Fly Fishing Instructions

Fly fishing is a unique form of fishing that requires a great deal of skill, and fly fishing instructions must be followed closely.  Fly fishing uses small, lightweight “flies,”—often hand-tied—to lure in fish. The casting, maneuvering and angling of the line and fly requires a great deal of practice and patience.

1. Don’t just cast about. The most important of fly fishing instructions regards casting. If you can’t cast well, there is no reason to attempt fly fishing, so if you’re not presently a good caster, be prepared to work hard on this area. Flies are too light to be cast, so when fly fishing you are really casting a line. The ultimate goal is to get the fly to hit the water in a manner that appears natural to the fish, fooling fish into thinking they are about to eat a fly, and not your bait. It can take many, many hours of casting before getting this technique just right.
2. Move your fly slowly. When you are retrieving your fly, it is common to do so too quickly. Many things that the fish feed on, except other fish, tend not to move as quickly as you will pull in your fly. Though we may not think of fish as smart, if they see a fly continuing to land on the water and then swim away more quickly than it should, they will be wary of biting it. Make your retrieve very, very slow, to the point of boredom. Remember, fly fishing is all about being contemplative and relaxed.
3. Choose the proper rod. A key point in fly fishing instructions is to have the proper rod for what you are planning to do on the water. Fly fishing lines are categorized into different weight categories, ideal for different size flies. You should have a rod that matches the weight of the line you are casting. The rod is an extension of your arm, letting you get the best action on your line cast—it is important to pick out a quality rod.
4. Have plenty of backing. In your reel, that is. One important fly fishing instruction is related to backing—line that you tie your fishing line to and that is kept in the reel. The backing has two purposes—it brings the level of the line closer to the top of the reel so it does not leave the in small coils, and it keeps a fish with which you are fighting from breaking the line and getting away. Keeping about 50 yards of backing on the reel is ideal.
5. Match your leaders and flies. A leaders is a short bit of tapered monofilament that you will tie to the end of the line. The purpose of the leader is transfer the energy from your cast to the fly in a gentle manner, without causing it to act erratically. One important fly fishing instructions is to have a leader that matches in weight the fly you are losing. If the leader is too light or too heavy, the fly will move unnaturally, and it will be harder for you to control your casts.