Fly fishing is an ancient and distinct angling method, developed primarily for trout and now extended to other species such as grayling, pike, bass, and carp, as well as a wide range of marine species. Artificial flies are constructed — "tied" onto a hook with thread, fur, feathers and other materials — in sizes and colours to match naturally occurring food or simply to excite a fish. Fly rods are relatively light and long while the lines are relatively heavy, providing the casting weight. Lines may be tapered and of differing densities to float or sink and are matched to the rod according to weight. The fly itself can weigh very little and is normally attached to the line by a 2-3 meter leader which may taper to a very fine line at the tip end, also called the tippet.
Records of fishing with a fly, go back to Ancient Greece when it was common to catch fish on a hook dressed with red yarn. Modern Fly fishing originated in Scotland and has traditionally been seen as a "European" or "gentleman's" sport. The seminal work in the sport is The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton. In the late 19th century, anglers, such as Ray Bergman, in the Catskill Mountains of New York began using the fly to fish the region’s many trout-rich streams such as the Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek. Many of them also wrote about the practice and invented new flies, drawing yet more anglers to the region, which is still considered the birthplace of American dry-fly fishing. The Junction Pool in Roscoe, where the Willowemoc flows into the Beaver Kill, is the center of an almost ritual pilgrimage every April 1, when the season begins.
Participation in flyfishing peaked in the early 1920's in the eastern states of Maine and Vermont and in the midwest in the spring creeks of Wisconsin. Ernest Hemmingway helped to popularize fly fishing, along with deep-sea fishing, through his works of fiction, including The Sun Also Rises. In recent years, interest in flyfishing has surged as "Baby Boomers" discover the tranquil nature of the sport. Movies such as A River Runs Through It starring Brad Pitt, cable fishing shows, and the emergence of a competitive fly casting circuit have also added to the sport's recent resurgence.
North American fly fishing for trout is now generally centred in the western states and provinces with Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Alberta holding the most interest. The city of Calgary,Alberta holds the distinction of having one of the world's best trout rivers run through the centre of the city. Famous waters include Idaho's Henrys Fork (home to Mike Lawson) and Silver Creek (Ernest Hemmingway's favorite haunt), Arizona's Lee's Ferry, the Rogue River in Oregon, the Upper Delaware and the Green River in Utah.
Salt-water flyfishing has rapidly expanded in popularity, especially along the Gulf Coast for such species as bonefish, tarpon, redfish, and permit, and along the mid-Atlantic and northeast coasts for bluefish and striped bass. The Bahamas and Belize also provide outstanding opportunities for salt-water fly angling.
Fly FishingFly Fishing How To
Artificial flies
Fly Tying
Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Brook Trout
Sailfish are prized by light tackle anglers for their tremendous speed and spectacular aerial acrobatics. Read More Sailfish Article
