| When I first started becoming interested in | | | | the largest salmon I have ever seen using the |
| fly-fishing as a teenager as soon as I had saved | | | | technique called the "Scandinavian Spey Cast" with |
| up enough cash I headed straight to the local | | | | a simple rod and reel, some floating line and the |
| tackle shop to buy some fly-fishing equipment. | | | | smallest fly I have ever seen. As he removed the |
| Having limited funds was an immediate | | | | fly from the mouth of the fish he commented |
| disappointment as I had not realized how | | | | that the fly he was using was the best size for |
| expensive fly fishing kit really was. I gave it some | | | | this size of fish and that he rarely lost a fish when |
| thought and decided that, as I was going to be | | | | using it. It just goes to show that size really does |
| catching really large fish, I would be best | | | | matter but less so if you really know what you |
| purchasing the largest items available. So I bought | | | | are doing. |
| myself a huge rod, a bulky reel, some line and | | | | Fly Fishing Equipment: The Rod, Reel and Line |
| some flies and lures with really large hooks, after | | | | I now realize that fly-fishing equipment is actually |
| all it would take a large hook to hold the fish I | | | | specific to the weight of fish you are aiming to |
| was going to catch. How wrong could I have | | | | catch. Each item of equipment should be of a |
| been? | | | | suitable size so that they compliment each other |
| Fly-Fishing Equipment Where Size Really Does | | | | nicely. As a teenager I had little time to study the |
| Make a Difference | | | | art and even less time to master technique as all |
| Deciding upon taking up a new hobby can be a | | | | I wanted to do was get out there and land a |
| life-changing decision, the new experiences can | | | | salmon for tea. |
| quickly make a person change the way in which | | | | Fly rods and lines are clearly labeled using the |
| they spend their spare time. I had exhausted | | | | format 'Nwt' so that you can buy lines of the |
| myself by working hard to save up enough | | | | correct weight for your rod. Rods and lines vary |
| money so that I could afford to try my hand at | | | | in size from '0', for the smallest fish, up to size '16' |
| some fishing. I was looking forward to a relaxing | | | | for the largest. A rod can vary in height from |
| morning stroll along the banks of our local loch (a | | | | around six and fourteen feet (although shorter |
| lake), taking in the fresh morning air, hopefully | | | | specialist rods can be found). When choosing the |
| getting to see the otters playing on the waters | | | | reel you need to ensure that when it is in place |
| edge and then settling down before catching a | | | | your fly rod is perfectly balanced. If you don't |
| huge salmon. | | | | know how to check this ask the assistant in the |
| Well things don't always go to plan. I had read a | | | | tackle shop who will be happy to help. |
| little about fly fishing and I had also watched | | | | By carefully matching the size of rod and reel you |
| many anglers catching plenty of brown trout and | | | | can ensure that your fly fishing equipment is |
| a few very large salmon, after all I was living in | | | | suitable for you to perform long distance casts. If |
| Scotland at the time as fishing in Scotland is as | | | | you purchase the correct fly-fishing equipment |
| popular as golf. I was therefore certain that, after | | | | you will find it easier to perfect your technique |
| a little practice, I would land a big enough salmon | | | | and you will soon meet with success. |
| to take home for the family to eat. Unfortunately | | | | I still enjoy fishing a great deal and I have |
| I failed, abysmally, no matter how hard I tried I | | | | recently taken an interest bass fishing. Again I |
| did not get one bite. | | | | seem to have allowed myself to be influenced by |
| Looking back I can now see that the problem lay | | | | others. I became interested in the sport after |
| in my terrible decision to go large. Even today, | | | | watching one of the many bass fishing |
| while watching my fly fishing DVD, 'Fly Fishing | | | | tournaments. However I will take my time this |
| Academy', I saw Henrik Mortensen ( catch one of | | | | time and study well before spending any money. |