Fly Fishing Equipment

Image via WikipediaImage via WikipediaJust as with any other sport, the equipment you use when fly fishing can be very important.  There are various types of equipment that you need when you undertake fly fishing, and be prepared because some of it can get quite expensive!

Of course, you’ll need a rod and reel.  What type of rod you choose depends on the type of fish you will be angling for.  Fly rods are ranked according to their net weight capabilities (nwt).  The nwt number will tell you what type of fish you will be able to catch.  Fish that weigh 8 pounds will require at least an 8 nwt rod, etc.   The larger the nwt number, the larger fish you can catch.

Some rods are multi-rated (e.g. 7-9 nwt).  These rods are good to use because they can accommodate a variety of fish, but multi-rated rods tend to be less flexible than single rated rods. 

Rods are made of fiberglass, graphite, or bamboo.  Fiberglass rods are durable and less expensive.  Fiberglass rods are best for beginning fly fishermen because they can be used in a variety of situations.  Graphite rods are lighter and will give you more fighting weight when it comes to landing a fish.  Bamboo rods can be expensive, but they are extremely strong and are suited to a more laid-back casting style.

Your fly line will need to match the nwt of your rod.  If you have an 8 nwt rod, you’ll need to use an 8 nwt line.  It is acceptable to go one or two sizes above or below your rod weight (i.e. 9 nwt or 7 nwt).  Buy line that is strong and durable.  Some lines are specially designed for freshwater, saltwater, etc.

You will also need to have a durable net that you can carry with you.  After the fish has lost its will to fight, a good net is used to scoop them out of the water.  This can be a big part of your fly fishing equipment because without a good net, you won’t be able to get your fish out of the water!

Having the right fly fishing equipment is important for both the beginner as well as the experienced angler.  As you get better and better at the sport, you will begin to see how important having good equipment can be.  You can always upgrade, so it’s good to start out small and work your way up to the more expensive stuff.  Your fly fishing equipment can make a world of difference between landing that big fish or catching an ordinary one.

Fly Tying for Fly Fishing

Steve Brocco Tri-Color (steelhead fly) (Photo credit: andrewb823)Image via WikipediaImage via WikipediaImage via WikipediaImage by TenkaraAshley via FlickrOne of the best parts of fly fishing is learning the art of fly tying.  While you can buy pre-made flies, there’s nothing more satisfying than tying your own flies and being able to share with your friends the fact that you caught a 20 pound fish using a fly you made yourself.  While it’s not complicated, fly tying for fly fishing can be a very delicate art.

The first piece of equipment you will need when undertaking fly tying is a fly vice.  These hold your hook while you are tying it together.  You’ll want a vice that can hold all sizes and shapes of hooks and that is easily adjustable.

Get a bobbin that will hold your thread.  A bobbin will keep your thread tight and organized while you are tying your fly.  Bobbins come in a variety of sizes, but they all basically do the same thing.  Spend just a little bit more money on a bobbin and you won’t have to worry about cut threads before you are through.

You need to also splurge on a good pair of scissors.  To start out with, one pair of scissors is enough, but as you get better at fly tying, you’ll want to have a variety of shapes and sizes to meet the needs of the flies you are tying.  The loops should fit your fingers comfortably, and they should be kept sharp.

Hackle pliers are small pliers with enough constant tension designed to wrap hackle feathers around the hook.  As with scissors, they come in all shapes and sizes, but they all do basically the same thing. 

Find a good bodkin too.  A bodkin is basically a needle in a handle.  You can use a bodkin not only to tie the fly, but also for delicate work that requires a small, sharp point like separating out pieces of feather and fur.

Of course, you’ll also need a large selection of feathers and fur to match the different types of flies you want to match.  Mink fur and pheasant feathers are good materials to work with as are peacock feathers.

There are several books and websites available that can teach you fly tying for fly fishing as it can’t really be explained in a few short paragraphs.  The best way to learn how to tie your fly fishing ties is to experiment and keep doing it.  You’ll eventually find techniques that work for you and be well on your way to becoming an expert on fly tying for your fly fishing needs!

How Are Dry Flies Made

Image via WikipediaImage via WikipediaFly fishing is an interesting sport with a growing number of people participating. When people start out fly fishing they usually just buy all of the gear that they need, including their artificial flies. Once people get hooked on fly fishing though they often start thinking about making their own artificial flies as a way to stay involved with the sport during the off-season months. While some artificial flies can be tricky to make others are actually well within the abilities of the average fly fisher. Even children can learn to tie artificial flies and this is an excellent way to get them involved in the sport.

The earliest description of tying artificial flies dates back to the 2nd century. Macedonian anglers, fishing on the Astraeus River, had devised a method of fly fishing using artificial flies. These Macedonian fly fishermen started with a hook and then tied red-dyed wool around the hook. They would then tie small feathers onto the red wool to complete the artificial fly. Apparently these fishermen were quite successful with their primitive artificial flies.

18th century American fly fishermen took the design of artificial flies to a new level while studying the trout streams of the New York Catskill Mountains. These fishermen discovered that their success with fly fishing could be greatly improved by designing artificial flies that mimicked the native insects around the stream. These artificial flies successfully fooled the trout into thinking that a real insect had landed on the water. This knowledge gave rise to studying insect hatches to determine which artificial fly would be most successful. Different artificial flies are successful on different water at different times.

Artificial flies were originally made using natural materials like feathers, fur, wool and similar materials. Most artificial flies are now made using synthetic materials. Another recent development in artificial fly design has been the use of the barbless hook. Many fly fishers practice "catch and release" and extracting a barbed hook from a fish after landing it can be quite difficult. While barbless hooks make it somewhat more challenging to keep the fish on the hook they are easier to extract - from the fish or the angler!

Artificial flies are now made in thousands of designs and styles. The number of choices can be quite overwhelming to new fly fishers. All artificial flies have certain basic characteristics though and, despite newer materials and more choices, the basics of artificial fly manufacturing has not changed much in two thousand years of fly fishing. All artificial flies start with a hook. The hook is then disguised to resemble an actual insect that the target fish eat or to attract the target fish with color, motion, etc.

The materials that the hook is decorated with have changed over the years but some of the classic designs have not. Wool, fur and feathers were once common choices for artificial flies. Newer materials include plastic, mylar, foam and metals. These materials are either tied or glued onto the hook in special patterns to attract fish.

Fly Tying Tips and Tools

Image via WikipediaImage via WikipediaImage via WikipediaTying your own flies can be very rewarding and relaxing. It also has another benefit in giving you something to do if you are unfortunate to live where the rivers are frozen in winter, or fly fishing is closed for some months each year.

The tools are simple. You could make most of them yourself, however it would be best for beginners to buy at least a fly tying vice. There have been over the years quite a number of different vice types manufacturered. In my opinion, the cam type of vice is the easiest to use. This is a vice that has a cam lever to open and close the jaws. It's adjustable to various angles and hook sizes. Quick and easy to open and close.

The next thing to get your hands on are some hackle pliers. These are also a cheap spend, but really worthwhile. They are a little difficult to make a pair yourself.

Apart from these items, you'll need a pair of curved scissors with sharp points and another set with small straight blades. You probably could also do with a needle that is pushed into a stick. This is for fixing hakkles that have been inadvertantly wound under. You can also use it for putting laquer onto the finished head.

What sort of hooks should you use? My advice is to not fall for the trap of using any old hook. Buy proper fly hooks. These have a tapered shank and are usually hollow ground. These are lighter than normal hooks, a real advantage in dry flies.

The tapered shank lets the head, especially the eye of the fly be tied tighter and smaller. When you consider the work involved in tying a fly, why waste effort on the wrong hook. If you make a mistake, all you need to do is cut the fly off the hook and start again.

Something you could consider these days is the opportunity of actually buying a complete fly tying set. These sets cost only around $50 or so. They have vices, scissors, pliers, hooks and all the feathers and fur you need to get started. Some even come with videos or DVD's.

Whichever way you go, it is a cheap way to spend many an hour, in preparation of catching your next bag of fish. The satisfaction of catching your next trout on a fly you tied yourself is imeasureable.