Fly Fishing

indieangler asked:


I am from the United States and will be moving to Germany for 5 months, in late October. I was wondering if anyone knew of any good fly fishing areas (trout fishing is my favorite) in Germany. I will be living near Dusseldorf, on the Western side of Germany. I was hoping to find a good fly fishing location somewhere fairly close by that has easy river access. I will also be traveling around Europe a little so if you have any suggestions for locations outside of Germany, I’d like to hear them.

Kenneth

Steve W Sharpe asked:


In the general sport of fishing, you use lures to catch your fish; however, when you are fly fishing, the word lure only marginally applies. Sure, you are trying to lure the fish to your bait, but when you are fly fishing, you use flies to entice the fish. So when we talk about lures in the sport of fly fishing, we are really speaking about flies.

You see, fish eat bugs. They rely on flies, grasshoppers, and other insects for their food source. When you are fly fishing, you attempt to mimic the look and movement of their food. Therefore, the lure that you are providing them with are called flies.

There are all sorts of fly fishing lures, or flies, that you can use depending on the area you are fishing and the type of fish you want to catch. Most of these lures are available at commercial retail outlets, but you can also make them yourself. The key is to have several different lures available to you so you can adapt to the situation you are fishing in.

Take a few moments when getting on the river or stream to observe the types of insects that are around you. Take a small net like they use for goldfish and skim the top of the water. See what you collect inside and then use a lure that looks like the bugs in the net.

Whatever type of fly or insect that is predominantly in the area is what the fish are feeding on. You’ll catch more fish when you lure them with what they already know are food sources. While most fish will eat whatever they can find, if they are used to seeing may flies on top of the water, they will be more apt to bite than if you dangle a caddis fly over their heads.

Your fly fishing lures should be simple. Regular fishing lures are often huge with all sorts of shiny danglers and bright colors. They, too, are meant to mimic food sources, but the idea of fly fishing is to catch fish using the natural food that is always available. That’s why flies are kept simple looking and small.

You can lure fish to your line using a variety of tools. But when you are fly fishing, lures become one of the most important tools you can have in your arsenal. Using the right lure, or fly, is so important. It can make a big difference between catching a ton of fish or just a few. Choose your lures carefully when fly fishing and reap the benefits!



David

Bob Bastian asked:


For fly fishing for bass can provide some of the most exciting fishing in the country. The largemouth bass is probably the most popular game fish in America. The popularity of fishing for bass is partly because no other freshwater fish has a wider distribution. Largemouth bass can be found from southern Canada to South America. Smallmouth bass are also excellent for fly fishing, but they prefer slightly cooler waters and are not as ever present as the largemouth variety.

Generally, the warmer the water, the larger the bass will grow. For example, a four or five pound bass may be large for a northern lake, but warmer southern waters regularly produce 10 pounders and better. The temperature of the water is a key factor not only in fly fishing, but in all fishing. When fishing for bass it is an especially important factor.

The best fishing will take place just after the bass have spawned, which is going to vary according to the temperatures. For largemouth bass spawning takes place when the water temperatures reached the low to mid-60s. In Minnesota for example, a female bass may not deposit her eggs until mid-June, while in Florida the female bass may spawn as early as February.

The behavior of the largemouth bass is also influenced considerably by the top temperature of the water. On hot summer days, they usually feed during the early morning hours and then again during the last few hours of daylight, when the sun isn’t as bright and the water temperature is cooler. Bass are generally found in areas of the water that have a lot of vegetation and cover. They spend a lot of time near the water’s edge among the grasses, reeds, and other plants.

Many fly fishermen fishing for largemouth bass use bass bugs and poppers. Poppers were designed as a surface lure to be skipped across the top of the water in a series of quick retrieves. Other good fly patterns for largemouth bass or the Muddler Minnow and the Wooly Worm. There are some fly fishermen that prefer to use streamers and bucktail.

When fly fishing for bass the fly is worked differently than it is for trout. Poppers are worked not only for their appearance but also for their sound. Generally, when a fly is cast for bass it should be allowed to remain unmoving for a longer period of time then for trout. It is estimated that 60% of bass strikes are made on a still fly. Bass tend to inspect your fly for some time before making the decision whether to take it or not. It is important to remember while fly fishing, that the warmer the water, the longer it will take the bass to take a fly.

At times fly fishermen like to tease the bass with repeated casts over the area where they think he’s holding. Teasing can sometimes be a very effective method in bringing a lazy fish up for a strike when nothing else seems to work

Fly fishing for largemouth bass can be a wonderful, exciting experience.



Colton

litscot asked:


I know it varies from prefecture to area to stream or body of water.But in general is it more or less expensive than the U.S. I am moving to Japan and will be there for at least three years and want to know if I’ll still be able to afford to go fishing. My wife is in the Army and we have three kids so money is not just dripping off of us. Thank you very much.

Maxwell

Suzie Goldie asked:


f casting is a very important skill in fly fishing. It requires gradual, synchronized movements. It helps to think of each movement, both the back cast in the forward cast, is divided into three steps. The first is loading, the second is the momentum of projection, and the third is the pause. It takes a lot of practice to master the art of casting in fly fishing.

There are several types of casts. The most common of these include the basic cast, false cast, side and reverse casts, roll cast, and double haul cast.

In fly fishing the easiest cast, called the basic cast, is simply casting the line straight back and then directly forward. Anyone new to fly fishing should master the basic cast before going on to other techniques. Use a short length of line to begin with if you are new to fly fishing. This will help you gain sufficient control of the line, while practicing short gentle movements.

The false cast is a variation of the basic cast. It consists of the same backward and forward movements as the basic cast, and is immediately followed by another set of the same movements. The fly line actually travels backward and forward repeatedly without touching the water. Practicing this type of cast helps to build precise timing that is required in fly fishing.

In fly fishing the side and reverse casts are generally used when wind is a problem. They are also used if there are obstacles that can make a regular cast difficult.

A roll cast is generally used if the fisherman finds himself with his back to such obstacles

as a high riverbank or a wall of vegetation. When these conditions exist, a basic cast is almost impossible. You need to let out a good length of line in front of you; it’s best to let the current take it a short distance. The drag of the water on the line will load the rod, and you can cast forward without needing to execute the back cast.

Using a double haul cast in fly fishing will enable you to cast a much longer line than is possible with a basic cast. In order to do this you need to have a much faster line speed. This is done by making much larger casting movements, applying more strength, and loading the rod more before the forward cast. During this cast both hands of the fisherman must work independently.

The above five types of fly fishing casts are the ones used most often. There are many other types of casts also, including the S-cast, the parachute cast, and the mend cast.

Casting is the basic physical skill involved in fly fishing. Its purpose is to place the fly exactly where you want it to be, just like any other skill it takes practice. Accuracy and the delicacy of the presentation are very important when fly fishing. Mastering the basics of fly casting first will make it easier to move on to the more difficult casts.

Brenden

John asked:


I know some people that spend a LOT of money on custom rods and paraphernalia simply to fish for flies. What’s that about? If I want to kill flies I just get a can of Yard Guard. A couple of good squirts and I’ve got at least a hundred nailed. No, I don’t catch and release either.

Delaney

John Savage asked:


When it comes to fly fishing, attitude is half of the battle. You need to be able to switch on to a calm mindset that allows you to keep repeating the same technique without becoming frustrated. You must be able to use the surrounding natural beauty as a means of tempering your impatience. It requires forethought, dedication and commitment.

The other half of fly fishing is the equipment. One wise commentator once noted that whoever said one could not buy happiness had never invested in a new fly fishing rod. Now we may well smile at that and think it a bit far fetched, but, there is no doubt that the proper equipment will go a long way toward creating fly fishing success.

Certainly you need things such as a hat to protect the head from sunburn and the occasionally miscast fly and a pair of good sunglasses can make the difference between a painful squint and wonderful look at a natural vista, but the actual tackle that you use is probably the most important aspect of the equipment portion of the fly fishing equation.

However, if you have ever bought equipment before you will know that making tackle and equipment decisions can be challenging. Consider all of the choices an angler must make.

Is an old-fashioned bamboo rod with its natural flexibility the best choice for a day on the creek, or would you be better served by a new composite graphite rod with a far different, but equally enticing whipping action? When choosing a rod, should the fisher look for a particular brand, or are all models of fly fishing rods created at least close to equal? And what about length? Is there a reason to prefer or pass over that slightly longer model seen at the local sporting goods store? Answers to these questions will have a real impact on your success when you go to cast your fly.

Speaking of flies, this is another area where decisions are critical. Are you going to go for a dry fly strategy, or do you plan to use insect replicas? Is there a color to prefer for the morning as opposed to the evening? Will those trout really even notice the difference between your flies or will any in your collection do the trick as twilight hits? Before you even get that far in the process, you have to decide whether you should learn to tie your own or if you are better off relying upon professionally produced flies for your excursions.

The choice of rod and fly is also going to influence decisions regarding the line you use. The size of the target fish may force you to decide to use a lighter or heavier test line. Some lines float, while others will slowly sink to the bottom. Which lines make the most sense for which kinds of casts, strategies and conditions?

There are those who fish with a stick, a string, a worm and a hook. If they are exceptionally advanced, they may add a bobber to their repertoire before dipping their line and taking a nap under a tree by the side of a slow moving creek or dead still lake. That may be a fine strategy for enticing wobbly out from the muddy banks, but that kind of simplicity does not really work for those choosing to fly fish.

Fly fishing is a more complicated proposition, in terms of both mindset and equipment. Both are essential to success. Tackle decisions can and often will make the difference between a catchless day and hitting the limit.

This is why anyone considering fly fishing must learn how to make the right choices. Even a Zen master of an angler will have a disappointing day if his equipment is not up to the task. All fly fishers must take the time to research the sport, the rods, the reels, the flies, the lines and everything else in order to increase their chance of reeling in an impressive trophy catch.

If you are a potential fly fisher and are confounded by the choices available to you, find a solid reference manual that will provide you with answers that can empower you throughout your fly fishing decision making process.

Jenna

Steve W Sharpe asked:


Fly fishing clubs are a great place to learn, apply, and share knowledge of a great outdoor sport. Fly fishing clubs are the best “hands on” resource if you are thinking of entering the fly fishing experience. If you want to learn more about casting a fly rod, how to tie fly’s, how to make fly rods from blanks, or just have a great outdoor experience, check out a club in your area.

If you don’t have a fly fishing club in your area, you might want to access some of the resources available to you on the Internet. There are many places you can go to online where you will find camaraderie, advice, and tips about fly fishing.

Fly fishing clubs are often regional in nature. You can usually find a club that caters exclusively to residents of the state of Michigan or Washington. You can also find a fly fishing club that is geared toward beginning fly fishers or one that gives tips and advice about how to tie flies or the best casting techniques to use.

One of the greatest advantages of a supportive fly fishing club is the opportunity to go on fishing vacations with people you meet. When you get to know people who share your love of fly fishing, they are eager to co-mingle with other people who share their passion.

If you are a member of an Internet club for fly fishers, it can be fun to make plans to meet at a designated spot to get together for some well deserved R & R while fly fishing. You can find camaraderie and friendship by joining a fly fishing club plus, you can learn a lot about the sport from fellow club members.

When joining a fly fishing club, you can further your fly fishing education, practice conservation, and enjoy the company of some interesting people who share your interest in the sport. You can draw on each other’s knowledge and learn new things just by talking and participating in club activities.

Not only are there local clubs, but there are also national fly fishing clubs that you can become a part of. The Federation of Fly Fishers is dedicated to enhancing the sport of fly fishing for all species of fish. International Women Fly Fishers aims to educate women in the sport of fly fishing. Trout Unlimited is committed to the preservation of all cold water species and habitats.

Many people join more than one fly fishing club as the choices can be endless. If you are truly dedicated to the sport of fly fishing, joining a fly fishing club can truly enhance your enjoyment of this exciting and diverse sport!



Ariana

Jared L asked:


I’v heard the fishing is good there but i would like a second oppinion. Also were is a good place to fish on the river, how do i get there from the north (NH), and what flies should i use

some links would be great

Albert

Paul Winter asked:


Fly-fishing is a form fishing that uses a different method of catching the species that live and breathe under water. The method is referred to as angling. This method is used to target mostly trout and salmon. Recently the target list has extended to fish like bass, pike and carp. Historically fly fishing an ancient method of catching fish that originated in Scotland and Northern Europe.

There are many and various types of flies being used in fly-fishing. In modern fishing methods there are various types of fish being used to catch the designated target. The following is a list of types of fish; dry flies and emergers (for example midges or stoneflies), nymphs (for example mayflies or eggs and worms), streamers wet flies (for example buggers and leeches), saltwater flies (for examples sailfish and marlin), bass and panfish flies (for example crawfish and eels), salmon and steelhead flies (for example Atlantic salmon flies).

Certain gear is needed when fly-fishing. The first item on the list is fly rods, in which size and usage is important. It is important to match the fly rod with the fly line according to weight. Matching the weight of the two items is important to have positive casting results. The size of the fly rods can be anywhere from #0, #1, #2 and are used for the lightest trout and panfish rods up to powerful and heavy #16 rods for the largest saltwater game fish.

Another item needed for fly-fishing is a bamboo split cane. This allows for a better performance in the freshwater trout fishing situations. Synthetic fly rods are usually used and offer a greater versatility, stiffness, power and performance than a bamboo split cane. The advantages are that they are less expensive and require less maintenance. Finally, fly reels are manually operated. Although in recent years, more advanced models have been developed to deal bigger fish and more demanding situations. These models increase the drag and retrieval performance.

Fly-fishing is an ancient method of catching fish. It is more demanding because you are limited to the types of fish you can catch. You need the appropriate gear to catch the trout or the salmon. Today’s modern techniques used in fly-fishing have been developed to meet more challenging situations, such as bigger weight of the fish. These modern advancements prepare the fly fisherman to successfully meet his quota by using the methodology appropriately.

There are many popular locations for fly-fishing mostly in the Northern United States and Canada. Alaska is another popular place for the activity. Some places in the United States are Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Montana and California are just a few places.



Nikolas