Fly Fishing News 23-Aug-2008

Go to your sporting good store and pick a combo consisting of a 7 ft. medium action rod and a companion closed face spinning reel. Get a closed face reel because it is easier for a rookie to use. To cast with it you just push the button on the reel, hold it down then release it just at the right instant on forward cast. Easy. With a little practice he will figure out when that "right instant" is. Later on he will want an open face spinning reel because it gives more flexibility in the casting and line management. Nice birthday or Christmas present.

If you ask any fly fisherman if he gets any catfish, he'll probably tell you that he sure does... accidentally! Chances are, he's targeting bass, trout or crappie and a cat gets snagged somewhere along the way. On the other hand, if you ask a catfish...

Volunteer anglers are teaching fly fishing to disabled veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. It's part of a therapeutic program called Project Healing Waters.

"The whole program is designed to provide relaxation to the soldiers," said volunteer Gary Spuhler. "At the same time, the occupational therapists in the Army realize what they're doing is also good for both their emotional and physical rehabilitation."

Go to your sporting good store and pick a combo consisting of a 7 ft. medium action rod and a companion closed face spinning reel. Get a closed face reel because it is easier for a rookie to use. To cast with it you just push the button on the reel, hold it down then release it just at the right instant on forward cast. Easy. With a little practice he will figure out when that "right instant" is. Later on he will want an open face spinning reel because it gives more flexibility in the casting and line management. Nice birthday or Christmas present.

If you are talking about tying a tapered monofilament leader to a fly fishing line I use a nail knot almost all the time. Sometimes I use an Albright knot. The manufacturers of the fly line usually include a paper with the line that shows you how to tie these common knots. Both are pretty easy to tie. I prefer the nail knot because it results in a more slender knot that goes through the guides more easily. Go to the web sites referenced by Shasoki and the others who have provided answers to your question and look for the nail and albright knots. They will probably be the easiest for you to tie.