In the spring, many anglers are getting their gear together, and some may be purchasing equipment for the first time. Whether a seasoned fly fisherman or the beginning angler, this is the perfect time to prepare for the fishing adventure that lies ahead.
Fishing Gear Inspection
The off season is a great time to inspect all of the gear, organize fly boxes, and practice casting. Remember that there are two parts to fly fishing, casting a fly rod and fishing. Fly fishing is based on casting. If a fisherman can't cast on the water successfully, he won't catch many fish. Practicing casting is something that only a few anglers do, and many struggle with this on the water as a result. Everyone gets a little rusty in the casting department no matter how good he is, and a little pre-fishing casting will reveal just that.
Pre-Season Fly Casting Practice
Go out to the lawn and work on the fundamentals of casting. Practice false casting to gather rhythm and timing, paying attention to your rod, and focus on how it loads to help avoid throwing the dreaded tailing loop.
Tie a piece of yarn about an inch long to the leader to simulate a fly. Set up some targets on the lawn. A sheet of paper or a hula hoop work well for this exercise. With the targets placed at various distances, cast to them, starting with a close, comfortable distance.
Practice casting at your target, trying to land on or inside the area consistently. Most of the casts on a typical trout stream range from twenty to fifty feet. The goal is to cast well, not to cast the farthest.
Get familiar with all of the equipment from the fly rod to the vest. Try to make sure that you have the basic necessities, and locate them among the many things in the vest.
If last year's line is still being used, try cleaning it. Take a paper towel, dab a little dish soap on it ,and pinch the line with it. Pull the line through the soap, changing spots regularly. If the line is really dirty, repeat one more time. Not only will this clean the line, the friction will take out some of the memory from being on the reel, and slicken it as well.
Success in Preparation for Fly Fishing
Doing this will work the bugs out and help to avoid problems on the water. As well, anglers will feel more confident with their casting abilities and gear. So let's try to avoid getting to a favorite fishing hole and scaring off all the fish with fumbled casts, or realizing that a fly box is home on the tying bench, and not where it should be. Remember that a little preparation goes a long way.
Michael Lambert - Michael C Lambert , I reside in Sevierville Tennessee,in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, where I own and operate Smoky Mountain Streamside ...
