Various fishing methods differ depending on the material used in making the fishing gear, the way it is made from wood, natural or artificial fibers, or the way it is used. Generally speaking, fishing methods are divided into active and passive. One of these methods is quite different than others: Fly Fishing. So, do you know what is fly fishing?
If we need to explain fly fishing with a single sentence, we can say “a method of fishing where fishing meets art”. This method, which started in America and Europe, has been the subject of many films and requires skill to learn, has become widespread all over the world in recent years. In the past, live flies were caught, and trout were fished with specially handmade fishing rods. But nowadays, high-level artificial fly models and materials that will perhaps annoy or perhaps envy the masters of the past years with all kinds of inventions and methods brought by the system have been produced and presented to the use of us amateur fish lovers.
The purpose of the fly fishing technique is to try to capture the bait pattern of fish such as Sea Bass, Gray Mullet, Crane, Salmon, and even Pikeperch, especially trout that feed above water, by using certain imitation models. This method, which was previously used only in freshwater, is now being used in the seas with advanced techniques. The most important thing in Fly Fishing hunting is undoubtedly perseverance. If you do not have determination and patience, what you will learn and do here will not go beyond a futile effort.
This is because, for this method of hunting, you need to know the nature and then the feeding choices of the fish you will catch, the style of use of the fishing pole, and how to use your fishing line skillfully to bring the artificial fly in your hook into the water as if it were actually a fly. Now, when you write like this, you may be a little scared, but do not be. Let alone being afraid, it gives people indescribable happiness when this occupation takes place, which takes most of your time. Because Artificial Fly hunting is a complete art and every fisherman who can achieve this has the distinction of being an artist. Already, those who hunt in Europe see themselves as different and superior to other fishermen. There is a movie on this subject starring Brad Pitt called “The River That Separates Us”. I strongly recommend you to watch it.
What is Fly Fishing?
Fly fishing is fishing using a fly as the lure. Fly Fishing, also known as artificial fly fishing, is quite different from the standard fishing methods that everyone knows. This technique, which has a complex structure, is hunting that should be paid attention to in terms of using both buying the right material and using the acquired material correctly. The purpose of this type of hunting is to try to imitate the feeding style of fish such as Sea Bass, Gray Mullet, Crane, Salmon, especially trout that feed on water, by using certain imitation models. This method, which was first used in freshwater, has now been developed and used in the seas.
Those who are just starting to fly fishing should definitely get help from people around or who have dealt with this business before. It takes time to warm up to Fly Fishing, if you give up quickly, you will enter an environment where you disgust it quickly. Starting with the right material is the first step. Good Fly Fishing fishing equipment reduces your margin of error. Therefore, it is recommended to use good materials. Fishing with this technique is actually uncommon around the world and has not been in demand. You may experience difficulties in material supply. As we said, it is important to start with the right material. If you start this passion with ordinary materials and say that you get expensive and quality ones as you learn, you will not make the right decision in fly fishing.
We can describe Fly Fishing as a fishing method where fishing is combined with art. In the past; It was used to catch trout with a special, hand-made fishing line by using live flies. But this old method has been shelved as an old method, nowadays artificial flies and insects are used. In many countries of the world, we can say that it has gained an important place in angling with its discipline having a certain culture, with its special methods and different equipment. The fly fishing adventure started with De Animalium Natura (animal kingdom) written by Claudius Aelianus in the second century AD.
The fly fishing method is very different from other capture methods, it has a complex structure, it must be used carefully in terms of material and material use. The aim of this hunting method is to try to catch fish such as sea bass, mullet, pike, salmon, and trout by imitating the way of baiting. As of its first use, it started in fresh water and developed by combining with high technology and started to be used in seas. We can say that the most important point in this hunting method is patience.
The rules you need to know in this hunting method are as follows: First is nature, then the choice of baiting, the style of using the fishing rod, and how to master the fishing line. In addition, the artificial fly of the hook should be lowered into the water to be hunted as if it was a real fly. In the fly fishing method, there are hundreds of types of fishing lines that are unique to this fishing method. If you want the line to sink, you should choose the sinking line group. If you prefer floating models on the water, you should prefer the floating line.
Fly Fishing Material Usage
There is no use of sinkers, buoys, etc. With its unique rod and line and hundreds of lure models, there is a way of hunting completely dependent on your skill. Their fly rods are usually very light and have to act as if they are an organ of our body. Its line is covered with synthetic components and its weight is designed to allow it to float without settling in the air.
In this way, you have the chance to shoot consecutively at certain distances without weight. Nowadays, advanced technology has offered many different model Line and Rod species to our fishermen who are interested in Artificial Fly fishing. Our masters already know that it is necessary to take many different types of material with us while going to the hunting ground, to prepare the most suitable mechanism for the conditions there. Otherwise, we will make this technique, which is already difficult to apply, even more difficult.
If you want your fishing line to sink in the water you will hunt, you should choose the line group called “Sinking”. If you want floating models that stay on the water, you can also use the “Floating” group lines. In addition, the selection of materials is necessary within the distances you will hunt. For example, short rods are preferred for close distances (for example 5 meters), long rods and fishing lines are selected accordingly for distances such as 15-20 m. The rods differ according to the type and weight of the targeted fish. The most useful are thin straws. But it is not preferred for fish such as Salmon.
It is ideal for fish such as Trout, Freshwater Bass. Birde Special design bamboo rod models are the most popular rod models in Artificial Fly hunting. The fly or insect you choose must be compatible with the region you will hunt. This is very important in Fly hunting. If you are going to do this hunt, as we said at the beginning, you need to know the environment and the fish. Our flies are divided into 4 main groups;
- Dry Fly
- Wet Fly
- NymPha
- Streamer
The 4 options listed above aim to make exact copies of the creatures living in that environment and raised by the producers. In other words, they imitate the stages starting from the ovary until puberty and present it to us. Master Flyers make their choices according to their knowledge and experience. Their size goes parallel with the size of the fish you’re targeting. The largest hook is hook number 1, and the smallest hook is hook number 16. It is naturally shaped according to the properties of hooks in flies. In other words, the big feed is attached to the big hook, and the small feed is attached to a smaller hook. We use the smallest hooks for reluctant fish in this hunt. For some reason, they can downplay the fly and jump over it.
Features of Fly Fishing Lines
The rope factor takes first place in fly fishing. While rod and machine are prominent in many fishing techniques, the rope you will use in fly fishing is extremely important. For this reason, the production and preparation of the fishing line used in fly fishing require special care. Depending on your hunting style and the characteristics of your fish, you may want the line to sink or swim. If the target fish is feeding on the bottom and the line needs to sink, you will need to choose a sinking style fly line. If the fish is caught on the surface, then a floating style fly fishing line will do the trick.
First of all, let’s talk about fishing line and rod harmony. As we mentioned above, we have stated that there are numbers showing what weight of fishing line you should use on the rod. In other words, if the weight on the rod shows, it is necessary to use a fly fishing line of equal weight. Or you will need to change your rod according to your hunting situation. There are explanations about their features on the lines. These explanations prevent you from making mistakes in choosing the line. What are these explanations?
WFF (Weight forward floating): It is an easy-to-use, comfortable, and high-performance fly line whose weight is floating in front and in windy weather. It is 90 feet or approximately 2.74 meters.
TT (Triangle Taper): Due to the longer trapper part, the weight stays away from the fly and offers a more sensitive use. Due to its structure, it allows the transfer of energy at the highest level. Fly fishing line that offers easy casting performance for both overhand and close-in roll casting (a shooting technique in fly fishing).
DT (Double Taper): Both ends are tapered. It can be classified as economical because it allows you to continue on your way even when you have a problem with a tip.
WFS (Weight forward sinking): This rope, which is designed to be used in very mobile bottom fish, is a type of fly line with a long throw and sinking to the bottom. As the name suggests, it is a long-distance and sinking species.
If you want to enjoy fly fishing, you need to buy the quality of the material. However, considering that quality material is expensive, do not forget that you need to maintain it well in order to use it for a long time. There are many types of knots used in fly fishing. Choose the appropriate node for you and use it. You can find many of these nodes below.
- Line Knots
- Hook Knots
- Other Nodes
Do not expose the rope to the sun and heat. Keep away from all chemicals. Remember that natural is good, at worst, wipe it with a little soapy cloth and dry it. If there are cracks in the stems of the rope, it will no longer be usable. That’s all for fly fishing lines. There is two more fishing gear as Leader and Tippet. The leader is a fly material up to 2 m long that transfers the power from the line to the fly. Using the same number of tippet and leader improves performance. When connecting, the tippet comes before the fly, and the leader comes before it.
Trout Fishing with Fly Fishing Method
Fly fishing is actually a sporty trout fishing method. Although it later started to be used in the hunting of different fish species, the way of starting is to catch trout. Fly fishing, where the target fish is trout, and special equipment is used for fishing, is an enjoyable and relaxing hunting method that requires skill. Writing about fly fishing may take as long as writing a book. For this reason, I found it sufficient to share basic information that I think will help you.
In order to perform fly fishing, you first need a fly fishing rod, a fly reel, a fly fishing line, and a fly. Special fishing clothes are also available to enter the cold waters where trout live. Good coordination and harmony of these materials will increase your motivation for fishing. The essence of fly fishing is to throw the fly forward. This is not an as easy task as it might seem. For example, if thin and nylon fishing lines are used, the probability of mixing lines increases. This possibility is even higher, especially in windy weather.
Artificial flies used as bait in fishing are very light, and it may be impossible to throw them to the areas where the fish are likely to be found. Even a gentle breeze makes this difficult. To overcome this problem, you first need to get close to your target and a good trio of a reel, rod, and line. The weight of the line used is an important factor to consider. It is very important that the energy transferred from the fly rod to the line is transmitted along the line. Therefore, using different lines is to serve this event.
It starts from the rod and progresses by thinning the lines to the end. This event facilitates the transfer of energy and movement. The waters with trout are usually very cold. Since you will also need to go into the water, it will be useful to get a good fishing outfit. Don’t forget to complement the outfit with a hat. Even using large flies in fly fishing will not allow you to reach the distance of the fakes used in other fish. To solve this problem, the lines used in fly fishing come into play. Since flies are very light for their purpose of use in fly fishing, it is possible to eliminate this disadvantage with well-designed fly fishing gear.
Fly fishing is a sport fishing method where trout is the target and fake fly, which is at the top of the menu of trout, is used. In fly fishing, the fly is thrown to the target through a fly reel, fly rod, and fly fishing line consisting of several different thicknesses and pieces. In fly fishing, the fly is usually tied manually. Flies tied in different colors, weights, and shapes to attract the fish are prepared by considering options according to the hunting grounds, depth of water, surface, or bottom condition.
The fishing line is selected according to the condition of the fish on the surface or bottom. It is possible to have fun with a fly rod, fly fishing line, fly reel, and a few different flies on the edge of a lake or stream with trout. Although it is difficult at the beginning, it is possible to have a learning process that becomes fun over time. Although fly fishing, which was developed for trout fishing, became used in many fish species, it is still widely used for its original purpose.
Beginner Level Fly Fishing Tackle
Fly Fishing is unlike any other method of catching fish. It has a very complex structure. It is a technique that should be taken care of in terms of both the material and the use of this material and can easily lead to mistakes. In order to start Fly Fishing with correct and confident steps, you should definitely listen to the fishermen who have dealt with this business before or are already engaged. It is very important to start Fly Fishing with the correct references. It is a fish catching technique that could otherwise go wrong very quickly.
Starting this business with the right material is the first step to be taken. The fact that fly materials are exclusive and expensive requires you to have a small margin of error. It is not a technique that shows a substantial improvement in the number of enthusiasts available. Unfortunately, the material supply does not develop in direct proportion. Remember, whatever you do, start with the right material. My suggestion for beginners would be to start with quality and relatively expensive material after adjusting the budget.
All the materials I will mention are shown with more or less the same symbol and weight in every brand according to AFTMA standards. There may be slight deviations depending on the brand.
- Fly Rod
The Fly Rod should weigh 4-5-6 pounds just like the rope (rope rod combination compatibility is important). I started with a 5 WT rod and I am quite satisfied. The length should be around 8.5–9.5 in American measurements. It can be chosen between 2.6m and 2.9m in meters. It can have 2, 3, or more pieces, and multi-piece rods that provide ease of transportation but do not cause a loss in action can be preferred thanks to the developing technology. 9ft length rods are recommended for beginner level throwing at an appropriate distance.
Shorter rods may be preferred for bushy streams and hunting grounds that do not require far throwing (5-6m). The rod should be fast action. At the same time, quality graphite rods should be preferred. Accordingly, a protective (hard) rod carrying bag should also be provided to protect this quality rod from possible impact and strikes during transportation.
- Fly Reel
For the beginner level, a fly reel size 5 should be preferred (where 4-5-6 weights are suitable for fly fishing).Cleaved/tucked reels may also be preferred. Generally, low shine and black machines are preferred. It does not matter if the machine is very high quality and expensive. This should be left to one’s own preference. Being stainless is an important advantage in terms of longevity.
- Fly Rope
Weight Forward (symbol WF) is the most ideal weight for beginner and pure trout fishing. The ones with a size of 4,5,6 should be preferred. The 5 wt (weighted) WF one is ideal. The main feature of the WF rope is that the tip of the rope is heavier than the head. In other words, the rope is lighter from the beginning (in the direction of the reel), it gradually becomes heavier towards the end and shows a balanced throwing action.
The second important factor in terms of rope is to use the only floating rope for the entry-level. It is expressed as Floating (F or FT). Floating fly ropes are sold around + -30m. Before winding your fly rope to the machine, it is useful to wrap any rope made of dacron material, which we call lower rope, to your machine for 5-10 meters.
If you are after hunting big trout in the lake, if you succeed, the fish will probably resist you and open the rope. If you think that you are at risk of encountering such a situation, you may also need an auxiliary element called Backing (lower rope), which is wound before the fly rope on the reel. You can wrap this auxiliary element under your machine as much as you need.
- Leader Line
The leader is the second or third last member of the fly team after the mainline. In other words, it is the part between the main body (rope) and the fly. A leader consists of two parts. The first usually starts at a thickness close to the thickness of the rope / main body and falls down to the thickness of the final body (Tippet) to be tied. So it turns from thick to thin. The final size (tippet) is attached to a hook/fly of a certain thickness and length. Thicknesses of 0.15-0.16-0.18mm can be preferred depending on the situation and the set.
The length of the leader described here should be around 7-7.5ft / 2m at the initial level. This length can be extended for general use and for more professional shooters. The longer the leader means better shooting, and you do not scare the fish with the long leader. Since the artificial bait will be farther from the main body, the hunter using the long leader will have a higher chance of catching the fish without disturbing it. Otherwise, the image of the main body or the movement in the water may scare the fish.
As a leader, the ones with 4X, 5X, 6X thickness can be preferred according to the starting level. X here represents the thickness of the line. The higher the number, the thinner the fishing line. Nowadays, leaders that do not require knots called tapered (examined) and tippet leaders are widely used. As a tippet, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 6X should be preferred to be used in these combinations. Tippets are usually sold in a reel. 3 is thick and 6 is thinner.
The commonly used option that offers these two final bodies together without knots is often called the tapered leader or tapered tippet. Again, the 4,5,6X ones are suitable for the beginner level. In such a combination, a maximum length of 9ft / 2.7m is sufficient, it can be shorter as required. You can also attach a thinner tippet/end line to your tapered leader, but I think it’s not very necessary for the beginner level.
- Fly / Insect
If a dry fly is to be used as a hook, a trout needle 12-18 should be preferred. The same rule applies to ready dry flies. I prefer 14-16 number hooks and a fly in dark colors. Needles of the same size can be used for fly molds that imitate the larvae/maggots in water, called nymphs.
- Fly Floatant
It is a liquid with a chemical content and a kind of thick consistency. It is applied on the fly and acts as isolation between water and lure. It allows the feed to stay dry longer in the water and thus float more. If floating/dry fly is to be used, a Floatant must be obtained.
- Various Sizes of Box for Fly Protection
- Forceps, Pliers-Like Any Device Which Helps To Remove The Hook From The Fish’s Mouth More Conveniently
As can be understood from this information I have written for trout fishing, the combination of the fly set is very important for fly fishing. The tackle must be combined, compatible, otherwise it is very difficult to get enough efficiency with a dispersed tackle. In parallel with all other fishing methods, even above all of these methods, fly fishing equipment is quite diverse. When fly fishing, it is necessary to pay attention to our clothing. First of all, your clothing should be suitable for the environment in which you hunt. Matte colors that are not very unobtrusive should be preferred.
The items you carry should also be in matte colors that do not reflect sunlight and do not glare. If your target is trout, you have to approach the stream without being seen. A similar situation is a case if you are hunting in a lake-style game from a boat. The aim is to be able to hunt the target species without being noticed and without frightening them as much as possible. In this article, I will also discuss the hunting vest that will help you carry your hunting gear and equipment with you throughout the day. Your hunting vest can be any type that you want. However, if you want to do this job properly, short vests should be preferred. If you think that you will make water crossings from time to time during the hunt or there may be situations where you need to fly fishing in the water, you will understand what I mean.
Your vest should be high enough not to get wet when crossing the stream with your boots. Therefore, the choice of a short vest is very important. In some models, there are types in which the lower part is separated from the upper part with a zipper. These vests are also very useful. At the same time, your vest should be capable of carrying your tools and equipment with you in the most appropriate and economical way.
Having multiple meshes will make it easier for you to place your materials comfortably and to reach the material you need in a short time when the time comes. Your vest should also be capable of carrying your drinks and food that you will take with you during a day-long hunt without returning to your camp or vehicle.
Best Fly Fishing Rods That You Can Buy Online
