Get Hooked On Fly Fishing

Learning how to fly fish is one of the best things I have done for my hobbies. Now I have so much more fun than just spinner fishing or bait fishing. It's a new hobby that will have you itching to get back on the water.

It's not just the fact that fly fishing for most species is fun and rewarding but you will also want to take a try at tying your own artificial flies. Once you catch that first fish on the fly, the fly you tied yourself, well sorry but you will be hooked for life.

I can’t get enough fishing most days because I love fishing. I have to say that I really have a passion for New Brunswick’s Atlantic salmon here in Canada.

Where? Just about anywhere on the Miramichi River works just fine for me.


Fly Fishing the Miramichi River New Brunswick

Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures in Sillikers, New Brunswick is just one of the many places you can get skilled Atlantic salmon fly fishing guides. I will put up a few more videos from different outfitters in the future.

Hope you enjoyed this video and are now thinking about your next fly fishing adventure to New Brunswick.

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Catching Trout Fly Fishing For Beginners

Rainbow Trout
Image by neutralSurface via Flickr

Trout fishing tips come in quite handy especially for beginner fly fishing. First of all, it would be a good thing to know that trout are fish whose metabolism depends on the temperature of water. Their metabolism becomes higher proportionally as the temperature gets higher. If the water where they live is cold, as it is in deeper waters, they show lethargy and a reduced appetite.

Moreover, at the beginning of every year those interested in catching trout start to be directed towards warm waters as trout leave behind cold deep waters for environments more favorable to spawning. Also, during fall trout start to move towards colder and deeper waters where they would be better off during the cold season. Yet fishermen should not expect them to cover distances too rapidly. The cycles of moving from one place to another follow the seasons and last for several months.

another tip for trout fishing is that these animals are social ones. Similar sized marine fish will tend to gather in schools. Therefore, should you get lucky and get a capture, be sure that there is more trout in the area to catch as long as you do not throw the dead caught fish in the water to scare away the rest of the school.

In addition, trout fishing locations are not difficult to find. One should take into account that they are predators but still not very active ones as their favorite meal is not actually the one they have to struggle for. They would rather wait patiently and lazily for a victim to come by and unexpectedly get in their way. Sometimes, they feed on injured marine animals even though this kind of food might not be part of their regular menu. Their regular menu consists of craw-fish, minnows, worms, insects, frogs and so on. If fishermen learn such things on trout, together with their feeding and mating habits, fishing would be much easier and more fun.

On the other hand, these fish become prey themselves therefore, in the normal habitat, there should be rocks and alls sorts of sea vegetation to provide them a safe retreat. That is why trout fishing is usually organized in those areas that provide camouflage for both fisherman and fish.

Successful trout fishing may also depend on the type of bait that is chosen by the anglers. Thus, the seasons as well as the spawning cycle of the fish influence the choice of bait. For beginners, let us not forget that there will always be experienced anglers ready to come up with tips.

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Nymphing The Gardner River, Yellowstone Nation...
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Wading Boots: Caveat Emptor!

As is the way with angling equipment, you get what you pay for.  Spending $50 or so on Amazon or in Wal-Mart may seem like a good buy at first glance, but the odds are that your so-called money saving is in fact, a false economy:  this is as true of wading shoes as of your rod and reel.  They may not seem so at first, but at some point any serious fly fisherman will have to invest in a pair of wading boots or shoes.  Note, a standard hiking boot or sneaker is not good for splashing about in moving water, over slippery rocks, and on wet riverbanks (and by the same token, a good wading shoe is not good or intended to be used, for hiking trails, and the like).

Felt Soled Boots?

Until recently popular opinion has it that felt soled wading shoes are the best, providing the greatest flexibility and traction.  However, recent technological advances, coupled with a greater awareness of the need to ameliorate the introduction of environmentally-unfriendly micro-organisms (aquatic nuisance species, or ANS) into our waterways, have led to the introduction of a new style of fishing footwear that whilst providing the necessary traction, and ankle support, but also lessen the conditions liked by micro-organisms and are easier to clean and keep clean.  A good example are Simms G4 Guide Boots, complete with new Vibram soles & Cleanstream technology; well worth checking these out.

The wading shoe you purchase should be comfortable and have solid foot support when walking through water, and your selection may be influenced by the conditions you’ll be fishing in – speed of water current, type of terrain on the river bed, and the like.  When fly fishing these types of waters, river talons or studded cleats are highly recommended.  River talons and cleats fit around a standard wading shoe and have small, metal spikes on the bottom.  These spikes, in combination with the metal it is attached to, provide the ultimate in footing.  River talons are highly recommended for the angler who will be wading in waters that are extremely rocky, deep and have fast-flowing currents.

A Note on Boot Sizes

Another point to be aware of is that due to differences in the systems of foot measurement, buyers in the USA & Canada are advised to purchase wading boots one size above their actual shoe size, whereas in the UK for example, boot sizes equate more accurately to ones’ shoe size.  Most reputable stockists that sell fishing clothing such as the Simms G4 will have size charts and in some cases, written advice.  Further, most will supply the appropriate socks designed to go with the boots, as well as cleats mentioned above.

In Conclusion

A good quality wading boot or shoe provides grip in slippery, fast flowing water – leading to more enjoyable and safe wading. Whenever possible, look for wading shoes that have:

  • Good ankle support
  • Ease of cleaning
  • A solid grip

A fly fisherman wading in a river using just sandals, sneakers or a pair of standard gum-boots on their feet will find themselves slipping around, constantly in danger of falling with consequences possibly more painful than simple wounded pride.

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Tips on Fly Fishing

Fly fisherman above Ojo Calenti Bend on the Fi...
Image via Wikipedia

There are thousands of live-bait anglers, who are excellent sportsmen, but the fly fisherman can practice better conservation from the beginning.

Basically, fly fishing is not only one of the fastest growing sports; it is one of the foremost forms of conserving  natural resources as well as providing aquatic recreation.

Fly fishing is, very simple when three things are right: you must have a suitable rod; you must get a line to match it; and you must learn correct casting technique.

For people who wish to know some tips on fly fishing, here is a list of some pointers that could help anglers harness their fly fishing skills:

1. Material of the rod

For one of moderate means, and especially for the beginners, hollow glass is advised since it will require less care than bamboo and will not take a set if improperly handled or stored.

2. Line

Your fly casting skill will not progress with a mismatched rod and line. About 99 times in 100, the troubled fly caster has a line much too light to bring out the action of his rod.

That is why it is important to know that on any given rod, the fly fisherman should use the same size line for anything from small trout and bluegills up to the largest sea fish.

In choosing the size line, anglers should get a C level, an HCH double-taper, or a GBF three-diameter. This choice is based on the fact that a high percentage of fly rods bought nowadays are hollow glass, and that a great majority of these works best with lines of those sizes, almost regardless of lengths or weights.

3. The correct casting technique

In casting, it is important to get about 20 feet of line out front. Anglers should always remember to cast a straight line. Avoid jerky movements even if it is on a faster mode in order to do so.

Best of all, the angler should be relaxed because taunt muscles will ruin his casting.

Boiled down, there should be no reason why you should not learn the fundamental principles just as easily as those who now enjoy fly fishing.

Probably, the best and surest way to learn to cast successfully is to spend a day on the stream with some fisherman who is a competent caster.

Lessons learned on the stream are the best tips you can acquire anywhere in your quest for learning fly fishing.

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Is the Eagle Fish Finder Right For You?

Deep sea fishing from a boat in the Gulf of Mexico
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Fish finders aren’t just for commercial trawlers anymore. Weekend warriors everywhere are now using these sonar devices to take the guesswork out of finding areas where fish are feeding. No matter what kind of fish you’re looking for or what kind of water you’re fishing in, a locating device is a great piece of equipment to have with your fishing gear. The Eagle fish finder is quickly becoming the trophy tool among avid fishermen because of its design and accuracy. It’s ideal for small boats and is very reasonable in price. If you want fish finders explained, then read on, as the pros and cons of the Eagle will be weighed to help you decide if it’s the right product for you.

There are a few different varieties of the Eagle fish finder and all are very easy to use and relatively inexpensive. Due to its size and lightweight design this device can be utilized on small watercraft such as canoes, float tubes and kayaks. The transducer, the working component of the device, is mounted on the vessel utilizing a suction cup. Due to its strong and waterproof exterior, this handy fish finder can be used in both freshwater and harsh saltwater environments. An added advantage of this gadget is the design of the screen. It’s bright and clear – even in full daylight. The Eagle varies in price from around $100-$500 and comes with a one year manufacturers warranty.

Like the Garmin fishfinders, the Humminbird fishfinders and the Lowrance fishfinders, the Eagle fish finder depends on the transducer for its effectiveness. The transducer emits the sonar signal that detects fish, weeds and underwater structures beneath your boat. The signal bounces back to the boat and is read on the screen. With its 20 degree cone angle transducer mounting, the Eagle offers up to 60 degrees of fish detection and also has a high sensitivity setting to allow you to locate more fish.

Among the Eagle’s biggest selling points is ease of use. After you have arrived at a likely fishing site, switch on your fish finder. The equipment will show the depth and water temperature to around 600 feet in the corner of the screen. The sonar chart will begin scrolling and reveal what’s right underneath the vessel as you drift or troll for schools of fish. By utilizing the menu options you can tweak the sensitivity of the unit. The fish will be displayed as a straight line whenever you are at a stop.

As good as the Eagle fish finder is, no device is foolproof. To get the most out of your fish locator, you must determine which frequency to use. One rule of thumb is to use the 83 kHz option in very deep saltwater and the 200 kHz option in shallow water up to about 300 feet. The 200 kHz frequency gives better detail and definition, but its depth penetration isn’t as good. The sonar can be fooled, so watch for false readings if you use the fish display option–often called Fish ID–instead of the actual fish echoes. Fish ID displays symbols on the screen. For example, a small fish symbol will appear when the device “thinks” the target is a small fish, a medium icon when it “thinks” it has hit a medium fish etc. In spite of this, the Eagle is still a great device that will definitely improve your game.

Need help deciding on the right fish finder? From the Lowrance HDS-10 fishfinder/GPS chartplotter to the Eagle FishEasy color compact, there are fish finder reviews to make the choice easier for you.

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