The Practice of Fooling the Fish

Fly fishing is essentially the practice of fooling the fish. Fishermen do this in a variety of ways: picking the right spot, the right time, the right season, the right cast, the right reel, and, arguably most importantly, the right lure. Now, store-bought lures are getting better and better. But there’s an art to fly tying that can’t be matched by anything you buy in a store. And it’s tricky. It takes a lot of practice. If you’re tying for the first time we recommend starting with something simple that imitates a bunch of different insects that trout love: the wooly bugger.

If tied correctly, the wooly bugger will attract trout that are after leeches, salamanders, crayfish, tadpoles, or even dragonflies. To do it right, you’ll need a strung marabou black, black chenile, black hackle, black thread, gold beads that’ll fit on the hook, lead wire for your weight, size 6-12 streamer hooks, and head cement or nail polish.

First, place the bead on the straight end of the hook. Then tie on your thread. Use the thread to attach the black marabou, leaving an inch between the tie site and the bead. Then coil the lead wire around the hook between the marabou and the bead. Next, tie the chenile at the marabou site. Start with the thinnest part of the hackle and tie it on the back. tie off along with the chenile to clean it up. Finally, apply the head cement or nail polish over all tied ends.

Play around with colors and angles of marabous. The more wooly buggers you’ve got in your tacklebox, the more you’ve got to play with once you’re out scouting for trout. Fly tying is an art, which means there’s plenty of room for experimentation. Time and experience will give you more confidence in what works and what doesn’t.

For more tips and tricks regarding fly fishing, casting, and tying, keep up with our blog! And for all of your fly fishing needs, contact Lees Ferry Fly Fishing today!

For more details, visit our homepage at http://www.leesferryflyfishing.com. 

Source: http://www.instructables.com/id/tying-a-wooly-bugger-for-fly-fishing/

Common Fly Fishing Mistakes

There are plenty of nice adjectives that get kicked around when we talk about fly fishing – serene, peaceful, patient – but easy is generally not one of them. Fly fishing is hard, no doubt about it, and there is plenty of room for errors that can make it even more challenging. These simple errors sometimes discourage novice fly fishers and keep them from pursuing the sport further. Fortunately, many of these mistakes can be easily identified and rectified, making the experience of fly fishing a whole lot more enjoyable. Today we'll look at a few of these common mistakes.

Approach with Caution

It's easy to get excited and go happily sloshing out into the Colorado River, but this is probably not in your best interest. Bear in mind, any sudden, noisy movements you make will immediately be noticed by any fish in the area. Before you enter a stream or river, scout it out from the shore. Look for any spots with lots of insect activity. There are likely to be fish nearby, and the imitation insect at the end of your line will have an easier time blending in. If you see any rocks jutting out of the water, consider using them as a perch while you fish. This will give you a bird's eye view of the water and minimize your chances of spooking the fish.

Slow and Steady

A fast, rushed cast has a greater chance of spooking fish and tangling your line. Do your best to stay relaxed and find a nice, slow cadence for your cast. It will take a good deal of practice and diligence to maintain this relaxed posture, but it will also greatly increase your chances of success.

Remember the Plan

It's called fly fishing for a reason. The goal is to imitate the action of an insect on the end of your line, thereby enticing unwitting fish to take a nibble on your hook. Before you head off to a local fishing hole, do some research to find out what kind of insects are common to that ecosystem. Choose your flies accordingly and do your best to imitate the movement of the real thing. Getting fish to buy your insect parody will also take time, but it is one of the most rewarding aspects of fly fishing technique.

Learning to fly fish shouldn’t scare away those who are looking to enjoy nature and take part in the rich American pastime. At Marble Canyon Outfitters, you can learn new techniques right here at Lee’s Ferry on the breathtaking Colorado River. Visit our website to get started today.

For More Details, Visit Home at http://www.LeesFerryFlyFishing.com