Tip #27: Standard Casting

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Standard casting is very simple: the fly line and the rod are both lifted in a smooth motion. You’ll use an up and backwards direction which you stop when the rod is just at the vertical point. When the line starts to straighten out or fall downwards the cast will begin increasing in speed at the same time that your wrist snaps the entire rod back from the 11:00 and 1:00 clock positions. The line will they fly forward to where you want it to land.

When you’re ready to cast, make it a long cast that moves straight out from where you are standing. Strive for about a ten foot cast. When the bait hits the bottom wait for a minute or two before you start to drag it slowly up along the slope. When you’re ready to cast again throw your line out a bit to the right. Then cast to the left the next time, so that you’re fanning the area in front of you.

You also have the option of wading knee deep out into the water to cast your line so that it runs parallel to the bank. This allows you to fish the entire area of the bank so that you have the most success.

Wear clothes that are going to let you blend into the bank, such as camouflage. And walk softly and carefully as you walk along the bank to avoid spooking the bass or other fish in the area. Keep all your movement slow and steady at all times.

Fishing for fish from the bank can really challenge you as a fly fisher. Once you get those first few bites you’ll be convinced that bank fishing is just as good as fishing in the stream or lake.

Tip #26: Fishing in the Early Season – Night Fishing

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Once the ice melts off of rivers and inland lakes you can bet that it’s time for fly fishing. Look for dark colored bays where the temperature of the water will rise faster than other areas of the lake. You’ll find plenty of bass and panfish in these waters. Early season fishing is a great way that you can start your fly fishing as early in the year as possible.

Night fishing for fish is usually practiced in those areas of the United States where the weather is too hot and uncomfortable to fish during the day. This includes areas such as reservoirs in the southeast and west. When the weather is hot, many fish tend to go to deeper depths during the day and they can only be caught by night fishing. During the night, when it’s colder, fish will move up to the shallower waters where they will feed on crawfish.

Night fishing can be a lot of fun but you need take special precautions, such as being aware of the area that you’re fishing in and remembering to wear your life jacket.

You’ll know when it’s time to start night fishing when the larger fish stop biting during the hot day. Night fishing is usually practiced when there are water temperatures that are in the middle 60′s and hotter.

When it comes to night fishing there are four phases of the moon that you’ll want to be aware of. The best times to fish at night will occur once a month: three days before a full or new moon and three days after a full or new moon. This includes the day of the full or new moon.

Tip #25: Keep an Eye Out for Structures

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When you’re looking around for a place to cast your line it’s important that you look around for structures both on and in the water. This can be a large boulder or stone, a log that is submerged, or the tail end of a pool. These are great places to find fish since they don’t want to work very hard when it comes to looking for a meal. Fish will congregate near structures, where they will set up feeding stations.

Tip #24: Learn to Read the Water

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Fish will behave differently depending on certain water conditions that change depending on what season it is. This includes the temperature of the water, what the weather is like, and the volume of the water. If you want to become a successful fly fisher you’ll have to learn how to read the waters where you’re fishing.

Some of the things that you’ll discover as you learn to read the water are (1) during non-feeding periods, fish can still be encouraged to strike if they are in a deep pocket of water, and (2) when fish are feeding they are usually found in the shoreline of runs of pools and in moderate water pockets.

Water chemistry plays a big part in the health of fish, the location where they are found, and how successful you are at catching the big one. One of the most important aspects of water chemistry is pH. In scientific terms pH can be defined as: the negative log molar concentration of hydronium ions in the water. In simple language pH is the measure of the acidity or basicity in the water.

pH is typically measured on a scale of 1 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered to be neutral. pH totals of less than 7 are acidic while a measure of over 7 is considered basic.

Most fish are able to tolerate a wide range of pH in the waters where they live. This is because they have the ability to regulate their internal levels of pH. This is accomplished by the fish constantly adjusting the ratio of bases and acids within their systems. They make these adjustments by expelling any excess acids in the urine and also by controlling their breathing.

The faster a fish breathes the faster carbon dioxide leaves the blood, thus raising the level of pH in the blood. However, most fish are eventually tired out by this constant regulating of their system. If the fish lives for too long in an environment that is too acidic or too basic it will become unable to manage its own system chemistry. When this happens the fish will stop feeding and eventually die.

Tip #23: Knotless Tapered Leads

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For freshwater fishing it’s best to use a knotless tapered lead instead of a knotted tapered lead. This is because you will experience less tangles when you’re casting and the leader won’t get caught on debris that can be found in the water or on any free standing structures.

Tips #22: Leaders

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When it comes to leaders you have two choices: you can buy them or you can tie your own. If you’re going to tie your own you’ll want to get an instruction book that shows you how to do this. If you’re going to buy them you’ll want to look for a leader that is suitable to the area where you are going to be fishing. For example, if you’re going to fishing for bream (salt water fly fishing) you’ll want to use a light leader that weighs about 2lbs.

Tip #21: More Tips from the Experts

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The more tips and tricks that you have the better luck you’ll bring to your fly fishing. As a beginner you’ll want to try a variety of techniques until you find what works best for you and the water that you’re fishing in.

* Thick weeds: When you’re fishing in thick weeds the best lure that you can use is a spinnerbait or a crankbait that is shallow running. Make sure that you cast parallel to the edge of the weed flow if you can. Remember look in the inside edges of weedbeds.
* Timber pileups: When you’re fishing in deep timber your main focus will be to not get your line tangled up. Use a plastic worm or a jigging spoon for the best results.
* Fishing from fallen trees: If you want to fish from a fallen tree make sure that you pull back your bait so that it runs in parallel to the tree limbs. This is because the water is very shallow and you don’t want to disturb the area any more than you have to.
* Working the area: Make sure that you work the area that you’re fishing as thoroughly as possible. Try a few different lures if the first one doesn’t bring you success. You might want to think about returning again at a different time of day.
* Keep a close eye on your lines: Make sure that you keep a constant eye on your lines particularly when you’re retrieving them. Remember that when the weather is cold the bass can strike and completely miss the lures.
* Avoid excess noise: The more noise that you make the less the bass will bite.
* Night fishing: Night fishing is a great option in the summer months when the water temperature during the day is just too hot for bass to swim high in the water.
* Creeks and coves: During the fall months make sure that you check out creeks and coves since this is where baitfish tend to hover…and this means the bass won’t be far behind.
* Using surface plugs: When you’re using surface plugs try to pay as much attention as you can to the angle of your rod. You should be holding the rod low when you have the lure close to you and higher when the lure is further away.

Tip #20: Rods and Guides

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Another aspect of your rod that you should get to know is the guide, or the eyes. The guide is what transmits the signals of the line to the rod so that it’s easy for you to feel the fish on the other end. There are several different types of guides available today.

Some guides have rings that are made of ceramic placed inside the outer metal frame. Still other guides have inner rings that are made from silicone carbide, aluminum oxide, chrome plating, or gold aluminum oxide. The rings of the rod are what aid in the reduction of friction that can cause your line to fray.

The length of the rod handle is important as well as what the rod is made of, such as foam or cork. You’ll want to choose a rod handle that is still easy for you to hold if your hands become wet.

You won’t want to use a light action rod to catch fish since you’ll need a strong blank to be able to pull the fish out of its cover. A medium or medium/heavy rod will give you the strength that you need to pull out the fish while at the same time giving you the flexibility to use topwater baits. You might want to use a trigger handle if you’re using a long-handled rod so that you have the manageability that you need.

Before you head out fishing make sure that you check the guides on your rod. You want to make certain that none of the guides are bent. Bent guides prevent the line from moving through them correctly. Clean out the inside of the circle of the guides before you start fishing to ensure that your line doesn’t fray and break when you’re reeling in the fish.

One last thing that you should focus on when you’re buying a new rod is how the guides are attached to the rod. The wrapping must be sufficient so that the guides don’t become loose and need to be replaced.

Tip #19: Using a Sub-Surface Fly

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There is a trick to using a sub-surface fly so that it catches more fish: deodorize the fly before you use it by rubbing it with mud or underwater plants. This will mask the chemical and human smells that are attached to it and that may distract the fish from striking.

Tip #18: Tying your Fly to the Tippet

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You may find that there are times when you have difficulty tying the fly to the tippet. This can happen whether you’re in the water or up on the bank. A good trick to help you is to hold the fly up against a background that is single colored, such as the sky. The background will be able to help you see the fly easier and tie it to the tippet.