Fly Fishing Safety – Thunderstorms
February 10th, 2012 | 
Author: During the seasons when thunderstorms are a risk, one of the dumbest things anyone could do is to stand in a river and wave around a graphite stick that’s 8+ feet long. Talk about a lightning rod!
Sometimes, we die-hard anglers take risks when we should not – hoping for that one last chance at a nice fish on the end of our lines. Or continuing to wade a river when the current is getting stronger and the water level is getting higher. We really shouldn’t do stupid stuff like that; especially if we have loved ones that are hoping to see us again soon!
Being on the water as a thunderstorm approaches is one of the most dangerous places to be, but we can’t always rely on our observations and hearing senses to know how much of a risk we are in. Did you know that it is possible to have a lightning detector that can detect lightning up to 40 miles away?
Although some lightning detection systems are very expensive, there are others that are well within the budget of anglers who will spend $500.00 or more on a new rod. Portable lightning detectors that you can carry with you, and give you a much better idea of the risk you have while warning you about any approaching electrical storms.
Yes, it’s another gadget – and fly anglers tend to be gadget happy, but this is one that could help save you from death or serious injury.
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Fly Fishing Tackle Review: The Nautilus FWX Reel
We fly anglers are sometimes a picky group of people. When I’m up to my hips in a cold, fast-flowing stream, I need my fly fishing tackle to be as trusty as is feasible. Reels, are of utmost pertinence in my opinion; therefore, I am constantly looking for special prices on the Web or in tackle stores. I have a pretty tight spending budget, so when I invest in fishing gear, I opt for the best I can buy. I always love to see a superior quality fishing reel at a sensible cost. One fishing reel I have freshly invested in is the Nautilus FWX reel. Read further if you want to know why it is a permanent fixture in my fishing tackle box.
Fly Fishing Tackle: Main Qualities of the Nautilus FWX Reel
For a price tag of roughly £240 (which includes 20% VAT) you can buy a superiorly-built fishing reel with loads of widely-sought features. Nautilus’ FWX range was manufactured as an enhancement over the formerly profitable FW range-I see it as an excellent decision. This particular fishing reel is roughly 1/2 oz lighter in weight than its antecedent, owing to a redevised spool. So this FWX version is the lightest weight manufactured aluminium disc drag fishing reel accessible at present. While it has some major upgrading, this FWX is yet useable with the FW. I noticed straight away that the arbour is designed to deliver exceptionally quick line pick up. Not content to simply have a re-fashioned spool design, the Nautilus company decided to add on a fresh-new stainless steel one way clutch. The clutch is fitted into the company’s proprietary TORQ-X clutch drive. The result? This means nearly immediate drag engagement with absolutely zero slack. This enables the angler to switch the retrieve direction really effortlessly.
Fly Fishing Tackle: More Facts Concerning the Nautilus FWX Reel
While a reels outward appearance is not a top priority as far as I’m concerned, I really do love the understated classiness of the brushed silver and black colour on the FWX reel. This reel will accommodate roughly 110yd of 20lb backing; it weighs in at 4.6oz. The salt water safe layout of this reel is a feature I welcome, plus I like FWX’s superior quality workmanship and also high-performing abilities. This reel owns a very special feature that is fairly new in the fishing gear industry. This is the LaserID line recognition system. There is a white spot imprinted by Nautilus on the back side on all their FWX reel spools. This allows the angler to write the type and weight of line right on the spool. This is a vast enhancement over conservative type stickers which just fall off or wash out!
Fly Fishing Tackle: On the Subject of Nautilus
Due to the fact that I didn’t have as much knowledge concerning the Nautilus range as I did about others, I looked more carefully into the products. I learned that Nautilus is a firm that has been in the business for 177 years producing premium fly fishing tackle. This industry was opened in Norway in 1832 and it is a metal mechanics business that presently remains in operation. This is a family-owned firm that has a strong commitment to designing and manufacturing high quality products.
If you want the finest in fly fishing tackle, take a closer look at the Nautilus FWX reel.
Tags: Fly Fishing – Not As Difficult As It Looks
Often I hear the question from those who want to learn, “Is it difficult to learn fly fishing?” If one seeks out a competent instructor, they can learn the basics of fly casting in a very short time.
Many comment that when they have watched a skilled angler fly casting, the word “beautiful” came to mind. Indeed, when properly done, fly casting is something of an art form. Some might want to lead you to believe that it’s a difficult sport to learn, however this is not the case. They key though is in learning from a good instructor.
Perhaps the most difficult part of fly casting to master is the timing of the cast. With guidance from a fly casting teacher, you will be less likely to develop bad habits which will be hard to fix later.
The roll cast is probably the first technique you should master. The roll cast is a very useful cast in a number of different situations and is not difficult to master. Ian Scott writes that “this is an essential cast to learn and perfect.” Prior to beginning the conventional back and forth cast, employment of the roll cast is used to ensure there is an adequate length of fly line on the water in order to create surface tension with the line. Where a back cast cannot be made, it is helpful to be skilled with the roll cast in order to be able to still get your fly to where the fish are.
The back cast can be learned after, and this sets up the forward cast in conventional fly fishing. Although many fly anglers will spend time on “false casting” in order to increase the length of line extending from the rod, it usually isn’t required.
The are other advanced fly casting techniques that are included in what is called “spey casting” which you may want to learn after you’ve got a solid grasp of the basics. Perfection with the basic roll cast is essential for spey casting as it is the basic building block for the combination of casts that you will learn.
The sport of fly fishing is no longer dominated by men. More and more women are heading out to the water with their fly rods. Although lighter gear including shorter rods is usually required, even children can be taught to fly cast with a little patience. Many new fly anglers become so fascinated with the sport that they go on to learn to tie their own flies.
You can learn more about this sport at this site about fly fishing.