Fly Fishing 101: Everything You Need and the Tackle Box

Millions of people all around the world participate in fly fishing every year. Whether enjoyed as a competitive sport or as a solitary way of communing with nature, fly fishing has enthusiastic adherents in the United States, Northern and Western Europe, and just about anywhere that fish can be found. What's special about fly fishing and how does it differ from other forms of angling? Let's take a closer look at this exciting and challenging hobby.

What is Fly Fishing?

Fly fishing uses an artificial fly as the bait to catch fish. The ultra-lightweight fly is cast using a special fishing rod equipped with a fly reel and weighted fishing line. Unlike in other forms of angling, the fly used as bait in fly fishing weighs just a few ounces, if even that. This means that a whole new approach and strategy has to be adopted to cast successfully.

Fly fishing can be practiced in fresh water or salt water, but it is generally agreed that it takes more practice and experience to be successful in fly fishing than most other forms of angling. In fact, many people get started in fly fishing by taking a course of several days -- or even weeks -- at a dedicated fly fishing school. Of course, there are also many self-taught fly fishers.

Where Do People Fly Fish? Who Participates in Fly Fishing?

When fly fishing, most anglers focus on trying to catch their favorite kind of trout. A trout's diet naturally includes flies, so it is easily attracted to this form of bait. Fly fishing is perhaps most commonly practiced in rivers, but it can also be done in lakes and ponds or even in the ocean. Trout hatcheries frequently provide waterways that anglers are invited to use for fly fishing.

Fly fishing is especially popular in Yellowstone Park and in many other national parks across the United States. One of the most famous centers of fly fishing outside the U.S. is Scotland, which is known for its incredibly robust and diverse populations of trout and salmon. Fly fishing is a popular sport in the rest of the UK, as well, and has a long tradition in Japan.

Fly fishing is enjoyed by anglers young and old. In U.S.-based scouting organizations, it is represented by a merit badge. Professional anglers who specialize in fly fishing range in age from the teen years all the way through to the sixties. There are fly fishing schools, tours, and events for women, men, and anglers of all ages and backgrounds worldwide.

What Should I Know About Bait in Fly Fishing?

There are three main types of artificial flies you are likely to encounter in fly fishing. The most common starter bait is the "dry fly," which bobs on the water's surface. This provides a great view for the angler, since the fish must rise to the surface, and helps fly fishing beginners react more quickly when a fish goes on the attack. Dry flies are usually designed to resemble newly-hatched insects. Shiny "attractors" that don't resemble insects at all are also used.

The "nymph" is the most common form of bait overall. This type of bait is fished under the water's surface, which is where trout tend to feed about four-fifths of the time. Trout and many other fish can become "cagey" and refuse to come up for dry flies, so the nymph will tend to be more enticing to these fish populations. It can be hard to tell when fish take the bait, so many anglers use a floating "strike indicator" that will tip them off through unusual movement.

The "streamer" is the third type of fly, and is usually considered about as effective as nymphs. Streamers are intended to mimic the movement of larger potential meals, such as minnows and leeches. Once cast out, the angler slowly pulls the streamer forward toward his or her position. When handled correctly, the streamer is very enticing -- fish launch themselves at it at high speed and will fight more strongly to seize it, resulting in brief but exciting confrontations.

What About Fly Fishing Reels?

Fly reels support the long casting action that is a definitive feature of fly fishing. It is important that your fly reel be strong and weather-resistant, especially if you are using "streamer" bait that gets strong reactions from fish. Most fly fishing anglers will begin with a single retrieve fly reel because these are easy to use, easy to maintain, and effective in both salt water and fresh water. When properly maintained, fly reels can last for several decades.

In fly fishing, it is important to match up your fly reel with the specific weight of line you intend to use. Not only does this make it more likely that your line will hold up against the fish you try to catch, but it also helps you to simulate the specific movements that make different kinds of flies attractive to different fish. Always be sure that your line, reel, and bait work together to make a more productive pattern -- that is, an approach likely to catch fish!