It's time you tried fly fishing

A.J. Somerset
Special to Sun Media

Fly fishing, supposedly, is an arcane and difficult art that takes a lifetime to master, but in reality the sport is easy to learn. What makes it look so difficult is the casting. The image of delicate grace projected by a skilled fly caster is intimidating, but fly casting is really just a simple motor skill. Anyone who can hammer a nail without flattening a thumb, six times out of 10, can fly cast. A beginner can soon learn basic casting, catch some fish, and most importantly, have some fun. Here's what you need to do it.

First, a fly line. Compared to conventional baits and lures, flies are wind-resistant and almost weightless. As a result, you can't truly cast a fly -- what you cast is the fly line, which carries the fly to the fish. This means that the whole outfit must be matched to a fly line. Fortunately, the American Fly Tackle Manufacturer's Association decided to simplify matching lines to rods with the AFTMA line weight system. Lines are classed by weight, ranging from zero to 12. An eight-weight rod uses an eight-weight line. To make matters simpler still, the most useful all-around lines are in the six-weight to eight-weight range. A six-weight outfit is light enough for trout fishing but can still handle larger flies for bass or steelhead; if bass or steelhead are your main quarry, choose the eight-weight.

Lines also come in different types, such as double-tapered and weight-forward, and may be designed to sink or float. The choices may look bewildering, but for a first line the choice is clear: a weight-forward, floating line is good for most situations and is also the easiest line to cast.

After a line, you'll need a rod to match. That's easy: rods are classified by the same system, with an eight-weight line matching an eight-weight rod. The rod weight is usually marked on the butt, just above the grip. Some rods match more than one line weight, for example a four/five weight; in this case, go with the heavier weight to start -- the heavier line will make for easier casting.

Fly rods can be expensive, but they needn't be. Although some self-proclaimed experts will insist (mostly to justify to themselves their expensive purchases) that you really need a rod costing $500 or more, beginners will notice little difference, and neither will the fish. Inexpensive rods start from $50, but are usually only available in the six-weight to eight-weight range.

Most fly rods are long compared to spinning rods, with nine feet being the most popular length. Don't buy a shorter rod, thinking it will be easier to handle, unless you want to fish mostly on small streams. Longer rods make it easier to control your fly and line, and help keep the line off the water when casting from a canoe or float tube.

The reel is usually just a device for storing line. Before casting, you have to pull line off the reel, and you normally only use the reel to fight larger fish. Fly reels range from simple and inexpensive graphite models up to wonder-reels machined out of solid blocks of aircraft aluminum. Again, some claim you can't get by without an expensive reel, but for all-around fishing a simple reel will do. Choose one that balances your rod.

A fly line is only 80 to 100 feet long -- that's twice as far as you'll ever really want to cast -- and on the off chance that a fish pulls out all that line, backing is your reserve. It also makes the reel spool effectively larger, so you retrieve more line with each crank of the handle.

At the business end of your fly line, you'll need a leader to make the connection between the fat, plastic-coated fly line and your fly. Fly fishing leaders are tapered, with heavy butts (about 20 lb. test) and delicate "tippets" to tie onto the fly. Although you can make your own by knotting together lengths of fishing line, it's easier to buy knotless tapered leaders. Buy several -- you'll tangle and knot them as you learn to cast.

Finally, you need flies, although a small piece of brightly coloured yarn tied to the end of your leader is best for learning to cast. What works best varies, so you should check in at a local shop for information.