Fly and Flies
Flies are used for fly-fishing for trout. There are thousands upon
thousands of different types of flies, but there are three main
categories that flies fall into.
The first category of flies is dry flies. These are any type of flies
that will float on the surface of the water. Names like Parachute
Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, and Griffith’s Gnats, are a few of the
most recognized dry flies. Most anglers really enjoy fly-fishing
with these flies, as it provides a very visual way to see the trout eat
the fly. There are many different varieties of dry flies, but most
are designed to mimic mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies.
However, there are plenty of others that are designed to mimic
terrestrials such as grasshoppers, beetles and ants. Although
fishing with these types of flies can be very visual and exciting, it
is however, sometimes not the most practical. 80% of a trout’s diet
is consumed under the water, leaving trout to feed on the surface
only 20% of the time. This is why nymph fishing is usually most
effective.
Nymphs, or flies that are fished below the surface of the water,
are the begging stages of how an adult fly is formed. Typically,
nymphs are found in and around the rocks, on the bottom of a
stream, lake, or river. Copper Johns, Pheasant Tails, and Hares
Ears are very popular nymph patterns. Most of the time, these
types of flies will be tied with weight added to them, in order to
keep the flies near the bottom. The most common of these are
bead headed nymphs. Because these flies are below the surface of
the water, and you cannot see when a trout has eaten them, most
fly anglers will choose to fish them with a strike indicator, or the
equivalent of a bobber if you are familiar with conventional
fishing. Basically, it is a float of some sort of variety, which is
designed to go under the water or twitch after a fish has eaten your
flies. When this happens, you set the hook, and start fighting the
fish.
The third category of flies is called streamers. These are flies
such as woolly buggers and muddler minnows that are designed to
represent leeches, baitfish, and crayfish. These flies are usually
cast across the water and either stripped back in, or simply allowed
to swing in the current, representing the way that a leech or baitfish
would swim. Usually when trout eat these types of flies, it is in a
very aggressive manor, resulting in a strike that can be felt
throughout the entire fly rod.
Flies are like works of art, and sometimes beauty is in the eyes of
the beholder. Don’t ever be afraid to fish the ugliest fly in your fly
box, you might be surprised at just how many fish may like it!
thousands of different types of flies, but there are three main
categories that flies fall into.
The first category of flies is dry flies. These are any type of flies
that will float on the surface of the water. Names like Parachute
Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, and Griffith’s Gnats, are a few of the
most recognized dry flies. Most anglers really enjoy fly-fishing
with these flies, as it provides a very visual way to see the trout eat
the fly. There are many different varieties of dry flies, but most
are designed to mimic mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies.
However, there are plenty of others that are designed to mimic
terrestrials such as grasshoppers, beetles and ants. Although
fishing with these types of flies can be very visual and exciting, it
is however, sometimes not the most practical. 80% of a trout’s diet
is consumed under the water, leaving trout to feed on the surface
only 20% of the time. This is why nymph fishing is usually most
effective.
Nymphs, or flies that are fished below the surface of the water,
are the begging stages of how an adult fly is formed. Typically,
nymphs are found in and around the rocks, on the bottom of a
stream, lake, or river. Copper Johns, Pheasant Tails, and Hares
Ears are very popular nymph patterns. Most of the time, these
types of flies will be tied with weight added to them, in order to
keep the flies near the bottom. The most common of these are
bead headed nymphs. Because these flies are below the surface of
the water, and you cannot see when a trout has eaten them, most
fly anglers will choose to fish them with a strike indicator, or the
equivalent of a bobber if you are familiar with conventional
fishing. Basically, it is a float of some sort of variety, which is
designed to go under the water or twitch after a fish has eaten your
flies. When this happens, you set the hook, and start fighting the
fish.
The third category of flies is called streamers. These are flies
such as woolly buggers and muddler minnows that are designed to
represent leeches, baitfish, and crayfish. These flies are usually
cast across the water and either stripped back in, or simply allowed
to swing in the current, representing the way that a leech or baitfish
would swim. Usually when trout eat these types of flies, it is in a
very aggressive manor, resulting in a strike that can be felt
throughout the entire fly rod.
Flies are like works of art, and sometimes beauty is in the eyes of
the beholder. Don’t ever be afraid to fish the ugliest fly in your fly
box, you might be surprised at just how many fish may like it!