For anglers, fly fishing takes them back to the ancient angling method of catching fish.  These anglers use only a fly rod, fly line, and fly reel.  Fly fishing is really a method of casting line instead of the lure.  The fly line that is weighted sends flies to the target area where fish are located.  Artificial flies that are tied to a leader can be made by an angler or purchased in a store. Flies are made from hair, feathers, fur, or other material that is attached to a hook with thread.  The size, weight, and color patterns are made to match the local forage or terrestrial and aquatic insects.

When fly fishing, an angler should select tackle according to the species of fish.  Undersized or oversized tackle will result in anglers unable to cast flies or failure to land fish.  A number of fly rods, line, or reels can be used in salt, warm, or cold water.  The basic fly rod set up consists of a fly rod, fly reel, fly line, leader, tippet, and fly.

When fishing in warm water streams or reservoirs, anglers are normally targeting bass, bream, crappie, or panfish.  The basic set up is a 9-foot, 6 weight medium fast fly rod with WF8F fly line, 9-foot tapered leader in 8 pound test, and 2x tippet.

FLY ROD:  In fly fishing, the fly rod allows an angler to cast fly line and fight the fish with once they are hooked.  Fly rods come in several sizes.  #5 to #8 will cover most fishing situations, although

#6 is the best all around size. 

FLY REEL:  In fly fishing, a fly reel holds the line while casting or playing a fish.  The size of the reel is relative to the size of the rod and species of fish you are trying to catch.

FLY LINE:  Fly line comes in certain sizes and colors.  An angler should choose carefully because it provides the weight that allows the fly to be cast.  Fly lines come in floating or sinking lines.

LEADER:  The leader is a length of fishing line that is thick at the butt end and tapers down to where it is connected to the tippet material.  Leaders help an angler cast, gives a role over effect to the line, and helps the line lay out straight on the surface.
TIPPET:  Tippets are made out of fine nylon or fluorocarbon fishing line.  They extend the leader length.  Typically, the leader and tippet set up gets smaller as it extends back to the fly.

KNOTS:  Anglers just beginning in fly fishing should learn a few knots to connect their lines together.  Surgeons knot, Blood knot, or Clinch knot are good knots to know how to tie.

FLY:  Depending on the type of fishing, you can choose from dry fly, wet fly, nymphs, or lures.  A dry fly imitates surface and natural insects, Nymphs or wet flies imitate stream insects, and lures can resemble crawfish or baitfish.

As you can tell, fly fishing can be somewhat complicated.  Thankfully, there are numerous books and DVDs that can help the novice fly angler.  For anglers fly fishing, the joy of catching is second to the presentation.  It’s all about catching fish on the fly.