I am pleased to announce a guest post By Sherri Russell, of She’s So Fly, Fly Fishing for Women


If you want to learn about fly fishing Sherri's blog is a great resource about everything fly fishing. Even though it is geared toward women, guys you can still get a lot of good info. I hope you guys & gals enjoy Sherri's Post ~Ben G.





Have you ever wanted to learn how to fly fish?


Fly fishing is considered a sport or a hobby by some, and an art form by others. Fly Fishing dates back thousands of years.

You can call it what you want, fly fishing is a pleasurable pastime built on the camaraderie of the anglers themselves, the oceans, lakes and rivers they fish, and the beautiful fish they pursue in magnificent surroundings.

Some anglers are weekend warriors, happy to run into a fish or two on a quiet river or stream. Other fly fisherwomen are die-hard trout bums, who dedicate most of their days to tying flies and dissecting the bug hatches and underwater traits of their favorite river or stream.

For those who consider themselves avid fly fishers, the sport of fly fishing is a refreshing escape from the daily rigors of everyday life. This is a meditative and even spiritual passion that non-anglers have a hard time understanding.

But for those who get it, there’s nothing better than the push and pull of a fly line, and the sight of a fish rising to take that perfectly placed fly.


How to Fly Fish - Species

Most fly fisherwomen focus on the pursuit of trout, although anglers fly fish for everything from small pan fish, largemouth bass to big-game saltwater species like marlin, tarpon and even sharks.

There are thousands of species of saltwater and freshwater fish, and your limitations are only limited by your choice of species. You may fish small area ponds, lakes to small and large rivers and streams.

American fly fisherwomen spend most of their time pursuing trout, particularly rainbow trout. Other types of trout include the golden trout, steelhead, brown trout, brook trout and lake trout.


How to Fly Fish - Places

There is no wrong time or place to use a fly rod, as long as anglers are abiding by current national and state rules and regulations.

You can fish everywhere from the open ocean to backcountry creeks or lakes. In fact, many fly fisherwomen practice their craft at home, honing their casting skills on the front lawn or at the local park.

Fly fishing has caught on all over the world, whether it’s fly fishing on a road trip through the western United States, quaint Northern Michigan streams such as the Pere Marquette, Pine or Muskegon Rivers, or saltwater fishing in the Florida Keys.

Fly fishing is extremely popular in the Western U.S., thanks in part to the warm weather, river conservation and accessibility and a strong outdoors heritage.


How to Fly Fish - Gear

Fly fishing gear is always evolving, although the fly rod, reel and line have always been a staple in fly fishing.

Many fly fishing companies, especially clothing manufactures are gearing their lines to the fastest growing category, women fly fishers.

Fly anglers also are notorious for the dozens of different knots they use, many of which correlate with the type of fly line, leader and tippet they rely on.

Fly fishing also can be an expensive hobby, with typical fly rods and reels typically costing more than $100 apiece. Fly anglers, however, can find a bargain if they know where to look.

How to Fly Fish - Terrestrials

Fly fishing methods can change from season to season, fishery to fisher, and even hour to hour depending on the hatch and when different insects are present on and in the water.

Trout prefer food items that are just becoming available during the season. Trout feeding throughout May, for example, will have already gorged themselves on Chironomid hatches. The trout then go into a 'non-feeding' cycle to digest their food. When the trout are ready to resume feeding, they probably don't want to see or eat another Chironomid. After a full diet of Chironomid, the trout will "prefer" another, any other, food source.

When Caddis, Damsels, or another food source FIRST becomes available in June, it will be the food of choice even though there may be many Chironomids still available and hatching. Naturally, if these other food sources are not available the trout will try a smaller new food or even revert back to the Chironomid.That makes nymph fishing – below the surface with bottom-dwelling insects and emergent patterns like the Caddis fly – a popular approach. But when temperatures rise, some insects make their way to the surface – a good time for dry patterns.



How to Fly Fish - Techniques

The type of cast used when fishing varies according to the conditions. The most common cast is the forward cast, where the angler whisks the fly into the air, back over the shoulder until the line is nearly straight, then forward, using primarily the forearm. The objective of this motion is to "load" (bend) the rod tip with stored energy, then transmit that energy to the line, resulting in the fly line (and the attached fly) being cast for an appreciable distance. Casting without landing the fly on the water is known as 'false casting', and may be used to pay out line, to dry a soaked fly, or to reposition a cast. Other casts are the roll cast, the single- or double-haul, the tuck cast, and the side- or curve-cast.

Working on tying flies and prepping your rod, reel and lines during your downtime and in the off season will also help make your next fishing trip a successful one.

You do not need to learn the art of fly tying as your local fly shop will carry various patterns popular for your favorite fishery.

If you are interested in learning the increasingly popular sport of fly fishing, contact your local fly shop, guide or outfitter and inquire about local fly fishing schools or camps.

You may visit my Fly Fishing Blog for Women or my Fly Fishing for Women website for more fly fishing for women articles.