Fly Fishing on the Cheap

Spring Time Fly Fishing Gear Tune-Up – Clean Those Fly Lines

There are an almost endless array of fly lines available, some which cost extraordinary amounts. If you have invested money in a quality line, you will want to ensure that it lasts for as long as possible.

The single most important thing you can do is keep it clean. After each trip, take a little time and rinse your line with soap and water. Stay away from detergents and use a mild handsoap. Detergents tend to dry out the line and could result in your line developing cracks in the outer layer. This of course will hasten damage to the inner core of the line.

For some years, there has been a debate about the use of Armorall® and other similar products. Fly anglers who have used it discovered that it seemed to make their lines slicker. Others I have talked to have suggested that this is just a short term advantage and over time the chemicals in Armorall® will damage lines with regular use. I am not a chemist, and neither have I conducted any personal studies on the matter so I can’t advise you one way or the other. Bob Kloskowski of the International Fly Fishing Association interviewed Bruce Richards of Scientific Anglers and asked him specifically about using Armorall®. Here is what Richards had to say on the matter:

“Armorall and 333 contain some plasticizers and lubricants and will lubricate the lines surface, temporarily. They also contain a small amount of detergent that theoretically would reduce line life, but the affect would be minimal. These products can be used without noticeable negative affect, but the positive affect of lubrication is very short term as the product washes off quickly.” – 1997 Interview on NBC

Before you do head out for the first time this season, you might want to inspect your fly fishing lines for signs of cracking or even cuts. I remember some years ago, while casting on a windy day and getting into one of those cursed tangles where my leader caught my line and discovering that the leader had actually cut through the outer layer of the line. I was still able to fish the line that day, but replaced it before the next trip out.

Regardless of what sort of dressing you use on your line, the main thing is to keep it clean! Your fly line(s) is a very important part of your fly fishing gear.

Find More Fly Fishing Line Articles

by Dave Nicoll

Question by Stephanie Smith: What does my dream mean and can i repeat it?

ok I had a really awesome dream that NASA was sending a manned space ship within 100 miles of the sun and I was on it. first me and my crew flew to the moon and refueled, they we headed to venus and were we landed there was a river and there was fish in it and once you got over the river there were trees every were. then we refueled an started for the sun. about 1000 miles away from the sun there was a space station orbiting the sun. in the space station we found that or ship had some damage so we had to go to the sun on boat looking things. there weren’t enough “boats” for all of my crew so i decided I would stay behind. I watch my crew, now my family, paddle away towards the sun, but all the sudden i was on a boat an I was headed for the sun. when a small Device in my hand told me i was 101 miles away from the sun i started paddling faster but then the sun was sucking me towards it faster and faster my skin started burning i stared at the sun then i was blind it started pulling me to fast it ripped my clothes off, i couldn’t breath then i felt a bam id collided with the sun and then i woke up.

Best answer:

Answer by Bella
Probably nothing.
Maybe everything.

Add your own answer in the comments!

JOE HUMPHREYS TROUT TACTICS BOOK – N/A – N/A

Joe Humphreys Trout Tactics was originally published in softcover in 1981. Since then, the book has sold thousands of copies and become a treasured reference for trout fishermen of all skill levels. Now Joe Humphreys has updated this classic volume with an all-new section packed with informative text, great photos, and useful line drawings by the original book’s illustrator, George Lavanish. 9780811708746 , JOE HUMPHREYS TROUT TACTICS BOOK , trout fishing book , fly fishing book , instructional

by polaire801

Czech Nymphing – Fly Fishing Flies Selection

Czech Nymph Fly Selection

There is one essential thing that the fly fisherman will need when czech nymphing, that is heavy flies! Usually using a team of 3 flies on droppers with the point fly being the heaviest fly.

Cased Caddis – The Prey

Caddis Flies are widespread across Europe wherever water is available, either static or running. However, the adult is a strong flyer and can move some distance from ponds, streams and rivers, especially as it is attracted to light.  However it is the larvae form that is a key part of the diet for fish such as trout. The larvae which make a “case” in which to live using small stones, sand, pieces of leaves and all glued together with a silk lining inside. The silk is spun with a secretion from labial glands (around the mouth) like moth larvae. When full-grown the larva pupates in the case which stops being mobile and may be glued down to a rock. 

The cased forms feed on vegetation whilst the caseless forms tend to be either carnivorous or detritivores. The predatory ones are those free living. The web-spinning, caseless larvae may create a silk tube in which to live whilst those in moving water spin the web between stones. This web may trap small invertebrates drifting with the current. This invertebrate drift, as it is known, is an abundant source of food as the current constantly dislodges animals living on the bottom of streams and rivers. Many of these caseless caddis larvae are associated with particular speeds of flow. However, much of what they catch will just be drifting detritus and other organic particulate matter on which the larva will feed (hence detritivore). Some particulate matter will be drifting plankton. Those larvae in especially fast flowing water, e.g. Hydropsyche, will have toughened upper parts to the thoracic segments (thickened external skeleton is refered to as being sclerotised). The larvae have their abdomens safely in the silk tube but the front section of the body protruding into the current. This sclerotisation may be an adaptation to protect them from small stones and other material hitting them.

It is this caddis that is one of our primary fishing imitations when czech nymphing. Below are different imitations that can be used in descending weight order, with the heavyweights of the czech nymphing world described first.

Czech Bottle Fly – Super Heavyweight Flies

Czech bottle nymphs are the “bruisers” of the fly fishing world. Designed to hold botom in the fastest of waters a czech bottle nymph is a uniquely designed fishing fly.  The Bottle Fly is a complete fly, designed in the shape of a bottle and is available in 2.2gm, 3.4gm, 4.4gm and even 5.5gm weights. The fly is manufactured from pre-made moulds which are tied very simply, the bottle is rolled in glue and sand is rolled onto the fly, a hackle is then simply tied to the front. The finished fly is identical to a caddis in its nest described above. The beauty of this fly being that it will hold bottom or take a team of flies to the bottom of the fastest of rivers. We use this for sea trout frequently as it can be used to hold a snake fly low in the fastest of waters!

Traditional Czech Nymphs – Heavy Flies

These are the more “traditional” czech nymphs used around the world. These are still a heavy fly, often tungsten weighted to keep the fly low in the water.  Czech nymphs are available in a range of colours, from pea green to cream and red, from hares ear and amber to sparkle and orange. They key with these colours is actually that the czech nymphing technique is forcing the trout to make a rapid decision, fast water with stimulating colours is often deadly.

A technique I frequently use is to use a heavy fly, often a bottle fly on the point with a natural colours czech nymph on one dropper and a nymphs with colours on the second dropper. Using this technique you can see what the trout are eating before focussing on specific colours.

Goldhead / Beadhead Flies

These are the “lightweight flies” used in czech nymphing. The Goldhead or Beadhead fly has a small bead which gives it weight, ideal in slower rivers when czech nymphing and frequently used as an alternative dropper.

Standard Nymphs

Do not forget to truly work a team of droppers, there is nothing to stop the fly fisherman using a standard caddis, nymph, stonefly or other fly on a dropper when czech nymhing, the key is that it needs to be kept low and close to the river bottom.

Wild Water Fly Fishing Rod Case for Rod, Reel and Accessories

• Fly Rod Case that holds your rod, reel and accessories.
• Features a small zippered pouch that accomodates a small fly box or other fishing accessories.
• You can leave your reel attached to your rod for easy storage.
• Case makes traveling easy!
• Recommended for a 4 piece 9′ rod.

Rod Case dimensions:

Overall Length: 31″; Case circumfrence: 2.5″; Widest length of reel pouch: 6″; Zippered pouch: 4″ height, 5″ width.

by polaire801

The Five Main Types of Fly Fishing Flies

Although there are hundreds of types of flies used for fly fishing, most of them fall into five specific categories, or types. These types are dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, streamers and buck tails, and terrestrials. The main purpose of the fly is to imitate an insect that the fish wants to eat.

A dry fly imitates a natural insect that is floating on the top of the water. Fish are very sensitive to any motion of their water and how currents move the insects they want for food. In fly fishing, if a dry fly is moving even slightly against the current, the fish will have nothing to do with it. The fly may look like something the fish recognizes but it is not acting the same an insect would. The fish recognizes it as something foreign in the water and leaves it alone.

In fly fishing, a wet fly is imitating a drowned, or drowning, natural insect and is fished below the water surface. No one is sure if the wet fly is seen as a drowning adult insect or a nymph from the perspective of the fish. Most fly fishermen today seem to believe that it is seen as a nymph. Because of this less and less wet flies are being sold. Wet fly fishing is the oldest form of fly fishing. It dates back to descriptions of the early Macedonian people.

A nymph is the stage between an egg and the adult in the life cycle of an insect. In fly fishing, flies that resemble nymphs are growing popularity. The nymph fly is just below the surface of the water. When a fish bulges the water without breaking the surface, he is nymphing. This means that the fish is eating the natural nymphs just as they are emerging from their shell. This is what a nymph fly imitates.

Streamers and buck tail flies do not imitate any part of the insect’s life cycle. These types of fly fishing flies are much larger and represent small bait fish such as sculpin minnows. The main difference between theses two types of flies is that streamers are tied with feathers, and bucktails are tied completely with hair. Fly fishing that uses these two types of flies generally requires more rod and line manipulation. The movements are supposed to duplicate the motions of the little fish.

Although most flies represent water insects, a terrestrial fly is made to imitate a land insect that has fallen into the water. The two most common terrestrials that are imitated for fly fishing are the ant and the grasshopper.

Besides these basic five categories of flies, there are many other kinds of flies that are used for fly fishing. Some of them are a combination of one or more of the basic categories and some do not fit into any group. The most important thing to remember is that it doesn’t matter how the fly looks to you, the fisherman. It matters how the fly looks to the fish.

Let LLBean help you select the perfect fly rod for your next fly fishing adventure. Whether you are an expert or a beginner – LLBean has everything you’ll need for a day on the water. Just add flies and fish!

Video Rating: 4 / 5

Different fly fishing rods are made for catching different kinds of fish. Learn how to choose the right fly fishing rod for your fishing mission in this free outdoor sports video lesson. Expert: David Dirks Contact: web.mac.com/dirksoutdoors Bio: David Dirks is the weekly outdoor columnist for the Time Herald-Record (www.recordonline.com under the Sports section), one the leader newspapers covering the lower Hudson Valley New York area. Filmmaker: David Dirks