Sunshine State Fishing

Even though fly-fishing is a natural act?you could, if you wanted to, fly fish with just your arm and a line, but you tire quickly?it helps to have a little gear to make your experience a bit more rewarding. In fly fishing, the rod is simply an extension of your arm. Fly fishing requires a different rod for each different purpose. You?ll choose a 3-weight rod to cast a 3-weight line, and so forth; the bigger the number, the heavier the line that rod will cast.

A large part of your success in playing and landing a fish will depend on you, but a large part will also depend on your reel. The fly fishing reel holds the line and the backing, which fills the spool and allows the line to be retrieved faster. Reel bodies are pressed metal, assembled, or milled. What you want is a reel that will allow a smooth drag. Good maintenance?cleaning and oiling your reel?will help it last decades.

Before you head out to shop for waders, do your homework. Figure out?what will you use the waders for, only fishing, or also for hunting duck and geese? What?s the temperature of the water you?ll be in, when you have the waders on? Answers to these questions can help you choose between neoprene, Gore-Tex, canvas, nylon, or rubber waders. Make sure they fit. And spend as much time thinking about the boots you?ll wear, as you did the waders you?ll wear with them.

And don?t forget your good manners, when you go out fly fishing. If you find someone fishing, that section of water?s theirs?whether they?re active, stationary, or resting. Always yield to the angler who has a fish on their line. Leave gates the way you found them, try not to make tracks, and don?t litter. Obey all the state and local fishing laws.

For more articles by this author as well as other fishing and outdoor information visit the fishing recource center at http://www.NassauFishing.org. Visit the outdoor and sporting directory to find more quality fishing, camping and outdoor sites and resources.

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