Flies, Lures & Hooks - Make Sure the Fish Take the Bait

     Fishing flies have over 300 styles to choose from. These include dries, parachute dries, terrestrial dries, nymphs, beadhead nymphs, pike & bass, streamers, salmon and saltwater to name a few. Fly fishing has become very popular due to the increased interest in both traditional trout fishing as well as fly fishing in lakes and the oceans. Fly fishing is a technique and very different from the general sport of fishing. This technique involves emulating the characteristic of flies hovering just above the water line. This takes skill, patience and practice.

     The appeal of lures is that, as opposed to bait, they can be used again and again. Because is can be more securely attached to the hook, there is less chance of a fish snatching it and getting away, as is always the risk with bait. Fishing lures usually come in kits containing various assortments, but they can also be purchased individually. There are different types of lures to choose from. The bullet-shaped lure is designed to troll at high speeds. A daisy chain is a string of five or six lures set 12 to 24 inches apart. A jet is a lure that has small holes drilled into it to produce a bubble stream.

     Hooks are pointed wire tied into the fly to catch fish. The come in different sizes. The lower the size number, the bigger the hook is; for example, a #4 hook is larger than a #6 hook. Make sure to clean and dry your hooks properly between uses. A rusty hook is no use to you, as well as being a safety hazard. Although all fish hooks rust eventually, their use can be prolonged with proper care. Many hooks have barbs (backward-facing projections) cut into them near the point. This is to stop the fish from escaping. However, you can get barbless hooks, which are easier to remove from the fish. There is also less chance of injury. Barbless hooks are ideal for catch-and-release fishing.

Please click here for our section on waders.