Many stories about the one that got away would not be told if the angler had good knowledge of a few basic fly fishing knots. It is not always because they were in a hurry to get their line in the water that made the knot unable to withstand the pressure of a larger than expected fish. Sometimes it is a matter of simply not knowing any better. Whether the knots is for fixing the line to the rod, to a leader or attaching the fly, the strength of the fly fishing knots can make huge difference in the end of the story.

One of the most common fly fishing knots is the arbor knot used to secure the fly line to the arbor of the reel. Take the line around the spool and tie an overhand knot around the line. Then tie a second overhand knot a few inches past the first knot.

Lightly wet the line and pull the second know tight and then hold the spool in one hand, pull the line with tight with the other hand. The first knot will prevent the line from skipping through the second knot and the end can be trimmed and the reel loaded with line. The wet line will provide lubrication and help form tighter fly fishing knots.

Flies With Bent Eyes Require Different Knots

One of the other fly fishing knots used most often is the turle knot, used to attach flies to the line. Pass the lead end of the line through the eye of the fly and then make at least two wraps around the standing line, passing the leading end through the now formed loop, which forms an overhand knot. Once you pull this snug, you can pass the fly through the large remaining loop, tighten it down and trim the extra line. This type of fly fishing knots allows the fly to move more realistically on the water.

One of the keys to tying successful fly fishing knots is to wet the line with saliva or lake water before securing the knot. This helps lubricate the line making it easier to pull tight and once the line dries, will be stronger than a line tied when it is dry.

When using thinner line pulling the fly fishing knots too tight may result in a broken line. However, before casting the fly onto the water it is always better to check the strength of the fly fishing knots by pulling on the line to a pressure at least equal to the tested strength of the line.

One of the main parts of a fly angler’s equipment is their fly fishing waders and depending on the destination, the style and comfort can be chosen. Waders come in three basic styles, such as hip boots, overall and chest waders, depending on the depth of water expected to be encountered. Some anglers not anticipating water more than a foot or two deep, may opt for short rubber boots that reach only to their knees.

When looking for fly fishing waders the sole of the boot should be made to provide support and comfort to the bottom of the foot. Chances are you will be standing on the rocky bottom and boots with thin soles will become uncomfortable after a short time. Additionally, they should be designed to prevent slipping while walking over wet rocks and stones on the bottom. They are available to wear with or without shoes and many opt for the ones that do not require inner shoes to prevent your shoes from getting wet if water gets into the fly fishing waders.

Many fly fishing waders are also insulated to help keep your feet warm when walking through cold mountain streams. You will need to be careful not to allow this insulated interior to get wet as it can take several days to completely dry out and be ready to use again. Additionally, the material of which the insulation is made may deteriorate quickly if it becomes wet.

Material Improvements Keep Feet Dry And Warm

The environment in which you will be fishing will determine the type of fly fishing waders you buy. If there is a chance of the water rising above your waist, hip waders will not do the trick. While overalls may restrict your movements slightly, keeping dry should be the most important part of the decision. Chest waders will reach at least to your arm pits, and will offer less restriction, but a slight slip could allow water in over the top.

Many newer styles of fly fishing waders also include pockets for small tools or fly boxes and have the exterior pouches positioned out of the way of your arms when casting a fly. They may also be tear resistant, but absolutely be waterproof. Even if your have the best fly fishing waders that money can buy, you will want to carry a repair kit made specifically for the wader material in event of a rip.

Tying a Duncan’s loop knot in fly fishing. Learn about fly fishing knots, equipment, and techniques in this free video.

Expert: Alvin Dedeaux
Contact: www.alvindedEaux.com
Bio: Alvin has been a fly fishing guide and casting instructor for 12 years, and has been fly fishing for 32 years. He is a graduate of the Joan Wulff fly casting instructor’s school.
Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

Looking For Fly Fishing Tackle

Duration : 0:1:34

Read the rest of this entry »

Fishing On The Fly

If you want to embrace fishing on the fly as a hobby, then you’ve probably been looking for some tips to getting started. The sport of fly fishing is a time honored tradition that dates back to ancient Rome, and has grown in popularity more over the last two hundred years than ever before. Our experts have a combined fly fishing experience of more than fifty years, and if you’re looking for the very best tips for the fishing on the fly, then you have definitely come to the right place.

Fly Fishing: The Basics

Fly fishing is the sport of catching fish with hand tied lures, known as flies. These flies are often bits of feathers and fake fur, that are wound with brightly colored line to make them look more like real bugs. For someone first starting fishing on the fly, there are numerous kits available that will walk you step by step through the fly tying process, so that you can create your own little works of art. The second thing you should know about fishing on the fly is, you need to have the right pole. Remember that a true fly rod is longer and heavier than a regular fishing pole. This is due largely to the fact that the fish you will be catching with your fly rod are much larger than the fish caught with regular fishing poles.

If you are just starting out in fishing on the fly, it is probably a good idea to take a few casting classes prior to heading out on your very first fishing expedition. These casting classes will help you to learn the proper technique for allowing the wind to do most of the work for you when you cast your line. Although stronger than normal fishing line, the line used for fly fishing is much lighter. This allows the wind to carry the line further into the body of water where you are fishing, so that you can have an easier time of catching the skittish sport fish.

You may also want to hire a guide for your first expedition if you are a fly fishing beginner. These guides are specially trained to take you to the very best places to fish, and to help you with any technique issues you may have. Hiring a guide may seem like an extravagance, but for the fly fishing beginner, they can provide invaluable help and advice.

The interest in fly fishing is not only in the challenge of learning to cast a weightless lure and fight a fish on a rod that seems scarcely stronger than a willow switch, but also because it’s a highly effective way to fish

As a starter in the sport of fishing on the fly, you are about to embark on the experience of a lifetime. Enjoy it, and don’t forget to write down all your stories about “the one that got away!”