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.

When looking for new fly fishing rods, remember to match them to the type of fishing you will be doing as well as the size of the fish you are expecting to catch. The material of which the fly fishing rods are made will play a role in its performance as well its price with fiberglass being less expensive than graphite. Fiberglass rods are usually more durable than graphite rods, but the lighter graphite rods provide better accuracy for casting.

For fishing in waters where most of the casts will be short, a slow-action, flexible fly fishing rods have the most bend and should be used when angling for smaller fish. Medium action fly fishing rods, perhaps the best for beginners offer less flexibility and rod will bend in the middle and the tip when pulling in the fish. For larger fish or for casting lost range, a fast action rod is the better choice, although they lack the casting accuracy associated with lighter rods.

The length of the fly fishing rods also varies by the type of fishing you will be doing as well as the situations in which you will be casting. A medium length rod of between eight and 10 feet can provide better casting accuracy and strength and is often recommended for beginners.

Keeping Flies Out Of The Vegetation

If you are experienced enough to fish in tight quarters such as under trees or bushes or in small streams, short fly fishing rods of under eight feet will be better suited. Rods between eight and ten feet can handle bigger fish and will be needed for longer casts on wider streams or rivers. If you are fishing in larger bodies of water requiring longer casts or catching bigger fish, fly fishing rods longer than 10-feet is recommended. Graphite or fiberglass is an individual choice, as well as available budget.

It is recommended for beginners to start with medium length and medium flex fly fishing rods until they learn to control their casts and can do so accurately. Whenever you buy a new rod you should take it to a wide open area and use a dummy fly, that is one without a hook, and practice casting until you get a feel for the new rod.

Once you gain experience and can control the distance and accuracy of your casts, you can change to longer fly fishing rods with more flexibility to improve the length and overall efficiency of your casting.

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!”