Fly Fishing Tips – It's All About The Trout
Fly fishing is a lot like the dating game. You need to understand your quarry, have the right lure, know how to cast your line and dress properly for the occasion. The satisfaction of reeling in a big trout makes all the preparation worthwhile. Whether you release or cook your trout, it's all about the thrill of the chase.
Here Are Our Top Fly Fishing Tips
Location, Location, Location
According to an old Irish proverb, “Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout.” Fly fishing is done in salt water, rivers, lakes, ponds and streams. Different types of trout are found in various locations. With fly fishing, you need to hit the spot and avoid random casting. Most trout anglers only use about 35 feet of line. You want to imitate nature, blend in with your surrounding and float your lure over the spot of the feeding fish.
Finding The Right Types of Trout
The type of trout you catch depends on where you go fly fishing.
Rainbow trout are beautiful and challenging to catch. In days gone by, rainbow trout were only found in US coastal rivers on the West Coast. Today rainbow trout are in freshwater all throughout North America. Rainbow trout have a red stripe and black spots. This is the trout trophy of choice for most fly fishermen as rainbow trout are renowned for long runs and acrobatics to avoid getting caught.
Brown trout, originally from Asia and Europe, are now found in the Rocky Mountains and Eastern and Midwestern streams in the United States. Brown trout are particularly cunning and simple fly fishing tactics often fail. Often brown trout take long runs, purposefully tangle your line and even break free, making them the subject of many fish tales about the “one that got away”.
Cutthroat trout are found in the Pacific Northwest and some alpine lakes and are smaller than rainbow or brown trout. Fly fisherfolk must travel to remote areas to catch cutthroat trout but they are easier to catch once you finally get there.
Golden trout are found in remote lakes throughout the United States. These small, uncommon trout are golden in color and difficult to catch. Because there are few golden trout, most anglers catch and release them for the joy of the chase.
Brook trout are found in the Western United States, Rocky Mountains and Canada. This good-looking fish is gray with red, cream and orange spots. Beginning anglers discover brook trout are the easiest to catch, making them a great way to build your self-esteem for tricker trout.
Window On A Trout's World
To effectively fly fish for trout, you need to have a window on a trout's world. Trout do not see the world the way we do. Whether you fish for hatchery born trout or in the wild, knowing about the trout's senses will help you catch one.
Trout Sight. Trout have cone-shaped vision. The deeper trout go into water, the more they can see. Trout can see color and shadow, which is why lures must be so realistic. When you cast, you must drop the fly upstream so its floats naturally down the river. If a fly suddenly appears in the trout's cone of vision, this smart creature will avoid it. Cheap flies you buy may have the right colors but if their profile doesn't look like a fly, you won't catch a trout.
Trout Scent. Trout have a keen sense of smell underwater. If your fly smells strange, trout won't approach it. The latest fly floatants and cleaners are made to mask possible chemical odors. Don't wear aftershave or cologne when you go fishing. Even deodorant, cigarette smoke odors and glues can deter fish.
Trout Hearing. Trouts hear through frequency receptors and movement receptors so they can find food in all types of water. Fish cannot hear voices outside the water if you talk. Trout will hear oars banging on a boat, loud splashing or wading into the water and items that drop in the water. Casting a fly gently is the best way to attract a trout. If your fly slaps into the river, the trout is likely to go away.
Alluring Trout Lures
Trouts are carnivores in search of flies, grasshoppers, beetles, dragonflies and snails. Flies are made with feather and fur to imitate these natural creatures in their own habitat. Basic trout flies include:
Dry Flies. Dry flies imitate surface riding insects such as grasshoppers and dragonflies. Dry flies are the most widely used in fly fishing because all anglers want the rush of catching a trout on the water's surface.
Wet Flies. Wet flies and nymph flies are particularly effective because 80 percent of trout's feeding happens underwater. Beadheads and other weighted trout flies are productive ways to catch fish.
Streamers. Use streamers to catch those fast, aggressive trout. Streamers represent patterns such as woolly buggers and are weighted to hit quickly.
Emergers. Trout love to strike insects transforming from nymph to adult. Emergers imitate midges, mayflies and caddis to catch trout.
Casting Your Line
Casting is a practiced art and should be done before you go fishing. Basically, you position your rod over your shoulder. Start casting with a quick acceleration to the 10 o'clock position while you release the button then stop. Make sure your movements are smooth and accurate. Practice by tying a ¼ ounce weight on your line when you start. Watch out for children, pets, fences and everything else that might be behind you when you practice casting.
More Fly Fishing Tips
Here are some bonus fly fishing tips for successfully bagging trout to take home or release:
What To Wear – And What Not To Wear. Wear colors that blend into the natural surroundings such as brown or gray. Steer clear of white, red, orange and other bright colors. Wear boots with decent traction and a hat or sunglasses so you can see what you're doing in the sun.
It's All In The Approach. Try to get behind the sun so you don't cast a shadow on the trout. Avoid standing up straight. Go down low and blend into the environment to sneak up on tricky trout.
Smaller Is Better. Use light gear and bait with the smallest lures. Spoons and spinners should be no larger than ¼ ounce in most instances. Use hook and bait up to a size 10. When using minnow-like plugs, they should be under 4 inches long. In some areas there are regulations regarding hook size and type, so be aware before you cast.
Stay Sharp. The sharper your hook, the easier it is to set on the fish.
Get That Trophy Trout. Find rainbow trout feeding near big rocks, bridge abutments and fallen logs. They travel in fast-moving water so you can find them at the head of rapids and waterfalls. Cast using 25 feet of line in graceful loops that look like a “U” in its side.
Be Color Coordinated. In low lighting or colored waters, use florescent green or florescent orange. In cloudy weather with medium lighting, use gold, copper, red or orange.
Get Permission. Always make sure you know the regulations before you fish in a certain area. Have all required permits and licenses so nobody can break up your fishing party when you finally get that trout on your line.
Pump It Up. When you get a fish on your line, lean back then pull and draw in a pumping motion to keep the fish on your line. Grip the top of the handle and not the middle so your rod won't break.
Get Real. Your flies must be realistic, which is an art in itself. If you can't make your own, buy the best. Fake-looking flies won't catch smart trout.
Toothpaste In Your Tackle Box. No, fish are not put off by unpleasant breath but they are sent away by the smell of your hands. Many anglers clean oils, odors and other scents off their hands by using toothpaste, so keep a tube handy in your tackle box.
Fly fishing is about more than just catching trout. Your lures, presentation, casting and technique are all part of the fly fishing experience. The satisfaction of catching a trout with the right fly is often considered equal (or better) than finding the perfect partner in the dating game. With these fly fishing tips, you can stop wishing and start fishing!
Thank you to Stacey Doyle for this "Fly Fishing Tips" article.
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