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Getting the Most out of Your Fly Fishing Set Up

fish caught by fly held in hand
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Getting the Most out of Your Fly Fishing Set Up

Over the years I’ve picked up proven techniques, either by trial and error or by the kindness of other anglers who were willing to share a minute or two. Not only would they share with me which fly was working, but they also shared their knowledge on how to fish it and why it worked. The most consistent, most successful have several traits in common. They may seem like small differences, but when put together the results were often exceptional. Here is what to look for:

The outfit.

The outfit. A lighter outfit presents a fly more delicately than a heavier one. A lighter one is easier to cast, more fun to fish and gives the angler and fish more bang for the buck. I find an eight and a half to nine foot rod equipped with five-weight floating line ideal. For sinking line I’ll move up to a six/seven weight rod of the same length.

The leader and tippet.

Stores usually sell a lot of 9’ leaders, but don’t stop there. I like to buy leaders that are a minimum of 12 feet long, and then I’ll add an additional six feet or more of tippet. Tippet being the thin line that attaches the leader to the fly. What this does is keep the thick flyline well away from the sight of the fish. The only thing the fish sees is the fly and this will get a lot more to commit

The fly. 

When I’m fishing a pattern and it’s not producing, I will usually size down and continue to size down until I start connecting with fish. I’m often amazed at how big a trout will suck up a size 14 or 16 fly, especially the bead head nymphs - the bead head prince nymph being my all time favorite.

fish caught by fly fishing held in handfish caught by fly fishing held in hand

The cast. 

Waving line back and forth like in the movie “A River Runs Through It” looks natural, rhythmic, but it does little to catch fish. In fact more fish will be spooked by the commotion overhead. Instead, keep false casts (as they are called) to a minimum. If you can pick the line up and with a swish or two, get it all back out and be fishing, you’ll spook fewer fish and catch more.

There’s no better teacher than being out on the lake and using it for yourself. If you’re not already doing some of these tips give them a try and I’m confident you’ll be running into more fish

man holding fish in front of lake and treelineman holding fish in front of lake and treeline
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