5 Myths About Fly Casting

Buy The Orvis Ultimate Book Of Fly Fishing

Fly casting is one the most sought after skills in the fly fishing world. Many a men have been judged by the amount of distance they can put between themselves and the fly on the end of their tippet.

But if you're looking to get better at your cast there are a few things that you need to know about casting that could be hurting your distance and the loop that you're making on your back cast.

Here are 5 myths about fly casting that I learned from The Orvis Ultimate Book Of Fly Fishing. 

1. The "10 And 2" Method

Yes, we've all seen A River Runs Through It and we love how the 10 and 2 method sounds. But when you actually use this method of casting the loops are not going to be optimal. Useable? Yes. But not the best. in order to get a tight loop from your rod your need have the fly rod travel in the straightest path possible from the starting point.

When the rod bends through the cast it needs to bend the tip as quickly as it can for a tight loop. When you use the 10 and 2 method you will get a semi-circular bend and the loop is going to be much more open than using a tighter cast.

Of course, this all going to depend on the distance you are trying to reach. But generally, you want to watch the tip of your rod bend to get a feel and shorten the casts from 10 and 2 to 11 and 1. Try it out and you will feel the difference in your casts.

2. More Wind Equals More Strength

Wind casting is the arch nemesis of the fly fisherman. Casting into the wind can be one of the most annoying aspects of going out onto the river. The natural motion is to make your loop wider to create more energy throughout the rod.

The problem with this is that the bigger your loop is the more likely that the wind is going to simply blow it right back at you. To combat casting into the wind you need to drive the rod toward a tighter loop.

Bring your rotating arm back a little so that it's closer to your shoulder. This is going to change the fly cast's angle and move the line closer to the water. This cuts down on the wind's ability to blow the line away.

3. A Knot Is A Knot

We're fly fisherman. We're in the business of knots. So when I hear somebody talking about how they can't get distance with their line and then I see them tying the wrong knots on their tippet and fly line
it all starts to click.

Buy The Fly Tier's Benchside Reference

Now, there are a lot of variables that come into play here -the size of the tippet, the size of the fly line, is it a floating line or a sinking line- but for the most part, you want to go with a knot that is going to give you the most aerodynamic thrust with the least resistance. 

I personally use a clinch knot for tippet fly line, but a buddy of mine uses a standard square knot and gets pretty good distance. Stay away from a blood knot!

4. The Size Of The Fly Doesn't Matter

Hey, we were all beginners at one point. Knowing what kinds of flies to use is a skill that is usually brushed upon during the first couple hours of fishing, but it can extend to a lifetime of learning.

Generally speaking, the bigger the fly, the harder it's going to be to cast. I fish with a lot of bass guys and I love watching them battle a bass popper onto the river. It takes time to learn how to cast big flies. Some people spend decades trying to figure it out while others seem to be able to do it the first day. When you're choosing your flies, remember that smaller will go further.

Giant clauser minnows and streamers will always land you in trouble. If you want more distance and less of a footprint on the water, go with a small nymph. If they're not hitting on that, change it out to an Adams.

If you don't know about matching hook size with leader or fly line weights, read our article here: Fly Rod Basics: Matching Fly Line Weights With Fly Hooks

5. Incorrect Form Doesn't Matter

Let's be honest, we don't always use the correct form when we're casting. There's not enough space on the web to get into the right form, but there are a few things that you can do to immediately improve your casts.

The first thing you want to remember is that your casting arm should be perpendicular to your shoulder. When you're casting remember to move your arm like you're hammering something into a wall. This is the best motion for loading (getting the right bend) in your rod. Keep your upper body straight.

Don't slouch when casting. If you're bent over, keep your arm parallel with the water's surface. Shy away from the "throwing a baseball" method.

5 Fly Tying Kits Perfect For Beginners

Fly tying kits are a great way to get started in tying your own flies. Any fly fisherman will tell you that having the ability to tie your own flies separates you from a beginner to a veteran. But like most products out there geared toward newbies, fly tying kits for beginners could just be a waste of money. Because of crummy products, we decided to put out a list of the top 5 fly tying kits for beginners. These kits have all be rated the highest by our customers and are known as the best for people who would like an edge against that big trout without having to forgo an arm and a leg.

1. Scientific Anglers Deluxe Fly Tying Kit

Price: $59.49

The Scientific Anglers Deluxe Fly Tying Kit  is a great kit for beginners and veterans. This kit comes with enough supplies to tie nymphs, streams, wet flies and dry flies. The kit comes with a threader, hackle pliers, dubbing a bodkin and tons of other materials that give you the ability to build custom made flies for river or lake fishing.



2. Reelin' N' Dealin' Standard Fly Tying Kit

Price: 31.95

The Reelin' N' Dealin' Standard Fly Tying Kit is a really cool kit that comes with a traditional feel. The wooden box looks super old school. The box is compact enough that you can take it with you on any fishing trip. it comes with scissors, a whip finisher, a hair spinner and a metal vice to secure the fly hooks while you work.

This is a great kit for beginners or experienced fly fisherman. I would recommend this as a kit for a birthday or Christmas for somebody that is just starting out. At 31 bucks who can argue? The only probably with this kit is that it doesn't come with supplies to start right away. Of course, we offer those in our online shop. The #50 Trout Material Kit is an excellent addition.

3. Fishpond Road Trip Fly Tying Kit

Price: $89.95

The Fishpond Road Trip Fly Tying Kit is one of the best fly tying kits for anybody that makes regular road trips. Simply put, this is a great kit for beginners or for the experienced fisherman who needs a spare kit to keep in their car.

The kit comes with in a travel bag that has 22 storage pockets for materials, tools and completed flies. There is a Velcro lining that allows the owner to add additional pockets as needed for more materials or tools. This kit is excellent for air travel or for a trip where you aren't sure what the fish are going to be biting on.

4. Wapsi Fly Tying Starter Kit With Tools

Price: $57.95

The Wapsi Fly Tying Starter Kit is great for beginners. This starter kit is light on price to give you the ability to get into fly tying in one easy purchase. Unlike other kits, this comes with an instruction booklet so you can get started as soon as you open the box.

Learn how to tie some of the most lucrative trout flies in modern fly fishing. The only issue with this kit is that you will not have a case to hold your flies or your materials.

5. Umpqua Fly Tying Tool Kit 

Price $60.77

The Umpqua Fly Tying Tool Kit is similar to the Reelin' N' Deelin' kit. This is great for the beginner that wants a traditional looking feel when tying their own flies. This starter set comes with an AA vise, scissors, a whip finish tool, long bobbin and a finish tool.

The wooden case allows you to keep all of your tools neat and organized while you're working or taking a break from tying your latest nymph or streamer. The vice is made from high quality metal to keep your hooks stable while tying. Bend it down and the set is ready to take with you on the road or in your boat.

Fly Rod Basics - Matching Fly Line Weights With Hook Sizes

For those of us who have been fly fishing for most of our lives, matching fly rods with line weights and hook sizes is almost second nature. But for those of you who are just beginning or need a refresher course, we decided to give you a nice little article to help you get everything correct.

If you aren't matching your rod with the weight size or the right fly hooks your casting will be off immensely. Can you get away with fishing a 5wt. rod with 8 wt. line? Of course, but the last thing that you want on the river is something working against you.

There are more than enough factors to get in your way when you are fly fishing. Wind, rain, too much sun light, bad current and ornery fish are just some of these factors.

A bad drag system can also be something that works against you and a mismatch between your line weight and the size of your flies can easily send your line and tippet into an unnatural float into the water.

Using the correct fly line, tippet length and hook sizes will give your casts a lot more distance and a much more natural float into the water. This chart will show you how to build your set up and whether or not you should switch out tippets or get more flies.

FlyHound's Online Fly Fishing Store carries a wide inventory or tippets, fly line, backing and flies in various hook sizes so you are always ready for the river. Just click "Enter The Store" to get all of the fly fishing gear your need for your next expedition.

4 Fly Fishing Tips To CRUSH Any Fish

Fly fishing tips are something that are usually passed down from generation to generation from fathers to children and grandfathers to grandchildren. And while there still may be secrets that we aren't really to give out here at FlyHound, there are some that can really help you crush any species that you're fishing for. It doesn't matter if you're into bass, bluegill, trout or pike, using these 5 fly fishing tips will improve your chances of really landing a big one.

1. Wet Flies Vs. Dry Flies

Fly Box + 100 Assorted Fly Fishing Fly Package

Choosing the specific kind of fly has always been a controversy, but there are a few factors that can help you determine which you want to use. The weather is one of these factors. The seasons control the way that fish feed. In the spring and fall you could be better off using dry flies because fish tend to feed from the top of the water during these seasons.

In the summer and winter months fish tend to feed from the bottom of the water. Watch the waters that you are fishing and take notice of how the food supply is coming to the fish. If there are a lot of overhanging trees take a look at how the flies are crossing the water or hanging out in the bushes on the sides of the water bank. If you don't see any insects on the water's surface, consider using wet flies.

2. Take Notice Of The Water Line

Learn how to read water.

The water line can be an excellent way to get a good strategy on the water. The water line will rise and fall depending on the kind of weather that you're having. The fish notice the water line rising and falling and so should you.

If you notice that the water has risen in your local river or lake try to fish the water that is calmer. Fish move away from turbulent water and higher water lead to changes in the underbrush and the underwater current.

Use this as a signal to fish the waters closer to the bank where there is smoother current. Fish will hang out around the bank for more comfort and more food.

3. Check Your Tippet Regularly

One of the fundamental virtues of fishing is having the right gear. No, we're not talking about having a thousand dollar fly rod. We're talking about checking your flies and tippets. One little known fact is that the wind will create knots in your tippet.

When you have these knots in your line it will weaken it. Having weak line is detrimental to catching fish. Even the smallest kink in your line can yield a very bad experience.

Learn patience and other strategies with the Curtis Creek Manifesto

Landing a 5 lb. trout on a weak line is never a good situation. Don't lose a great fish because you didn't check your gear. Take a look at the tippet every 5-6 casts to make sure that you don't have any wind knots and correct them if your do.
 
4. Use Patience

It's way too easy to scare a fish off. When you're dedicating time to finding that monster fish, make
sure that you're using patience. Get into the best possible position to make the right cast.

Approach the fish from enough distance so you do not fall into the cone of visibility. Stay low and make easy strides through the water so you do not disturb any of the vegetation under the water.

Fish can feel you coming so you might want to consider using the land to make your cast. Use a drag free presentation so the fly looks natural in the water. Don't get over enthusiastic when you're fishing and you will get much better results.

4 AMAZING Fly Rods For Under $100

Fly rods are extremely important but finding the right one can be difficult. Couple this with being new to the sport and you might find that your wallet might be a little smaller than your eyes. Because of this common problem we wanted to give you an idea of some fly rods that are great for all around fishing and for your budget. Whether you're just looking for a backup rod or you want to purchase a combo kit, these 5 fly rods are the best buys for your money.

1. Okuma S-903-5

Price: $67

The S-903-5 is one of the best fly rod combo sets that you will find on the market.

This combo comes with a spooled reel with backing, fly line and tippet. The rod is a 5wt, 9 foot which allows you to easily fish for trout, bluegill or bass. The rod itself has stainless steel snake guides and comes with aluminum oxide stripper guides.

The combo comes with an Okuma Caskade reel that has a drag system so you can adjust the drag for whatever you want to fish. The reel doesn't have the finish that other reels do, but it's also a fraction of the cost. It doesn't matter if you're an expert or a beginner, you're going to love this combo.

2.  Scientific Anglers 4-Piece Fly Fishing Trout Outfit

Price: $60

One thing that we hear all the time from beginners is that they simply can't decide on whether or not they should build their own setup or if they should go with a combo. 

Once you start fly fishing a lot you're going to want to buy different rods and reels, tippets, backing, the list goes on and one. When you're first starting out, a combo is the best place to start and this Scientific Anglers 4 piece is a great place to begin. 

One of things that we like about this rod is that it's a four piece. This gives it stability and the ability to fish for different species. Yes, it's designed for trout, but you can easily fish for bass or even do some saltwater fishing with it. The rod is sturdy enough for some largemouth bass so take it to a pond or heavy river! 

3. Redington Crosswater Fly Rod

Price: $59.99-$89.99 

The Redington Crosswater Fly Rod is one of the most versatile fly rods out there. Redington is a great company that makes some of the best rods on the market, but what we're really stunned by is their entry level fly rods. 

The Crosswater line was designed to give people a great rod at an even better price. This specific series comes in several different sizes so you can customize what you're fishing for. It's a graphite fly rod so you will be able to tackle bass, panfish or even some trout. It comes with a low density cork handle for a good grip. 

4.  Wright & McGill Generation II S-Curve

Designed for a wide range of tasks, the Wright and McGill Generation II S-Curve is an excellent rod for any angler. The S-Curve line comes in different weights and lengths so you can get the rod that is perfect for your specific fishing. Go from arctic grayling to salmon in a second.

What really makes this a great rod is that it's a 4-piece. It's hard to find a 4-piece for less than a hundred dollars, but Wright and McGill has made strides in offering quality rods that won't make you sacrifice a mortgage payment. This rod also comes with a lifetime guarantee in the event that it does break for some reason. It even comes with a snazzy rod tube!