Category Archives: Fly Fishing

Site Fishing Tips

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While it may seem obvious, the more fish you site, the more you will catch. Honing your skills at site fishing is a key component to a successful day of fly fishing. Blind casting can spook already wary fish, and In advance of casting it is important to spot your targets.

Site FishingIf possible, try to get to a higher elevation to help you better see the waters. If possible, climb up a bank while maintaining a lower profile as you scout. One of the most important tips we can give you is to wear polarized sunglasses. High quality glasses can make all the difference between a productive day on the river and failure. Glasses that are polarized remove the glare from the surface of the water and allow the angler a far superior view of the bottom of the river. It is also very important to select the right color of lens for the current conditions. A lighter colored lens will allow the fishermen to see well in low light, while a darker tint allows the angler to see far better when the sun is bright. Amber colored lenses are a popular tint for fly fishing in freshwater.

Many sportsmen may be surprised to hear we recommend sitefishing from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon. With the sun high in the sky, the stream or river bottom is illuminated, which allows you to more clearly see well into the river. It is critical that the sun is at your back so you are not producing a shadow that will make fish wary. Keep an eye out for places where you can peer into waters without having to fight the glare; these are often referred to as viewing lanes. Also stay on the lookout for water windows. These are intermittent flat spots that appear in turbulent or broken water that move downriver with currents.

Site Fishing Tips

Site Fishing Tips

The best angle for site fishing is to reposition your body downriver or across from a fish once you have spotted it. When you are repositioned, you may no longer be able to visually locate the fish, so mentally mark the location or place a big rock or stick on the bank to easily identify where you initially spotted your target.

The Trout species can take on the same color as the surrounding habitat. Rather than trying to site the entire trout, look for any signs that might indicate they are present, such as a tail waving, stream bottom shadows, or even flashes. Feeding Trout are most easily caught and indications they are feeding include white mouths, rises, flashes and trout that are suspended in a column of water.

Fly Fishing Technique | Tips to Tighten your Fishing Loop

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Knowing how to tighten your fishing loop is a key component of successful fly fishing. Below are suggestions for anglers who are in constant pursuit of perfecting their cast and improving their casting technique. Make these few basic changes in your cast to see impressive results.

Maintain a Stiff Wrist

Any movement your hand makes is magnified at the tip of the rod, so even a brief movement of your wrist can result in excess movement of the tip, thus opening your fishing loop. At the very first indication of consistently wide loops, it is wise to focus on maintaining a stiff wrist and using your forearm only.

Cast at the Tip of the Rod

As you are making forward and backward casts, attempt to try and hit the tip of the rod with your line. Numerous expert anglers believe this tip is one of the best for teaching anglers to cast a tight fishing loop.

Squeeze the Grip at the End of the Cast

To improve your casting technique, make sure your grip should be relaxed through the casting stroke; however you should squeeze the grip in order to quickly stop the rod at the end.

Improve your Haul

The term hauling, when used in reference to fly fishing technique, refers to the action that helps you accelerate your line by pulling the line smoothly with your hand while you cast. An accurately timed and smooth haul can dramatically tighten your loop and significantly improve the effectiveness of your cast.

Do not Cast Harder, Haul more Quickly

As most anglers already understand, the harder you attempt to cast, the greater the likelihood that you will destroy your fishing loop because you have thrown shock waves into your line or have inadvertently twisted your wrist. Harder does NOT equal better when it comes to casting your line.

If you believe that your haul is not well done and that it is “sloppy”, try to slow down and concentrate on making quick, short hauls similar to a motion that you would use when pulling a short chain on a closet or basement light fixture. In other words, your motion should be a quick tug instead of a long drawn out pull.

For additional fly fishing tips or information on exceptional fishing opportunities around the globe, simply complete the form at the right. We will add you to our email list or follow-up with a call if there is specific information you are seeking.

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Fly Fishing | The Fly Hatch and Selecting a Fly

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Understanding the fly hatch on waters where you intend to fly fish goes a long way in helping anglers select the best fly patterns to use in an area. There are thousands of fly patterns, and deciding which ones to put on your vest will make your trip a lot more successful if you choose correctly.

Research the type of hatches that have taken place on the river you plan to fish and match your flies to the fly hatch. Experienced anglers know what to look for, and if you are a beginner to the sport, stop by your local fly shop and ask them about recent hatches. There are three general types of flies from which you can choose: nymphs, which imitate the immature stage of insects and are fished below the surface; dry flies, which represent caddis, mayflies, and other insects that float on top of the water; and streamers, a wet fly that looks like a baitfish.

Fly Selection – Match the Hatch

Nymphs are best worked during the time of year just before a hatch of water-born bugs. Your fly will represent the pupae and nymphs these bugs will become, and if you time it right, the fish won’t suspect a thing. A common nymph is the Pheasant Tail. Others are made to represent small crustaceans. Scud Nymph, Biot Midge and Brook’s Montana Stonefly are two other nymph patterns you could try.Dry flies like the Adams, Brown Drake Parachute, Hard Body Ant Wet, Royal Coachman, Cicada, Bird’s Stone, and others are all designed to sit atop the water like the bugs they are meant to imitate. They are buoyant and can represent either a terrestrial or aquatic insect. While fishing with a dry fly is exciting because you actually get to see the fish take the fly, dry flies do not tend to get as much action as nymphs or streamers. Trout, especially, eat from underwater about 80% of the time.

Match the Hatch

Streamers can be used in either freshwater or saltwater, and can be used on practically any game fish that eats small fish or other aquatic prey. Examples of common streamer flies are the Muddler Minnow, Wooly Bugger, Bunny Leach, Egg Sucking Leach, Lead-Eye Zonker, and Mickey Finn.

Look around the banks for evidence of a recent fly hatch. Check out bird activity on the water and see if you can tell what kind of surface insects there are. Look at the minnow activity. Are there crawfish? What about leeches and aquatic insects? The food sources you see nearby will tell you everything you need to know about what type of fly to use. Keep in mind that the season will also affect your choice; insects grow less brilliantly-colored as the season wears on.

If you are interested in additional fly fishing tips, or information on exceptional fly fishing opportunities around the globe, fill out the form on the right and our experienced team of fishing agents will provide the information you need.