What is Fly Fishing?
Fly fishing is a distinct and ancient angling method, most renowned as a method for catching trout and salmon, but employed today for a wide variety of species including pike, bass, panfish, and carp, as well as marine species, such as redfish, snook, tarpon, bonefish and striped bass. Unlike other types of angling, fly fishing is a hand-on endeavor which requires your full attention at all times.
As the flies and techniques anglers employ have become more advanced, fly fishing has been used to catch a wider variety of fish. There are many reports of fly fisherman taking unintended species such as chub, bream and rudd while fishing for ‘main target’ species such as trout. There is a growing population of anglers whose aim is to catch as many different species as possible with the fly. It’s easy to spot fly fisherman even when they aren’t casting their lines thanks to their trademark fishing hats, vests and waders.
So Many Flies, So Little Time
If you’re out shopping for fly fishing flies, you may easily become overwhelmed by the myriad of flies to choose from. To get a bit more organized in your fly fishing shopping, you’ll need to know some fishing fly basics. Findings high-quality Penn fishing reels and rods is important, but the fish are more interested in the bait. There are four types of flies available on the market, and each one is meant to resemble something different.
The most common type of fly is the wet fly. A wet flies appearance is similar to an insect underwater, and fish bite on these flies thinking they are drowned insects.
The dry fly is also used often. These flies are meant to look like insects floating on the water. They can also look like frogs, snakes, or mice. Fry flies may need to be oiled.
Another type of fly is the nymph fly. Nymphs resemble insects under water. Some look like larvae. These flies may be weighted to keep them underwater.
Night Bobbers
My bobber lit up and ready to go.
One of the most popular fishing activities is night fishing. Basically you use the same equipment except for maybe one thing, and that would be your ability to see a fish hit your line or possibly hear it. Some people prefer a bell attached to the tip of their rod and when a fish hits the bell goes off. But there’s something on the market that I think is really cool, and that’s a night bobber.
- What I call a night bobber or a lighted bobber, is a bobber that comes with a battery that when engaged lights up a light bulb so that when you are fishing with it you can see it on the dark a lake. I have been using a lighted bobber for about 20 years. Give one a try some time you might find that you like night fishing a whole lot more when you can see the action. Happy fishing.
Choosing the Right Fishing Tackle
When it comes to fishing tackle, it’s important to know the prey before committing to a specific lure. The kinds of lures fish are attracted to often depend might be a good idea. However, fish swimming below the surface in a faster moving river won’t be used to this kind of lure, and won’t go after it. Thus, for river fishing, often fisherman elect to use bass fishing tackle like spinners and lures that river fish will attack. Ocean fishing can be the most difficult, because there are so many different kinds of fish in the ocean. However, for bottom fishing, where most of the big ones hang out, trolling is a great way to fish, and trolling lures are sure to attract the most prized catches.
When buying fishing tackle, worry more about quality than flashiness. Fish will go after most lures if it looks like their natural prey, more than a lure with a whole lot of bells and whistles, it’s important to have a lure that will last through use.
Watch those lines!
Something that seems to be neglected when talking about tackle is changing your fishing line. This is incredibly important because if your line is bad you may very well lose that next big fish. You should change your fishing line at least once every season. Check your line often and if you see a abrasions or cuts you should change it when these are noticed.
There are many great fishing lines on the market today. From mono filament to fly fishing line choosing the correct line for the type of rod you have will make your fishing trip trouble free. Make sure when you are purchasing fishing line you get the correct pound test. Depending on what kind of fish you are going for and how big you think they may be, will dictate what kind of line you purchase. Just remember to check your lines.
Fish Smart
I have been fishing now for over 25 years and the lead in our fish is getting worse among other pollutants in our waters. There are things you as a fisherman can do to help keep the lead out of our waters and fish. Let face it we all lose tackle in our lakes and rivers from time to time. There is something you can do.
Using tin sinkers is the single most important thing you can do to keep lead from poisoning waterfowl as well as fish. Water Gremlin in my opinion are the best sinkers in the business. They stay put and Water Gremlin makes tin split shot in a variety of sizes. The tin split shot is about half the weight of the same size lead weight. So do your lakes and rivers as well as the local waterfowl and fish a favor and stop using lead and start using tin sinkers.
Shimano: More than Just Bicycles
When most people hear the Shimano name, they instinctively think of bicycles. Although this was the company’s sole product when they were first established in 1921, the Japan-based manufacturer now creates fishing gear and extreme sporting goods as well. However, bicycles and the associated components remain at the core of the corporation, accounting for roughly three-quarters of all sales.
Last year when I was shopping for a new spin reel, I wasn’t even aware that the Shimano brand name was an option. After doing some research however, I discovered that Shimano fishing reels are some of the most trusted in the industry. After using the reel for an entire season, I have to say that I agree.
A Different Breed of Fishing
Most people anxiously await this time of year due to the commencement of fishing season. And while I love spending long summer days casting my line into a serene lake, summer isn’t the only season for angling. In fact, ice fishing is one of my favorite pastimes and offers a unique challenge for an angler.
Every year my son and I head out to a little ice fishing house a few hundred miles from our home in Michigan. We generally spend a couple of days out there, drilling auger holes and passionately waiting for a fish to bite. I know that ice fishing technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, but we enjoy the manual labor and time-honored tradition of ice fishing.
Hands-On Fishing
Some anglers like to sit on the dock or troll a lake while lounging in a boat, but not me. I don’t mind relaxing and enjoying a beer with my buddies, but that usually comes after the fishing is over. Once I cast my line, I like to get down to business and orchestrate a full-fledged offensive in the pursuit of a big catch.
Due to this proactive take on angling, I have a natural affinity for fly fishing waders and venturing out into the middle of a stream. In order to be successful, you must constantly be adjusting your Shakespeare fly rods depending on the fish, water, landscape and other variables. It is certainly a lot of work, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Protecting Our Waters
Many of the lakes in Illinois have recently been instituting creel limits in our waters. A really good idea. I have been fishing for 25 years in many lakes in Illinois and have noticed recently how bad the fishing has been. Putting a creel limit on our lakes is a good idea to preserve our fisheries.
When fishing only take what you are going to eat, taking to many and letting them go to waste is only hurting you as a fisherman. I only take what I am going to eat that day and return all fish I am not eating to the lakes unharmed. I have seen much waste and fisherman taking fish that are just to small to consume. Please help protect our waters for the future. If you are going to release your fish please use barbless hooks.