Click to enlargeFly Fishing | Getting Started Right!

" It takes only 30 minutes to learn to cast a fly"
"It takes a lifetime to perfect your cast"


Fly fishing is the most enjoyable way to fish for trout, salmon, steelhead, bass and saltwater fish. Before investing your hard-earned money in fly fishing equipment, there are a few things to consider.

To help you on your way, here's some general information about the sport of fly fishing which will help you make the right choices in equipment, which in turn will result in a wonderful lifetime fly fishing experience.

We Offer Discounts on Equipment to Get You Started without digging to deep into your wallet. Check our specials & Outlet for good deals.


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Getting Started!

Just getting started fly fishing? Or maybe you've been fly fishing awhile and need to brush-up on your fly fishing technique, this section of our store will help you to understand some of the terminology used by fly fishers everywhere. And familarize you with different fly fishing equipment, knots and the types of flies used.

All new fly fishers must start at the beginning. All though it comes easy for some people, no one picks up a fly rod and instantly becomes an expert fly fisher. A good foundation has to be layed, before you can start building.

A good foundation consists of information related to fly fishing equipment, gear and the sport of fly fishing.

The building part, comes with practice, patience and time.

To Acquire the knowledge and technique to be a reasonably good fly fisher. You need to do your homework, research information and get out on the water.

" It only takes 30 minutes to learn to cast. But, it takes a life-time to perfect your cast!"

The one thing that will help you on your way, more than anything else, is Practice. Go out on a farm pond, park pond or your back yard, and practice casting. When you feel comfortable with your short cast, start working out more line for a longer cast. But, don't over due it. If you feel comfortable with your cast, stay with that distance and enjoy your self on the stream.

The History of Fly Fishing:

We are not going to cover the history of fly fishing prior to the 1900's. If you wish to learn how it all started, there is a great web site which has all such information. Click on this link to get there . . Fly Fishing History

The modern period has been dominated by the development of new materials, and there is no doubt that without plastics, fly fishing as we know it would be unrecognisable as a sport, although the basic principles would be the same.



We discount several fly reels when purchased the same time as a fly rod. Look for a drop-down box on the rod page and to take advantage of this offer.

Selecting A Rod



Glass-fibre rods first appeared in the late 1940’s, but it took a while for the new material to be adopted. Suppliers showed varying degrees of enthusiasm for the material. Hardy’s first glass fibre rod was built in 1954, and after a period in which glass and cane uneasily coexisted, their first carbon fibre rod followed in 1976. Rod weights plunged, reaching the point where line weight became a consideration in rod handling. A modern fifteen foot carbon fibre rod typically weighs around the pound mark, and a nine-foot rod three and a half ounces.

What Cortland Has To Offer in Rods, Reels & Outfits?



Fish/ Situation

Rod length

Line weight

Small stream trout and panfish

6'6" - 8'

2 - 5 wt

Mid to large size trout streams and farm pond bass

8'6" - 9'

4 - 7 wt

Stillwater trout (ponds and lakes)

9' - 10'

4 - 6 wt

Stream small mouth bass

9'

6 or 7 wt

Largemouth bass

9'

7 - 9 wt

Striped Bass, Bluefish, Redfish, Bonefish, Mangrove Snook, Seatrout, Baby Tarpon

9'

8 - 10 wt

Permit , mid size Tarpon, cobia, Dorado, sailfish, medium tuna

9'

10 - 11 wt

Steelhead

9' - 10'

7 - 8 wt

Atlantic Salmon, King Salmon

9' traditional

8 - 9 wt

Or Spey rods

Spey lines




Fly Rod Research

The Cortland Fly Outfits is a great choice of equipment for both the beginner and experienced flyfisher

Popular fly rod manufactures include:
  • Cortland Line Company
  • Hardy & Greys
  • Diamondback

    You do not have to spend a small fortune to purchase a good quality fly rod.

    The advanced fly fisher may want to purchase a Hardy or top of the line Cortland rod, but to enjoy the sport of fly fishing you can put your hands on a good rod for less than $100.00.

    What's Cortland Got To Offer in Rods, Reels & Outfits?

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    Selecting a Fly Reel

    A Fly Reel's purpose is to store line, provide smooth tension when a fish is on, and balance the weight of your fly rod.



    There are many different type's of Fly Reels. Each manufacturer makes reels which are basically the same, but differ in the type of drag mechanism, reel frame and design.

    Most reel's can be changed from right to left-hand retrieve. Have some sort of drag system and mount to a rod in the same basic method.

    Less expensive fly reel's use a simple click/pawl system as a drag, and depend on Palming the exposed rim of the reel for additional drag when a fish is on.

    Other, more costly reel's have Adjustable Disk Drag Systems or a Turbine/Disc System.

    Some with interchangeable spools or cassette's, which make it easy to change to a different type or weight of line, while on a stream fishing.

    Size of your Reel is important. A fly reel is sized for specific weight of fly line, and line capacity.

    Example: Cortland's Mosquito Fly Reel - Size S is designed for ( line weight 4 to 6 ) and has capacity for 100 yds.

    Reel price can be an indication of the type of use a particular reel is designed for. It is reasonable to assume that an inexpensive fly reel, would be suitable for light duty fly fishing, and not for heavy duty fishing such as for Pike, Muskie or Saltwater fishing.

    The same holds true for use in fresh or saltwater. Freshwater reels can be expensive, but saltwater reels will generally cost more.

    Extra money spent for a good quality reel, will payoff in the long term. Use of your reel and the money you want to invest determine the quality of fly reel you should consider purchasing.

    Most Reel Manufacturer's have charts which clearly show what each size reel is able to handle.

    What's Cortland Got To Offer in Rods, Reels & Outfits?

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    Selecting A Fly Line for your type of fishing.

    Choosing a fly line depends mostly on the type of fish you will fish for and the type of water that you will be catching these fish in.

    Line Identification:

    Example: WF4F ( WF = Weight Forward ) - ( 4 = Weight of Line ) - ( F = Floating )

    A Few Line Types Include:
  • Floating
  • Rocket Taper
  • Intermediate
  • Sinking

    Each line type is also available for many different fly fishing applications.

    The Beginner Fly Fisher should consider a WF ( weight forward ) fly line, sized for the rod and reel being used. This line is designed to make casting easier.

    The Loon Neckvest Lanyard is handy for keeping tools and tippet material available for use.

     
    Line size Fish species Fly Size
    1 + 2 Trout, Panfish #26 - #18
    3 - 6  Trout, Bass, Panfish #24 - #2
    7 + 8 Trout, Steelhead, Bonefish, Redfish, Atlantic Salmon, Bass #12 - #1/0
    9 - 11 Atlantic and Pacific Salmon, Bluefish, Small Tarpon, Dorado, Striper, Permit #6 - #4/0
    12 - 15 Tarpon, Billfish, Tuna #2/0 - #8/0




    Choosing A Line By Fish Feeding habits:

    Surface feeding species:
    Use 2 to 6 weight weight-forward (WF) or double-taper (DT) floating fly lines.
    Use size 12 through 22 flies.
    Make extra delicates presentations of small flies on light tippet.
    Recommended: 444 LAZER-Line, 444SL, 444 Floating and 444 Clear Creek Taper

    Feeding just below the surface:
    Use 4 to 10 weight weight-forward (WF) intermediate fly lines or sinking tips Type 1.
    Recommended: 444SL Ghosttip, 444SL Clear, 444 Clear Camo,  444SL 20' Intermediate Sink Tip

    Feeding deep in Stillwater:
    Use 5 to 10 weight weight-forward (WF) uniform sinking or shooting taper or Quick Descent lines. 
    Recommended: 444SL Quick Descents, 444SL Steady Sinks and 444 Sinking Shooting Tapers.

    Feeding near bottom in moving water:
    Use 5 to 10 weight sink tip Type I - VI. 
    Recommended: 444SL Sink Tips, 444 Nymph Tip, 444 Sink Tip or Deep Nymphing Line.



    Choosing A Leader

    The leader is attached between the fly and the flyline. Most leaders are made of monofilament, and are tapered from one end to the other. The larger end is the butt end, this gets attached to the flyline. The smaller end is the tippet end, and attaches to the fly, or an extension line called the tippet. The leader is used to keep the fly line away from the fish, and it also makes for a better presentation of your fly. Most manufacturers of leaders classify them using the "X system".

    The following chart will give you an ideal of what each "X system" size is, in respect to the tippet end diameter, pound rating and proper fly sizes which should be used with each size leader.

    X Rating

    Tippet End
    Diameter

    Pound Test

    Correct fly sizes

    0X

    .011"

    12

    1/0-4

    1X

    .010"

    10

    2-8

    2X

    .009"

    8

    6-12

    3X

    .008"

    6

    8-14

    4X

    .007"

    5

    12-16

    5X

    .006"

    4

    14-20

    6X

    .005"

    3

    16-24

    7X

    .004"

    2

    18-28

    8X

    .003"

    1

    18-28
    NOTE: Pound Test may vary by manufacturer

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    Selecting Tippet Size

    Tippet Material is used for connection between your leader and your fly. It is the most important tool for deception in a fly-fisher's bag of tricks, when trout fishing. Your tippet should be about 20 to 24 inches long and since it will shorten each time you change flies, be prepared to change your tippet quite frequently. As a general rule, replace your tippet when it gets down to 15 or 16 inches. You may want to carry several sizes of tippet material to meet your on-stream needs.

    Loon MOU Tippet Material Tippet material is available on short spools of 30 yards. The size tippet required, depends on the size of fly you are fishing. Matching your tippet size to your fly size and keeping the proper tippet length, will give you the best possible presentation of your fly.

    This table should be used to determine what tippet size is needed for a given fly size.

    Tippet Size Tippet Diameter Pound Test* Fly Size
    8x .003 1.2 24,26,28
    7x .004 2 20,22,24,26
    6x .005 3 16,18,20,22
    5x .006 4 14,16,18
    4x .007 5 12,14,16
    3x .008 6 10,12,14
    2x .009 7 6,8,10
    1x .010 8.5 2,4,6
    0x .011 10 1/0,2,4
    x1 .012 12 2/0,1/0,2
    x2 .013 14 3/0,2/0,1/0,2
    x3 .014 16 5/0,4/0,3/0,2/0
    x4 .015 18 6/0,5/0,4/0,3/0
    *Tippets with the same diameter may vary in strength depending upon the manufacturer


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    Streamside Top Ten Turrall Flies:

    Get Started with these flies, and you can't go wrong! Purchase 2 or 3 size of each of our top ten flies and you should be ready to hit the water!

    Click on fly links to get information on each fly.

    C&F Design Fly Box & File System

    TOP Ten TROUT FLIES +:

    Adams Parachute . .    view imag & info
    Blue Winged Olive Parachute . .view imag & info
    Copper John Nymph . .view imag & info
    Glo Bug Pink . .view imag & info
    Hare's Ear Nymph . .view imag & info
    Midge Black . .view imag & info
    Pheasant Tail Nymph . .view imag & info
    Prince Nymph BH . .view imag & info
    Dave's Hopper . .view imag & info

    PLUS:
    The Woolly Bugger, one of our favorites . . view imag & info

    L2L Reconnect Fly BoxC&F Design Micro-Slit Foam Fly Box



    Tying It All Together:

    Learning the right knots to use when attaching your leader to your fly line, attaching your tippet to your leader and tying on a fly are the next very important steps.

    A great tool to make knot tying alot easier is the Tie Fast Combo Tool.



     Click here to purchase the Tie-Fast Combo Tool.

    The following knot's are real easy to tie. Take a look at all of them and select the one's that are best for you.













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    Tools & Gadgets:

    When you head for your favorite stream you will need a few fly fishing tools & accessories to perform chores which come up during your time on the water, and accessories to make your time on the water more enjoyable.

    Top Priority List:
  • Strike Indicators
  • Forceps
  • Combo Tool
  • Fly Fishing Lanyard
  • Landing Net

    Columbia Henry's Fork III VestColumbia Cool Creek Mesh Vest

    You May Also Want:
  • Fly Fishing Vest
  • Fly Box





    The C&F Compartment Fly Box is an excellent choice for fly storage. Add a C&F Threader insert and a few fly threaders and you have everything you need in one fly box.



    Keep Your Fly Line Clean:

    Keeping your fly line clean reduces fiction between the rod eyes and line.
    Giving you a better cast and control of your line.



    LOON Outdoors makes some fine products for just this purpose.
    The Loon Fly Cleaning tool is a great aid for cleaning line with Loon's Line Speed.

    To learn more about these and other great Loon products . .     Click Here

    The Loon Gear Bag has storage compartments for all your fly fishing gear.The Hardy Landing Net is a quality made net you will love and use forever!

    Cortland Fly Line Specifications:

    Tropic Plus Fly Lines:
    When it comes to premium fly lines, Cortland’s Lazer Tropic Plus is “state-of-the-art”. LAZER TROPIC PLUS and Precision Tropic PLus Lines combine innovative features with Cortland’s time tested reliability. Cortland technicians have developed a harder coating that surpasses others on the market. You will instantly notice the smoothness and distance with your first cast.

    Think stainless steel, rock solid, built to last a lifetime - that’s the way we’ve engineered the whole 555 Series Tropic Plus. These lines are the first choice of the professionals who spend more time on the water than anyone. They know that their gear has to perform every day without fail because their job is on the line.. they also know that they can only afford to use the finest industrial quality fly lines from a company that has been doing it longer than anyone. From cores to coatings, the 555 Professional Grade fly lines will cast further, float higher (the floaters that is) and last longer than anything on the market. You have our word on it, because after all, our job is on the line.



    LazerLine Tropic Plus . .
    Use this Purchase Button to place an order for LazerLine Tropic PLus Series Fly Line . .









    Precision Tropic Plus Series Lines . .
    Use this Purchase Button to place an order for a Precision Tropic Plus Series Fly Line . .















    555 Series Tropic Plus &
    Little Tunny Lines . .
    Use this Purchase Button to place an order for a 555 Tropic Plus Series Fly Line . .







    444 Precision Change A Tip Fly Line:





    Cortland Precision Trout Fly Line Specifications:

    Trout Precision Individual Tapers . .
    Use this Purchase Button to place an order for a Precision Trout Series Fly Line . .



















    444 Classic Series Fly Lines . .
    Use this Purchase Button to place an order for a 444 Classic Series Fly Line . .



















    444 SL Specialty Fly LInes . .
    Use this Purchase Button to place an order for a 444 SL Specialty Fly Line . .















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    A Good Approach


    Fly Fishing Trout in clear water can be a challenge.

    Getting close enough to make a good fly presentation, without spooking nervous trout, requires planning ahead.

    Select clothing that helps you blend into the surroundings. Survey the stream, decide where the trout are more likely to be, move-in slowly. Keep your body outline low and avoid casting shadows over the water.

    Use a pair of polarized sun-glasses to eliminate glare on the water, and to help spot the fish before they spot you.

    A Good Approach will scare less fish. The less fish you scare, the more you catch.

    Trout Food

    There are 5 basic food groups:

    MAY FLY
    STONE FLY
    CADDIS FLY
    MIDGE
    TERRESTRIAL

    As a fly fisher, you need to know what aquatic life supports the trout in a particular stream or lake on which you fish. You will need to know what trout fly best imates these insects. When out on a stream, take samples of these insects and take time in your day while fishing just to notice these insects. This will be the best time spent learning you will ever experience. And will greatly help you in your attempt to be come the best fly fisher in the world.

    Trout Have Favorite Feeding Locations

    Foam is caused naturally by decaying plant matter, which add tannins and lignin to the water. The foam collects in lines in slower currents.

    Trout like to take a position along either side or right under a foam line or mat, for two reasons, food & cover. Insects which float down the stream, get caught-up in the foam, and become pray for feeding trout. You should fish these areas from every direction, with a dry fly or nymph. Chances are, you will improve your chances of netting trout and head for home feeling good about the days trout fishing experience.

    Remember, "Where there's foam on the water, there will more than likely be trout feeding in the area"!

    Check Our Fly Hatch Charts so you can purchase the right flies for your fly fishing adventure.

    Smokey Mountains
    Missouri Fly Hatch Chart



    Useful Streamside Strategy & Technique

    Trout Identification
    The 4 most common Trout which you will fly fish for are shown on this chart. Each spec's can be identified by it's coloration or markings.

    Habitat:

    Brookies are found almost exclusively in the cold, clear, fresh water streams of the mountains. Since they live naturally under near perfect water conditions they are an indicator as to the health of the environment. Preferred water temperature 52°-56°F.

    The perfect home for a Brown trout is a slower flowing stream with lots of minnows however; they have been known to take up residency in small, swift streams and creeks. Browns grow faster and larger than the other species of trout and can be found in much warmer water (60°-70°F). These fish are often stocked in areas that would not normally support trout.

    Often found in stream fed lakes and tributaries, the Cutthroat, when young, enjoys hiding among fallen trees, rocks and other structure. The chosen hiding spot allows them to dart after insects, fish and anything else that happens into the kill zone. As the Cutthroats reach maturity they abandon the "sit and wait" strategy and feed by cruising and eating other fish. Cutthroat can grow from 24 to 28 inches, weigh 8 pounds, and live to be over 12 years old. Big, trophy class Cutthroat are often found among sockeye salmon in large lakes and rivers. Preferred water temperature range is 55°-65°F.

    Rainbow trout thrive in clear, cool streams and rivers but have been known to survive in warm silt bottom streams. Rainbows are heartier than their Brook Trout cousins and generally dominate areas shared by the two species. Rainbows prefer a temperature range of 55°-60°F.







    Missouri Flyfishing


    Enlarge map of Missouri
    Go to Northeast Region
    Go to St. Lewis Region
    Go to Central Missouri Region
    Go to Lakes Region
    Go to Southeast Region


    You can Fish Missouri Trout Streams any time of the year. To Get Started Right use our Missouri Fly Hatch Chart to make your fly selections.

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    Featured Missouri Trout Stream . . . .

    Capps Creek is a typical small stream fishery in Missouri, with the exception of trout added by the Missouri Department of Conservation’s periodic stocking program. The stream is nearly 9 miles in length, from its beginnings west of Highway 37, near Purdy, to its intersection with Shoal Creek.



    Locate Capps Creek Click Here!

    West of Purdy to Pulaskifield (Hwy 97); the stream can often be stepped across. This section has several deep holes with shallow runs between. The fish are primarily perch, sunfish, and a few bass, but take your time approaching them, as they are very easily spooked. Trout are often found in the upper pools during the fall and winter, but tend to leave before warmer weather. This area is primarily open pasture, interspersed with overhanging trees that love to grab back casts. Due to the smaller size of the creek, shorter rods are the order of the day. This can be an interesting cooler weather fishery, but in the hot summer months the stream gets very small. Keep moving, as there are long stretches of barren water.

    West of Pulaskifield to Lawrence County Farm Road 1010 Bridge; the stream is also privately owned, but permission to fish is easily gained by asking. There are several smaller springs and tributaries that gradually increase the size of the stream, but again, the fish will be holding in the deeper holes, and require a stealthy approach. This area is primarily rolling, and has more fly eating trees along the stream banks.

    West of the Lawrence County Farm Road 1010 Bridge; the stream grows dramatically in size, with 2 larger springs and several smaller springs adding to the flow. This section contains the very quaint and unique park at Jolly Mill with a small quaint mill pond. Above Jolly Mill is private property, and permission is easily gained; however, the owners live some distance from the river. The mill pond at Jolly encompasses over 7 acres at full pool, and fishing is permitted from the south bank in the park; however, the north bank is private property and no fishing is allowed.

    Immediately west of the Mill Dam is private property owned by the Haskins’ Family; however, they welcome fishermen and provide a parking lot. If you get a chance to pick up some trash as a thank you I’m sure it would be appreciated. This portion is open pasture with good back cast room and easy fishing. Fish are typically holding in the deeper holes and runs, while the shallow runs are typically barren.

    West of the Haskins’ pasture is the Capps Creek Conservation Area, there is over 1.5 miles of stream available for fishing that is public owned, and ample parking is provided. Access to the lower portion of the river can be gained at Wallaby Road Bridge. Be aware that the public fishing areas are often only on one side of the river to Shoal Creek, and are well marked. The stream in this area is primarily in the timber, with many overhanging trees, limbs, and deep holes. The Conservation Department’s stream biologist reported that several large brown trout and bass were noted when electro fishing this area.

    Capps Creek is primarily a nymph and streamer fishery, with some crackel back action on top. Infrequently there is some top water action, which is primarily small mayflies and small caddisflies. This is a very fun smaller stream fishery that can be challenging at times.

    Check out this great Missouri Fly Fishing web site: Ozark Chronicles

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    Fly Hatches In Missouri

     

     

    Streamside . . Missouri Fly Hatch Chart
    Fly Size/Type Size/Type Jan Feb March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
    Dry Fly Blue-W Olive Parachute Adams                        
    Elk Hair Caddis 14-Olive 14-Tan                        
    Bead Head 14-Caddis Worm 16-Copper Brassie                        
    Stonefly 14-Black 14-Brown-                        
    Standard Nymph Prince Zug Bug                        
    Midges Black Adams                        
    Wet Fly Dark Hendrickson Partridge & Orange                        
    Terrestrials 16-Ant Black 16-Ant Cinnamon                        
    Tricos & Spinners 20-Trico Female 14-Spinner Rusty                        
    Woolly Bugger 12-Olive 12-Black                        
    Fill your fly box with an assortment of . . Turrall Flies . . before heading for your favorite stream

     

     

     

     

     

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