This time we have two fly fishing articles for you. One is for the complete non-fly fisher and one is for the more seasoned long rod caster.

Are you ready for fly fishing?

This is meant pretty tongue and cheek with just a hint of seriousness. Basically if you want to fly fish there is nothing to stop you. Go to a tackle/fly shop and put down your hard earned sheckles and tadda you are a fly fisher but you might want to take this test first anyways.

1. Do loved ones think you “fish too much already”?

2. Do you fish more than any other leisure activity?

3. Do have a hard time finding a place for all your tackle?

4. Do you have a selection of rods and reels suited to various fish and fishing situations?

5. Have you found your self catching more fish but enjoying it less?

6. Are there kinds of fishing strategies you just don’t use because you consider them boring or non-sporting?

7. Do you fish for the challenge or relaxation rather than for food?

8. Do you make time to fish rather than wait for an opportunity to present its self?

9. Have you ever made your own tackle/lures/rods?

10. Are you still reading this list?

11. Are you thinking of the fishing angles for every trip/camp out/family reunion?

12. Do you find you can’t drive by or over water without looking at it and wondering if there are fish in it and how to catch them?

13. Do you own or are you considering buying an ultra-light rod fitted with line that is less than 6lb test?

14. Have you tried to catch most species in the swim rather than targeting just 2 or 3?

15. Are you thinking about fishing now?

If you answered yes to 3 of these questions you just might be ready to try the fly rod. If you answered yes to7 then you are definitely ready but if you said yes to 10 or more you are long overdue.

As you can imagine almost all fly fishers come to the sport through more conventional methods. Bait then lures, red and white bobbers then slip floats. There is an evolution in fishing that is without borders. To catch a fish, to catch fish consistently, to catch bigger fish and finally the methods we use to catch the fish evolves. Now what puts the “sport” in sport fishing are the limitations we have imposed by law or by ourselves. If all we wanted to do was catch a fish we could just chum the water and wait a few hours then catch away. But we choose to use other methods that limit ourselves and, I think, fly fishing represents the ultimate in self imposed limitations.

So if you are ready for a challenge, to chart new territory for yourself and have fun learning while you are at it then make the plunge and try the fly rod.