Bass Fishing Information

William Carter asked:


Have you ever been fishing? Many people would answer yes to this. In America alone, according to the American Sportfishing Association, there are nearly 40,000,000 anglers. But; have you ever tried Fly Fishing? Well, If you enjoy fishing of any kind I strongly suggest you try it. But, and this is very important. Learn How To Fly Fish Properly. If you go out with your new fly fishing gear, tie on your fly, cast, and hope, it’s likely that you’ll catch nothing, and then you’ll become disillusioned.

There are many things to learn first: Rod selection, line selection, leader and tippet selection, casting techniques. I could go on and on. But what I’m saying is, get the basics right first.

Fly Fishing is learning to imitate nature as you fool the fish into taking your carefully selected fly. Then feeling the exhilaration as you maybe hook a Smallmouth Bass and skilfully reel it in as it jumps and fights for all it’s worth on the surface, trying to throw the hook. Or perhaps a big trout that threatens to break your line.

O.k. so you can get the same thrill from bait fishing, and once you’ve hooked a fish, the way you reel it in is much the same. But it’s the skill of catching the fish which makes Fly Fishing so exhilarating.

So which is best, Bait Fishing or Fly Fishing? The answer is that neither one is better, or worse than the other. They’re just different. There is more to learn for successful Fly Fishing, it’s true, and some people just don’t want to learn about hatches, fly patterns etc. The skill of Fly Fishing is to make the fish see the fly and believe it’s a real insect and not a threat, or something to ignore. In my opinion, when you catch a fish this way, the feeling you get is 100 times that, of putting live bait in the water and waiting for the fish to bite.

Most novice anglers start with bait fishing. And it’s the best way to introduce children to fishing. But for me, and every Fly Fisherman I’ve ever talked to, bait fishing just doesn’t give the excitement of Fly Fishing.

Learn how to Fly Fish properly and it’s unlikely that you’ll ever want to go back to bait fishing.

Bob Bastian asked:


Fly fishing is an ancient style of fishing that has become an important part of popular culture. Images of it gear often evoke powerful emotions in the viewer.

It was practiced at least as early as the 2nd century by Macedonian anglers; however, some argue that fly fishing may have originated even earlier with the Chinese.

Little is known of the development of it from the 2nd century through the end of the 15th century. The English publication of a book in 1496 detailing dozens of artificial fly designs suggests that the sport was kept active during this period though. It continued to grow in popularity for some time in England, Scotland, Scandinavia and the United States. However, the sport eventually came to be viewed as an elitist sport, in part due to the high cost of fly fishing gear. Early fly rods were crafted from a tropical wood and later from bamboo. Both types of rods were expensive. By the 1920s interest in fly fishing in the United States had peaked.

Following World War II, fly fishing interest increased in the United States again. The introduction of fiberglass fishing rods, mono filament leaders, and synthetic line all served to lower the cost of fishing gear. Fly fishing interest in the United States was once again on the rise. Many of our fathers and grandfathers were fly fishermen of this era, and the overall respect that is given that generation in American culture may be reason enough to explain the enduring strength of it in popular culture.

Over the years Western it has emerged with its own cultural image. This may be due to several factors, including the American romanticizing of Western culture in general along with some brilliant marketing by early Western fly fishing entrepreneurs. The Western American cultural image of fly fishing is inextricably linked with horses, wide-brimmed hats, and leather apparatus. Western-clad fly fishers wading a rocky river while horses graze nearby on the aspen-lined shore is a powerful picture that transports most of us to a place we want to be. Whether the image is completely rooted in reality is not important.

Consider how many images designed to communicate masculinity feature fishing gear. Artists and graphic designers know that images are a powerful way to communicate masculinity - whether attempting to speak to men or to speak about men.

Even those who have not held a fly rod in years are powerfully impacted by the image of a fly rod or a fly fishing scene. The picture instantly transports people back in time. Fly fishing is so deeply embedded in the American culture that a single picture can take us back to childhood or transport us to a far away place. In this place the world seems right again; everything is once again as it should be.

It’s an important part of popular American culture. Images of fly fishing abound in movies, magazines, books and homes. Even an image of it apparatus communicates powerfully to many Americans. It’s an important part of American popular culture and history.

Brian Barnard asked:


Spend a day learning to fly fish and open up the door to a lifetime of angling adventures and memories. Upon completion of this full day, comprehensive school, you will be skilled and confident enough to pack up your fly fishing gear and head out to enjoy a trip on the water of your choosing. The elements of the sport we feel are essential for beginners and cover in the school are as follows:

· Equipment Knowledge and Selection

· Casting Techniques & Presentation

· Reading Water

· Wading Techniques

· Fishing Knots

· Fly & Leader Selection

· Fly Presentation

· Proper Fish Fighting Techniques

· Lots of time spent fishing!

The setting for our fly fishing schools is a sportsman club in Manchester, Indiana. The location is a short drive from Cincinnati, Ohio. The club is comprised of 1000 pristine acres of rolling hillsides housing 14 ponds and a man-made trout stream. The waters are home to largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, panfish, trout, carp, and catfish. In addition to the breathtaking scenery, a newly remodeled lodge with full amenities is at our disposal.

The fly fishing schools run from March-August. The cost of the school is $175 and includes all fly fishing equipment, a hearty lunch, and beverages. Accommodations at the lodge or nearby casino hotels are available, and we would be happy to make those arrangements for you. The schools are limited to 4 or 5 participants, ensuring a lot of personal attention.

2008 Introductory Fly Fishing School dates:

March 29th

April 5th

April 12th

May 10th

June 7th

June 28th

July 12th

August 2nd

The following items are recommended items for the beginning flyfishing school:

· Flyrod and reel if you own one. If not, one is provided as part of the class.

· Sunglasses-Polarized sunglasses are strongly recommended as they help cut the glare on the water allowing you to “see through” the water.

· Sunscreen

· Hat

· Hiking shoes or similar. Recommend against wearing open-toe shoes

· Bug Spray-usually not bad but you never can tell.

· Camera

· Any personal medications

· Clothing recommendation is long pants (lightweight) and a short sleeve shirt (no bright colors)

· Rain gear if appropriate.

(If you have any questions regarding what to wear or bring, please do not hesitate to call and ask us. We will be more than happy to review the checklist with you.)

To reserve a slot for an upcoming school, please call us at 513-871-3474. If you cannot attend any of the available dates above, you can email or call us and we will place your name on a list and contact you if we open additional school dates. Private schools are also an option if the dates above do not fit your schedule.

For more information, feel free to contact the school instructor, Brian Barnard, at Brian@BestGear.com.

Verlyn Ross asked:


A fly fishing rod is the most important piece of fly fishing gear that you can buy. Fly Fishing rods are long, thin, flexible fishing rods, combined with heavy line, designed to cast a fly. A fly usually consists of a hook tied with fur, feathers, foam, or other lightweight material.

There are a number of considerations that you should evaluate in selecting a fly rod to meet your individual needs.

You should carefully research the materials that are used to produce fly rods. Manufacturers typically make fly fishing rods out of fiberglass or graphite. First, let’s look at fiberglass. Experts and beginners alike can use popular fiberglass fly rods in most fishing conditions. By contrast, graphite fly rods are generally more expensive than fiberglass. And, lightweight graphite fly rods typically allow more accurate casting.

Let’s examine the actions of different fly rod types. Slow-action rods - you can reel in small lightweight fish with these flexible rods. Slow-action rods have the most bend, making them difficult for beginners to control, but offer great accuracy for short-range casting. Medium-action fly rods - beginners usually find medium-action fly fishing rods easy to handle. Fast-action fly rods - Stiff fast-action rods bend at the end of the rod and do not have a lot of give.

Shorter fly rods generally have less action than longer rods because they generate less torque when casting and reeling. Use short fly rods, measuring less than eight feet, in tight fishing situations where trees, bushes, stream size, or other objects will restrict your movement. Medium-sized fly rods, between eight and nine feet, provide the action, casting control, and strength you may need. You can use medium-sized rods in most fly fishing conditions. Large fly rods measuring more than nine feet - make the ideal choice for longer casting and the pursuit of big-game fish.

Additional Design Details of Fly Fishing Rods:

Fly rods come in a wide variety of line sizes, from size #0 rods for the smallest freshwater trout and panfish up to and including #16 rods for large saltwater gamefish. Fly rods tend to have a single, large-diameter line guide (called a stripping guide), with a number of smaller looped guides (aka snake guides) spaced along the rod to help control the movement of the relatively thick fly lines. Fly fishing rods are long and light and combined with heavy lines that provide the casting weight. Fly fishers use the weight and design of the line to cast the fly quickly and efficiently, without reeling in the line between casts. Fly rods are designed to let you sense a strike, set the hook, and fight and land the fish. Fly fishers speak of a “soul” in a rod, a quality present in all great fly rods.

As indicated earlier, instead of a weighted lure, a fly rod uses the weight of the fly line for casting, and lightweight rods are capable of casting the very smallest and lightest fly. Typically, a monofilament segment called a “leader” is tied to the fly line on one end and the fly on the other.

A rod is usually also classified by the optimal weight of fishing line or in the case of fly rods, fly line the rod should handle.

To prevent interference with casting movements, most fly rods usually have little or no butt section (handle) extending below the fishing reel. However, the spey rod, a fly rod with an elongated rear handle, is often used for fishing either large rivers for salmon and steelhead or saltwater surf casting, using a two-handed casting technique.

Note, that it is important for fishers to experiment with several different types of fly fishing rods to decide exactly what fits their style and ability.

For your comfort level, fly fishing needs to be your supplier’s passion in addition to it being their business. If possible, develop a personal relationship with him/her. They can be immensely helpful to you.

Fly fishing normally happens in the most beautiful natural surroundings where fly fishers often find themselves; a lonely meandering stream in the forest, a peaceful river deep between the valleys, or a tranquil blue lake somewhere up country. What a wonderful sport!