10 Tips on Becoming a Better Fly Fisherman
Filed under: How To... — admin @ 9:33 am
Here is a nice piece about improving your fly fishing from Curt Nordrum (aka Bug Ugly of the St. Paul Fly Chuckers angling club in Minnesota). Thanks Curt!
1. Keep a journal.
Success is being at the right place at the right time. The best way to increase your chances of being at the right place at the right time is to keep a record of your past successes and failures. If you found a school of bluegills feeding in a certain muddy bottom bay an hour before first light for instance, then that same set of circumstances is likely to happen again. Water temperatures warm in the spring and cool off in the fall and a number of migratory fish move with these changing water temps. If you know that you caught Northern Pike on April 20 last year when the water temp was 65 degrees, then this year when the water temp is 65 degrees around April 20th the Pike will likely show up again. Keeping a journal will increase your success only if you record accurate information on water temps, location, time of year and what fly you used and then review that information often.
2. Make it a point to learn something new each time you fish.
Whether it’s a new location, a new retrieve or a new fly, try something different. Make it a point to explore new territory every time you go out. If you’re having success at a certain spot try to figure out why you’re having success at that spot and then search for another spot that has the same types of conditions. Increasing the number of spots you fish will increase your success. Change flies, sometimes a different color or different size will make all the difference in the world. If you can match what the fish are feeding on you’re going to have success. Sometimes it’s not the fly but how the fly is moving. Whether it is in or on the water, or at what part of the water column it is in. There are times when you need to slow down and times when you need to speed up. Vary your retrieves until you find what’s working. Now that you’ve learned something new, record it in your journal.
3. Organize your fly boxes.
There are flies that float, flies that sink, flies for panfish, flies for trout, flies for the large lakes, flies for small streams and flies for cold water. How do you know what fly to use when, if your fly boxes aren’t organized. Everybody organizes their flies differently but one of the best ways I’ve found is to organize them by fish species. I have a box that I use when I’m fishing for pan fish, a box for fly fishing largemouth bass, a box for Smallmouth bass, and now a box for fishing big toothies. These boxes might have both top water and sinking flies in them but they’re geared for specific fish and fishing conditions.
4. Be into every cast.
Nothing will improve your success like concentrating on each cast and every strip of your fly line. A bad cast might spook a school of fish you didn’t know was there. A strip of your fly line at the wrong time could send that Largemouth flying. Make every cast count. A great day on the water could be the difference between one fish and no fish. Bob Clouser once told a friend that it is necessary to “cast, then fish.” This will greatly improve having a fun day on the water.
5. Practice your casting.
The time to practice casting is not when your fishing. Take the time before you go fishing to prefect your casting. You don’t have to cast like Lefty Kreh, but you have to be able to cast a least 40 feet. With each ten feet beyond that distance your success will go up. Flatwater fish are very spooky in shallow water and the more distance between you and the fish the more likely you’ll get them to eat your fly. It doesn’t matter how far you can cast if the fly isn’t in front of the fish. Put some targets out at different distances and practice getting your fly to these targets quickly. Also practice in all different wind conditions. Don’t just practice with the wind at your back put the wind in your face, on your right side and on your left side. I can’t remember the last time I had the wind only to my back!
6. Join a local fly club.
This is the place to find out what happening locally. It’s a place to make new friends that are interested in the same thing you are. Fly fisherman are willing to share information and a local fly club is a source of information that is hard to find any place else. They usually have monthly outings and meetings that are not only informative but a lot fun.
7. Read as much information as you can.
Not only are there a number of great magazines and books on fly fishing, but today we have the internet. This is an unlimited source of information. Not only can you find information on any subject but you can connect with other fly fisherman thru forums, email and face book. It’s free and you don’t even have to leave your home.
8. Try new techniques and tackle.
Sometimes we can learn from completely different types of fly fishing. The last few years I’ve been using a sinking line in the river with great success. The method is to have various lengths of sinking line that can be attached to the end of my floating line. The longer the sink tip, the greater the depth of my fly. Using this different technique and tackle has enabled me to catch fish I was unable to catch previously. Trying to catch a new species, such as carp, will require new techniques and tackle. Be open to learning.
9. Learn to tie flies.
This might not be for everyone but it will improve your fly fishing. You will learn why one fly works and another doesn’t. What makes a fly float or sink? What makes it cut through the grass without getting hung up? What makes it ride hook point up? What materials have the most action in the water? But most of all it will give you pleasure when you can’t be flying fishing. And nothing beats caching a fish on a fly that you tied yourself.
10. Hire the top fly fishing guide in the area.
Nothing is like hands on instruction. When planning a great trip to an unknown area, it is best to find a guide that will put you over fish quickly. Nothing is more discouraging than having a long planned trip go dead because no fish could be caught in some unknown water. A guide will know the hot spots, have the right transportation and will provide the correct flies for the present conditions. Remember to record the trip in your journal.