. J

The Art of Fly Fishing

Is always in the cast. A good caster will represent a thing of beauty. Many refer to the cast as an art
 form even a ballet on water as the whispering of the fly line moves so peacefully and gracefully
through the air settling so quietly onto the water. The stage is a beautiful natural Nature setting
with a very precise and smooth motion and Rhythm of the angler. It can be a real thing of real beauty.
Many also find it a peaceful experience just to watch someone casting on a river.
 Close your eyes and you too can come to this place. The Excitement of Fly Fishing is in
"The Spirit of the Fly"
 Fly fishing is more challenging therefore it can surely be more fun!
" The bait fishermen is a relaxed sole while the fly fisher is always on the move.
It is the hunt that makes the challenge. The Hunt, once you experience it on the fly you will be hooked
  forever into the world of the fly fishing. How do you know, all I can say is you will know it when it happens.
" What is the hunt? It goes something like this:"
You awake to a nice day and decide it is a splendid day to go fly fishing. Gathering up all your
 gear you are off in flash. As you head to your favorite fishing spot you are remembering
 the last time you were there and how great things were. It was just becoming early
evening, the light was getting low and you were heading back towards the car
(which was abut a mile away) as you came around a large pine you saw something
across the river. Stopping right in your tracts as you continued to stare at the spot and yes
 there is was again, ever so quietly the nose of a trout taking a dry fly. You quickly
 assessed the situation and knew just what fly you wanted to tie on and how you would
make the cast to this spot without spooking the fish. Ever so quietly you made the cast,
you watched with wide eyes as the fly appeared to pass right over the spot you saw
the fish. Nothing. Quickly bringing in the fly and making another cast just a little closer to
the bank you watched as the fly drifted so naturally along the water. In a flash ker-splat out
 came this enormous fish consuming your fly. You raised your rod tip and the fight was on.
The fish pulled strongly and erupted like a circus act into the air. His head was shaking
but you held your ground and the fish landed back into the water. Your rod was bent
 like a paper clip. He sped quickly up stream, now you were into the backing of your line,
your heart was beating somewhat faster and you knew you had to land this one. Give and
take, twisting the rod, putting pressure on the fish and then boom he was air bound again
and heading further up stream. What a fight. Now the pressure was placed harder on the
 fish and you made headway moving him ever closer to you. But not so quick as he turned
 again made another splendid jump and headed up stream again. You felt the line ease and
 thought he was gone, but up he rose again. Now you pulled harder and soon this beautiful
22 inch rainbow was placed gently into your net. You quickly removed the hook, gently
holding onto the fish and keeping him in the water, you could see his gill pads working
and his muscle tone returning. In a short time you released him, watching him swim off
into the darkness of the river and you exploded into a nice jump of excitement. To have hunted
 and landed such a wonderful fish what a special thing. This my friends is as good as it gets,
this is the hunt, the most exciting experience any fly fishermen can ever have.

The Spirit of the Fly

What is that all about? So, to catch a fish, you have to think like a fish, and to think like a fish,
you have to know what a fish likes to eat and what they are all about. Since fish like flies & bugs,
the trick is to know when different flies & bugs are in what life stages' when the fish are
 eating them…Wow! Or you can just guess. Then "There is fly tying, which duplicates
 nature with feathers and fur, in order to fool that little, wily trout," This can be a terrific
way to learn about the flies and bugs in a rapid way. Number one,
You must believe in the fly you choose. Positive thinking is always a good thing. I believe
 that your spirit can be transformed into that fly. Believe it and so it will be. The fly carries your spirit.
Number two, You need to put your time in on the water to understand the flies & bugs that
live there. What ones, what color, what size, what time of year. Dry fly or subsurface or?
Time into fishing will help make these things stick to you like glue. Your may forget why you
went to the garage, but you will not forget where you catch a fish on the river and what
 you were using when you caught it. Number three, You should pick up a book
 on flies for rivers and for lakes. Very handy to read, look at the pictures. It will aid in you
 learning the flies more easily. Keep you fly boxes organized by dry flies, wet flies, nymphs,
 terrestrials and such. This too will help you learn your flies. and their names. I arrange
my fly boxes often, too often according to my husband.
Number four, You must always know that fly fishing is a never ending learning experience there
 is always a lot more to learn, and a lot of nice places to go to do that learning.
Number five, Look up and look down, look all around. The bugs and flies are everywhere.
Not always in plain view, sometimes under rocks or logs, in bushes, trees and the brush.
Just look and you shall find what mother nature has placed there for the fish to find.
Then try to match it or use something similar.

Nancy Siegler