What you need to know about fly fishing flies

Even if you are not a fisherman you can't deny that successful fly fishing is an art, requiring careful preparation and planning. The most indispensable part of the process is finding the right fishing flies for the area and wildlife you are planning to go fishing in. The fly fishing flies that fly fishermen use for bait are meant to match the size and species of the real insects that imbue a given area and attract fish. This way, they are indistinguishable from the fish who want to eat them.

If you are a beginner when it comes to fly fishing what you need to know is that every region has its own set of fishing flies that are known to attract local fish. However, finding out what type of fly fishing flies a particular region's fish like is only part of the battle. Fishermen must also know what stage the fishing flies will be in their life cycle during a planned fishing trip so they use bait flies that are in the same stage. In other words, they need to "match the hatch" - a phrase used to describe what stage and size flies are at and using an artificial fly to match their weight, motion, and size. But, keep in mind that trying to match the hatch can be a tricky and difficult process. Though most insects follow some sort of a routine schedule when mating and hatching, nothing is for certain, especially when fishing in unknown territory. To compensate, most fly fishermen keep a broad collection of fishing flies on hand so they can make adjustments as needed.

Now, artificial fly fishing flies come in many shapes and sizes. However, there are three main categories that can be distinguished, and those are wet, nymph, and dry bait fishing flies. When the fly population is in a terrestrial state, or living above the water, then a dry fly is typically preferred. A dry fly is the one that is intended to float.

When local flies are living underwater, typically just after hatching and during the immature phase, fishermen should use a wet fly. Wet fishing flies are meant to go under the surface of the water. Most wet fly bait will sink on its own, quickly and effectively, but a sinker may be added to the line to increase weight if necessary.

Lastly, there is the nymph-style fly fishing bait. Meant to represent the fly's juvenile state, real-life nymphs frequently match the color and shade of the bottom of a river or lake. So, the artificial nymphs used by most fly fishermen come in drab, mute colors. In essence, nymph bait is just another type of wet bait. It goes underwater and is frequently used in conjunction with weights.

Nowadays, the sport of fly fishing is popular all over the world. Finding and using the right fly is a huge part of being successful at the sport. Using specialized websites, where thousands of fly fishing flies are available, is a great way to get good deals on everything needed to fill a tackle box.