Wading in the woods of the high country, targeting trout and enjoying the surrounding mountains are considered the most likely things to do while holding a fly-fishing rod. This common view of the sport keeps many fishermen in the Midwest on the sideline.
Duncan McHenry letting the fish run. The distinctive sound of a fish taking line from a fly reel indicated the size of the smallmouth bass on the line.
The truth is, however, you can fly fish on any body of water harboring a fish species. Fly Fishing gear can be purchased to fit any situation, the technique can be used in many locations and fly casting isn’t as hard as it seems.
Fly fishing gear, often considered to light to handle larger fish, is built for many fishing applications. Anglers catch species ranging from freshwater cutthroat trout to saltwater bonefish on fly-fishing gear.
Fly rods range in size from 1-weight rods to 12-weight rods – one being the lightest and 12 being the heaviest. The 5-weight rod is a good size for beginners. Using a 5-weight allows anglers to fish light trout flies as well as larger bass flies. It also offers the strength to handle a large bass. Fly lines are also designated by weight. A 5-weight rod requires a 5-weight fly line. If possible buy a reel pre-spooled with backing line and leader components.
Wet flies and dry flies are the key categories in the fly fisherman’s box. Basically, wet flies are used for subsurface fishing and dry flies are designed to float on the surface.
Fly-fishing can be used to chase trout in the mountains, bass in the Midwest, panfish and even muskie. Personally, I fly fish bass using wet flies in small local lakes. In my opinion, this presentation’s success rate is quite high because fish in these lakes are accustomed to traditional spin casting and bait casting techniques. Not having seen many flies, fish are less likely to be weary of them.
Many anglers think they don’t have the skill or patience to conquer the nuance of fly casting. It’s not that hard, if a self-taught angler like myself can catch fish in a 15 mph wind, you can too. If possible check out some casting videos on YouTube or buy and instructional book you can refer to when trouble shooting your casting issues.
Fly-fishing is a bit like golf. Most people aren’t good at it or quit soon after beginning because they aren’t patient with it. With time and a developed casting stroke, fly-fishing is incredibly rewarding.
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