Casting a Fly

If you’ve ever whipped around a wire, a rope, a hose or anything of this nature, the principle of fly-casting is already known to you. Read on for a brief introduction to casting a fly for fly-fishing.

Casting a Fly
Tips to Learn Fly-Casting in Only a Few HoursA Brief Intro to Fly-fishing
Back when fly-fishing was considered a mystery known only to snobby English gentlemen and CEOs, the fly was some fur and feathers tied to a small hook with some thread. The mystery was knowing how to make it all look like a real fly or some insect the fish were feeding on that day and how to get it to the fish without spooking them. Today, however, the fly has become an integral part of most fishing styles. From fresh to salt-water, the fly is considered a finesse lure and creates some of the most exciting fishing you can find.
The mayfly, which trout mostly feed on and what most people think of when you say "fly-fishing," starts its life as an egg on the bottom of a stream and then becomes a nymph. Sometimes trout will root with their noses on the bottom for nymphs. After a year of feeding and swimming, the nymph rises to the surface and takes flight. Within a few days, the mayfly mates and then dies. (It’s all very compelling.)
For general purposes, the "fly" isn’t just something that looks like a fly anymore. The most popular flies are the variations of the Wulf and the Wooly Bugger however, anything from shrimp to mice can be considered a "fly" if it's light and flies through the air.
Fly line is much different than regular fishing line. First is the diameter; fly line is about ten times thicker than, say, 8-pound test. This is the first secret of fly-casting; the line pulls the lure to the water instead of the other way around. Fly line doesn’t come in "tests," but instead, is categorized by weights. Four- to eight-pound are the average weights used for most fly-fishing.
In fly-fishing, the line and leader are both tapered to make connecting them easier. Leaders are about ten feet long and can be bought knotless or knotted. The knotted leader is the slightly more advanced of the two. A longer or shorter leader can be used; it all depends on the lure and location.
As I mentioned earlier, the line is used to deliver the lure to the water. It’s actually the weight of the line that does this. The line is thick and heavy enough to be whipped up into the air and hurled with a low trajectory in order to get the lightweight lure to the location needed. This low-trajectory casting makes it easier to get under low-hanging tree limbs and bridges, which also makes for good bass, bluegill and crappie fishing.
Practicing Line Movement
If you’ve ever whipped around a wire, a rope, a hose or anything of this nature, the principle of fly-casting is already known to you. If you have never done this, grab a nice heavy cord, rope or the garden hose (about twenty feet long), stretch it out and whip it around the yard like a bull whip.
Make side-to-side whips and take note of how the "line" moves and lands when you make different moves (straight, humpy, circular). Practice a steady side-to-side motion and note how the "line" begins to be "used up." You might get some funny looks from the neighbors, but you’ll be getting the hang of the whipping motion needed for fly-casting and it’ll give them something to gossip about. ...
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Author: Chris Curley



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