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Fishing Virginia
- Tip #50: Discouraging Insects
If you want to discourage insects you’ll want to avoid wearing clothes that are red, yellow, black, white, or navy blue. These colors can attract black flies, deerflies, gnats, and mosquitoes.
- Tip #64: Fly Fishing for Salmon – Learn to Fish Slowly
One of the big mistakes that beginner fly fishers make is too fish for salmon too quickly. Although effective for trout fishing, salmon need to be fished with more patience.
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- Tip #4: What do to with a Running Fish
Be prepared if a fish runs toward you. Stand on your toes and at the same time raise your rod up over your head as high as you can. Take the line and put it back over onto your second and third fingers of the hand that is holding the rod. Quickly strip the line to pull up on any slack.
If the fish starts to run away from you make sure that you keep the rod up high and slowly let out the line, letting it slide from your fingers. Be ready to palm the reel of the rod when the slack is entirely gone.
- Tip #24: Learn to Read the Water
Fish will behave differently depending on certain water conditions that change depending on what season it is. This includes the temperature of the water, what the weather is like, and the volume of the water. If you want to become a successful fly fisher you’ll have to learn how to read the waters where you’re fishing.
Some of the things that you’ll discover as you learn to read the water are (1) during non-feeding periods, fish can still be encouraged to strike if they are in a deep pocket of water, and (2) when fish are feeding they are usually found in the shoreline of runs of pools and in moderate water pockets. Water chemistry plays a big part in the health of fish, the location where they are found, and how successful you are at catching the big one. One of the most important aspects of water chemistry is pH. In scientific terms pH can be defined as: the negative log molar concentration of hydronium ions in the water. In simple language pH is the measure of the acidity or basicity in the water.
pH is typically measured on a scale of 1 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered to be neutral. pH totals of less than 7 are acidic while a measure of over 7 is considered basic.
Most fish are able to tolerate a wide range of pH in the waters where they live. This is because they have the ability to regulate their internal levels of pH. This is accomplished by the fish constantly adjusting the ratio of bases and acids within their systems. They make these adjustments by expelling any excess acids in the urine and also by controlling their breathing.
The faster a fish breathes the faster carbon dioxide leaves the blood, thus raising the level of pH in the blood. However, most fish are eventually tired out by this constant regulating of their system. If the fish lives for too long in an environment that is too acidic or too basic it will become unable to manage its own system chemistry. When this happens the fish will stop feeding and eventually die.
- Tip #88: Avoid Windy Days
Beginner fly fishers may want to avoid learning on windy days. Days that have any degree of wind will require certain skills for casting. As you’re starting out learning out how to fly fish you’ll want to choose calm days so that you can practice your casting and other techniques.
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- Tip #20: Rods and Guides
Another aspect of your rod that you should get to know is the guide, or the eyes. The guide is what transmits the signals of the line to the rod so that it’s easy for you to feel the fish on the other end. There are several different types of guides available today.
Some guides have rings that are made of ceramic placed inside the outer metal frame. Still other guides have inner rings that are made from silicone carbide, aluminum oxide, chrome plating, or gold aluminum oxide. The rings of the rod are what aid in the reduction of friction that can cause your line to fray.
The length of the rod handle is important as well as what the rod is made of, such as foam or cork. You’ll want to choose a rod handle that is still easy for you to hold if your hands become wet.
You won’t want to use a light action rod to catch fish since you’ll need a strong blank to be able to pull the fish out of its cover. A medium or medium/heavy rod will give you the strength that you need to pull out the fish while at the same time giving you the flexibility to use topwater baits. You might want to use a trigger handle if you’re using a long-handled rod so that you have the manageability that you need.
Before you head out fishing make sure that you check the guides on your rod. You want to make certain that none of the guides are bent. Bent guides prevent the line from moving through them correctly. Clean out the inside of the circle of the guides before you start fishing to ensure that your line doesn’t fray and break when you’re reeling in the fish.
One last thing that you should focus on when you’re buying a new rod is how the guides are attached to the rod. The wrapping must be sufficient so that the guides don’t become loose and need to be replaced.
- Tip #61: Fly Fishing for Salmon – Where to Fish – When to Fish
Salmon like to gather in dark and deep pools where the water is dark and black. You’ll also find them on the cusp of bends at the point where the water starts to get deep. This fish likes water to be fast on the top and slow lower down. The salmon’s behavior during the day will cause it to swim up or down depending on the brightness of the day and the temperature of the water.
There are no right and wrong rules about when to go fishing for salmon. If you only have time to fish on weekends you’ll have to take the weather as it is. This means learning to adapt to all types of weather conditions. For instance, when the weather is particularly windy you’ll have to know which line and reel is best so that you can cast far. You’ll also have to learn how to cast into the wind so that your line casts out far enough. One of the most important things that you need to worry about when it’s windy is your safety. What you normally see on a calm day, such as logs and brush, can be hidden by the waves that the wind creates.
As weather conditions change, you’ll have to learn to change with them or you may never catch those salmon that you’ve been dying to take home.
- Tip #71: Fly Fishing for Trout – Revive before Releasing
Before you release the trout you need to make sure that it is completely revived beforehand. If the fish has been exhausted it may turn over upside down or roll onto its side. Larger trout will take more time to revive while small fish usually require no reviving at all.
If you need to revive a fish make sure that you hold it so that it is upright. Try to find a flow of water that is quite gentle, just enough so that you can get its gills working and so that it can gain oxygen back from the water. As the fish starts to revive its gills will start to work more and more until it can stay upright in the water. The goal is to allow the trout to swim away without your help.
- Tip #42: Fishing Etiquette – Lend a Helping Hand
Always be willing to help out other anglers. This can be as simple as helping them retrieve something that has floated down-river or lending them something that they need, such as extra line. You’re all there for a fun day of fly fishing so helping each other out just lends to the experience.
- Tip #54: The Size of your Flies
The size of your flies will matter, especially in the spring and fall when there are high waters, at which time you’ll want larger flies than you would be using in the summer months. Summer months bring lower water levels and you can get away with using smaller sized flies. During those months when you’re not fly fishing take the time to tie up different sizes of flies and build up your selection. This will save you time when you are fishing from having to stop and tie a larger or smaller fly.
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- Tip #33: Shooting Line Casting
You’ll want to use this type of cast when you want to create a cast that extends out more line. To accomplish the shooting line cast, for either the forward or the backward cast, you need to use more power than you did when you cast the line as far as you did the first time.
- Tip #32: Slack Line Casting
Slack line casting is when the fly line is able to fall onto the water in what are called “s” curves. This type of a cast will let your fly float on the water without any dragging motion. You’ll want to use this cast when you’re casting over a current or into a down stream.
- Tip #15: Using Dry Flies in the Afternoon
If you’re fly fishing in the afternoon you’ll want to use dry flies. The main reason for this is that the sun will be warming the water and the air. And this means that you’ll see hatches of little black flies. This is a great time to do some dry fly fishing since you can present a fly that is similar to an adult insect.
- Tip #83: Fishing Upstream
A basic concept of fly fishing is that a hooked fish isn’t really caught until you have it up on the bank. If you want to land more fish the one thing that you can do is try to hook more fish upstream instead of downstream. This way, your fly will have a better chance of getting into the jaw of the fish. Try to keep downstream of any fish that you’ve managed to hook; when the fish is downstream he is using less energy since the current of the water will be doing much of the work for the fish.
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- Tip #63: Fly Fishing for Salmon – Check the Tail End of Pools
Make sure that you check the tail end of pools as well as the neck area. Salmon like to congregate in this area so you’ll usually find more than an abundance of fish.
- Tip #70: Fly Fishing for Trout – Releasing your Trout
There will be some trophies that you want to photograph but most times you’ll want to make sure that you don’t handle the trout. Trout are covered in a protective layer of slime and when you touch it you disturb the fine balance of things. Trout can develop a fungus on the areas where you touch, which can kill it. To release the trout all you need to do is release the hook from the mouth and allow it to swim away without touching it. For help in removing the hook you can use forceps or small pliers.
- Tip #67: Fly Fishing for Trout – Dry Fly or Wet Fly?
Knowing what fly to use is quite simple when it comes to fishing for trout: use a dry fly if the trout are feeding on the surface and use a wet fly if they are feeding below the surface.
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- Tip #85: Using a Landing Net
If you want to use a landing net you need to make sure to hold the net on the stream bed and lift it up as the fish swims over top of it. Most fish will be lost after they make their final rush if they are faced with a landing net that is being held vertically out in front of them. After all, you can’t expect the fish to want to swim right into it! And if you hold the net from behind and try to sweep up the fish all will be lost. All it takes is one touch of the fish’s tail and it will be gone.
Fish are known for their acute sense of vision. They are able to see in all types of water conditions and can see equally well during the day and night. The reason for this great sight is that fish have eyes that are able to adjust naturally to different conditions of light. No matter what the color of the water is they are able to rely on their vision to guide them. At those times when the vision of the fish is restricted, its other senses will kick in. This means that no matter where you hold that landing net the fish will be able to see it or sense it.
- Tip #68: Fly Fishing for Trout – When to Change your Fly
If you find that the trout aren’t biting continue to use the same fly for about 15 minutes before you switch to another one. Keep up this pattern until you find a fly that works.
- Tip #96: Fish and Sound
When you’re fly fishing you should keep in mind that you’ll be noticed more by the fish from “sound” than you will by sight. When you’re walking or wading make sure that you walk softly and gently. You’ll want to wear shoes that have soles that don’t make loud noises against bottom gravel and rocks.
- Tip #39: Fishing Etiquette – The Right of Way
When it comes to fishing etiquette, the right of way is something that you’ll need to learn. The rule of thumb is that the angler who is already in the water is given the right of way. The rule also applies if you’re walking along the bank or floating. If you need to move locations try to move up-river whenever possible. You never want to intrude on another fly fisher without asking first. If you do get permission to enter the same waters make sure that you do so up-river and allow the other angler lots of space.
- Tip #46: Carry a Wading Staff
When you’re fishing in water that is rough or unfamiliar you might want to carry a wading staff to keep you stable and give you better footing.
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- Tip #58: Fly Fishing for Salmon – Fishing with a Partner
Try fly fishing for salmon with a partner so that you can spot more fish. Take turns fly fishing. One partner will fish while the other one stands on the opposite bank and keeps an eye on the behavior of the salmon and exactly where they are. Make sure that you bring along your polarized glasses.
- Tip #21: More Tips from the Experts
The more tips and tricks that you have the better luck you’ll bring to your fly fishing. As a beginner you’ll want to try a variety of techniques until you find what works best for you and the water that you’re fishing in.
- - Thick weeds: When you’re fishing in thick weeds the best lure that you can use is a spinnerbait or a crankbait that is shallow running. Make sure that you cast parallel to the edge of the weed flow if you can. Remember look in the inside edges of weedbeds.
- - Timber pileups: When you’re fishing in deep timber your main focus will be to not get your line tangled up. Use a plastic worm or a jigging spoon for the best results.
- - Fishing from fallen trees: If you want to fish from a fallen tree make sure that you pull back your bait so that it runs in parallel to the tree limbs. This is because the water is very shallow and you don’t want to disturb the area any more than you have to.
- - Working the area: Make sure that you work the area that you’re fishing as thoroughly as possible. Try a few different lures if the first one doesn’t bring you success. You might want to think about returning again at a different time of day.
- - Keep a close eye on your lines: Make sure that you keep a constant eye on your lines particularly when you’re retrieving them. Remember that when the weather is cold the bass can strike and completely miss the lures.
- - Avoid excess noise: The more noise that you make the less the bass will bite.
- - Night fishing: Night fishing is a great option in the summer months when the water temperature during the day is just too hot for bass to swim high in the water.
- - Creeks and coves: During the fall months make sure that you check out creeks and coves since this is where baitfish tend to hover…and this means the bass won’t be far behind.
- - Using surface plugs: When you’re using surface plugs try to pay as much attention as you can to the angle of your rod. You should be holding the rod low when you have the lure close to you and higher when the lure is further away.
- Tip #74: Fly Fishing for Trout – Identifying the Runs
Runs are much deeper than riffles but they have a more moderate current. You’ll most often find runs between the riffles and the pools. The bottom of runs is composed of rubble or small gravel. Runs are great places to find trout at almost any time.
- Tip #88: Avoid Windy Days
Beginner fly fishers may want to avoid learning on windy days. Days that have any degree of wind will require certain skills for casting. As you’re starting out learning out how to fly fish you’ll want to choose calm days so that you can practice your casting and other techniques.
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- Tip #100: Fish…Don’t Cast!
Don’t just spend your day casting. Beginners often make the mistake of spending the whole day casting at every riffle, undercut bank, and other likely looking fishing spot without ever achieving success. And the end result is usually that the fly is taken away at that moment that they are looking at their fly box for their next cast off. This is time to step back and think so that you can get a strike or two.
Take some time to think about what your fly is doing, what the fish are doing, what the weather is like, and what type of fish you think you might find!
Fly fishing can be either very good or very bad. Even when you have a great strategy in place there will simply be times when the fish won’t be biting. These are the days when you have to work even harder on your technique so that you take home that prize.
There will be those days when you’ve planned to fish in shallow water but the weather is just too calm. You’ll find that in this situation the best time of day to fish is either during the low light of the morning or the low light of the day when it is harder for the bass to notice you. Change your strategy if you need to.
Another reason why the fish just won’t be biting is when the day is very bright and clear. These conditions bring about limitations when it comes to fly fishing such as (1) the fish being able to see you, and (2) the water becoming too hot, sending the fish to deeper depths. With these conditions present you’ll have to be very stealthy in your pursuit of any fish. If you’re going to making long casts you won’t have to worry too much about stealth since fish in deeper water will be less distracted by the bright light.
- Tip #40: Fishing Etiquette – Taking out your Line
Common courtesy dictates that you take your line out of the water for any angler who has a fish on the line. This is so that they have plenty of space in order to land their fish. This rule is very important if you’re fishing down-river from the other angler. Make sure that you never step into the space of an angler who is releasing or landing a fish on the bank.
- Tip #43: Wading with Safety
When you’re wading make sure that you follow a few basic rules: (1) never fish by yourself on remote lakes, rivers, or streams, (2) wear a good pair of wading boots, (3) use a good wading staff that is flexible yet strong, and (4) know the area where you’re wading. Wading is a great way to get access into those places that you couldn’t otherwise reach.
- Tip #60: Fly Fishing for Salmon – Choose Low-Light Days – Cool Water
Salmon like days that have a low-light or cloud cover. On days that are sunny and bright you’ll most likely find salmon congregating away from the brightness in deep holes. It’s those cloudy days that will make the salmon more accessible to you.
Water temperature, and knowing what it is, can play a big role in the success or failure of salmon fishing. You’ll want to invest in a good thermometer so that you can keep track of water temperatures throughout the day. Make sure that you place the thermometer in the same place each time to a depth of anywhere from six inches to three feet below the surface.
Keep a notebook with a record of water temperatures, being sure to update whenever you can. After a few years of recording water temperature in your favorite fishing spot you’ll have a good idea of which patterns are occurring.
Salmon do much better in cooler water. When water temperatures start to rise, salmon go deeper. This is because there is more oxygen in cooler water and salmon need this oxygen to survive. Salmon will be more active in cooler water than warm water so they will be a little more difficult to catch as they fight harder to escape. You’ll want to find a happy medium in water temperature so that the fish aren’t too active but nor are they too hot. Understanding the water temperature of the water that your fishing can play a big part in knowing what type of rod, reel, and line to use as well as what type of lures and baits you should be using.
- Tip #52: Sticking with the Basics
Try to stick to the basics whenever possible. This means carrying one or two small boxes of flies with you and fishing them to death. Many experts use only a floating line for most of the fish that they catch and they make a point of keeping their tackle to a minimum. Many novice fly fishers fall into the trap of using too many “new patterns”. Stick with a pattern and fish it for around three to four dozen drifts. This will bring you the best results.
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- Tip #44: Tackle Boxes
Tackle boxes: A tackle box is a necessity so that you can keep all your “stuff” with you in one organized place. Some of the things to keep in mind when you use a tackle box and want to avoid overfilling include:
- - Keep your worms and soft plastic bait in a small container away from your other lures. This will keep the soft plastic lures from creating a chemical reaction with the materials that other baits are made of.
- - Buy two or more small tackle boxes to hold certain categories of lures. For instance, buy one tackle box to hold your worms and another to hold your spinnerbaits.
- - Buy seasonal tackle boxes that you only use at certain times of year. In the spring you can have a tackle box that contains jigs, plastic worms, and minnow lures. And in the fall you can have a tackle box that is filled with fall lure, such as topwaters and crankbaits.
- Tip #84: Join a Fly Fishing Club
One of the best things that you can do as a beginner fly fisher is to join a fly fishing club. You’ll get to know other anglers in the area where you live and may even be able to find a fishing buddy or two. The other benefit is that you can learn more about some of the great angling locations in your home territory.
- Tip #48: Take Along the Sun Block
Although it may seem like a small tip to mention, taking along the sun block is one thing that you don’t want to forget. After standing in a sunny stream for eight hours you’ll be glad that you remembered to bring along some protection.
- Tip #9: Protecting your Fly Line
There are many things that can damage your fly line that includes: casting the line without a leader, stepping on the line, or pinching the line between the frame of the reel and the spool. Take steps to avoid these hazards. There are also many liquid items that can damage your fly line. Make sure that you keep the line away from insect repellent, sun block, fuel, and some line cleaners.
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