When we speak of fishing flies, what exactly do we mean? These are basically lures that are made to look like favorite meals for the fish. They may be in the form of insects or even other smaller fish. What is important is for the flies to resemble the natural food enough to attract the fish. This is the basic principle that has been used since time immemorial.

Both fishermen and fly makers employ a lot of creativity in their designs, which is awe inspiring even to the anglers. These artificial devices are very practical yet they are often great works of art in themselves.

This illustration from a book published in the 18th century shows flies that look quite familiar.

Here are some of the flies you might want to use.

• Dry fly: This type of lure is meant to float on the surface of the water, appearing to the fish, say, like a dragonfly. Fish often take the opportunity before the thing “flies away.” The goal is to make the lure too attractive for the fish to ignore. The dry fly is most commonly used in fresh water fishing where the surface is calm.
• Wet fly: This type of lure is intended to sink slightly below the water’s surface. Such a lure may be in the form of a nymph, which is a young insect whose wings have not yet developed. The real ones usually crawl on underwater rocks, which is a great attraction to such species as trout.
• Terrestrial flies: These are designed to look like things that do not normally live on or in water but just close by it like Lady Bugs, Beetles, and Crickets. Every once in a while such creatures accidentally fall in the water, which is what the lures emulate.
• Streamers: These lures essentially resemble other types of fish. They can be used in both fresh and salt water fishing.

Of course, there are some flies that are not made to look like animals; some resemble different types of plants that are delicacies to the fish.

There are lots of books about making your own fishing flies. In fact it make a great hobby for when you can’t go fishing. You can let your creativity shine as you come up with your own unique fishing flies. You can even sell your flies at flea markets or on Ebay. Go ahead and give it try!

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Gifts for an avid fisherman are not easy to choose unless you have some knowledge of fishing yourself. The last mistake you want to make is to choose a gift which is totally worthless to the recipient, because it is either something which he already has, or something which relates to a different type of fishing from the one he is involved in. The one golden rule you need to follow is to find out as much as you can from the gift’s intended recipient, in a discrete way, of course. If you can ask some questions and show an interest, you should be able to glean enough information to make an informed choice. After all, enthusiasts don’t usually need too much coaxing to talk about their hobbies! Click to continue »

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Fishing is fun for adults, teens, and kids. Fishing gear today that is sold is age-appropriate to maximize safety while enjoying this family sport.

It is best to start with a light rod and reel. These are easier to handle and make it easier for a person at any age to know when a fish is biting. Adults can usually use a fishing pole that is about 6 feet long, and child can use a rod about 4 to 5 feet long. Click to continue »

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Do you ever find yourself at a loss, because you want to wade into that deep water but don’t know how you could possibly bring all the tackle you need with you? The fish are biting out there and all you need to do is just go wade in. There is just no way to bring the tackle box with you. No place to put it in the water, not enough hands to carry it, don’t want to leave it in the banks either. Never fear, fishing vests are here. Click to continue »

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It is a primal instinct carried over from man’s hunting and gathering days. These are the times of TV dinners and fast food meals, of canned and boxed and foiled and processed food. Yet we still get that compulsion now and then to go out there into the wild, wild world and catch our own food. Out there the fish are waiting. They are plentiful in our rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, beaches, seas, and oceans.

To catch a fish, one must have the right equipment. Hooks, lures and baits, rods and reels, lines, nets, and floats; in fisherman’s lingo all this gear is all called fishing tackle. Even the type of fishing outfit or clothing is included is commonly known as fishing tackle.

Before any fishing goes on and before tackle is procured, a savvy fisherman has to determine three things about what kind of fishing they will be doing. These 3 things are:

• Location – ocean, lake, river, or pier
• Species – freshwater or saltwater sport fish
• Size – most states regulate the size of each species that is legal to catch and keep

Decide on location, species and size and it becomes easy to choose the right fishing tackle to suit one’s need. Location basically means where one intends to go fishing. Size is simple enough and is closely related to species. What size and species of fish do you intend to catch?

There are a lot of different fishing gear on the market. Deciding on where you plan to fish and what you want to catch narrows your choices of gear. A word of advice for the new fisherman who wants to explore all possible ways of catching a fish – an all around all-purpose beginner’s kit would be best.

Photo credit: Wikipedia

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As any angler knows, successful fly fishing relies in large part on the types of fishing flies you use. Of course, most anglers also realize figuring out which flies to use with which species of fish is anything but simple. Selecting just the right fishing flies for the eating habits of the species in a given locality is an art unto itself, but there are some general guidelines that can help you get started. Click to continue »

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When you’re just starting to build your collection of fishing gear, it can be hard to decide what to get first. All that fancy gear you find in your local sport’s store or online may look good, but not all of it will really make much difference in your catch. Whether you’re on a limited budget or not, though, there are a few items you’ll definitely want to have.

Fishing knives
A quality fishing knife is indispensable when you’re out on the water or at the lake. You’ll need it not only for cleaning your catch, but for working with bait, too. Look for a knife with a stainless steel blade, a rubber handle to give you a good grip when your hands are wet, and full-tang construction for comfortable balance. You’ll also want a knife that’s easy to open with one hand.

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The very first piece of fishing gear you need to acquire is a fishing rod. Although you may have used a simple fishing pole when you were younger, serious fishermen consider a good quality rod and reel essential equipment.

When shopping for your next fishing rod, always remember to consider three important factors. Check out the materials used, its flexibility and the length of the targeted rod. Click to continue »

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