on any free standing structures.

Tip: Tying Effective Knots

Very few knots will ever be at 100% of the rated strength for a line. However, if you moisten your knots before you pull them tight they will be much more effective. Other things that you can do to tie a better knot include:

v Tighten them very slowly.

v Keep an eye out for any weak frays.

v Test every knot by making sure to pull it hard.

These techniques will reduce the chance of a knot failure occurring at that moment when you least want it.

Tip: The Size of your Flies

The size of your flies will matter, especially in the spring and fall when there are high waters, at which time you’ll want larger flies than you would be using in the summer months. Summer months bring lower water levels and you can get away with using smaller sized flies. During those months when you’re not fly fishing take the time to tie up different sizes of flies and build up your selection. This will save you time when you are fishing from having to stop and tie a larger or smaller fly.

Tip: Using Dry Flies in the Afternoon

If you’re fly fishing in the afternoon you’ll want to use dry flies. The main reason for this is that the sun will be warming the water and the air.

And this means that you’ll see hatches of little black flies. This is a great time to do some dry fly fishing since you can present a fly that is similar to an adult insect.

One way that you can keep your dry flies floating higher and longer on top of the water is by waterproofing them. Take a can of Scotch-guard, the same stuff that you use to protect your furniture, and spray those flies that you plan on taking fishing with you in the next few days. Let them dry overnight before using them. The Scotch-guard will put a waterproof protective coating around your flies and prevent them from becoming drenched with water. This will allow them to float higher and longer on the water.

Tip: Using a Sub-Surface Fly

There is a trick to using a sub-surface fly so that it catches more fish: deodorize the fly before you use it by rubbing it with mud or underwater plants. This will mask the chemical and human smells that are attached to it and that may distract the fish from striking.

Tip: Tying your Fly to the Tippet

You may find that there are times when you have difficulty tying the fly to the tippet. This can happen whether you’re in the water or up on the bank. A good trick to help you is to hold the fly up against a background that is single colored, such as the sky. The background will be able to help you see the fly easier and tie it to the tippet.

Tip: Learn to Read the Water

Fish will behave differently depending on certain water conditions that change depending on what season it is. This includes the temperature of the water, what the weather is like, and the volume of the water. If you want to become a successful fly fisher you’ll have to learn how to read the waters where you’re fishing.

Some of the things that you’ll discover as you learn to read the water are:

(1) During non-feeding periods, fish can still be encouraged to strike if they are in a deep pocket of water, and (2) when fish are feeding they are usually found in the shoreline of runs of pools and in moderate water pockets.

Water chemistry plays a big part in the health of fish, the location where they are found, and how successful you are at catching the big one. One of the most important aspects of water chemistry is pH. In simple language pH is the measure of the acidity in the water.

pH is typically measured on a scale of 1 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered to be neutral. pH totals of less than 7 are acidic while a measure of over 7 is considered basic.

Most fish are able to tolerate a wide range of pH in the waters where they live. This is because they have the ability to regulate their internal levels of pH. This is accomplished by the fish constantly adjusting the ratio of bases and acids within their systems. They make these adjustments by expelling any excess acids in the urine and also by controlling their breathing.

The faster a fish breathes the faster carbon dioxide leaves the blood, thus raising the level of pH in the blood. However, most fish are eventually tired out by this constant regulating of their system. If the fish lives for too long in an environment that is too acidic or too basic it will become unable to manage its own system chemistry. When this happens the fish will stop feeding and eventually die.

Tip: Keep an Eye Out for Structures

When you’re looking around for a place to cast your line it’s important that you look around for structures both on and in the water. This can be a large boulder or stone, a log that is submerged, or the tail end of a pool. These are great places to find fish since they don’t want to work very hard when it comes to looking for a meal. Fish will congregate near structures, where they will set up feeding stations.

Tip: Basic Casting

Basic casting is very simple: the fly line and the rod are both lifted in a smooth motion. You’ll use an up and backwards direction which you stop when the rod is just at the vertical point. When the line starts to straighten out or fall downwards the cast will begin increasing in speed at the same time that your arm snaps the entire rod back from the 11:00 and 1:00 clock positions. The line will then fly forward to where you want it to land.

When you’re ready to cast, make it a long cast that moves straight out from where you are standing. Strive for about a ten foot cast. When the bait hits the bottom wait for a minute or two before you start to drag it slowly up along the slope. When you’re ready to cast again throw your line out a bit to the right. Then cast to the left the next time, so that you’re fanning the area in front of you.

You also have the option of wading knee deep out into the water to cast your line so that it runs parallel to the bank. This allows you to fish the entire area of the bank so that you have the most success.

Walk softly and carefully as you walk along the bank to avoid spooking the fish or other fish in the area. Keep all your movement slow and steady at all times.

Fishing from the bank can really challenge you as a fly fisher. Once you get those first few bites you’ll be convinced that bank fishing is just as good as fishing in the stream or lake.

Tip: Roll Casting

Roll casting is when your fly line is pulled back along the water during a back cast rather than being raised from the water. During the forward cast your line will also be pulled back along the water rather than lifted. You’ll want to use a roll cast when you want a bit of leverage back casting in areas where you don’t have much room or if there is a strong wind that is pulling back on the line.

Tip: Reach Casting

During a reach cast the fly, leader, and line are presented to your target area at a wide angle from the left or right side of the caster. This allows you a great deal of reach. Reach casting is very useful when you want to send a fly across a river or stream that has more than one speed of current. The reach cast lets you prevent your fly from being dragged down stream at a rate that is faster than the water where it is supposed to land.

Tip: Slack Line Casting

Slack line casting is when the fly line is able to fall onto the water in what are called “s” curves. This type of a cast will let your fly float on the water without any dragging motion. You’ll want to use this cast when you’re casting over a current or into a down stream.

Tip: Shooting Line Casting

You’ll want to use this type of cast when you want to create a cast that extends out more line. To accomplish the shooting line cast, for either the forward or the backward cast, you need to use more power than you did when you cast the line as far as you did the first time.

Tip: Rely on your Vision when Casting

There will be times when you need to rely on your vision in order to determine the target that you are casting towards. This is particularly true in tail waters and spring creeks where you’ll need to stalk the fish before you cast for it. Use your eyes to identify your casting targets in certain ways such as:

v Noting the shadow of a fish.

v Noting the rise form of a large fish.

v Noting the flash of a fish that is nymphing.

When you can identify the fish and its lie you’ll be able to accurately position your target and get ready for the perfect cast.

Tip: Using a Hauling Technique

The hauling technique is when you increase the speed of your line by using the strength of your rod arm and your free hand arm. To achieve a good haul you need to pull down on the fly line at the position just below the stripper guide on your rod. The pull will increase the speed of the line as it moves outward. As you become more experienced you can try a double haul which is when you pull both the backward and the forward stroke with strength.

Tip: “Mending the Line”

The technique of mending the line is when you reposition your fly line and leader on top of the moving water. To accomplish this technique all you need to do is use a variety of movements such as roll-casting and lifting the rod. When you’re fishing in streams you’ll want to know how to mend your line so that you keep it straight and untangled.

Tip: Match the Length of your Tippet to the Hole

One of the most important things that you can do when it comes to successful fly fishing is match the length of your tippet to the depth where the fish are and to the depth of the hole. Every once in a while allow the weight to touch the bottom, making sure that it doesn’t drag. For instance, if you have a tippet that is six feet long it will put your fly about two to four feet off of the bottom.

Tip: Rules of the water

There are certain styles of etiquette and rules that you should follow when you’re fishing for any type of fish.

v “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”: Whenever you’re fishing, whether on the shoreline or in a boat, make sure that you treat others with the same respect that you would want.

v Keep your distance: When you’re fishing around other anglers make sure that you keep a good distance away from them so that they have enough room. Take note of the direction that others are casting and give them ample berth both in a boat and on the shoreline.

v Keeping secrets: If someone shares their favorite fishing spot with you and asks that you not give this location to others you should honor the request.

v Get permission: If you want to fish on private property, such as a farm pond, make sure that you get permission first. When you leave the area after fishing it should look the same as when you arrived.

v Other fishers: Keep in mind that not all fishers are fly fishers and that everyone deserves your respect no matter what type of fish they are fishing for.

v Fishing license: Depending where you live, there will be different rules and regulations for licensing. In most states or provinces you’ll need a freshwater license if you want to catch freshwater fish. Your fishing license should be specific to the type of fish that you’re going to be catching. Always make sure that you know the rules and regulations of the lake, river, stream, or other water area that you’re going to be fishing. This includes when you can fish, where you can fish, and how many fish you can take out of the water.

Tip: The Right of Way

When it comes to fishing etiquette, the right of way is something that you’ll need to learn. The rule of thumb is that the angler who is already in the water is given the right of way. The rule also applies if you’re walking along the bank or floating. If you need to move locations try to move up-river whenever possible. You never want to intrude on another fly fisher without asking first. If you do get permission to enter the same waters make sure that you do so up-river and allow the other angler lots of space.

Tip: Taking out your Line

Common courtesy dictates that you take your line out of the water for any angler who has a fish on the line. This is so that they have plenty of space in order to land their fish. This rule is very important if you’re fishing down-river from the other angler. Make sure that you never step into the space of an angler who is releasing or landing a fish on the bank.

Tip: Silence is Golden

Whenever you’re fly fishing you’ll need to be as quiet as you can…and this means leaving your dog and the radio at home. There are two reasons why you want to be as quiet as possible: (1) you don’t want to spook the fish, and (2) you don’t want to disturb other fly fishers. Many people enjoy fly fishing for the peace and solitude that it affords them.

Tip: Hey Buddy! Do you need a hand?

Always be willing to help out other anglers. This can be as simple as helping them retrieve something that has floated down-river or lending them something that they need, such as extra line. You’re all there for a fun day of fly fishing so helping each other out just lends to the experience.

Fly Fishing for Trout

Tip: Using a Shorter Rod

When you’re fishing for trout you want to make sure that your rod fits the venue that you’re fishing. The one thing that you need to keep in mind is that a short rod is hard to use if you want to gain any distance.

Tip: Using a Floating Line

There are many trout fly lines that you can choose from when you’re fishing for this type of fish. Beginner fly fishers should start out with a floating line since it will be much easier for them to manipulate.

Tip: Dry Fly or Wet Fly?

Knowing what fly to use is quite simple when it comes to fishing for trout: use a dry fly if the trout are feeding on the surface and use a wet fly if they are feeding below the surface.

Tip: When to Check your Fly

If you find that the trout aren’t biting continue to use the same fly for about 15 minutes before you switch to another one. Keep up this pattern until you find a fly that works.

Tip: Trout Habits

Trout are easy to predict. Rainbow trout always swim in shoals while the brown trout are more territorial and avoid this pattern. The one big thing to keep in mind when you’re fly fishing for trout is that you usually need to go to them rather than expecting them to come to you.

A quick note on trout habits in lakes: Lakes in higher areas are often much more rocky than lower lying lakes. These types of lakes won’t have a great deal of weed or brush cover. You’ll find rocky lakes a bit tough to fish since the water is too clear and there aren’t a great deal of places for trout to find the cover that they enjoy. If there are any trout in the lake they will most likely be on the large size since they enjoy deeper waters and clear conditions.

Many experienced fly fishers enjoy fishing from the bank of a lake even if they own a boat. One of the first things that you need to do is find the perfect bank. Look for banks that have about a thirty degree slope that runs away from the shoreline. The water in the area should be anywhere from five to fifteen feet deep. If the slope if more than forty-five degrees you’ll have trouble balancing and staying in a stationary position.

Trout are attracted to very gradual slopes and will often stack up in this type of habitat. If there is a bit of vegetation or brush that has been submerged the trout will love the area even more.

Tip: Releasing your Trout

There will be some trophies that you want to photograph but most times you’ll want to make sure that you don’t handle the trout. Trout are covered in a protective layer of slime and when you touch it you disturb the fine balance of things. Trout can develop a fungus on the areas where you touch, which can kill it. To release the trout all you need to do is release the hook from the mouth and allow it to swim away without touching it. For help in removing the hook you can use forceps or small pliers.

Tip: Revive before Releasing

Before you release the trout you need to make sure that it is completely revived beforehand. If the fish has been exhausted it may turn over upside down or roll onto its side. Larger trout will take more time to revive while small fish usually require no reviving at all.

If you need to revive a fish make sure that you hold it so that it is upright. Try to find a flow of water that is quite gentle, just enough so that you can get its gills working and so that it can gain oxygen back from the water. As the fish starts to revive its gills will start to work more and more until it can stay upright in the water. The goal is to allow the trout to swim away without your help.

Tip: The Importance of Reading the Stream

When you are able to read the river or stream you increase your chances of catching that trout. Most streams will have a current that creates a pattern that is known as the riffle-run-pool pattern. This pattern will continue to repeat itself over and over again. You’ll find big brown trout in deep pools while the smaller browns and rainbow trout can be found in runs. The riffles will contain small trout during day hours and bigger trout during the morning and evening feeding times.

Many fly fishers overlook streams in favor of lakes or rivers. This, however, can be a big mistake. Streams provide great options for fly fishing, especially those streams that have cool water. Trout seem to enjoy streams since they can live in deep holes that are found just underneath the rapids. They also enjoy hovering beneath undercut banks since the water current here is calmer but still has a flow to it.

Tip: Identifying the Riffle

Riffles will have a current that is fast, along with very shallow water.

The bottom will be a mixture of rubble, gravel, or boulders. You’ll want to fish riffles during the morning or the evening during feeding periods.

Tip: Identifying the Runs

Runs are much deeper than riffles but they have a more moderate current. You’ll most often find runs between the riffles and the pools. The bottom of runs is composed of rubble or small gravel. Runs are great places to find trout at almost any time.

Tip: Identifying Pools

Pools will be darker than other areas of the river or stream. They have a much smoother current. The water will be slow moving and deep over a bottom that is composed of sand, small gravel, or silt. You’ll find medium to large trout in pools during the midday.

Fishing for fish in natural lakes can be all the way from good to excellent. The success that you have will often depend on what part of the country the lake is located. For instance, the southern states have natural lakes that are quite shallow.

Many smaller sized natural lakes have a circular shape. You’ll want to focus your fishing strategy close to the shore where there are weeds and rocks. Larger lakes, in particular those lakes in the north, will often have great places for trout to school. This can include islands, weed flows, natural reefs, and deep holes. One thing to keep in mind when it comes to northern natural lakes is that they are often infertile. This means that although the water is very clear it doesn’t contain large amounts of algae or plankton, and thus lack a great deal of oxygen.

Tip: The Smart Fish

There are new studies out that show that trout can easily learn to navigate a maze…and that they can remember the pattern for about nine months. This means that in streams that are heavily fished, trout quickly learn that movement on certain paths of pools is an indication that there is danger. The trout will scare more easily since they know the pattern of approaching fly fishers. What does this mean for you? Avoid approaching the same pools from the same direction. Instead find different angles of approaches every time that you fish in that area.

Tip: Cool Fish

Trout like the cooler waters. When the water temperature starts to rise in the summer months, the trout will move to deeper and cooler waters. Not only will the water be cooler deeper down, there will be more oxygen in the water. When trout are in water that is too warm and is lacking in oxygen they start to become stressed.

By late summer trout will move to fast moving riffles even if the water is barely deep enough to cover them. You’ll have to approach them carefully. Let your fly drift to the smallest area of the riffle. Make sure that you cover the entire riffle before you move on to the next spot.

One important thing to remember is that the senses of feeling and hearing in a fish are almost one and the same. Trout feel and hear the vibration of movement and sound in the water. Each sound will have a different type of pitch that sends vibrations through the water. Trout are able to become familiar with particular sounds and pitches so that they are able to detect even the slightest movement in the water. The feeling and hearing senses in a trout act almost as a built in radar.

Just as with feeling and hearing, the way a trout smells and tastes is connected together as one sense. Most fish have taste buds on the inside and outside of their mouths. This means that they are able to taste something before they have it in their mouth. This is why the bait that you use needs to be pleasing to the trout or it won’t get into its mouth. And if it does get into the fish’s mouth it will be quickly spit out if it is unpleasant.

Tip: Identifying Rises

Before you select your fly you need to identify the feeding patterns of the trout:

v Sip Rise: A sip rise will have surface rings that are sometimes very hard to see and other times very easy to see. A sip rise is caused by a trout that is sucking spent spinner or sipping on tiny duns.

v Splashy Rise: A splashy rise will indicate that the trout are rising up to active mayfly duns, quick rising pupa, caddis adults, or stonefly adults. Many times you’ll see the trout jump out of the water.

v Dorsal Fin and Tail Rise: This rise is an indication that the trout are feeding just below the surface and that they will probably ignore any surface flies.

v Head Rise: A head rise is identified by trout sticking their heads up out of the water. This means that they are feeding on mayfly, stonefly adults, caddis adults, or cripples and that they will feed right on the surface.

v Splashy Surge: A splashy surge indicates that the trout will most likely chase any whitebait or smelt into shallow waters.

A quick note on rivers: Rivers are probably the best type of habitat for trout. This is because they have a great deal of oxygen in the water that is evenly distributed from the top to the bottom. The water temperature in rivers is a bit more moderate than lake temperatures. Temperatures are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than rocky or low lying lakes.

When you’re fishing for trout in rivers you’ll want to stay close to the current but out of the direct flow. Look for breaks in the current such as stumps or logs; these are often the areas where you’ll find trout hovering in schools.

River bars are also good places to fish for trout. Don’t overlook river bends as other good options since trout seem to enjoy these peaceful areas.

Tip: Undercut Banks

Undercut banks are a great location to find trout since this location provides them with excellent cover from predators. The trout can hover against the edge of the stream right where the friction causes the water to slow down, making the swimming easy.

A Woolly Bugger is ideal in this situation. You’ll want to cast upstream so that your fly and your leader can land close to the bank and almost parallel to it. You can cast across stream to fish if the stream is wide enough. This way your cast will land the fly close to the undercut bank. When this happens you need to jig your cast downstream so that as much of your fly line and the leader is lying in a parallel position to the bank as possible.

When the fly starts to drift downstream and gets pulled in by the current you’ll want to flick the tip of your rod and push the fly line further downstream. This action should attract the attention of the most elusive trout.

Tip: Fishing Upstream

A basic concept of fly fishing is that a hooked fish isn’t really caught until you have it up on the bank. If you want to land more fish the one thing that you can do is try to hook more fish upstream instead of downstream. This way, your fly will have a better chance of getting into the jaw of the fish. Try to keep downstream of any fish that you’ve managed to hook; when the fish is downstream he is using less energy since the current of the water will be doing much of the work for the fish.

Tip: Using a Net

If you want to use a landing net you need to make sure to hold the net on the stream bed and lift it up as the fish swims over top of it. Most fish will be lost after they make their final rush if they are faced with a landing net that is being held vertically out in front of them. After all, you can’t expect the fish to want to swim right into it! And if you hold the net from behind and try to sweep up the fish all will be lost. All it takes is one touch of the fish’s tail and it will be gone.

Fish are known for their acute sense of vision. They are able to see in all types of water conditions and can see equally well during the day and night. The reason for this great sight is that fish have eyes that are able to adjust naturally to different conditions of light. No matter what the color of the water is they are able to rely on their vision to guide them. At those times when the vision of the fish is restricted, its other senses will kick in. This means that no matter where you hold that landing net the fish will be able to see it or sense it.

Tip: Keeping your Reels Covered

When you’re not using your reels you should keep them covered. If you keep your reel uncovered you’ll end up with grit and dirt inside of it. As well, the outer coating of your reel can be damaged and this can lead to corrosion. If you end up with scratches on the reel you can cover the areas with clear fingernail polish to slow down the corrosion. I have not mentioned anything about the choice of reels. There is such a price range based on quality etc. that I feel it would be to your best interest to personally inspect the type and brand of reels available in your area. I don’t think buying a reel sight unseen for your first reel is a good idea.

More Fly Fishing Tips

administrator — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:01:53 +0000

By T.L. Bush

Tip: There she blows, might be good for whales.

Beginner fly fishers may want to avoid learning on windy days. Days that have any degree of wind will require certain skills for casting. As you’re starting out learning how to fly fish, you’ll want to choose calm days so that you can practice your casting and other techniques.

Tip: Don’t just do something, Set there!

Fly fishing may seem like it’s an active sport since you’re always doing something, preparing something, and thinking about what you’re going to be doing next. However, sometimes it’s best to do nothing at all. Be patient, stand still, and just enjoy the experience. If you have to do anything, think about your top water patterns. The bottom line is that sometimes you have to wait to catch your fish.

Tip: Bonus Strikes

One thing that every fly fisher looks forward to is that bonus strike. One way that you can get a bonus strike when you’re at the end of drift with a dry fly or nymph is to let your fly swing around. Then let the fly lie in the current for about 30 seconds to see if you get that bonus hit.

Tip: The Gentle Touch

Most of the fish that you catch when you’re fishing will have sensitive areas such as their mouths and gills. Handle them gently when you remove the fly so that you don’t damage them.

Tip: Who’s really the boss?

There will be times when fish will take anything that you give them no matter if it’s similar to the insects and foods that they are feeding on or how the bait behaves. Then there will be other times when no matter what you give them, they won’t strike at all.

Don’t just spend your day casting. Beginners often make the mistake of spending the whole day casting at every riffle, undercut bank, and other likely looking fishing spot without ever achieving success. And the end result is usually that the fly is taken away at that moment that they are looking at their fly box for their next fly.

Take some time to think about what your fly is doing, what the fish are doing, what the weather is like, and what type of fish you think you might find!

Fly fishing can be either very good or very bad. Even when you have a great strategy in place there will simply be times when the fish won’t be biting. These are the days when you have to work even harder on your technique so that you take home that prize.

There will be days when you’ve planned to fish in shallow water but the weather is just too calm. You’ll find that in this situation the best time of day to fish is either during the low light of the morning or the low light of the day when it is harder for the fish to notice you. Change your strategy if you need to.

Another reason why the fish just won’t be biting is when the day is very bright and clear. These conditions bring about limitations when it comes to fly fishing such as (1) the fish being able to see you, and (2) the water becoming too hot, sending the fish to deeper depths. With these conditions present you’ll have to be very stealthy in your pursuit of any fish. If you’re going to making long casts you won’t have to worry too much about stealth since fish in deeper water will be less distracted by the bright light.

Tip: Get it together.

If you use a fishing vest to carry around your flies and lures, you’ll want to keep it as organized as you can so that you’re not fumbling around looking for something when you need it. If you’re not going to be using something leave it home so that you only take along the essentials.

Tip: Wading Safety

When you’re wading make sure that you follow a few basic rules: (1) never fish by yourself on remote lakes, rivers, or streams, (2) wear a good pair of wading boots, (3) use a good wading staff that is flexible yet strong, and (4) know the area where you’re wading. Wading is a great way to get access into those places that you couldn’t otherwise reach.

Tip: Thy Rod and now Thy Staff

When you’re fishing in water that is rough or unfamiliar you might want to carry a wading staff to keep you stable and give you better footing.

Tip: Happy Feet

A good pair of wading shoes will let your grip the bottom that you’re walking on. Choose shoes that have soles with rubber cleats since these are ideal of bottoms that are made of mud, fine gravel, sand, or soft silt.

Tip: Don’t be a “Block Head” take it with you.

Although it may seem like a small tip to mention, taking along the sun block is one thing that you don’t want to forget. After standing in a sunny stream for eight hours you’ll be glad that you remembered to bring along some protection.

Tip: Do you see what I see?

Wearing polarized glasses is one of the best things that you can do. You’ll be able to see beneath the water so you can keep an eye on your fish. Don’t forget a hat to reduce the amount of glare that you experience.

Tip: Buggy Bugs

If you want to discourage insects you’ll want to avoid wearing clothes that are red, yellow, black, white, or navy blue. These colors can attract black flies, deerflies, gnats, and mosquitoes.

Tip: Weather or not?

Wear the right type of clothing for the weather. You don’t want to be caught in a rainstorm without protective gear. Remember that it’s always easier to take off a layer of clothing than it is to be without anything to put on.

Tip: Sticking with the Basics

Try to stick to the basics whenever possible. This means carrying one or two small boxes of flies with you and fishing them to death. Many experts use only a floating line for most of the fish that they catch and they make a point of keeping their tackle to a minimum. Many novice fly fishers fall into the trap of using too many “new patterns”. Stick with a pattern and fish it for around three to four dozen drifts. This will bring you the best results.

Tip: The Marathon Running Fish!

Be prepared if a fish runs toward you. Stand on your toes and at the same time raise your rod up over your head as high as you can. Take the line and put it back over onto your second and third fingers of the hand that is holding the rod. Quickly strip the line to pull up on any slack.

If the fish starts to run away from you make sure that you keep the rod up high and slowly let out the line, letting it slide from your fingers. Be ready to palm the reel of the rod when the slack is entirely gone.

Tip: Keeping Track

One thing that you can do if you find that your favorite fishing area is giving you trouble is to keep a log each time that you fish. Make note of the problems that you’re having as well as:

v Weather conditions

v Water temperature

v Current

v The size of the fish that you do catch

v The time of day that you fish

After a period of time you may notice a pattern occurring, such as the lack of bites on days when the water temperature is too hot or too cold.

This will be your indicating factor of what changes you have to make to break your unlucky streak, such as changing the time of day that you fish or changing the side of the lake that you fish from.

Tip: Foul Weather Fishing.

Fly fishing in stormy weather can come with its own particular challenges. A storm occurs when winds come up suddenly, without warning, and without any indication of how long it will last.

One big concern during a storm is thunderstorms.

If you’re out fishing and a storm occurs there are some precautions that you’ll want to take. You’ll want to head for higher ground immediately if you’re near the water and there are thunderstorms in the area. If there is no sign of thunder or lightning you may choose to ride out the storm and continue fishing. In this case you’ll have to adjust your fishing technique to reflect the change in weather.

Tip: Don’t take it if you don’t need it.

When it comes to fly fishing there is gear that is essential and gear that is less necessary. Focus on carrying essential gear that focuses on the day of fishing ahead. Listed below is essential gear:

v A good rod that you can rely on.

v A reel.

v A variety of bait that you will be using that day.

v A variety of flies and lures that you will be using that day.

v A first aid kit. (At least a band aid and ointment.)

v A rain jacket.

v A hat and sun block.

v Extra clothing that you can wear and take off if you get too hot.

Tip: Making a list and checking it twice or more.

Using a list can be one of the best things that you can do as you start out learning the ins and outs of fly fishing. There are many things that you can put on your list including (1) keeping track of your most successful fishing holes; (2) reminders to do things like sharpen your flies after a snag, (3) what lures work best for you, and (4) the best times to fish the river. Lists can keep you organized and on track.

Tip: Join a Club

One of the best things that you can do as a beginner fly fisher is to join a fly fishing club. You’ll get to know other anglers in the area where you live and may even be able to find a fishing buddy or two. The other benefit is that you can learn more about some of the great angling locations in your home territory.

Tip: More Tips from the Experts

The more tips and tricks that you have the better luck you’ll bring to your fly fishing. As a beginner you’ll want to try a variety of techniques until you find what works best for you and the water that you’re fishing in.

v Working the area: Make sure that you work the area that you’re fishing as thoroughly as possible. Try a few different flies if the first one doesn’t bring you success. You might want to think about returning again at a different time of day.

v Keep a close eye on your lines: Make sure that you keep a constant eye on your lines particularly when you’re retrieving them.

v Avoid excess noise: The more noise that you make the less the fish will bite.

Tip 1: Practice, Practice, Practice.

I know this is a strange place to have the number one tip. But I think it should be the last thing you read so it will stay fresh on your mind.

The one thing that you need to do to enjoy fly fishing is to develop a good casting technique. That is true and the only way to get that is to practice as often as you can. This will lead to a proficiency in casting that will make all the difference between being a successful fly fisher or a one that has the stuff but no desire and will probably end up selling it.

Try practicing while standing against a wall on the outside of your house. Just imagine that there is a clock hanging on the wall that is at the same level as your shoulder. Place markers, such as black or gray tape, at the 11:00 and 1:00 clock positions. Practice casting against these markers for a few minutes each day to improve your accuracy and style.

I hope some of these tips will help you in your new venture. I know they helped me when I started and still do to this day.

Now get out there and catch something other than a cold.