Fly fishing is an ancient and distinct angling method, developed primarily for trout and now extended to other surface-oriented species such as grayling 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 colors 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 weighs very little and is 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.

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 in the Catskill Mountains of New York began using it to fish the region’s many trout-rich streams such as the Beaver Kill 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, 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 angling.

How to

The fly angler uses a rod much longer and lighter than those used for bait and spin fishing. Fly fishing rods can be 3 m (10 ft) long in freshwater fishing and 4 m (14 ft) long for saltwater fishing. To cast a fly, the angler whisks the fly rod forward and back using the wrist, forearm and upper arm. Generally, the rod is moved from the 10 o'clock position to the 2 o'clock position without letting the line touch the water or ground. During this movement the angler pays out line. The movement continues until a considerable amount of line is airborne. The angler then casts the line to a specific spot with a sharp but smooth snap of the wrist.

Casts are made to likely fishing spots such as pools and pockets in streams. The fly is allowed to touch the water and either float or sink, depending on the type of fly. This presentation of the fly onto the water is one of fly-fishing's most difficult aspects, because the angler is attempting to cast in such a way that the line lands smoothly on the water's surface and the fly appears as natural as possible. After several moments the angler withdraws the fly by pulling a small portion of line then lifting the tip of the rod. The angler then makes another presentation. When fly-fishing, one hand should always be holding the fly line so there is little or no slack. If a fish strikes, the angler pulls in line while raising the rod tip. This sets the hook in the fish's mouth. Fly fishing in the U.K for trout is either in rivers or lakes. Although the basics are the same, methods and flies vary.

See also:

• Fly lure
• Amadou

External links

• A History of Flyfishing, by Dr. Andrew N. Herd (http://www.flyfishinghistory.com/contents.htm)
• Flyfisherman Magazine (http://www.flyfisherman.com/)
• Reel-Time.com - The Internet Journal of Saltwater Fly Fishing, articles, fishing reports, book reviews and forums of about saltwater fly fishing. (http://www.reel-time.com/)
• The Wayward Flyfisher, articles, stories and book reviews about fly fishing. (http://www.WaywardFlyfishing.com/)
• The Physics of Fly Casting (http://space.mit.edu/home/kommers/fly.html)