What is it about fly fishing that makes it so enticing? There is one main physical difference between other types of fishing and fly fishing. That difference may be the key to the enjoyment so many find in the sport of fly fishing. In all other forms of casting, the fisherman is throwing a weight on the end of his line, whether it is a lure or a sinker. Certainly, this does require a great amount of precision, but it is essentially like throwing a rock in the water. The fly fisherman, on the other hand, is casting only the weight of the line itself, which is spread out over 30 or 40 feet of line. The tiny fly at the end of the line is virtually weightless, and it provides no momentum at all. Fly fishing requires precision, delicacy, a gentle fine touch.

Many fly fishermen want to learn as much as they can about their sport, not just about fishing techniques. That includes the study of the insects that the fish feed on, studying the freshwater habitats, leaning about the history and lore of their sport, as well as the techniques of fly casting and fly tying. The fly fisherman has to be aware of everything from the cycles of the seasons to the life cycles of the insects. Fly fishing is not just another method of catching fish.

Fly fishing embraces the rhythm of nature as well as the rhythm of the rod. The rhythm of the rod carries your mind, body and spirit to the water. Whether you catch a fish are not, the water will always give you a little bit of its own, strength, some of its energy, and the wonderful feeling of peace.

The sport of fly fishing takes place in some of the most beautiful settings of the world including mountain streams, scenic lakes, the ocean's shorelines, and out on the high seas. Fly fishermen see and appreciate the wonders of nature. They care about the fish as well as the environment. Many of them take a proactive stance on environmental issues.

Fly Fishing Is Very Peaceful

An anonymous fisherman once said fly fishing has a special hold on the spirit of man. This is because of all forms of fishing, it requires a perfect balance between discipline and freedom. Perhaps part if the mysterious allure of fly fishing is the feeling of harmony with nature and the gentle balance between man and fish.

One of the most exciting forms of fishing is river trout fishing.  Rivers provide many different options for anglers of all skill levels.  River fishing allows for various bait and lure combinations, in addition to a wide range of techniques such as fly fishing and spin fishing.  This article is designed to highlight seven important guidelines to keep in mind when trout fishing in rivers, and hopefully this knowledge will come in handy the next time you are on the river.

1.  Rules and Regulations

It is very important to understand the local rules and regulations of the river where you are fishing.  Many places require fishing licenses, and in order to obtain those licenses you must fully understand the laws.  Many rivers have bait and lure restrictions since certain bait combinations can be harmful to the trout, so you should be fine as long as you are aware of these restrictions ahead of time.

2.  Artificial Lures

Using artificial lures is a great option for river trout fishing.  Many anglers will use light weight lures for river fishing, but this all depends on the strength of the current.  Stronger currents typically require heavier lures.  This is something that you will probably be prepared for anyway since it's always a good idea to carry a wide variety of tackle options.

3.  Live Bait

Live bait is an excellent choice for catching trout in rivers as well.  Worms, grasshoppers and other insects can be highly effective for trout fishing since they are natural prey for the fish.  However, many local laws prohibit the use of live bait for the risk of deep hooking, which can be very harmful to the fish.  Trout tend to be more aggressive with live bait, and this is why it poses a risk.  As mentioned in the first guideline, if you are aware of the rules and regulations local to your area then you will know whether or not you should be using live bait.

4.  Examine the River

Don't be afraid to walk up and down the river before beginning to fish.  There is a lot that can be accomplished from examining current behavior and looking for spots in the river where the current changes.  You may also want to study the depth of the water in various places and how those depths relate to the strength of the current.  Keep in mind that trout love areas of the river where the amount of dissolved oxygen is the highest.  In warmer water, this is usually where the water is moving pretty fast.  If you are trout fishing in cold water then you can probably fish in slower moving water like deep pools.  Your goal is to find the best place on the river to snag as many trout as possible, but that area might not be where you first start.

5.  Be Light on Your Feet

As you have probably heard, trout have a very strong sense of sight and smell.  However, what most people do not know about trout is their amazing ability to feel and sense pressure waves.  They can literally feel your vibrations depending on where you are, so it is very important to be mindful of this.  This especially holds true if you are wading through the river; make sure to wade slowly and be as light on your feet as possible.  Also, don't forget that trout can sense these vibrations on the river bank as well.  A great rule of thumb is to just walk slowly without much force wherever you are while fishing to avoid scaring the trout away.

6.  Up-River Casting

In order to successfully and consistently catch trout in a river, you are going to want to cast your line upstream and at an angle.  This holds true when fishing from the river bank or if you are positioned in the water.  By casting upstream, your bait or lure can naturally float down with the river current and allows the trout to have time to see it.  If you allow the end of your line to drift all the way down as far as you can then you will increase your chances of getting a bite.

7.  Catch and Release

One of the most important parts of your trout fishing adventure is what to do once you have successfully caught one.  This is also related to knowing the local laws and what the regulations are for keeping the fish you catch.  Most anglers will use the catch and release method for smaller trout or wild trout.

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Talon Lodge offers the best salmon fishing according the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

In an ongoing study of Alaska Sport Fishing and the average rod hours it takes for a sport fisherman to catch an Alaska King Salmon or Alaska Silver Salmon, Sitka again ranks first as the best Salmon Fishing destinations throughout Alaska.

The most recent study states that Sitka Fishing is almost twice as productive as the closest rival destination.  The average rod hours for catching a King Salmon in June are less than 5-hours.  The average rod hours for catching a Silver Salmon in August are less than 2 hours.  By contrast, the average rod hours for catching a King Salmon in Juneau are 9 hours

When is the best time for anglers to visit Talon Lodge and fish for Kings?

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, in their annual report for the Sitka Fishing area:  Fishing improves greatly with the spring weather in late April, but prime time is from late May through the month of June.  Anglers targeting King Salmon may have catch rates of just under 5-hours per fish harvested (0.2 fish per hour) in June.  Catch rates fall with the beginning of the commercial troll fishery in July, although good king salmon fishing continues throughout the summer.

Alaska fishing in Sitka provides for King Salmon bound for spawning grounds and weighing up to 70 lbs from April through June.  The average catch is 25 to 30 lbs.

From July through September, Silver Salmon (Coho) are the most plentiful sport fish caught in the Sitka Sound area.  Coho Salmon start showing up in June, but really start to group in July.  According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Their availability and catch rates rise through Mid-August.  In early to mid-September they start to head toward their home streams and congregate near the estuaries they left as smolt 17 months earlier.

This migration provides Talon Lodge guests with two great fishing opportunities.  The saltwater fishing for Silver (Coho) Salmon is fantastic with less than 2 rod hours per fish and the freshwater Fly Fishing is also fantastic.  Whether you are a saltwater sport fishing enthusiast or an avid fly fisherman, the Coho fishing provided by Talon Lodge is unmatched.

In addition to Alaska’s best salmon fishing, Talon, an Alaska Lodge, provides a Sitka fishing experience that includes Halibut Fishing from May through September;  Ling Cod Fishing from May 15-June 15 and again from August 15 through September 15; Yellow-Eye Fishing from May through September; and Alaska Rockfish from May through September.

Talon Lodge also provides the most exclusive Alaska Fishing Lodge experience with exceptional gourmet cuisine, gracious accommodations and a spectacular private island location.

Copyright (c) 2010 Gerry Stringer

Colorado is a world-wide destination for fly fishing, as there are thousands of miles of streams in the mountains and plains, and hundreds of ponds, lakes and reservoirs that offer fly fishers unparalleled access to the finest fresh-water fish on earth. Trout of every stripe, kokanee salmon, bass, muskie, crappie, catfish, walleye, splake - there's a challenge nearly everywhere in the clear, cold waters of Colorado.

And autumn is a particular popular season for the veteran fly fisher for a variety of reasons. First, of course, is the solitude: with kids back in school and the majority of summer tourists back home, even the most popular streams, reservoirs and lakes hot fishing spots feature little company or competition. Then there's the weather: the fall in Colorado is spectacular, with warm sunny days, and cool starry nights, and foliage colors unmatched in the West.

But it isn't the fish that matter of course. In Colorado streams, many species are spawning in the fall, and afterword need to fatten up for the winter ahead. The angling possibilities are endless and the fight is well worth the effort in this season because fish of all types are especially hungry and frisky.

September, October and November in Colorado are marked on seasoned anglers' calendars as possibly the best fly fishing on earth.

Colorado offers many opportunities for excellent fly fishing, from remote back-country sites and guided tours for Colorado river fishing, to day trips from major cities and resort locales where the famous Colorado trout - rainbows, cutthroat, brownies, brookies and lake trout - are abundant and ferocious.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife http://wildlife.state.co.us/ A wealth of information that is a gateway to Colorado fly fishing can be found on the Internet, of course, replete with fishing blogs and fishing guide sites as a source of information on available information and places to go.

Truth be told, in Colorado no one is ever more than a few miles from a great fly fishing spot, but here are five premier locations that expert anglers agree are among the very best locations for successful, memory-laden Colorado fly fishing:

- The Blue River is a medium-size river in the central part of the state near the Continental Divide, and one of the most scenic fishing spots in the state. Experts believe the best fly fishing on the river is from the Dillon Reservoir dam down to the Colorado River, between the town of Dillon to the Green Mountain Reservoir. Though private land borders much of the water, there is a 10-mile stretch of public access between the two reservoirs. Look to land brown, rainbow, some brook trout, cutthroats and fall-spawning Kokanee salmon.

- The Black Canyon of the Gunnison River in western Colorado is renowned for the brilliant combination of deep canyons and sheer cliffs, beautiful terrain and fishing opportunities unrivaled anywhere. The Gunnison River is subject to many restrictions, but there are 26 miles of the river that are managed as a Gold Medal tailwater fishery, which veteran anglers says is among the most productive in the state. The open portion is equally divided: Gunnison Gorge, the lower 13 miles, is the most popular and most fished because access is relatively easy; the upper 13 miles, within the rugged Black Canyon National Monument, are more difficult to reach, as it requires descending more than 2,000 feet down eroded drainage gullies to the river to reach the prize. Anglers report landing slab-sided rainbows and browns from 13 to 18 inches, with larger trout occasionally taken.

- The West Elk Wilderness, in the Gunnison National Forest in west central Colorado is not far from the popular mountain town Crested Butte. With an area of 176,000 acres about 15 miles in diameter, and with elevations up to 13,000 feet, the area features a couple of lakes teeming with trout, including golden trout.

- The Weminuche Wilderness, in the Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests in southwestern Colorado near Durango, offers several streams, including the Los Pinos River and Vallecito Creek which drain into the Vallecito Reservoir, and featuring such action as brookies, rainbows and cutthroats. The western portion of the wilderness area include the Needle Mountains with many peaks over 14,000 feet, and spectacular vistas from every vantage point.

- The South Platte River, about an hour south of the heart of Denver, flows through Cheesman Canyon and offers broad, stunning views of the Front Range of Colorado within striking distance of the state's major population centers. The area was once subject to a dam proposal which would have wiped out 21 miles of pristine Gold Medal fishing waterways, but opposition from a variety of wildlife and environmental interests were successful is scotching the plans. Today, fly fishing is one of the favored methods among anglers for catching large browns and rainbows.

While Colorado is a special place for fly fishing the year around, the most experienced anglers agree: there's better time and place to get out the flies than Colorado in the fall.

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With more than 10,000 cataloged patterns of fishing flies, finding the best one can be a long task of trial and error. The quest to find the perfect fishing fly has burdened fishermen for ages, but the general rule of thumb is to use dark fishing flies on cloudy days and bright fishing flies on sunny days. Another strategy is to match the color of the riverbed. Additionally, big flies often work best in high water while small files work best in low water. Below you'll find a list of the 5 best loved fishing flies for salmon and steelhead fishing.

Thunder and Lightning:
As the name insinuates, the deep orange, gold, brown and black colors are perfect for fly fishing on dark days and in dark river bottoms. This classic salmon fishing fly, once called the "Great Storm" fly is probably the most common fly used today for salmon and steelhead fishing.

Green Highlander:
This colorful fly composed of light green, pink, and orange feathers is perfect for bright sunny days. The green highlander is a classic pattern and very popular in all parts of the world.

Green Butt Skunk:
The green butt skunk looks exactly as it sounds, with bright green strand of yarn finishing off an otherwise black fly with a light colored tuft. These flies are the top choice for salmon and steelhead fishing in the Northwest but are incredibly successful around the world. The burst of green and the contrast of the dark and light make this fly a magnet for salmon and steelhead.

Skykomish Sunrise:
These fishing flies are a burst of bright orange and yellow that are perfect for dirty water on a bright day. It was a Skykomish sunrise fly that landed George McCloud, the fly's originator, a record breaking 29 pound 2 ounce steelhead in 1955.

Jock Scott:
Sir Edward Grey called the Jock Scott "the best all round fly, excellent for all seasons, weathers and waters." This incredibly intricate fishing fly can take up to 10 hours to craft by hand and was originally composed of more than 28 different materials. The Jock Scott's timeless design has retained its popularity since it was first crafted in 1854.

Although these 5 fishing flies rank among the most popular, don't hold back on trying new varieties of flies. Pack a variety of different fishing flies during salmon season and try a variety of colors and sizes until you find the types that work best for you.

Fly fishing is one of the most effective and interesting ways to catch trout. It requires good technique and patience, but one of the most important things to understand is which flies to use and why. In this article we will examine some different types of trout fishing flies and discuss how they can help your success. The main types of flies we will touch on are wet flies, dry flies and nymphs. There are plenty of others out there, but these are the ones with which I have had the most success. Keep in mind that these are just general categories of trout fishing flies, and there are many specific types of flies within each category below.

Wet Flies

Wet flies get their name because they are designed to mimic insects that usually spend time just below the water surface. There are plenty of insects out there that can be seen barely submerged in the water, and this can happen for different reasons. Some are water insects that live and feed in the water, and others might be going under just to lay eggs. Depending on the water conditions and the surroundings, there are some of these insects that get trapped under water and become an immediate target for trout. Anglers who fish with wet flies will use a special technique and try to imitate these insects with their wet flies, and this can be highly successful given the fact that trout love going for insects subsurface. Wet flies come in various color patterns and sizes, but the true key to successful trout fishing with these flies is using proper technique to mimic the behavior of these insects.

Dry Flies

Dry flies are named as such because they are designed to immolate those insects that stay just above or right at the water surface. Trout are known to be enticed by bugs and insects that are right on the surface because of their spectacular eye sight and ability to move fast when feeding. However, trout are vulnerable near the surface because the fly fisherman can see its behavior and the playing field is pretty even. Many dry fly fishermen believe that trout will feed at the surface year-round and therefore think that you can have great success with dry flies. Another reason that fishing with dry flies can be successful is because the angler can see the end of the line and how the trout is reacting to it, thus being able to correct any mistakes made.

Nymphs

Nymphs are really a just a type of wet fly since they are used underwater as well. Most insects that have not matured or are in the early stages of life spend their time underwater, and nymphs are used to imitate those insects. The distinction that can be made from other wet flies is that nymphs usually are weighted more heavily and go deeper into the water. They are designed to target those trout that may hang around near the bottom waiting for sinking eggs or insects. Nymph fly fishing can be a great method for catching trout in rivers where the angler can cast upstream and allow the nymph to drift down at various depths right over the trout.

Related Flies For Trout Fishing Articles

If you are looking to do some good fishing and don't mind seeing some of the most beautiful scenery in the Midwest, then you absolutely need to head to Cotter, Arkansas. Home of the White River, this lovely area is considered to be one of the best places for freshwater fishing on the entire planet. Whether you are an accomplished angler or a beginner looking to dive right in the deep end so to speak, the white water trout fishing is some of the best out there! Even though the river is home to many different types of fish, it is best known for its many species of trout. Let's take a closer look at what this place is all about and why it has such great trout fishing.

The White River is approximately 720 miles long and stretches from northwest Arkansas down into the Mississippi River. There are lots of lodging options near the river, as well as recreational activities for everyone. It is best known for its fishing, however. It has many types of trout, including Rainbow, Brook, Brown, and Cutthroat. There are several spots along the river to do a wide range of fishing; most of the fisherman you see there are fly fishing or spin fishing, which is a wonderful way to catch that trophy trout. There are also plenty of trout fishing guides up and down the river for those that may want to receive some local instruction.

One of the major reasons that this place attracts so many anglers worldwide is because of the quantity and quality of trout in the river. It's stocked with tons of trout from surrounding lakes and rivers running through Arkansas and Missouri, and it has been this way for a long time. The trout have been able to thrive in this wonder of nature because it has an abundance of natural prey and ideal spawning locations. It is because of this fact that the nearby Norfork River produced the world's largest trout at the time in 1988. The White River has great quality trout too, and because there are so many for people to catch it has become a very attractive fishery. Skilled anglers can fish here and work on their technique, or a beginner can try it out and catch their first ever trophy fish. Either way, those that venture to this hidden gem in the Midwestern United States will be seriously rewarded and satisfied!

If you ask any fly fisherman if he gets any catfish, he'll probably tell you that he sure does... accidentally! Chances are, he's targeting bass, trout or crappie and a cat gets snagged somewhere along the way. On the other hand, if you ask a catfish man if he ever tries fly fishing, he'll probably tell you that it's just too darn difficult to catch catfish with flies.

The truth is, it's not as tough as everyone makes it out to be. It's just that nobody does it. And, why not? For one thing, fly fishing works best for fish that are feeding near the surface, and cats are bottom dwellers. For another thing, catfish like to put up a good fight, and many fly fishermen have had fly rods snapped in half by feisty catfish.

Fly fishing is actually a great technique for catching channel cats in rivers. It doesn't work so well for flatheads or blues. The best way to learn how to fly fish for cats is to get out there and do it, but there are some tips that will help you along the way.

Know Your Stream

You really have to know when and where the catfish are biting in order to catch them with a fly. Catfish are looking their hardest for food usually in the early spring during spawning season, and in the late fall when they're trying to fatten up for winter. Depending on the river or stream, you may find catfish on the surface all year round. It's a little like gambling; if you get a few hits, you should keep on going and ride your luck. Most anglers find that if they get a few catfish early in the day, they'll have a lot of luck all day long. On the other hand, if you spend a while out there casting flies and get nothing, it just might not be the right time or place. If you haven't caught anything within five minutes, move on to another spot on the river. Once you find a spot where they're biting, stay until you get a few.

The best places are always around obstructions like dams or log jams, where the catfish will be in calm waters. Look for a spot where there is some activity at the surface of the water. Even if you're not sure it's a cat you see, as long as something is biting and you can see it, there are sure to be cats there as well.

Good Gear for Fly fishing Catfish

Fly fishing for catfish won't probably catch you a giant trophy sized fish. Most anglers catch channel cats that are under 10 pounds fly fishing. You should use a fly rod that is anywhere from 5-7 weight. You don't want the rod to snap, and you also don't want it to be so heavy you don't feel the fish bite.

A long rod helps with control. Once you catch him on the end of your line, you're going to want to ease him to the shore without losing him. A nice long line will help you to keep his head above water as you pull him to shore.

A word on tying flies - it's tough at first, but you'll get used to it! Casting is tricky, too. Just be patient and remember that trial and error is what makes you a pro!

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