Fly fishing varies quite a bit from other forms of fishing, mostly because you’re using a much lighter lure, which requires different angling techniques, different rods, and different types of line. But different doesn’t always have to mean “more difficult.” In fact, even the most inexperienced of fishers can get a hold of fly fishing and have a good time with it if they consider a few points and tips before casting. Here, I’ll quickly go over some of the unique things about fly fishing, and what one can do to make their fly fishing experiences a little easier and more fun.

Before fly fishing for the first time, one should realize that simply the act of casting a fly lure is vastly different from casting lures in other types of fishing. As a matter of fact, it’s not even called “casting lure” in fly fishing, as fly lures are often much more light. Rather, one casts line when fly fishing, as it’s the weight of the line that carries the lure across. Fly fishing requires line specifically made for fly fishing, as fly line is often more dense and heavier than other types of line. Considering casting techniques is also just as important, and there are a number of casting techniques out there, each designed for different types of situations. The important thing to consider here is that one’s fly, line, rod, and casting technique plays a part in presenting the fly as organically as possible, making it seem lifelike. Fish will snap up bait that most resembles the types of bugs and prey they typically eat, so it is important to have your bait reflect this.

Of course, considering all of this, is very important that you know what kinds of food your fish eat when fly-fishing. Bass will often go for lures tied with synthetic fur, which keep those lures floating above water and attractive to bass. Trout will often go slow-moving aquatic bugs and grasshoppers when looking for something to snap at. Crappies and sunfish will often seek out minnows, and so respond the best to lures that mimic these smaller fish. The important thing to consider is just looking into what your preferred fish is eating, and how to best imitate their prey with your bait.

Considering the location of your fish is also quite important when considering fly-fishing. For example, trout will often be found in water filled with vegetation and weeds to look for their prey. Bass are often found around boat docks and tree trunks, or near rocks in places of flowing water. They are often found preying on panfish, which can also be found around the same places bass can be found. Seawater fish will often move with the tides to find their prey, and fish will often be found around docks and beaches. Movement on the surface will typically indicate the presence of fish in saltwater bodies.

Keeping all of this in mind, and doing a fair bit of research and practice on your own, you’ll have success in fly-fishing in very little time. The most important thing to consider when fly-fishing is your preferred catch’s source of food, and being able to imitate the behavioral patterns of that food source. Take into consideration what kind of fish you want to catch, where that fish resides, and how to imitate their food with your line, and you will have the basics of fly-fishing down. After all, no amount of instruction can make up for consistent and persistent practice. The only way to truly become better at fly-fishing is to simply do it!

As early Spring starts to set in, with it comes what is perhaps the best season to start fishing for Largemouth Bass. But just what does the effective bass angler do to ensure a bountiful catching season? With the early Spring being a pre-spawning period for many largemouths, there really isn’t much to it. Early Spring is often considered the best time to be fishing for largemouths, mostly because so many of them will be out to catch. But there are still a couple of things one should consider beforehand, as keeping in mind the largemouth bass mindset during this time of year is vital.

Lightweight jigs are great for catching largemouth bass in the Spring. As bass are recovering from Winter hibernation, they will often be slow and lethargic, searching for easy prey. Lightweight jigs that sink slower and move slowly will be ideal prey for the likewise slow-moving bass. The easier it is for the bass to catch your bait, the easier it’ll be for you to reel in those bass.

During this seasonal period, bass often feed on crawfish that are also freshly emerging from hibernation. For this reason, crawfish mimicry is also important to consider. Look for jigs with a chunk trailer, as these appendages move in a way similar to an actual crawfish when they move through the murky bottom of a lake or river. Also look for jigs in distinct, crawfish-colors, such as blue, dark yellow, or black. Generally, darker jigs are ideal for the most part.

Adding a rattler to your jig can also help in luring in Spring bass. Since crawfish claws rattle when they move, adding this little touch to your own crawfish-imitating jig will help in fooling the bass into latching onto your line. There are also jigs that have rattles pre-installed in them, which is something to consider when deciding what kind of jig to use.

Baiting largemouth bass with the right jig is important to successful fishing trips during the Spring. Just remember to choose one that’s easy to catch for the lethargic bass, one that moves and looks like a crawfish, as well as one that sounds like a crawfish. Being mindful of what a fish eats during a particular seasion is wise for any type of fish during any season, and this holds especially true for the largemouth bass. Just remember to make your bait as crawfish-like as possible in order to reel in the most bass this season.

Being a dominant predatory species, Walleye (also known as Yellow Pike or Pickerel) are not as constrained by seasonal differences as other fish. These fish can be caught all throughout the year, though their behavioral patterns vary between the four seasons. And while Spring isn’t as plentiful a season for Walleye as Summer, knowing how to adjust to their Springtime behavioral patterns can ensure a plentiful catching season.

Springtime is a time of mating for the Walleye, when the fish gather in clusters for mating and laying eggs. All throughout the Spring months, Walleye are seeking to reproduce and spawn, and so they congregate towards traditionally established spawning grounds to mate. It is around these parts, during the pre-spawn period, that Walleye are easiest to catch. Doing some research as to where the walleye congregate for mating is key to finding these fish, which isn’t difficult considering how popular and well-documented the species is.

Spring Walleye are often found in waters of middling visibility, where there is not too much mud but where the water isn’t completely clear either. Ideal Walleye fishing water is often described as “chalky” rather than “muddy,” which contains enough debris to keep the water from being too cold while also providing enough cover for the predatory Walleye to stalk its prey. As with finding the fish’s mating waters, tracking down water of ideal opacity can also be as easy as doing a little online research. In particular, you may want to look into temperature samples of various sites where Walleye can be found, as sufficiently cloudy water often fluctuates between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

The time of day is also quite critical in planning a Spring Walleye excursion. Because of their ability to see through water that their prey cannot, Walleye are most active during the early dawn and the late dusk, where darkness gives them a significant hunting advantage. Prepare to fish in situations of low or no light, as this is when the Walleye are the most active.

Lightweight fishing materials are considered ideal for catching Walleye in the spring, when the fish is freshly emerging from hibernation. Most fishers recommend monofilament line and light graphite rods for retrieving walleye, as their nips tend to be light and hard to detect with heavier equipment. Additionally, natural baits, such as minnows or certain types of worms, are ideal for walleye-catching. As the fish are more focused on mating than feeding during this time, their preferences in lure tend to be a little more picky than they would be in the Summer, and so greater care and patience must be exorcised when fishing for them during the Spring.

Finally, it should be noted that Springtime walleye often gather in shallow water. This is in part due to the aforementioned desire to be in warmer waters, which is also where their bait tends to congregate. In ideally chalky water, there should still be enough clearness to the water to be able to reflect light off of their eyes during dark fishing hours, though directly shining a light in their eyes can scare the fish, and is not recommended. But the lighting from your equipment, if not directed right at the walleye, can be helpful in detecting the fish in shallow areas in the dark.

Even with these in mind, catching Springtime walleye is by no means an easy task, but it should now be one that is more manageable. As with any of the other seasons, it is important to regard the natural inclinations of the walleye in Spring to have productive fishing trips. Just remember to make your Spring trips early in the season, before spawning time, and within sufficiently-chalky water where the fish gather to mate.