Fly fishing is an ancient and unique fishing method. Success in fly fishing relies on proper casting technique. The lures of fly fishing, known as flies, are too light to pull the fishing line as with conventional fishing cast. Fly fishing instead casts a heavier fishing line, or fly line with momentum stored in the fishing rod. At the end of the cast, the angler lets the energy of the fly rod transfer to the fly line. The fishing fly will follow a properly cast line as it “flies” away from the fly rod to the angler's intended target. The complex technique of casting a fly line makes fly fishing more of an art form than traditional fishing methods.
Generating the necessary energy to cast a fly line requires a fishing line with distinct qualities. One feature that makes most fly rods visually distinct from other fishing rods is the noticeable absence of a traditional handle. The butt end of a fishing rod will only disrupt most of the casting techniques used in freshwater fly fishing so the unnecessary fishing rod handle is sacrificed while the fishing rod itself is extended for greater overall length. Fly rods are longer than most spinning or bait casting fishing rods that are used for the same kinds of fishing. For freshwater fishing, fly rods will start around 6 feet and only get longer from there. These extra long fishing rods are also very lightweight to give a fly rod a flexible nature that is necessary to build up the momentum needed to flick a fly line out into the water. The bends or loops created in the body of the fly rod are the source of energy that launch the rest of the tackle.
Much of the tackle and fishing gear used in fly fishing today came from designs developed by river fishing anglers fishing for trout. While trout fishing is the main application of fly fishing it is by no means the only outlet. There are fly rods and fishing flies that are designed for bass, perch, pike, walleye and catfish among others. Legend has it that fly fishing anglers where the first to successfully use artificial fishing lures for bass fishing. Since then some artificial flies have been developed specifically for bass fishing. Bass fishing with fly fishing tackle is still popular and flies have since been developed just for bass fishing.
While most fly fishing tackle has been developed for freshwater fishing, extra long fly rods with purpose built fly reels have been developed to handle the strain and extreme conditions of saltwater fishing. Spey rods are very large fly rods with handles for two handed casting from the sea shore. Still the biggest fly rods are used for open water fly fishing. This type of fishing requires a fly rod around 15 feet in length with a special fly reel that holds more fly line and is designed to stand up to marine environments. These giant fly reels also have a complex drag system to make it easier to control large fish.
The only real way to understand fly fishing is by compiling a arrangement of fly fishing tackle and practice fly fishing technique. With practice anglers used to conventional fishing will come to enjoy fly fishing even more. To start a new leg of your fishing experience or expand your fly rod collection, FlyFishingPage.com is a great source of fishing gear for the fine art of fly fishing.