What Constitutes As Fly Fishing?
Wikipedia describes it as…
In fly fishing, fish are caught by using artificial flies that are cast with a fly rod and a fly line. The fly line (today, almost always coated with plastic) is heavy enough in order to send the fly to the target. This is one of the main differences between spinner and bait rods, which use heavy weight on the line to cast lures, bait, etc. Artificial flies can vary dramatically in all morphological characteristics (size, weight, colour, etc.).
Artificial flies are created by tying hair, fur, feathers, or other materials, both natural and synthetic, onto a hook with thread. The first flies were tied with natural materials, but synthetic materials are now very popular and prevalent. The flies are tied in sizes, colours and patterns to match local terrestrial and aquatic insects, baitfish, or other prey attractive to the target fish species.
Sounds good to me.
Yes, synthetic materials are the norm now, and are in many cases a great advancement in angling and fly tying, both from a price and a usability point. However, i am wondering where you draw the line in regard to using synthetic materials and then labeling the finished products as ‘flies’.
What constitutes as a lure and what constitutes as a fly? What would you deem this monstrosity as? Fly or Lure?
And most importantly, would you fish it?
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20 Responses to “What Constitutes As Fly Fishing?”
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Just for the record, i did not create this
flylure, but did confiscate it in order to make this post.It’s call FLU… deadly as it sounds… HA….good post!
Actually I would give that fly a bash,particularly around dusk or dawn.Black red combo killer.
With regards to materials on flies well I was in Russia 4 yrs ago fishing in Vodlosersky National park and watched a chap crimp only a small piece of tinfoil on to a hook and catch two nice brown trout with the fly.
Over the last 8 months since my 1st Durex Condom Pike streamer I’ve read numerous comment about it on forums around the world.Some just cant believe I have the audacity to call it a fly while other have jumped on the bandwagon and swear by them.
http://pikeflyfishingarticles.blogspot.com/2009/11/durex-condom-pike-streamer-part-deux.html
Its not to shove people to my blog just to give you an idea what constitutes a fly in my eyes.
Great post by the way.
It’s all good as long as it doesn’t have organic material, scent, or a treble hook on it.
PS: Looks like that egg sucking leech bit off more than it could chew.
I define a fly as a light weight lure to be cast on a fly rod. Remember that for warm water peeps it was common to huck plastic worms, tiny spinners, and tiny crankbaits with a fly rod.
For me a fly must NOT
-Have scent (then it is bait – more of a doughball than a fly)
-be impossible to cast with a fly rod
Personal preference – I like something I tied myself and avoid spinnerblades or diving lips (they are a PITA to cast with)
Of course I’d fish it – I’d strip it past a Pike or Bowfin and piss it off…
@ Mark – I like what you saying! I was kinda thinking along the lines of the H1N1. Ok, i am being silly.
@ Simon – Congratulations! As of yet, i have not had to pick my jaw up off of the floor due to a comment on a blog post. But, with yours i did. Your fly is a riot! Since there are jr. anglers on here, i won’t comment on it much, however – i have to say, very inventive!
@ Tony – Agreed, a self tied fly is always such a pleasure to fish. Agreed again, i am sure it would work, but it must be a pain to cast that puppy!
That thing looks like roadkill. Classification? Not sure. But if I thought it would catch me a monster-huge fish, I would tie it on in a heartbeat.
No…I would not fish it….I know we all have a different opinion, but when I look at that fly I might as well be looking at a spawn sac.
My mind makes no distinction between that and bait. Nor do I fish spinning blades or anything with heavy hardware. A bead or conehead is acceptable but when it looks like a stainless steel appliance I no longer regard it as a fly.
I like more classic flies and I tend to fish smaller flies. I do fish single egg patterns when necessary but we all have our limits.
No hate mail please….we are all soooo civilized here and you guys have not ganged up on me yet, so I am counting on you here…lol
I’d fish it with pencil lead and a level-wind reel. Maybe plunk it with a gob of eggs. Or maybe troll it behind a flasher with a downrigger.
@ MG – question – Why synthetic yet not organic? What constitutes as organic?
I too would not fish that fly, for many reasons. Most of which Patti has stated. But, i don’t judge others for being honest and any saying they would. Different strokes for different folks.
The fly reminds me too much of bait, and in my mind…large egg clusters are exactly that to me – synthetic or not. Plus, i like to be able to enjoy casting a light sparse fly, opinions and personal ethics aside.
However, i can imagine that fly would be very effective under the right circumstances. Funnily enough tho, one of the guests used it for a few hours – and no dice!
Fly fishing in my mind is defined by my equipment, both in what I tie on to the terminal and what is in my hand. The fly pictured in the article does seem to fit my definition of a fly used in conventional fly fishing. But than I’m a bit old school.
Where did you get a picture of my Elephantitis Leech. That;s not for the internet
.
I fish heavy flies a lot due to getting that fly down to where the smallies are hiding. There is only a small window for top water flies when fishing smallies. There is definately a different technique for casting a big Clouser minnow half and half and not scaring all the fish away or bonking yourself in the back of the head
.
Hey, just a thought, aren’t flies supposed to immitate bait? All fish eat bait fish and other forms of bait. Aren’t we trying to trick the fish into believing what we are throwing at them is bait fish or other forms of bait. I am fairly new to fly fishing and still have my limits on what I would use or consider a fly. To me dough balls, spinner blades, treble hooks, etc. are not bait, but lazy fishing.
“I like more classic flies and I tend to fish smaller flies. I do fish single egg patterns when necessary but we all have our limits.”
“Plus, i like to be able to enjoy casting a light sparse fly, opinions and personal ethics aside.”
Well said! Above!
Ooops… my opinion again… : )
Careful now… You are questioning the ‘revolution’ in fly-fishing.
You know the one… Hybrid techniques and attitude…
Seriously, good for you for posing some leading questions. I have written rather extensively on my site regarding sporting traditions, defining fly-fishing, and questioning some current trends.
Classicangler.blogspot.com
Regards,
Erik
@ Mike – Yep – ’tis true – i lifted it when we were on the Skagit.
@ Desi – Conditions and species targeted will always dictate what type of fly and setup an angler uses – no doubt about that. It’s something that every angler deals with. Choices are then made internally as to what is ‘ethical’ to that person.
Yes, you are right – basically all flies are some sort of ‘bait’ or natural food source imitation. In all honesty though, fish will take pretty much anything. Hook a chunk of moss through a hook and swing it…trust me, it will work at some point. I have watched mushrooms work and heard stories about cigarette butts…
In my opinion, basically all we are doing is getting the fish to react out of either aggression or hunger. Its like a cheeseburger walking by…i may not be hungry, but i most likely would have a bite or two.
@ Erik – Thanks for posting. I like your site, thanks for sharing.
I suppose all it really is a personal choice about what we are willing to fish, how bad we need to catch a fish and the path that we will take to ensure we do.
As i get older i realize that it’s the times on the water that are more important to me than the fish i may catch.
As for hybrid techniques and attitude – i admit, i have been guilty of them before, however i am now trying to push myself an an angler and am curious to know what methods others will partake in, where they draw boundaries and what constitutes as ‘fly’ angling.
@ KJ – Loved the comment. Almost sprayed my coffee everywhere.
Fly fishing is great because you get to draw your own line in the sand as far as the rules. My take on egg patterns is it is as natural and consistently occurring as any hatch, it’s not like you’re out there with a corn cluster fly chumming with handfuls of corn. Let the purists bitch, they are going to anyway, they have plenty of time to think about things to bitch about while you are catching 3-5 fish to their one.
@ Aaron – You just nailed why i love fly fishing so much. I was hoping someone came up with it. Rules are individualistic, and often opportune…and in many/most circumstances, no fish or take can ever be duplicated. Statistically, it’s like playing the lotto. Chances everywhere…