Fly fishing is an ancient and distinct angling method, developed primarily for salmonids (trout and salmon, mostly) and now extended to other species such as 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. Sport fishing is a form of recreational fishing where the primary reward is the challenge of finding and catching the fish rather than the culinary or financial value of the fishs flesh. ... Genera (see text) Salmonidae is a family of ray-finned fish, the only family of order Salmoniformes. ... Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Trout is the common name given to a number of species of freshwater fishes belonging to the salmon family, Salmonidae. ... The Chinook or King Salmon is the largest salmon in North America and can grow up to 58 long and 126 pounds. ... Species  E. americanus –       grass and redfin pickerels  E. lucius – northern pike  E. masquinongy – muskellunge  E. niger – chain pickerel   – Amur pike Esox Linnaeus, 1758, is a genus of freshwater fish, the only member of the pike family (family Esocidae) of order Esociformes. ... Largemouth Bass Bass (rhyming with mass) is a name shared by many different species of popular game fish. ... Genera Abramis Aristichthys Barbodes Carassius Cirrhinus Ctenopharyngodon Cyprinus Henicorhynchus Hypophthalmichthys Labeo Mylopharyngodon and others A carp is any of various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. ... Ocean (from Okeanos, a Greek god of sea and water; Greek ωκεανός) covers almost three quarters (71%) of the surface of the Earth. ... A fly lure is in terms of sport fishing and fly fishing, a lure designed to resemble a water insect. ... Fly Tying is the art and science of creating flies to imitate nature and/or to attract fish to bite ones hook in the sport of fly fishing. ...

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 was greatly refined in southern England on the River Test and the other 'chalk streams' concentrated in Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset and Berkshire (see Southern England Chalk Formation for the geological specifics). The seminal work in the sport is The Compleat Angler written in the mid-1600's by Izaak Walton, largely about those classic English waters. Scotland (Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a country in northwest Europe, occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain. ... Categories: UK geography stubs | Rivers in Hampshire | Southampton ... Hampshire (abbr. ... Surrey is a county in southern England, one of the Home Counties. ... Dorset (pronounced Dorsit, sometimes in the past called Dorsetshire) is a county in the southwest of England, on the English Channel coast. ... For other places named Berkshire, see: Berkshire (disambiguation) Berkshire (pronounced Barkshe(e)r; sometimes abbreviated to Berks) is a county in the south of England, to the west of London and also bordering on Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Greater London, Surrey, Wiltshire and Hampshire. ... In this geological map of Great Britain the Chalk is labled 6 The Chalk Formation of Southern England is a system of chalk downland in the south of England. ... Izaak Walton (August 9, 1593 - December 15, 1683) was an English writer, author of The Compleat Angler. ...

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. Catskill Escarpment and Blackhead Range as seen from Overlook Mountain The Catskill Mountains are an extension of the Appalachian Mountains into New York State. ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... Roscoe is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in Sullivan County, New York. ...

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. Ernest Hemingway, 1950. ... A River Runs Through It is a semi-autobiographical novella by Norman Maclean (1902_1990). ...

North American fly fishing for trout is now generally centred in the western states and provinces with Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta, and California holding the most interest. The city of Calgary, Alberta holds the distinction of having one of the world's best trout rivers (thanks to nutrient rich runoff from the city's waste water sewage) run through the centre of the city, although West Yellowstone is arguably the epicenter for Western Fly Fishing in North America. Famous North American waters include the Henrys Fork (home to Mike Lawson) and Silver Creek (Ernest Hemmingway's favorite haunt) in Idaho, the Yellowstone and the Madison in Montana, the Deschutes, the North Umpqua and the Rogue rivers in Oregon, the Pitt, Hat Creek, the Owens and the East Walker in California, Lee's Ferry on the Colorado River in Arizona, the San Juan in New Mexico, the Upper Delaware and the Green River in Utah, and the Frying Pan, the South Platte and the Blue River in Colorado, and the White River in Arkansas. This is the article on the state. ... State nickname: Equality State Other U.S. States Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Governor Dave Freudenthal Official languages English Area 253,554 km² (10th)  - Land 251,706 km²  - Water 1,851 km² (0. ... State nickname: Treasure State Other U.S. States Capital Helena Largest city Billings Governor Brian Schweitzer Official languages English Area 381,156 km² (4th)  - Land 377,295 km²  - Water 3,862 km² (1%) Population (2000)  - Population 926,865 (44th)  - Density 2. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Splendour without diminishment) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Area 944,735 km² (5th)  - Land 925,186 km²  - Water 19,549 km² (2. ... Motto: Fortis et Liber (Strong and free) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Lieutenant Governor Norman Kwong Premier Ralph Klein (PC) Area 661,848 km² (6th)  - Land 642,317 km²  - Water 19,531 km² (2. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... Motto: Heart of the new west Area: 712. ... Motto: Fortis et Liber (Strong and free) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Lieutenant Governor Norman Kwong Premier Ralph Klein (PC) Area 661,848 km² (6th)  - Land 642,317 km²  - Water 19,531 km² (2. ... West Yellowstone is a town located in Gallatin County, Montana. ... The Henrys Fork River (also called the Henrys Fork of the Snake River) is a tributary of the Snake River, approximately 110 mi (177 km) long, in southeastern Idaho in the United States. ... State nickname: Gem State Other U.S. States Capital Boise Largest city Boise Governor Dirk Kempthorne Official languages none Area 216,632 km² (14th)  - Land 214,499 km²  - Water 2,133 km² (0. ... The Yellowstone River, shown highlighted The Yellowstone River is a tributary of the Missouri, approximately 671 mi (1,080 km long), in the western United States. ... The Madison River The Madison River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 183 mi (295 km) long, in the U.S. states of Wyoming and Montana. ... State nickname: Treasure State Other U.S. States Capital Helena Largest city Billings Governor Brian Schweitzer Official languages English Area 381,156 km² (4th)  - Land 377,295 km²  - Water 3,862 km² (1%) Population (2000)  - Population 926,865 (44th)  - Density 2. ... Alternate meanings: Deschutes River (disambiguation) Deschutes River in central Oregon The Deschutes River is a river which runs through central Oregon and is a major tributary to the Columbia River. ... Umpqua River with tributaries The North Umpqua River is a tributary of the Umpqua River, approximately 100 mi (161 km) long, in southwestern Oregon in the United States. ... The Rogue River is located in southwest Oregon. ... State nickname: Beaver State Other U.S. States Capital Salem Largest city Portland Governor Ted Kulongoski Official languages None Area 255,026 km² (9th)  - Land 248,849 km²  - Water 6,177 km² (2. ... Owens Valley The Owens River is a river in eastern California in the United States, approximately 120 mi (193 km) long. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... Lees Ferry is named after John D. Lee a Mormon settler who established a ferry crossing on the Colorado River near Page, Arizona. ... Colorado River in the Grand Canyon from Desert View The Colorado River is a river in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately 1,450 mi (2,333 km) long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. ... State nickname: The Grand Canyon State, The Copper State Other U.S. States Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Governor Janet Napolitano Official languages English Only State Area 295,254 km² (6th)  - Land 294,312 km²  - Water 942 km² (0. ... Categories: Stub | Colorado rivers | Utah rivers ... State nickname: Land of Enchantment Other U.S. States Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Governor Bill Richardson Official languages English and Spanish Area 315,194 km² (5th)  - Land 314,590 km²  - Water 607 km² (0. ... The Green River, a tributary of the Colorado, is shown highlighted on a map of the western United States The Green River is a tributary of the Colorado River, 730 mi (1,175 km) long, in the western United States. ... State nickname: Beehive State Other U.S. States Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. ... The South Platte River is a river in the states of Colorado and Nebraska in the western United States. ... This is the article on the state. ... The White River is a 722-mile-long river that flows through the US states of Arkansas and Missouri. ... State nickname: The Natural State Other U.S. States Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Governor Mike Huckabee Official languages English Area 137,732 km² (29th)  - Land 134,856 km²  - Water 2,876 km² (2. ...

In addition to River Test, River Itchen, the Kennet, the Lambourn, and the Avon in the same area of southern England may also be considered legendary. Along with the River Don and the River Dee, Scotland boasts the River Spey after which an entire genre of two-handed fly rods and casting techniques is named. On the other side of the globe, the active geothermal area around Lake Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand is another world-famous trout destination, particularly the Tongariro River near Turangi. The Itchen is tidal in Southampton The River Itchen flows from mid-Hampshire to the head of Southampton Water in the south of England. ... The Kennet is a river in the south east of England, and a tributary of the River Thames. ... The River Lambourn is a river in the English county of Berkshire and a tributary of the River Kennet. ... The River Avon is a river in the county of Hampshire in the south of England. ... The article is about the Don River in Scotland. ... There are several rivers called Dee in the UK: River Dee, Aberdeenshire, Scotland River Dee, Galloway, Scotland River Dee, Wales (Afon Dyfrdwy) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Scotland (Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a country in northwest Europe, occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain. ... The River Spey is a river in Scotland that runs 107 miles (172 km) to the Moray Firth at Spey Bay, making it the second longest river in Scotland. ... Lake Taupo. ... The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ... Turangi is a town on the North Island Volcanic Plateau of New Zealand at the southwest corner of Lake Taupo. ...

Salt-water fly fishing has rapidly expanded in popularity, especially along the Gulf Coast and the Florida Keys 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. Christmas Island in the Pacific is famous for bonefish, and various parts of coastal Australia offer a wide variety of saltwater sport fish.

How to

The fly angler uses a rod longer and lighter than those used for bait and spin fishing. Fly fishing rods can be as short as 2m (6 ft) long in freshwater fishing and up to 4 m (14 ft) long for saltwater fishing. The average freshwater rod is around 8 to 9 feet in length and weighs between 2 and 5 ounces, though a recent trend has popularized lighter, shorter rods.

To cast a fly, the angler whisks the fly rod forward and back using primarily the forearm and upper arm, using the wrist to soften the motion. 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. This motion, known as 'false casting', can be used to pay out line, dry a soaked fly, reposition a cast, or show off one's casting abilities. False casting continues until the desired amount of fly line is airborne: perhaps as little as 3m (roughly 10 feet) for small streams, but averaging around 10m (30 feet) in most freshwater conditions. Anything over 18m (60 feet) in freshwater is likely to impress fellow anglers more than the fish, but many saltwater situations call for casts well beyond 25m (82 feet).

When a 'false cast' is 'released' the line floats gently down to the water. Casts are made to spots where fish are likely to hold, such as pools and pockets in streams. Once on the water, the fly may either float or sink, depending on the type of fly and the style of fishing. 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 in a small portion of line by hand, then lifting the tip of the rod. The angler then makes another presentation, perhaps after a few false casts. If a fish strikes, the angler pulls in line while raising the rod tip. This sets the hook in the fish's mouth. The fish is then 'played' either by hand, where the angler continues to hold the fly line in his hand to control the tension applied to the fish, or he eliminates the slack in the line to get the fish 'on the reel' in order to use the reel's mechanism ('drag') to slow the fish's runs.

Fly fishing for trout usually takes place in rivers or lakes; although the basics are the same, methods and flies vary. Methods and flies also vary substantially across regions and countries. The UK, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Tasmania, Patagonia and parts of Europe are probably the most common destinations for freshwater trout fishing.

Fly Rods

As stated, most fly fishing rods vary between 2m (6 feet) and 4m (14 feet) in length. The earliest fly rods were made from split-cane bamboo originating in the Tonkin area of Guangdong Province in China. The mystical appeal of handmade split-cane rods has endured despite the emergence over the last 50 years of rod-making materials that offer more durability and performance: fiberglass and graphite.

Split-cane bamboo fly rods combine sport, history and art. It may take well over 100 hours of labor to select and split the raw cane, then cure, flame, plane, file, taper, glue, wrap and finish each rod. Quality rods made by the famous masters (Leonard, Dickerson and Winston to name but three) in good condition may fetch prices well over US$2,000, and new rods from competent contemporary builders may bring nearly that much. These rods offer grace and form, and they demand a 'slow' or 'soft' casting style that's beautifully suited to refined, leisurely fishing. In competent hands, they provide more than adequate performance in most freshwater trout fishing situations.

On the other hand, fly rods made from man-made materials generally offer greater versatility, durability and performance than bamboo, and they require less maintenance. Fiberglass rods became popular in the years following WWII, but by the late 1980s, graphite rods had emerged as the material of choice for that mass market. Some makers are currently experimenting with new technologies and high-performance materials such as boron, but graphite rods still cover the broadest range of fly rods for all purposes, from 'ultralight' to two-handed spey rods to serious saltwater rods built to cast exceptionally long distances. Fiberglass or fibreglass is material made from extremely fine fibers of glass. ... Graphite (named by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789, from the Greek γραφειν: to draw/write, for its use in pencils) is one of the allotropes of carbon. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Boron, B, 5 Series Metalloids Group, Period, Block 13 (IIIA), 2, p Density, Hardness 2460 kg/m3, 9. ... Spey may refer to one of the following: One of the Spey Rivers. ...

See also:

• Fly lure
• Amadou

A fly lure is in terms of sport fishing and fly fishing, a lure designed to resemble a water insect. ... Amadou is a natural fungus of brown colour used by fly fishermen for drying out fly lures. ...

External links

• A History of Flyfishing, by Dr. Andrew N. Herd
• Fly Fishing Info Center Regional information for fly anglers in the Great Lakes
  
• Wayward Fly Fishing, a site devoted to serious and humorous articles, stories and book reviews.
• MidCurrent Fly Fishing, Techniques, News, and Literature for Fly Fishers.
• Flyfisherman Magazine
  
• Fly Fishing in Salt Waters, The Authority on Salt Water Fly Fishing Magazine
  
• The Fly Fishing Guide Beginner fly fishing information, including introductory equipment guides.
• Reel-Time.com - The Internet Journal of Saltwater Fly Fishing, articles, fishing reports, book reviews and forums of about saltwater fly fishing.
• Fly Anglers Online, The Fly Fishing Enthusiast's Weekly Magazine
• Fly Fishing Basics, An introduction to fly fishing basics such as fly tying, knots, and casting
• TotalFlyFishing.com - fly-fishing internet resource guide with regional fly fishing information sorted by state.
• Dan Blanton.com - Salt Water fly-fishing internet resource with regional fly fishing information and international contributors to it's bulletin board