Definition of a fly: a lure constructed on a single-point hook of feathers, tinsel,
chenille, yarn, fur, hair, silk, rayon or nylon thread or floss, with or
without spinner.
All
fishing is enjoyable, but catching a trout on an artificial fly is one of the
most rewarding and exciting experiences one can imagine. Those that
appreciate flyfishing in its purest sense are the same sort of folks that
prefer bowhunting to rifle hunting, backpacking to pay-site camping, and
wilderness areas to state parks. This doesn't mean that a flyfisherman never
rifle hunts, camps at a pay site, or visits a state park. It's just that
their hearts usually lie elsewhere. If you are one of those people that enjoy
the journey more than the destination, then you should give flyfishing a try.
For the flyfishing purist, the act is more of a religious
experience than a hobby. And while we're flyfishing, there is a sense of
following in some great historical person's footsteps, reliving someone
else's notable experience, a feeling of being tied into something more
significant than just trying to catch a fish. And these nondescript feelings
are actually amplified when we fish in utter isolation. It's the sense that
we're actually doing something truly breathtaking. However, if you define a
successful day of fishing as a day when you fill the freezer with meat, then
perhaps flyfishing is not for you. There's no right or wrong in it, it's just
a matter of preference. Flyfishing is not for everyone.
Many people don't realize that flyfishing in some form has literally
existed for thousands of years. An ancient Roman historian by the name of
Claudius Aelianus, who made his reputation as a military writer (think
"war correspondent" for the Roman army), documented flyfishing by
the Macedonians more than 1800 years ago in the following manner:
"They
do not use flies for bait, for if a man's hand touch them they lose their
natural color, their wings wither, and they become unfit food for the fish.
Instead, they fasten crimson wool around a hook and fix on to the wool two
feathers that grow under a cock's wattles and which in color are like wax.
Their rods are six feet long, and their line is the same length. Then they
throw their snare, and the fish, attracted and maddened by the color, comes
straight at it, thinking from the lovely sight to gain a dainty mouthful.
However, when it opens its jaws, it is caught by the hook and enjoys a bitter
repast as a captive."
Is that cool, or what? Of course, no can
be certain, but it also appears as if they were actually trout fishermen.
Claudius Aelianus described the fish as having a "spotted
exterior", and he identified the river in question as the
Astracus River, which holds brown trout to this day.
This Mosaic is perhaps 1900 years old. Note the flimsy fishing
rods and landing nets. Look familiar? Could this be a picture of flyfishing
Macedonians?
Fast forward 1800 years or so. Flyfishing is somewhat popular,
but not yet considered terribly romantic. And then... THE MOVIE is
released, and all hell breaks loose. Once the "girlfriends" started
swooning over Norman and Paul Maclean and their Montana flyfishing
adventures, the "boyfriends" started buying new equipment, running
out to the rivers to slap the water with their El Cheapo brand flyline. Of
course, it didn't help that Brad Pitt was in the movie. For all we know, the
real Norman and Paul could have been butt ugly, but noooo, they had to cast
Brad Pitt!
A River Runs Through It (the movie more so than the book), did
a spectacular job of explaining the allure of flyfishing to those who knew
nothing about it. Without clouding the action with words, the movie made it
very clear what the fisherman was seeing, thinking and feeling, and the
rationale behind the problem-solving and decision-making was all communicated
by facial expressions and pause. It somehow managed to explain to many
exactly why folks like us are obsessed. Many thousands of non-fishing spouses
exclaimed, "Oh! Now I get it!" And to us obsessed fly-fishermen,
this was a beautiful sound.
The movie really helped the sport. Our trout streams are now
more likely than ever to be protected by our legislatures, because there are
now many more voices screaming for just that very thing. And, it forces us
old-timer flyfishermen to seek out more secluded, wild and challenging waters
to avoid the crowds of newbies. And our wives now think we're just a little
bit more like Brad Pitt. All in all, it's a win-win situation. Thank you
Robert Redford.
Want to try your hand at flyfishing? Here's what you need to
get started. Start with an inexpensive graphite flyrod and a simple fly reel.
If you look around, you can probably find a painfully cheap fiberglass flyrod
combo for less than $40, and that's not a bad idea if you're buying a rod just out
of curiosity. If you are seriously interested, though, you should try something a
bit higher in the quality department. Regardless of where you purchase your first
outfit, expect most combo's to have nylon backing and some ordinary fly line
included -- the backing is tied to the reel, and the fly line is tied to the backing.
You'll also need to buy some leader material, which can
actually be pretty confusing. Your fly line is big, bulky and easily seen by
fish. The leader, which is simply specialized monofilament fishing line,
attaches to the end of the fly line by way of a
prefabricated loop, an inserted metal eyelet, or a simple nail knot (not that
a nail knot is simple). Your leader should taper down in down size with the
thickest portion (the butt end) attaching to the fly line and the thinnest
portion attaching to the fly.
If you're fishing most Missouri waters, you can get by with a
7-1/2 foot tapered leader size 5x (usually about 4 pound test), but experienced
fly fishermen are more likely to use a 9 foot leader. This really becomes
a necessity, if you're fishing little spring creeks rather than decent-sized
streams and rivers, since the trout are likely to
be a bit more edgy. Attach a 6x or 7x (usually 2 or 3 pound test) length of
line onto the end of your leader using a blood knot or nested loops. This end
piece is called your "tippet" and is the terminal end of your
tapered leader.
The purpose of tapering your leader is three-fold. First, it
allows for the fly to roll over properly when you cast. Second, it helps your
fly tumble naturally in the current and appear natural. Third, if a fish (or
tree) breaks your line, it will break at the weakest point, meaning it will
break closer to your fly, thus saving most of your leader. The smaller the
fly you're using, the smaller your tippet should be. A 6x tippet will work
fine casting flies size 12 through 20, and a 7x tippet will work fine for
sizes 16 through 24. If you're fishing a fly smaller than a #24 in Missouri
waters, you're just making your life too difficult.
This brings us to the fly, of course. In Missouri, you can
catch fish on any trout stream if you make sure you have 7 basic patterns in
various colors and sizes. Here are some favorites:
(1) Adams, sizes 12 through 22;
(2) Elk Hair Caddis, sizes 14 through 20;
(3) Griffith's Gnat, sizes 18 and smaller;
(4) Pheasant Tail Nymph, sizes 12 through 18;
(5) Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, sizes 10 through 16;
(6) Woolly Worm, sizes 12 through 16; and
(7) Marabou Leach, sizes 10 through 16. If you're an
avid fly-fisher, some of your favorite patterns are certainly not listed here, but most
will agree that these patterns will be productive most anywhere. Many fly fishermen
tie their own flies, but they usually tackle fly tying as a hobby only after feeling
some success as a fly fisherman.
Aside from these basic requirements, you'll, of course, need some
additional equipment and accessories. You'll need a decent pair of waders, a vest, some
fly boxes, some polarized sunglasses, and perhaps a landing net. Walmarts, Kmarts & Targets that
are within 30 minutes of a trout stream should have these items in stock. If you're
brand new to the sport, you may also want casting lessons. There are some great DVD's
available, but nothing is better than finding someone skilled to show you the ropes. Most
quality flyshops will offer free casting lessons to those who buy their flyrod in their store.
There are also professional instructors and fishing guides available, usually based near
busy trout waters (like Bennett Spring State Park). With an hour or two of casting instruction,
followed by a day on the water practicing, you'll look like Brad Pitt in no time. Please also consider
Trout Hunter Expeditions for casting lessons and guided trout fishing
trips.
These are only the basics. Even an expert caster needs to be
able to find the fish and identify what they're biting on. For more details
on these issues, click HERE.
All we need to make you a trout reproduction is a photo of your fish!
