Fly fishing is often regarded as a challenge than 'regular' reel fishing. It could be a little intimidating as to where to begin, how to go about it, where to find the right equipments and so on. But not anymore. Here are some guidelines which will help you. The fancy gears and secret fishing might fool you, but always remember the basics remain the same. Type of fish, gear and location are the three main factors that have to be kept in mind.The fly fishing tackle is made differently from that regular fishing tackle to suit the particular needs. The fly rods, fly reels, specialized fly lines, terminal tackle etc are all made keeping in mind the needs of the type of fishing.
Rod weight, rod length and action of the rod are things you should keep in mind before buying that fly fishing rod. These rods are made of graphite which are light but strong at the same time so, you can cast consistently with it. Fly fishing rods from a reputed brand comes with the manufacturer's warranty. For a beginner, there will be cases of a couple of broken rods in the while learning, but the unconditional replacement or lifetime repair warranty takes care of it.
The rod weight matters because it is this weight that will help cast at a desired distance. Weight rods 2-5 are available depending on where you are going fly fishing. The rods are generally 9 feet in length. However rod sizes are available between 7 to over 10 feet. For convenience, the rods are sometimes made into 5 pieces for convenience, without hampering its performance. Slow, medium and fast action rods are used for fly fishing. Though they are prone to breakage, a fast action rod is ideal for a beginner.
You search the internet and there are numerous fly fishing tips available, but it is not the best way to learn about it. The best way to learn is to take lessons from an instructor. As homework, you can of course go through the books and videos and get an idea of what is actually is. It is not rocket science but be rest assured that there is a science behind the casting in fly fishing. It would be even better if you can practice casting- it does not have to be on the water, could be in a park or even in your backyard.
Overhead casting is the basic fly cast. As the name suggests, you have to lift the line off the water, right in front of you, then it has to be brought over head and behind you and cast forward again. This is not at all difficult; it just needs a little practice.
An extremely effective cast is the roll cast which is used when the wind is strong. The line tight in the water, you lift the rod vertically to one o' clock position and then do a firm forward cast. The line lands in the direction you point the rod with a loop. Sounds difficult? A little practice will take care of it.
Along with these basic things, there are also certain pointers you have to make a note of. The fishing location, feeding characteristics of the fly fish, fish selection, correct ways of holding the rod, understanding the nature of the artificial flies, being absolutely quiet while fly fishing, are some things to keep in mind.
Apart from being an expert fisherman, Allan Simons is also an able writer of fishing, fishing spots and fishing tackle.