| Since the earliest fisherman plucked fish from the | | | | learn the difference. With bait casting, the weight of |
| water with their bare hands, anglers have found many | | | | the lure and bait draws line from the reel, and extends |
| different methods of fishing. Fly fishing is one of the | | | | out into the water. When fly fishing the line is cast into |
| oldest and has been in existence for hundreds of | | | | the water and the fly on the line follows the line into |
| years. Believed to have begun during Roman times, | | | | the water. It requires a lot of practice and |
| the advanced methods of fly fishing are considered to | | | | concentration to place the line that is cast from the |
| have developed in Scotland and England. With | | | | reel and having the fly land in the desired spot on the |
| improved reels, line and fly gear fly fishing has grown in | | | | surface of the water. The two main types of lures |
| popularity by leaps and bounds. Originally, fly fishing | | | | used in fly fishing are the dry fly that remains on the |
| was mainly used to catch trout and salmon, which are | | | | surface and the wet fly that is designed to sink once it |
| easily fooled by artificial flies. However, many species | | | | hits the water. Other flies, called emerging flies partially |
| of fish are now being targeted by fans of sport fishing | | | | submerge under the water, to duplicate the action of |
| using dry and wet flies. Today the lines are heavier | | | | emerging insects from their larva stage. Fly fishing |
| and larger in diameter. As a result there is a need for a | | | | requires the fisherman to adjust to local conditions as |
| larger reel that is required to hold that size of line. | | | | well as altering their technique depending on the time |
| Anglers now research the local water life to determine | | | | of day and time of year. It will take the fly fisherman a |
| the best colors and styles of flies that may be able to | | | | lot of practice and patience to develop the skills |
| attract the local fish population. The main purpose of | | | | necessary to consistently catch fish. Making Your |
| fly fishing is to offer an artificial fly to the fish that will | | | | Own Flies After a fly fisherman has mastered the |
| closely resemble an insect or bug that is native to the | | | | difficult techniques of fly fishing he may want to design |
| area. Curious fishermen may spend a lot of time | | | | his own flies. It is a wonderful hobby. A master fly |
| researching the types of bugs that flourish in the region | | | | maker can build up quite a collection. A beautiful as |
| as well as spending time studying the types of fish and | | | | well as effective fly can be a rewarding creation. |
| how they approach their victims. Practice, Practice, | | | | Whether you create your own flies or become an |
| Practice, It Takes A lot of Practice to Properly Cast | | | | avid collector, the art of fly fishing can grow on you |
| Flies For the fisherman switching from bait fishing to fly | | | | and become almost an addiction. |
| fishing there is a conversion period in which they must | | | | Written by David Swanson. |