Fly fishing is an angling method that is ancient and distinct. It is most renowned for catching trout and salmon, but is not limited to those.

Today it is employed for a wide variety of game fish species, such as pike, bass, panfish and carp. Even saltwater marine species are not left out, such as redfish, snoek, tarpon, bonefish and striped bass.

The process of fly fishing involves catching fish using artificial flies that are cast with a fly fishing rod gear and a fly line. The fly line, almost always coated with plastic, is heavy enough to send the fly to the target. The fly is weightless.

The fly lure used in fly fishing is an artificial lure tied with thread, feather and fur, and sometimes also lead, ribbon, tinsel, beads and other assorted materials, onto a hook. These flies are tied and the materials are arranged in such a way that they are made to look much like the local terrestrial and aquatic insects and other fish food attractive to the target fish species. Compared to other types of fishing rods, fly fishing rods are very long and much lighter. The lines however are heavier than regular fishing line, some made to float and some heavier to sink.

Flies are either fished on the surface or sub-surface. The most common type of surface fly is the dry fly. In dry-fly fishing, the fly floats on the surface of the water. The dry fly resembles an insect that might land or emerge on the water’s surface, like a grasshopper, dragonfly or mayfly. Other surface flies include poppers and hairbugs that might resemble mice, frogs, crayfish, etc. Sub-surface flies are fished to resemble a wide variety of prey from aquatic larvae, nymphs and pupae, baitfish, crayfish, leeches, worms, crabs, etc. Sub-surface flies commonly fall into one of the following categories: nymphs, wet flies, streamers or emergers. Another category of fly is the attractor. Attractors do not resemble anything inparticular, but may suggest a lot of different types of fish prey. Attractor flies may be surface or sub-surface flies.

Tying your fly is an art of its own. It is the art of creating an artificial lure. A fly-tyer must be familiar with a variety of tools and materials to produce a successful fly pattern. There are many fly patterns. The fly-tyer should also be familiar with the numerous creatures which inhabit a river, stream of lake. Many tiers create very realistic impressions of insects, etc. Fly tying can be a challenging and rewarding hobby. Most fly-fishers enjoy tying their own flies and half the enjoyment of the sport lies in tying the perfect pattern.