Tell me about fly fishing

[Rack Daniels]

Generally backing is unnecessary in Montana. Most of the fishing it never reaches the water. But 50-100 yds isn't a bad idea. Remember the line itself is give or take 100'.

I’ve seen you’ve caught some sizable fish on a fly! You didn’t have backing on with that pike at peck?

 

[Hem]

I’ve seen you’ve caught some sizable fish on a fly! You didn’t have backing on with that pike at peck?

Just saying. Yes, I have backing on most of my reels, except anything used for creeks. But I've only had a few occasions where a fish took to backing. Basically I never fish for anything with a rig that is under sized for the fish expected. For example, I use a 10wght for pike with a 40lb leader tapered to 20lbs. That nice fish last year didnt take hardly any line because I wouldn't let him. The same fish on a 6 wght rod might run farther but pike dont head for the hills when hooked anyway.
I lost a nice trout in Georgetown last year that went to backing but not by much.
River carp when hooked often hit backing.
It really depends on what you are fishing for.

 

[Sheltowee]

Someone please correct me if I’m wrong here.

I need backing that goes straight to the reel right? THEN my line (floating likely), THEN my leader, THEN the fly. Correct?

Lot folks will connect a short length of tippet to the leader, then the fly. Keeps you from chopping down expensive leaders.

Now my question: how often are y’all changing out lines and leaders? Every year?

 

[Salmonchaser]

That’s correct

Tie good knots. Sucks when a big fish takes off, gets you well into your backing and then Poof. 150.00 fly line and your Tarpon or 30 inch rainbow or 30 pound king are gone.

 

[kansasdad]

My main reason for backing on a larger size reel was to increase the speed of my retrieve (the backing wraps around the arbor to increase the relative diameter before you install the casting line). This will also reduce the diameter of “memory loops” in the line.

Sadly I’ve only rarely had a fresh water fish take me into my backing.

 

[Hem]

All valid comments^...still waiting for Rack to explain exactly what his intentions are.

 

[R.K.]

My main reason for backing on a larger size reel was to increase the speed of my retrieve (the backing wraps around the arbor to increase the relative diameter before you install the casting line). This will also reduce the diameter of “memory loops” in the line.

Sadly I’ve only rarely had a fresh water fish take me into my backing.

If you want to see backing in freshwater, chase carp. That or some flavor of migratory salmonid.

Otherwise, saltwater is how to find your backing in a hurry.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Sockeye, pound for pound will get you into your backing in a hurry. So too will silvers

 

[Rack Daniels]

My intentions are to learn how to properly setup not only my but my kids’ fly fishing setup. I’ve caught hundreds of fish as a teen with a Walmart Shakespeare fly combo and never took the time to really learn anything beyond casting without whipping flies off and ripping line back when I hooked one.
I trashed that pole and ultimately lost it.
I’m trying to learn the correct way, even if it’s unnecessary currently.

 

[Salmonchaser]

There is a lot of good water in Montana, you can learn to cast, cast in the wind; you can learn to fish-that’s different than casting and you can learn to land fish. I say this with some amount of admiration fueled by 20 years of guiding in Alaska. As a group my best fly guys were from Montana. Sure there were great fishermen from all over but when it came to fly fishing for big rainbows, char and grayling all I had to do was drive the boat, so to speak. Sure I’d provide some locally perfect fly’s to use but that was it.
On the subject of casting is not fishing. Without question the best casters were from Argentina. We had a group come for silvers and rainbows for 6 years or so. 8 to 10 guys every year. Those guys could throw 100 feet plus, accurately in a high wind. Didn’t matter the fish were only 30 feet out, they loved throwing a long way.
Get a decent slow to medium action rod for your kids, more forgiving than fast action, have a great time.

 

[Hem]

My intentions are to learn how to properly setup not only my but my kids’ fly fishing setup. I’ve caught hundreds of fish as a teen with a Walmart Shakespeare fly combo and never took the time to really learn anything beyond casting without whipping flies off and ripping line back when I hooked one.
I trashed that pole and ultimately lost it.
I’m trying to learn the correct way, even if it’s unnecessary currently.

Salmonchaser mentioned knots.
Good idea to practice tying some of the basics.
There are knots for different applications. Im sure everyone has preferences but these are the ones I use routinely in freshwater.
Nail knot- backing to fly line or leader to fly line.
Blood knot- ( leaders are generally tapered, this knot good for connecting sections of leader, or tippet to leader, so long as the diameters of the connecting ends are fairly similar)
Albright knot- great for attaching significantly different leader diameters.
Clinch/ Improved clinch knot- attaching leader/ tippet to fly.
Perfection loop knot- create loop on leader to then connect to welded loop on fly line.
Homer Rhodes knot-leader to fly
Hint of the day: a little spit will help knots tighten up properly.

 

[Rack Daniels]

That last “pro tip” is what every 6 year old that wants to tie his own hook remembers!

Thanks fellas, I was just refreshing myself on the Albright knot last night, I didn’t know that about the diameters or using the nail or blood knots. I’ll look those up!

 

[PhilFarms]

It’s an addiction. Good luck!

 

[NR_Hunter]

That last “pro tip” is what every 6 year old that wants to tie his own hook remembers!

Thanks fellas, I was just refreshing myself on the Albright knot last night, I didn’t know that about the diameters or using the nail or blood knots. I’ll look those up!

The triple surgeons knot is another good one to look up. The blood knot purists hate it but it’s actually a better knot.

 

[Salmonchaser]

The triple surgeons knot is another good one to look up. The blood knot purists hate it but it’s actually a better knot.

Blasphemy!

 

[texwest44]

Smallies love mothers, especially puffy marabou ones. Lands some piggies around where I live. I horse 'em on on a spin gear setup with like a size 3 splitshot. Works for other fish, too.

This isn't my picture below it's just what a mother looks like if you haven't seen one.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Smallies love mothers, especially puffy marabou ones. Lands some piggies around where I live. I horse 'em on on a spin gear setup with like a size 3 splitshot. Works for other fish, too.

This isn't my picture below it's just what a mother looks like if you haven't seen one.

View attachment 404146

I always have a few, olive, brown and black in my kit. Saved more than one day, even in Alaska.

 

[Rack Daniels]

Another question that may sound super naive….

How often are you guys retying tippet and how long? After changing flys a few times I imagine it just won’t carry like it did when it tapered so much more when it was new..?

 

[Salmonchaser]

Kinda depends on what I'm fishing. 6" long articulated streamers for silvers or fall bows, not to often and it will be florocarbon 3x perhaps 4x on heavily fished water, a foot to 16 inches. Size 12-14 drys for Grayling and Char, 18” to 24” 4x to 5x. Very rare guiding out in Bristol bay I’ve gone to 6x. Brooks river being the exception. Fishing the Madison or the Yellowstone 18 to 24 of mono 6x for drys to size 16. Pretty rare I’ll fish anything smaller.

 

[Rack Daniels]

Maybe I am misunderstanding, only 18”-24”??

A quick google search says depending on your water, fish finickyness, and style of fly you’re flipping, generally the rule of thumb is a leader as long as your rod, give or take..
This might quickly surpass bowhunting and tie with golf for expensive hobbies!

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