How to Choose the Right Fly

Now that the ice and snow are beginning to go away, most of us can't wait to get back into the great outdoors. It is times like this that the "Fish Flu" seems to claim many victims. It is a serious ailment that can force you to miss work. After all, you don't want to infect anyone else. The only cure is to grab your pole and head out to the lake/river/stream/pond. Before you head off for your dose of medication, you need to make sure your tackle box is in order. For those of us with a fly rod, this can lead to some very serious questions. There are several different options in flies out there. Choosing the right fly can mean the difference between catching something or just getting your hook wet. There are several things that you will need to keep in mind.

One of the best methods of choosing a fly is to look at what is natural. Whether you are heading to an old and familiar fishing spot or somewhere new, you will want to investigate the local insect life. One way that you can do this is examine your grill or windshield to try and piece together the guts and pieces into some semblance of a bug. Another, easier way, is to get a fish net from a local pet store and hang it out your window for the last mile of your drive. This will help you collect some of the local insects and find out what the fish are eating. Another way to see what is on the buffet line, is to head to the cleaning stations and ask some of your fellow anglers for a stomach or two. You can easily empty it out and see what the fish are eating. Knowing the local insect life can help you to match up the perfect fly. If you have access to one that looks almost identical to the local insects, the fish are much more likely to bite.

One of my favorite methods for choosing bait is to head to the bait shop. There are always one or two anglers sitting around and telling their new fish tales to whoever will listen. By asking their advice in fly selection, you will make them feel like a Bass Masters champion and they may even divulge some prime spots and tricks. The local bait shop may even have some nice flies for you to snatch up. Many of the local insects will be mimicked by local fly tiers as well. This is a great way to stock up some rare or unique flies for your box.

If you can't seem to get anywhere with these methods, you can always try a little trial and error. There are a couple things that you may want to keep in mind. If the water is murky, you will want to try a bright colored fly or vice versa. Darker flies usually only work well in clearer waters and streams. They look more realistic, but are harder to see in murky lakes. You also want to keep some generic flies on hand for these occasions. There are certain insects that can be found just about anywhere. These are good to have on hand all the time. Grasshoppers, mosquitoes, and horseflies are good examples of these. Do not be over anxious to switch a fly. If you are going to experiment with flies to find the right one, keep them on long enough to know if it works. You want to utilize at least 15 casts between changes. If you can see the fish are interested or if you get any nibbles, you want to stay with it a little longer. Time of day also plays into the time. If you are fishing in the middle of the day, you want to stick with it longer. Fish usually feed deeper in the midday heat. It may take longer to draw them up. Fly fishing is best done in the morning or evening when the fish are surface feeding. These times will produce better and faster results.

No matter where you are or what you are fishing for, there is a perfect bait for it. Fly fishing can be a little harder since there are many more options available to you. If you can't find that perfect fly, you can always make it yourself. Tying flies can be very fun and relaxing and can help to expand your tackle box. There are several different ways to select the right fly to tie on, and it can mean the difference between catching something or going home empty. It takes a lot of practice and guess work to get it right, but eventually you will get the hang of it. Once you do, don't even ask where my spots are.