The Best Fly Rod

     When people think of fly fishing, they think of fishing rivers and streams for trout.  Trout can be very picky eaters.  In most cases, they will only eat the insects that are common to their environment.  This means that the super small size 20 and 22 nymphs can be the most effective.  The fly rod is the only effective way to deliver these small flies.
     Trout is not the only fish that can be caught on a fly rod.  Any fish can be caught on a fly rod. 

Photo courtesy Tom Carpenter

     The most commonly targeted fish is the Largemouth Bass.  When fishing for bass, bigger lures equal bigger bass.  This brings the question of how big of a fly can a fly rod throw?  What size of fly rod is best?

     There are no set rules about the size of fly that can be used for each rod/line weight.  The only rule is putting the fly where the fish are.  To maximize a fly rod’s potential there are some general guidelines.
     The 5 wt rod is the general use rod.  It can effectively cast almost any fly from a size 22 up to a size 8. These are great for trout, bluegill, and smaller bass.  It is possible to cast a little bit bigger fly such as a size 4 hook with a Fish-Skull® on it.  The best option for bigger flies that are used for largemouth or striper is an 8 wt rod.  The 8 wt’s general size rating is size 8 to 1/0 flies.  Like the 5 wt, the 8 wt can effective deliver larger or smaller flies.  It is possible to use a size 10 or 12 wooly bugger with the 8 wt but the line is a little heavy for the delicate presentation.  When casting the larger flies for bigger fish such as False Albacore or Tarpon, an 8 wt may not provide the power needed to bring the fish in. 
     There is not a fly rod that can do it all.  The 5wt and 8wt rods will cover most all fly-casting.  The only thing that these to rods can’t do is deep sea fishing.  They will handle everything from casting for bream on a farm pond, to Trout on mountain streams, and Redfish in the marshes. 

 

Fish Skulls by Flymen

Few things are better than fishing.  One is getting together with friends to talk fishing while tying flies.  Twenty-four members of the Project Healing Water Fly Fishing gathered to learn how to tie the Fish Skulls Sculpin Helmet by Flymen. 

 

 Sculpins, such as the one pictured to the left, are a small broad headed fish that are found in both fresh and salt water.  The sculpins helmets are designed to model these small fish.  The Flymen website described the Sculpin Helmet as “an exciting, new style of Fish-Skull® with a realistic, flat and broad profile that imitates common bottom-dwelling fish species such as sculpins, gobies and baby catfish.  Heavier than the Fish-Skull® it is designed for use on both hook and tube flies allowing anglers to easily tie weighted streamers that fish deep and imitate these popular food sources.”

During this session the Foxy Shrimp and  Skulpin Bunny were tied. The foxy shrimp is tied on a size 4 hook with white fox fur and a mini Sculpin Helmet.    The Sculpin Bunny is also tied on a #4 hook but uses strips of rabbit fur to give its motion in the water and a small Sculpin Helmet.  A unique trick is used to secure the helmet in place.  The helmet is glued to the body of the fly and an additional thread dam (extra thread wraps) are placed in front of the helmet behind the eye of the hook. 

The heavy weight of the Sculpin Helmet take this fly to the bottom quick.  This means that the patterns should be tied on an inverted hook to prevent snagging.  It is great pattern for bottom feeding fish such as red fish, see mullets, or catfish. 

For complete tying instructions on tying these patterns and others go to

http://flymenfishingcompany.org/