Pinnacle Saltwater
Pinnacle Saltwater
 |
 EAGLE CLAW Saltwater 7 SURF BEAST Combo 2 PACK NEW  US $58.49
|
 PINNACLE Saltwater 6 6 VIPER Combo 4 PACK NEW PV66 US $79.98
|
 EAGLE CLAW Saltwater 8 SURF BEAST Combo 2 PACK NEW US $71.99
|
 PINNACLE Saltwater 8 VIPER Combo 4 PACK NEW PV80 US $119.99
|
 XTERRA Saltwater 8 Fishing Combo RED COLOR FREE SHIP US $37.99
|
 EAGLE CLAW Saltwater 8 SURF BEAST Combo BRAND NEW US $49.49
|
 EAGLE CLAW Saltwater 7 SURF BEAST Combo BRAND NEW US $44.99
|
 XTERRA Saltwater 8 Fishing Combo 2 PACK NEW RED COLOR US $62.69
|
 PINNACLE Saltwater 8 VIPER Combo 2 PACK NEW PV80 US $59.99
|
The Sport Of Dry Fly Fishing Takes Expertise And Local Knowledge
Copyright (c) 2011 Gerry Stringer
As any experienced fly fisher knows, flies for landing the big ones come in a myriad of sizes and shapes, and there as many subtleties in fly tying to attract strikes as there are people who tie flies. Fly fishing is popular the world over, in freshwater and saltwater, and the sport - considered by many to be the pinnacle of angling techniques - can trace its recorded history back as far as 200 A.D.
For beginners, wet and dry flies are the two types of artificial flies for fishing, and all fly options, of course, are intended to appear as natural food to the targeted species. Wet flies are those designed to sink and meet the fish below the surface of the water where they feel safer. Whereas dry flies are meant to stay on the surface.
For a variety of reasons, dry fly fishing is recognizes as being the more difficult of the two. First, as mentioned, fish feel safer below the surface of the water, so in essence there are more of them down there and they are less stressed. Dry flies on the surface of the water are easier for the fish to see, as well as easier to detect that a fly isn't really food. The line and leader are more visible, and being tethered and subject to stream movement, dry fly fishing is more difficult to maintain the natural look and movement of native food sources.
On the other hand, many experienced anglers also prefer dry fly fishing because the action is more visible and exciting. Flies like trout and other game fish strike dry flies on the surface with force and many anglers report this as not only more challenging, but as a beautiful experience. More drift management and casting control is recommended in dry fly fishing which is why most fly fishing beginners start with wet fly fishing to hone their techniques.
Shopping for dry flies can be a dizzying experience, as there are literally thousands of techniques and ideas in fly tying, as each individual fly tier has his or her own biases. Dry flies are usually made of threads, deer, muskrat, fur, feathers, plastic, foam and other natural and synthetic combinations and then they are often treated with a silicon and paraffin to increase buoyancy. Of course, these materials are all tied onto a hook, which come in various sizes, and the whole approach is to imitate natural food sources.
Experienced anglers say that one of the more important features of a dry fly is visibility - by the fisherman. Many fly tiers use high-visibility foams and plastics that are easy to spot and follow so the angler can better manage the cast, watch the drift, and keep an eye on the strike scene. These are generally designed to be highly visible from the top, not the fish view, so that the fish will believe the fly is food.
Because they are a major source of food for trout and other stream and lake inhabitants, the most common things to imitate are caddisflies and mayflies, but there are many additional natural food sources, which vary by type of year depending on the development stages of insects and prey.
Some of the more popular types of dry flies include Adams, Blue Dun, Brown Bivisible, Dark Cahill, Gray Wulff, Green Drake, Hendrickson, Humpy, Irresistible, Light Cahill, Muddler Minnow (dressed to float), Quill Gordon, some type of hopper, and brown and gray midges.
The most important source of information of what works well in the lake or stream in question, at the time of year one is planning to fly fish, are local fishing guides and fly shops with experience in those waters. The basic truth is that the bugs and food sources for trout in Minnesota are just different than they are in Colorado, and the development stages will also vary with humidity, altitude, and general local weather conditions. The East Coast experienced fly fisher will most likely need a different set of such lures while experiencing the fly fishing wonders of the Sierras.
About the Author
Gerry Stringer is an avid fly fisherman and he finds sport in
dry fly fishing
. For great insight and all of his
fly fishing gear
he goes to www.troutsflyfishing.com