Page 63 - June2013

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the angler.
Fly fishing for trout
Fly fishing for trout is a very popular sport, which
can be done using any of the various methods and any
of the general types of flies. Many of the techniques and
presentations of fly fishing were first developed in fishing
for trout. There is a misconcep-
tion that
all fly fishing for trout is done
on the surface of the water
with “dry flies.” In most places,
especially heavily fished trout areas,
success usually comes from fly
fishing using flies called “nymphs” that
were designed to drift on the bottom
of the water. This is called “nymphing”. A trout feeds below
the water’s surface nearly 90 percent of the time. Trout usually
only come to the surface when there is a large bug hatch (when
aquatic insects grow wings and leave the water to mate and lay
eggs). There are exceptions to this rule, however, particularly
during the summer months and on smaller mountain streams
Fishing in cold water
In order to deceive wary trout, or to reach deep runs where
salmon may lie, the fly angler often needs to wade to the right
casting position. He therefore requires sure footing and insula-
tion from cold water, both provided by hip boots or chest-high
waders. The latter are of two main types, one-piece “boot foot”
waders and “stocking foot” waders, which require external
boots.
Formerly of latex rubber, “stocking foot” waders now are made
of neoprene, usually 3 mm thick, which provide additional
warmth. In the mid-20th century American anglers developed
felt boot soles for a better grip in rocky rivers: but felt is now
prohibited in some US states, as a vector of fish and plant
diseases that damage sport fisheries. Manufacturers now offer
wading boots with special rubber treads or metal studs. Breath-
able Gore-Tex waders provide ventilation when hiking along
the water, but do not provide flotation in the event of slipping
or falling into deep water. In deep water streams, an inflatable
personal flotation device (PFD), or a Type III Kayak fishing
vest, adds a degree of safety.
Some “catch and release” anglers flatten the barb of their hook.
Such “barbless hooks” are much easier to remove from the fish
(and from the angler, in the event of mishap). Many rivers
with special regulations mandate that fishermen use
barbless hooks in an effort to conserve a healthy
fish population.
Dry fly trout fishing
Dry fly fishing is done with line and flies that float, joined by
a leader, usually made of fine polyamide monofilament
line. The tapered leader is 3 to 5 meters long, thus
nearly invisible where the fly is knotted, and the
angler can replace the last meter of nylon
as
re-
quired.
Unlike sink-
ing fly
(nymph)
fishing,
the “take”
on
dry flies
is
visible,
explosive
and exciting.
While trout
typically consume about 90% of their
diet from below-water sources, the 10%
of surface-level consumption by trout is
more than enough to keep most anglers
busy. Additionally, beginning fly anglers
generally prefer dry fly fishing because of
the relative ease of detecting a strike and the
instant gratification of seeing a trout strike their
fly. Nymph fishing may be more productive, but dry fly anglers
soon become addicted to the surface strike.
Playing trout
Once hooked, a small trout can be easily retrieved “on the reel”
or by simply pulling in the fly line with the reel hand while
pinching the line between the rod handle and the index finger
of the rod hand. It is important to keep the rod tip high, allow-
ing the bend of the rod to absorb the force of the fish’s struggles
against the line. Larger trout will often take line in powerful
runs before they can be landed. Unlike spin fishing where the
line is already on the reel, playing a large fish with fly line and
a fly reel can present a special challenge. Usually, when
a fish is hooked, there will be extra fly line coiled
between the reel and the index finger
of the rod hand. The