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.

A Brief History Of Fly Fishing

Fly fishing has been a time honored tradition in the world for more than five hundred years. The documented history of fly fishing goes back to Claudius Aelianus of Rome, who supposedly taught the use of fishing with an artificial fly to ancient Macedonians. And as far back as 1450 in Britain, where English lords used angling as both a means of food and sport.

Although fly fishing is generally associated with catching such species as trout and salmon, there are a great many varieties of fish that you can catch with the hand-tied flies, heavy line, and open face reels that make up the equipment necessary for fly fishing. If you are unfamiliar with this wonderful past-time, take a look at the article below for a brief history of fly fishing; as well as tips on how you can get started in this sport yourself.

The Most Ancient Form Of Angling

In the history of fly fishing, it has been recorded that ancient Roman Claudius Aelianus taught the ancient Macedonians how to create their own artificial flies, to make angling for the local fish much easier than it was with the nets they were using. There is some speculation as to whether he was actually the first fly fisherman, as there have been some reports in the history of fly fishing as to another Roman, some two hundred years earlier, making mention of catching fish with artificial flies.

The history of fly fishing as we now know it, began as a tradition on the shores of Britain, where English lords began forming flu fishing clubs and elitist groups dedicated to the sport. It is because of this rich history of fly fishing that the sport has been long attributed to those of upper classes, and to only the most discerning angler.

One of the most important parts of the history of fly fishing, aside from the vital art of fly tying, is the manufacturing and use of the special poles associated with the sport. Fly fishing rods are typically six feet or longer in length, and are traditionally thicker and heavier than other fishing poles. This is due to the fact that the fish caught in fly fishing are generally much heavier than other pond or lake fish. This is also the reason fly fishing line is so much heavier than regular fishing line.

The history of fly fishing shows that this time-honored sport is one rich with tradition and time tested perfection. Try your hand at fly fishing today!