For a person just starting out fly fishing, it can be rather intimidating, and asking a seasoned flyfisherman how to do something or what something means can get you a look that makes you feel small and insignificant. So the purpose of this article is to give you a basic working knowledge of flyfishing. You can expand your knowledge from that point.
First, you should know that there are two basic kinds of flyfishing: Wet Fly and Dry Fly. All flies are put in the water, so shouldn’t they all be ‘wet’? The answer to this is pretty apparent once you know the difference between the two.
In wet fly fishing, the fly is allowed to sink below the surface of the water, and is drawn back under the surface. This is accomplished by weighted flies and weighted fly line that are just heavy enough to break the surface tension of the water so that the fly is just under water.
In dry fly fishing, the fly is gently laid on the water, and is drawn back evenly, yet with a bit of jerking, to mimic a fly or other insect landing on the water and trying to get out. My preference is for dry fly, but I know many very fine fishermen who prefer wet fly.
Now that you know that basic, let’s get to the equipment.
The LINE: I will argue that the fly line is the single most important piece of equipment for a flyfisherman. A decent flyfisherman with very good line, using an inferior rod and reel, will almost always catch more fish than the same person using the best rod and real, who has poor or worn out fly line. This is especially true of dry fly fishing. Fly line is usually categorized by size and type, such as “5F” or “6S”. The number is the size, the letters denote Floating or Sinking. Floating is often hollow core, while the sinking is often filled with a lead fiber. For pan sized fish, 4-6 is usually a pretty good choice for size. There is also tapered line, double tapered line, and non-tapered line. These are exactly what they sound like, with the taper going down to the tip of the line that is tied to the leader.
Inspect the fly line frequently. When it starts to develop cracks, it needs to be replaced. Expect that the life expectancy of fly line that is properly cared for not to exceed 2-4 years. Also treat it frequently, even if you don’t fly fish often, as this will prolong the usefulness of the line. There are commercial treatments available, consisting of a very light oil based product that is carefully wiped along a length of the line, moistening