Fly Fishing Flies

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Fly fishing is one of the oldest forms of fishing in the world. Invented as far back as the second century, fly fishing has remained one of the most effective ways of catching a wide veriety of fish. After the fly rod and reel, most people would agree that the fly fishing fly is the most important tool in the fly angler's arsenal. With so many species of sport fish targeted by fly fishing, picking out the proper fly can be difficult. Luckily, with a little research, it isn't so hard.

What are Fly Fishing Flies?

Fly fishing flies are special fishing lures used by fly fisherman. In fly fishing, the weight of the fishing line itself is what's used to cast, not the weight of the lure. Flies are usually constructed on single point hooks using thread, feathers, furs, foams, tinsel, and other fly tying materials.

What is Fly Tying?

Fly tying is the art of making your own fly fishing flies. To get started, the new fly tyer will need a special fly tying vice, fly tying materials as mentioned above, scissors, bobbins, teezers, and other more specialized tools. The object is to produce a light weight lure that closely resembles a sport fish's natural food. The advantage of tying your own flies is that you can exactly match the forage in your specific fishing location.

Types of Fly Fishing Flies

As with most fishing systems, there are a wide variety of different fly patterns for the fly angler to choose from. It is very important to understand all the different types of flies so you can make the most informed descision when out on the water. Here are the most basic types of fly fishing flies:

Dry Flies: These flies are defined by how they are fished. Dry flies are designed to float on the surface of the water, mimicking a waterlogged or trapped insect. Dry flies often try to mimic insects such as mayflies, stoneflies, damselfies, dragonflies, crickets, and grasshoppers. Dry flies are very popular as trout fishing flies, due to the species' tendency toward for acrobatics.

Wet Flies/Streamers: Wet flies and streamers are also known as subsurface flies. These flies are designed to ride below the water's surface, mimicking drowned insects or in the case of streamers, small fish. Wet flies and streamers are often used in the pursuit of trophy fish, who grow large on their diet of other, smaller fish.

Nymphs: Nymphs are flies that are designed to mimic the larval form of many aquatic insects and crustaceans. When using nymphs, fly fisherman often implement the "dead drift" or letting the nymph float down stream naturally like an insect trapped in the current. In still water a popping retrieve is often used.

Poppers and Bugs: These flies are primarily used in the persuit of many warm water species such as black bass and panfish. In fact, small, rubber legged poppers can be some of the most deadly fishing flies for panfish out there! Other, larger bugs can imitate forage as large as frogs and even mice! These flies are often designed with trophy sized largemouth bass in mind.