Fly fishing has become an extremely popular sport worldwide, and can prove to be a very relaxing and challenging pastime. This graceful sport offers endless challenges, but as a beginner just taking your first steps into this exciting sport need all the help you can get from the experts. Below I’ve listed 10 top fly fishing tips for beginners that will help you enjoy the sport more, and help you become a successful angler.
When you are fishing in a common river, you need to respect the space of fellow anglers. This is fishing etiquette, and will earn you respect in angling circles. Not showing respect to other anglers ruins the spirit of angling.
Tip #2: Keep silent
The two obvious reasons for this are firstly you do not want to disrupt the concentration of other anglers, and secondly you want to catch fish and not to scare them away. Therefore leave all noisy equipment like radios at home.
Tip #3: Dress appropriately
Fly fishermen generally don’t wear bright colors, or use white hats as fish have good eyesight, and will get spooked easily. Clothing colors should be muted or earth tones. Layering is also a good idea as weather conditions can change during an extended fly fishing session.
Tip #4: Keep your fly fishing vest organized
Fly fishing vests are specifically designed to carry accessories, supplies and other gear whilst fly fishing. You should keep your vest organized – if you are going to reach for something, know where it is so that you do not have any complications and difficulties as you are fishing. If you are not going to use a vest, leave it at home.
Tip #5: Use a wading staff and wading shoes
A wading staff is handy when fishing in unfamiliar waters because it will boost your stability. Also, be mindful of the kind of shoes you wear. You do not just want comfort but you want stability, and wading shoes are ideal for this.
Tip #6: Get a tackle box, or waterproof gear bag
If you have a lot of fly fishing equipment to carry, it is important to have a tackle box, or waterproof gear bag, which will also keep your fly fishing equipment safe, secure, and dry.
Tip #7: Use sun block
Hours of fly fishing in the sun can do great harm to your skin, which can be prevented by using a reputable sun block product to protect your skin.
Tip #8: Use sunglasses
Using polarized sunglasses will help with the glare that is reflected off the the water.
Tip #9: Learn to tie a few of basic knots
Learning the double surgeons knot, improved clinch knot, the Albright knot, and the Nail knot are enough to get you started. There are many books and guides on the subject of fishing knots.
guides – the metal (or graphite) rings on your rod through which you feed your line. The bottom guide (or bottom two) are the stripping guides, the top guide is called the tip top, and the rest are called snake guides.
reel seat – the reel fits onto the rod at the reel seat, and hangs down underneath the rod.
locking ring – the ring that is tightened in order to secure your fly fishing reel to the rod.
foot of the reel – the part of the reel that attaches to the rod.
drag knob – the knob on the side of the reel which can be screwed in to tighten the drag on the line.
spool – the part of the reel around which your line is wrapped. Most reels have a removable spool for convenience.
arbor – the central part of the spool to which you attach your backing line (using a arbor or simple knot).
Besides these 10 top fly fishing tips, a good resource for more fly fishing tips is the book 1001 Fly Fishing Tips, which offers a comprehensive array of tips , hints, advice, and shortcuts from the world’s leading fly fishermen.
Tags: fly fishing general, top fly fishing tips, top fly fishing tips for beginners
