AnglerNorth Fly Fishing Blog

Not quite what you may be thinking.

This is fishing with a fly under the surface of the water.

A nymph is an insect usually swimming towards the surface after hatching from an egg at the bottom of a stream, pond or lake. Nymphs are insects that have not reach the adult stage of their life, where they fly off the water to mate.

Check with your local fly shop for the types of fly hatches on the waters you intend to fish. This will improve your chances of matching the hatch.

You can fish Nymph’s in a number of ways. Here are just a few suggestions.

Use a strike indicator to help see the strike of the fish. Basically it’s a fancy name for a bobber when fly fishing. Strike Indicators allow you to see when a fish strikes your fly. When using a strike indicator you want to minimize the slack line between the fly and the strike indicator. You can do this by pulling a little on your fly line just after it lands on the water to take the slack out of the line. You shouldn’t jerk the line fast or you may spook the fish. Check the slack now and then if you are in a pond or lake.

When fishing streams or rivers if you are standing in the water. Cast up stream and let your fly float down past you as you watch the strike indicator. Strip line in as it comes towards you to remove slack in the line. As it goes by you can toss out some line by a little shake of your rod tip as you feed line towards the first rod guide.

Fishing nymph’s deep or shallow can be adjusted by adding weights. Make sure you check with the state laws on this. Most don’t allow lead shot weight any more. Tin has replaced lead for environmental reasons. We would recommend non-toxic weights. You may need to figure out where the fish are hanging out by adjusting the weights and changing how deep or shallow your fly rides in the water.

Nymph fishing tends to be done more with a floating line and a sinking tip leader.

Sinking lines are used when you need to get deeper than the leader length will allow.

Happy fishing

Fly Fishing basics check list.

• Fly Rod
• Fly Reel with backing, fly line and a leader attached
• Extra Leaders
• Tippet material
• Fly Boxes with flies

Bring an assortment for the area and fish you will be fishing.

The only time you have to many flies is if they are difficult to carry with all your other gear. Once you know an area you can probably reduce your selection.

Investigate the hatches in the area. The local fly shop is the best bet.

• Bring Clippers to trim your line and tippet along with a Zinger so you don’t drop them in the water. In a pinch you can carry a small pair of finger nail clippers.
• Net ( try to get one that has a tight mesh)
• Fly fishing vest (still optional if you have big pockets)

The next part goes beyond bare essentials.

• Waders
• Wading boots
• Wading staff
• Rain gear wading jacket
• Float coat for your dry flies (helps keep them dry)
• Strike Indicator material (for flies that are below the surface)
• Clip on magnifier (If your eye site is as bad as mine.)
• Bug repellent
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Fishing Gloves if the weather is very cold
• Clip on light for dusk or night fishing if allowed by law.
• Float Tube (don’t forget the fins) or a boat
• Thermometer to check the water temperature.

Please feel free to add to the list……..

Okay, so you are just beginning to Fly Fish or maybe just thinking about it.

Well where do you start?

The first question you have to ask your self is why?

Why could I possibly want to do this thing called Fly Fishing?

Here is why.

You’ve seen it on television perhaps; maybe talked to a friend or family member.

Now you want to check it out.  See if it is all the enjoyment they say it is.

How to begin?  (The short version)

You go out and purchase enough gear to get started.  (AnglerNorth comes to mind)

Have a few instructions from friends, internet, books, etc….

You’ve driven to some remote area where the fishing should be good this time of year.

Now you’re standing in a stream or river.

There is nothing but you and the water, maybe a couple of friends.

The sounds of the river and wilderness settle in your ears.

First you check out the water surface.  You are looking to match the hatch.

The “Hatch” is the bug, that’s right; you are trying to figure out the type of bug(s) coming off the water.  Sometimes they are landing back on the water to lay eggs.

These bugs are the biggest food source that the fish eat.

Hopefully you can see what they are feeding on and “match the hatch”.

Okay, you tie on a fly that best matches the hatch.

Pick a spot to fish from.  You’re looking for the most likely place the fish will be.

The closer you get with out spooking the fish, the better.

Now you begin to cast.  Out goes your line.  Carefully you watch the fly float down stream.  It may be a number of casts and even possibly a couple of missed strikes.

Then bam, the fish strikes.  You lift up on the rod just enough to set the hook.

The moment has come when you hook you’re first fish on a Fly and Fly Rod.

The action begins. You’ve seen the strike and in an instant, the fish has got your fly.

Your rod tips and line tugs in the direction of the fish. Then zip, out goes some line through your fingers. This is the loose line you where holding and casting with.  It’s time to get this fish on the reel.  As quick as you can, you reel in all the excessive line dangling around your legs in the water. Then you hear that wonderful “zip” sound of your drag on the reel peeling out line as the fish runs again.

Zip and the fish are on the run again.  You tip your rod down a little to give a little line.  Remember you have a light tippet line holding the fly on.

You’ll need a net.

Seeing the bow of your rod tip, the line pulled tight, and the shaking action that transmits all the way down to your hands.

This is Fly Fishing.   WOW!

I read today that Barack Obama thinks he should get some waders and learn to fly-fish!

I don’t agree with his politics 100%, but I’m not going to get into that. That’s for an entirely different blog. But I’ll put it out there right now that AnglerNorth will gladly donate a starter kit if he really intends to learn! I think it would be cool to have someone famous using our gear.

Politics aside, you have to admit that Barack Obama has one of the most awesome PR machines ever. I mean, how many politically motivated videos have almost 7 million hits on YouTube???

Barack, when you’re ready, come claim your starter kit! I’ll teach you how to fish!

Fish are stupid!

They aren’t as stupid as you think, but they are most certainly NOT as smart as they sound when you read other fly fishing blogs. Some anglers spend hours and hours and hours crafting one perfect fly (imagine getting one of THOSE stuck in a tree). I don’t really think you need to do that. I don’t tie my own flies personally. I’m not really sure if my idea of a good time is sitting around making string and feathers look like bugs or not. But I do know this…. “Fish are pretty dumb!”

I remember when I was a kid catching sunfish on just a hook and some string. I used to use bread for bait, and that worked out pretty well until the bread got stale (and wouldn’t stay on the hook) or I just ran out. What I would do when I ran out is use small pieces of bright colored leaves. Put a piece on, let if float out into the water a bit, and BAM. A catch almost every time.

For me, the fishing is more fun than thinking about fishing, or trying to imitate bugs. If you’re ready to get out there this year, why not just grab some flies and get out there! Fly tying is something to think about for sure, but you don’t need to tie your own flies to get the most fun out of fly fishing. So in the interest of getting your butt to the water this year, why not stock up on a variety of flies to get you started! They’re cheap, they’re sexy, and they catch fish.

Until next time!