If you’re new to fly fishing, choosing the right fly is one of the most critical aspects. But finding the right one amongst the limitless options can be challenging. Read our fly-fishing guide for choosing the right fly to learn the factors to consider, fly characteristics, and more!
Factors in Choosing the Right Fly
When you’re choosing the right fly for your next fishing expedition, there are many factors to consider. First, there’s the basic framework of the location you’re fishing—is it saltwater or freshwater, what season it is, the water temperature, and the visibility of the water.
An angler wants a waterway teeming with fish, but it’s time to research once you’ve got the correct location. To properly choose the right fly, you’ll need to know something about the fish you’re aiming to catch—namely, what it likes to eat!
How To Choose the Right Fly
The object in choosing the right fly is to get one that best imitates the insects or hatches that the fish regularly eat. So, prior research is required if you’re fishing somewhere new. Try talking with other local anglers with experience in the area to see what works.
Anglers should know what fish they’re looking for, their eating habits, and the habits of their prey. Time of the year is crucial because it can be the difference between choosing a fly that imitates an insect in season and one that’s not.
Fly Characteristics To Consider
You know the area you’re fishing; you know the species you’re angling for and their typical food—now, how do you find the right fly that imitates it? There are essentially four main characteristics of a fly you want to imitate:
- Size
- Movement
- Color
- Shape
If you can pick the right fly that suitably imitates these four characteristics of an insect, you’re more than likely to grab a few nibbles from the fish.
Take, for instance, this bi-visible floater fly. This simple fly is highly visible on the water, so it’s likely to catch a fish’s attention and is a high floater if tied correctly. It’ll stay high on the water like an insect would, assuming you know what you’re doing with your reel and line!
Can’t Choose? Make Your Own!
Sometimes, the right fly isn’t available—the fish don’t believe it, and you’re stuck standing in the water empty-handed. Why not try your own?
Fly-tying is a cottage industry in the fishing world, and for many anglers, it’s become their favorite part of fishing! Tying your flies lets you personalize your flies for your fishing spot to find the right combination of color, size, and movement to catch the fish in your backyard!
We hope our fly-fishing guide for choosing the right fly has helped you identify which flies will work for you and which won’t. Let us know which flies work best for you, and show off your homemade ones. Happy fishing!
