Fly fishing is a method of angling that combines skill and patience. Unlike spin fishing techniques, fly fishing uses a lightweight artificial fly to fool a fish, making it a unique and rewarding experience for anglers of all skill levels. This guide will cover everything you need to know about fly fishing, from its history and techniques to equipment.
If you want to navigate to a specific part of this article, click on a chapter within the content table below for quick reference.
1. Introduction to Fly Fishing
What is Fly Fishing?
Fly fishing is an angling technique where a near weightless artificial fly tied from natural or synthetic materials immitates insects or small baitfish to catch fish. The specialised tackle requires a weighted tapered fly line, fly rod and fly reel. The fly line helps propel the fly during the cast. It’s a versatile method used in rivers, lakes, lochs, and even saltwater environments.
The History of Fly Fishing
The true origins of fly fishing are unclear, with some historians claiming that it originated in ancient Macedonia and others claiming it was developed in Japan in the 12th century. One thing we do know is that it gained popularity in England during the 15th century and today, it’s a global pastime that anglers become passionate about due to its simplistic, intimate, and artistic form.
2. How Fly Fishing Works
The Basics of Casting
The key to fly fishing lies in its unique casting technique, which uses the weight of the fly line to propel a near-weightless fly through the air. A repetitive casting motion, known as false casting, is executed to increase the overall distance of the cast. Popular casting styles include overhead and roll casting - we will touch on casting later in this article.
Flies & The Different Fly Patterns
Flies are tied on natural and synthetic fibres such as dubbing, thread, fur and feathers. These flies are designed to imitate a plethora of items, from insects, worms, baitfish, or other more obscure items such as trout eggs or pellets. The most common types of flies include:
- Dry Flies: These flies float on the water’s surface and mimic insects such as daddy long legs or hatching buzzers.
- Nymphs: Imitate subsurface insects.
- Wets: Mimic small insects and fry.
- Lures: Vibrant patterns designed to provoke reaction strikes.
What species can you target fly fishing?
Fly fishing is a technique that has now been used to target a variety of fish species world wide. Modern day fly anglers look to push the boundaries of the technique by pursuing the toughest and wildest fish species in our waters: such as GT, tuna and sailfish!
The most common UK species targeted with fly fishing are:
- Rainbow/Brown Trout
- Atlantic Salmon
- Grayling
- Pike
3. Essential Fly Fishing Gear
Fly Rods
Fly rods come in different line ratings, rod blank material and lengths, these are tailored to specific fishing venues, conditions, and target species. Learn how to choose the right fly rod in our article here.
Fly Reels
A fly reel balances the rod. The main job of the fly reel is to accommodate and retrieve your fly line and backing line. The other primary job of the reel is for creating resistance with its drag system when playing a fish; this is usually used on specimen-sized fish/specific species.
Lines and Leaders
Fly lines are categorised by weight and taper. These lines are specifically designed to pair with the rod and the reel. Leaders and tippets are the connection between the fly line and the fly and are used to present the fly naturally. Learn more about choosing the right fly line here.
Fly Boxes
These boxes are specifically designed to house your flies. The ideal way to transport your flies safely for a day's fishing.
4. Types of Fly Fishing
Different types or techniques of fly fishing include:
- Dry Fly Fishing: Designed to mimic insects that hatch or lay their eggs on the water surface. This method is used when you can visibly see fish feeding on surface hatches.
- Lures: Vibrant and provocative style patterns that usually move a lot of water. These are designed to trigger a reaction bite. These lures are usually designed to be retrieved quite quickly and can be worked sub surface to deep.
- Streamer Fishing: An American form of fly fishing which is a bit more specialist within the UK scene. Larger than traditional fly patterns, streamers represent baitfish, large aquatic insects, and small fish. Streamers are fished using a tight line retrieve or dead drifting.
- Wet Flies: Designed to imitate aquatic life forms that live below the water's surface, such as nymphs, larvae, pupae, and small fish. Wet flies sink below the water's surface and move naturally with the currents.
- Saltwater Flies: Designed for use in saltwater, saltwater flies resemble the wide variety of food sources in the sea, such as crabs, shrimp, and other small crustaceans. Saltwater flies are often larger than other types of flies.
- Nymphing: A drag-free drift subsurface, where the nymph imitates the immature stages of aquatic-based insects like caddis, stoneflies, and mayflies.
5. Fly Fishing Tips for Beginners
Choosing the Right Tackle
Like any new hobby, we all want to invest as little as possible into a new pasttime just in case we don’t enjoy it. However, fly fishing is an exception to this statement. To really get the most out of the sport, we highly recommend that you try and buy the best fly fishing kit you can afford.
Some entry-level rods can make it hard for beginners to grasp the technique of casting, and this can become frustrating very quickly. Spending time researching rods and fly lines and spending that bit extra goes a long way in the sport of fly fishing.
Top tip: If possible, spend extra on your fly line and fly rod.
Understanding Water Types
If you are a complete beginner to fishing in general, understanding the waters is a vital skill to hone. The best way to learn is by reading articles and spending time exploring the water/venue you are fishing. Observing things such as the wind direction, insect life, features/structure etc will help you locate fish.
Reading Fish Behaviour
Just like we mentioned previously about water types, fly fishing is more than just learning to cast and retrieve a fly. Understanding fish behaviour is another key skill to success. Looking for rising fish, studying feeding patterns, monitoring water temperature and wind direction are all things you should be aware of when out on the water.
6. How to Setup a Fly Rod and Reel
Here is a step-by-step guide for setting up a fly rod for targeting UK trout:
1. The Essentials
- Fly reel: Ensure it’s appropriate for the rod weight (e.g., 6 or 7wt for trout fishing). Learn more about fly reels here.
- Fly line: Match the line weight to your rod and reel i.e. a 7wt fly rod will require a 7wt fly line and 7wt fly reel.
- Backing: Typically 20-30lb braided Dacron backing.
- Leader: 9-12 ft tapered leader (fluorocarbon).
- Fly rod: Check that the rod matches the line and reel weight.
- Arbor knot: To attach backing to the reel.
- Loop-to-loop connector: To attach the fly line to the leader.
- Use an arbor knot to tie the backing line to the reel spool.
- Wind the backing onto the reel evenly across the spool. For trout fishing, you’ll need roughly about 100-125 yards of backing.
- Use a loop-to-loop connection or a nail knot to connect the backing to the fly line’s rear end (most modern fly lines will have a label at the end of it labelled "reel").
- Wind the fly line onto the reel in the correct direction and ensure it goes on evenly - you will have to guide the line onto the reel by pinching the line gently between your thumb and forefinger (check your reel’s retrieval setup e.g. left-hand or right-hand retrieve).
- Check the front end of the fly line for a pre-installed loop. If it’s absent, create a loop using a nail knot or attach a braided loop connector.
- Use a loop-to-loop connection to attach the leader to the fly line.
- Tie the fly to the tippet using an appropriate knot (e.g. tucked half blood knot).
- Ensure the knot is moistened before tightening down and then trim neatly.
- Spooling: Ensure the backing and line are wound evenly, without overlaps or gaps.
- Drag Settings: Adjust the drag on the reel to provide moderate resistance suitable for trout.
- Rod Assembly: Assemble your rod, aligning the guides. Most fly rods have alignment markers on the rod blanks.
- Thread Line: Thread the fly line through the rod guides starting from the bottom. Pro tip: double the fly line back on itself and feed the looped line through the guides, if you accidentally drop the line while threading it through the guides, the looped line will stop the fly line falling back through the rod guides.
- Double-Check: Ensure all knots are tight and that you’re confident with your setup.
2. Attach the Backing to the Reel
3. Attach the Fly Line to the Backing
4. Attach the Leader to the Fly Line
5. Attach the Fly
6. Check the Setup
7. Final Preparations
7. Types of Fly Fishing Casts
There are many different casts a fly angler can learn such as the single haul, double haul and roll cast to name but a few, but as a beginner you don’t need to learn them all. A good starting point and the fundamental of fly casting is the overhead cast and below we will be taking a deeper dive into the mechanics of this cast.
How to Perform an Overhead Fly Cast
The overhead fly cast is one of the most fundamental casting techniques in fly fishing. Follow these steps to master it:
Preparation
Position Yourself
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, facing your target.
Keep the line straight and free from obstructions around you.
Grip the Rod
Use a firm but relaxed grip. Place your thumb on top of the rod handle for control.
Line Handling
Hold the rod in your dominant hand and manage the fly line with your non-dominant hand.
Strip out an appropriate amount of line, letting some line rest on the ground or water.
The Casting Stroke
1. Pick Up the Line: Start with the fly in the water.
Lift the rod tip smoothly to pick up the line off the water. This action should load the rod.
2. Backcast: Accelerate the rod upward and backward, stopping abruptly when the rod reaches the "1 o'clock" position.
Let the line straighten out behind you in the air. Avoid rushing—feel the line’s weight and watch it extend (if possible) by looking behind you.
3. Forward Cast: Once the line is fully extended behind you, drive the rod forward with controlled power.
Stop the rod at the "10 o'clock" position to form a tight loop.
4. Present the Fly: Lower the rod tip smoothly to allow the line to settle onto the water gently.
Aim for accuracy and a delicate presentation.
Key Tips for Success
Smooth Acceleration: Avoid sudden jerky movements. A smooth acceleration with a crisp stop will help form tight loops.
Timing: Pause between the backcast and forward cast to let the line straighten out fully. This pause is critical for proper rod loading.
Watch Your Line: If you're a beginner, look behind you to ensure the line is straightening during the backcast.
Use Your Wrist Sparingly: Keep wrist movement minimal; use your arm and shoulder for most of the motion.
Practice in Open Spaces: Start on a lawn or open area without water to get a feel for the casting motion.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overpowering the Cast: Casting with too much force will create wide loops and poor presentation.
Breaking the Wrist: Excessive wrist movement reduces control and accuracy.
Rushing: Not allowing the line to fully extend during the backcast results in a weak forward cast.
Practice Drills
Pick Up and Lay Down Cast: Practice lifting the line off the ground and placing it down with precision.
Target Casting: Place small targets at varying distances to practice accuracy.
Double Haul (Advanced): Incorporate the double haul to add distance and line speed once you've mastered the basics.
With regular practice, the overhead fly cast will become second nature, setting you up for success on the water.
8. FAQs About Fly Fishing
Q: Is fly fishing difficult to learn? A: With practice and patience, anyone can learn the basics of fly fishing. If you want to shorten the learning phase, we highly recommend seeking casting lessons from an AAPGAI Instructor.
Q: Do I need a license to fly fish? A: If you are based in Scotland, you do not need a rod license; however, you will need to buy a permit to fish most lochs or stillwaters. If you are based in England or Wales, then yes, you will have to buy an annual rod license and pay a permit price too. We highly recommend that you check local regulations.
Q: Can I fly fish in saltwater? A: Absolutely! Saltwater fly fishing is very popular, especially targeting exotic species like tarpon, bonefish, and roosterfish.
9. Conclusion
Fly fishing is more than just a fishing method—it’s an immersive experience that connects anglers ro fish with a more intimate fishing method. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a curious beginner, there’s always something new to learn and explore. Equip yourself with the right fly fishing tackle, techniques, and knowledge, and start your fly fishing journey today.
