After Centuries of Fly Fishing Interest Has Not Waned

Since cave dwellers grabbed fish from the water with their hands, anglers have found many different methods of fishing and one of the oldest, fly fishing has been around for hundreds of years. Thought to have begun during Roman times, the modern methods of fly fishing is believed to have developed in Scotland and England and through new line, reels and fly tying techniques the sport has grown in popularity around the world.

Traditionally, fly fishing was primarily used to catch trout and salmon, which were easily fooled by the artificial flies. However, many different species of fish are now being targeted by sport fishing enthusiasts using dry and wet flies. Today’s fly lines are heavier and larger in diameter, resulting in larger reels to hold the line and individual anglers research the local life to determine the best colors and styles of flies that may be attractive to the local fish population.

The thrust of fly fishing is to be able to offer an artificial fly to the fish that closely resembles an insect that is native to the area. Interested anglers may spend a lot of time researching the types of bugs that thrive in the area as well as spending time watching the fish and how they attack their prey.

Casting Flies Requires Lots Of Practice

For the angler switching from bait casting to fly fishing there is a transition period in which they must learn the difference. With bait casting, the weight of the lure pulls the line from the reel, which follows the lure into the water. When fly fishing it is the line that is cast and the lightweight fly on the line follows the line into the water. It requires an undulating approach to have the line cast from the reel with the fly landing in the desired spot on the surface of the water.

There are two basic types of lures used in fly fishing, the dry fly that remains on the surface and wet flies designed to sink once they hit water. Some flies, called emerging flies may partially submerge under the water, to replicate the action of emerging insects from their larva stage.

The sport of fly fishing will require the angler to adapt to local conditions as well as varying their technique depending on the time of day as well as the time of year. Matching the flies to their period of development is also necessary as, for example, few fish will attack a full-grown fly when it should still be in its development stage and the egg attached to a rock under water.