On Vacation? – Give Fly Fishing a Try!

When I lived in Florida, I spent a lot of vacations in the mountains of Western North Carolina. I have always loved being outdoors and the mountains are the perfect place for activities like hiking and golfing. While out and about, I would often see people fly fishing. They seemed to be having a lot of fun and I had always wanted to give it a try. But while I’ve always been an avid saltwater fisherman, I have to admit that fly fishing looked a little bit intimidating. Afterall, you have to have a special rod and reel, all shapes and sizes of flies that I had no idea how to use, and this weird casting method that looked difficult.

Finally, after moving to the Asheville area a few years ago, I decided it was time to give fly fishing a try. Although you can make this sport as complicated as you want, I was surprised to find that it was actually pretty simple to get started, and I have had loads of fun learning more about the art of fly fishing.

I want to be clear though, I am a beginner in the world of fly fishing. This post is by no means intended to be a tutorial in all things fly fishing, and frankly, experienced fly fisherman will likely find this post a bit perfunctory. Instead, this post is intended to encourage people who, like me, have wanted to give fly fishing a try, but have been apprehensive on how to go about it. This post should be considered as more of a basic introduction to fly fishing, that will hopefully demystify the sport and give you the confidence to try it yourself.

What is Fly Fishing?

Fly fishing is generally considered to be a little more challenging than other types of fishing because the fisherman must use multiple techniques to ‘deceive’ fish into biting on an artificial lure – called a fly. Fly fishing can also be done anywhere, from salt water to small mountain streams. For our purposes though, we will be looking at fishing for trout and bass in fresh water streams and creeks. So, let’s start with a few of the basics regarding equipment, terms and techniques.

– Fly Fishing Rig – As with reel fishing, fly fishing also requires a rod, reel and line. So, the basic setup is the same, but there are some important differences.

o Rod – The fly fishing-rod looks like most typical fresh and salt water rods, but there is more diversity based mainly on the length of the rod and the weight of the line you plan to use. A typical fly rod is anywhere from 7.5 to 9 feet in length. The weight ranges from 1 to 8+ (1 for small fish and an 8 for larger fish) and should correspond with the weight of the line you are using. But let’s not get too complicated. For trout fishing in one of our smaller mountain streams, a good length for the fly rod is about 8 feet and a 5 weight is a good place to start for trout fishing.

o Reel – The reel simply holds your line and they also come in weights that you will want to match to your rod.

o Line – The line and its rigging are one of the big differences in fly fishing. In reel fishing the line is fairly light weight and it is the leader, sinker, bait, etc. that provide sufficient weight to make casting possible. Can you imagine trying to cast with nothing on the end of your line? I wouldn’t go anywhere, right? But with fly fishing, many times you only have a fly that weighs next to nothing on the end of the line. So, how do you cast?

With fly fishing, it is the actually just the weight of the line that provides the weight for casting. There are four parts of the line that we need to consider. The first section is called the backing, which refers to the initial line on the reel. The amount of backing depends on the capacity of the reel and could be anywhere from 20 to 100 yards.

The second section of the line is called the fly line. This is a weighted line that makes up most of the line on your reel. So, the fly line is what provides the weight necessary for casting that weightless fly.

The third part of the line is the leader. The leader is usually between 7.5 and 9 feet in length, but may be modified based on conditions. Most of the time it is a tapered leader, meaning it is thicker at the beginning and thinner as you near the end that will hold the fly.

Finally, the last part of the line is the tippet. The tippet is also sold by weight, with a lower number corresponding to a thicker line.  Yes that’s right, you will see the weight listed as something like 4x, which is smaller that 3x.  It’s definitely a bit confusing at first!  The length of the tippet depends on several things, including the type of fly being used and depth of water. The tippet is tied to the leader and then to your fly. Each part of the line is getting progressively thinner as it gets closer to the bait, so by the time you get to the bait, the line is literally almost invisible to the fish.

TIP: If you eyesight is not perfect, be sure to bring along some good reading glasses. The line can be so fine it is very hard to see. And some flies are on such small hooks they can be tough to thread.

– Bait – This topic can be very complicated, so let’s just keep it simple. First, bait is referred to as flies, and flies can represent anything including insects, worms and frogs. Typically flies are either wet or dry. What’s the difference? Basically, a wet fly is intended to be used under the water and a dry fly is used on top of the water.

In order to determine the right fly to use, anglers will analyze the area to see what, if any, types of insects are flying over the water. If any fish are breaking the surface while feeding, that would be an indication that a dry fly should be used above the water. In addition, anglers will turn over rocks in the stream to see what insects may be under them. They may find nymphs, caddis flies or a whole host of other types. However, it’s not necessary to actually identify the specific insect. Just check your fly box and locate a fly that most closely resembles insects living in the stream.

– Other Equipment – There is no shortage of accessories one can buy for fly fishing, but most are not required. But there are a few items that you will likely need.

o Waders – Waders are a waterproof foot and leg covering that may reach from the thigh up to the neck. They keep you dry (and warm) when wading in to a stream. You could just try fishing from the shore and not use waders. However, many times you have to be in a specific position to fish a particular spot in the stream and you have to wade into the stream to do that.

One other note about waders, if you don’t plan on going in very deep (about thigh deep) and it’s a hot day, you can actually substitute wading socks for waders.  Wading socks are made of neoprene and are used in conjunction with your regular wading boots.  The socks can fold down over the boot to keep mud and rocks out, and you stay much cooler in hot weather.

o Wading Boots – Along with waders or wading socks, wading boots will keep your feet dry. Many have ‘studs’ on the bottom for better grip on slippery rocks.

TIP: Be very careful when wading in a creek or stream. Currents can be deceiving and rocks very slippery. Ensure you have the proper wading boots and never try to cross fast moving water, even if it doesn’t look deep.

o Flies – There are all sorts of flies and as a beginner it may be tough to know where to start. If you have access to a local outfitter or fly shop, they can be instrumental in helping you understand the types of flies to use in the area.

o Other Equipment – You will probably want to have a net and pliers so that you can handle your catch. However, many of the other specialized tools can be added over time if you find them useful.

– Casting – Some of you may remember the beautiful fly fishing-scenes in the film A River Runs Through It. The overhead casting performed in the film does require some finesse and practice is definitely necessary to become proficient. But no worries, if you are fishing in a small creek or stream, especially where there are many trees, you will not be casting very far and a roll cast is all you need. Just a simple cast where you lift the line, bring the pole back beside you and ‘flick’ the rod forward will allow you to position your fly just where you want it.

TIP: If you are interested in more information about fly fishing, I highly recommend these two books by Tom Rosenbauer, The Orvis Guide to Beginning Fly Fishing: 101 Tips for the Absolute Beginner and Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide.   They are the two best books I have seen and have great illustrations. You can also find some great videos by Orvis and others related to casting, tying knots and working the fly.

How to Get Started?

Even after you have done some reading and perhaps even watched some videos about fly fishing, I do not recommend you try to teach yourself to fly fish. You really need an experienced fisherman to guide you, at least the first time you give it a try. Unless you have a friend that can help you learn, I recommend that you hire a guide. Let’s talk about the benefits that a guide can provide.

– Guides – Not only will a guide provide all of the equipment you need, they will also know the best places to fish, how to rig your line, what flies to use and how to ‘read’ the water to determine where the fish are likely to be. Your guide will be able to show you the appropriate methods to use and will be able to coach you so that you can improve your technique quickly. And of course, you should not be shy about asking questions. Typically, these folks are thrilled to share their love of fishing and are more than happy to answer any and all questions that you may have.

You can easily find guides on the internet in locations across the country. If you have an Orvis nearby, that would be a good place to start. In my area near Asheville, we have an excellent outfitter, Curtis Wright Outfitters.  They have some of the best guides around and like most outfitters, they offer a number of different fishing packages, including full or half-day trips, wading or float trips and even custom options. So, if you plan to visit Western North Carolina, they may be a good choice for helping you plan your foray into fly fishing.

My final comment is just to reiterate that if you have never been fly fishing, please hire an experienced guide. You will have so much more fun and you will learn an incredible amount of information that you can build upon as you expand your own fly fishing experience.

– Licenses and Regulations – While a guide will provide all the equipment you need, you will have to buy a fishing license. In addition, you will need to understand when and where you can fish. Check with the local or state wildlife agency to determine exactly what you will need.

o License Type – Each state will have different options for your license. In North Carolina, for example, there are several different types of licenses including resident versus non-resident, inland and coastal fishing, and duration of the license. Other states may also have special add-ons for specific species of fish. Most licenses can be purchased online and if so, you will be able to receive your license immediately. Here is the North Carolina site with all the options.

o Where and When to Fish? – This question might seem obvious; you fish in the creek or stream whenever you want! Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, and there are some state regulations of which you must be aware. For example, based on the time of year, there are rules for how to fish (reel vs. fly and live vs. artificial bait). Also, where are you fishing? Many rivers and streams are hatchery supported or delayed harvest, and there are specific rules on when and how you can fish in them. Here are the North Carolina details that define the fishing regulations.  Every state has different rules and they are typically enforced diligently, so be aware!

TIP: Streams and creeks often flow through private property. While in most states the flowing water is considered public, the land surrounding it can be private. So if you see No Trespassing signs, please respect them. If you are allowed to fish on private lands, please be considerate and leave no trace!

Fishing on Your Own

If you decide not to hire a guide or you are ready to fish on you own, I have a few other basic tips that may help.

– Reading the Stream – Before you start to fish, take some time to look at the stream and the flow of the water. Are there insects flying around indicating that the fish are feeding on the surface? If not, check under some rocks to determine what other insects may be living in the stream so that you can match your fly appropriately.  Next, where should you fish in the stream? It takes a lot of energy for a fish to maintain its position in a fast-moving current, but that is also where bugs and flies will wash down the stream. So, fish will tend to feed in calmer water just outside the current, often in front of or behind rocks, which deflect the current. These are good places to start fishing.

– Fishing the Fly – Remember that the fly provides very little weight when casting the line, and the goal is to present the fly to the fish so that the fly appears as natural as possible. So, you want the fly to either drift on the surface (dry fly) or bounce on the bottom (wet fly) in a manner that will fool the fish into biting. If the bait looks unnatural, then you can fish all day with lots of fish around, but never get a bite.

– Mending the Line – This is a term that you will hear often and something you will actually do frequently as well. Imagine casting across the stream where the water is running faster in front of you, but a little slower where the bait landed. Most of the time your line floats, so the line in front of you will be moving faster.  As the line moves it will start to drag the bait, and the bait will appear unnatural to the fish. To fix this problem, you ‘mend’ the line by moving it. That means you lift the tip of your rod and then quickly move the rod tip in the direction you want to mend, thereby stopping the drag. You might need to mend several times before you get the fly where you want it. The books listed will show you illustrations on how this is done, or simply look for a video on the internet.

– Landing the Fish – Most of the time you will be practicing ‘catch and release’, so you want to be as gentle as possible so as not to overly stress the fish. Try to land the fish as quickly as you can, and use a net specifically made for trout and bass. If you are taking pictures of your catch, wet your hands to preserve the fish’s protective oils before handling it. Handle the fish as little and as quickly as possible before releasing it. On occasion, if the fight to catch the fish was long, they may be really tired. You may need to hold them up stream so water will run through their gills until they regain their strength.

I hope this post encourages you to give fly fishing a try and that you learned a little along the way. I have found that even on days when the fishing isn’t great, just being outdoors in the solitude of nature is well worth the time spent. Maybe the next time you are on vacation, you can take some time for a fly fishing outing. The streams and creeks are waiting for you!