What is Fly Fishing >>Top Ten Most Common Mistakes Fly Fishers Make

Top Ten Most Common Mistakes Fly Fishers Make

The top ten most common mistakes that any fly fisher can make range from the simple things you can use in fishing to the act of fishing itself. Fly-fishing is more than just putting that rod in your hand, and putting the fly on the water.

• Having the wrong line on the reel

In fly fishing, the right type of string is important when fishing. There are many types of string, some of which are going to be heavier and lighter based on the type of fly you are using and the type of reel on your rod. There is line for floating on the water, for your certain flies that float and there is sinking line for your wet flies.

• Raking the rod back too far

Your rod should flick back and forth, using your wrist, and your forearm. The motion should be a ten to two motion (like on the clock) but not back any further or your line will not flow with the momentum you would like when fly-fishing.

• Wrong type of flies on the water

There are dry flies and wet flies. Dry flies are going to float on the water and the wet flies are going to sink into the water a bit.

• Not enough tippets

The leader on the line is important and this is known as the tippets. Review your line on the rod, and leave enough room between the fly, and the top of your rod, and the leading amount of string before casting your line.

• Using a wet fly on a dry fly line

If you putting a wet fly on your rod, you need to be using a line that will sink, sometimes also known as a wet line. Use a dry fly on the dry fly line.

• Breaking your wrist too much

The flicking of your wrist is something that you must practice at, and with your rod to get a good swirling motion of the fly line to get it out there on the water. If you are having a problem with your wrist, continue practicing, over and over in the a free area where you can flick the line, and your wrist to get the curve and the line out in the water just where you want it to be.

• Dropping tip to far

Dropping the top to far is all about putting the tip of your rod back too far behind your head and you are touching the ground. In touching the ground back behind you, you will be slowing the line and slowing the momentum on your line so your line won’t go out as far in the water, if it goes out in the water at all. When you touch the ground behind you, when you drop the tip, you often times are going to end up with a knot in your line and will have to recast all over again.

• Casting arm is flailing around, not enough stroke on your cast

Practice, practice and practice! If your arm is not moving in a good follow through motion, you are going to be pushing your arm out sideways and the line will not swirl out and up, out to far portions of the water that you want to hit.

• Hitting the trees, and not getting to the water

In combining all of your skills, you are not watching where you are standing and where your rod is in relation to the things and items around you. It is easy to hit a tree, hit a branch, snag a high bush and even snag another person when you are fly fishing if you are not careful to examine your surroundings. No one likes to cut that string from any bush, tree or limb, so examine what is around you before you start fishing.

• Your line bungles and is in tangles constantly

With any new spool of string, or when starting a new season you need to put the string on your line, making it good, uniform, not too tight. If you were only to put the line on your reel without pulling the entire line out and reeling it in again before heading out fishing you are likely to be left with a good amount of knots, spaces that are loose and others that are tight. Put your line on the reel, pull it out, and reel it back in again for a good line that will have you fishing all season!