Quick Tips for a Great Fly Fishing Vacation

Is there anything better than a great fly fishing vacation? For the true angler, the answer is probably a resounding no. Sure, you can fish at a lake or river near your home just about any time you want but your time is limited and what fun is it to see the same sights over and over again? But when you can get away for a solid week or two weeks and head off for a destination that's fresh and new, you're bound to enjoy your time on the water even more. Here are some quick tips to make sure your fly fishing vacation is the best you've ever taken.

Guide for Fly Fishing Vacations

For one thing, if you're a novice you might want to see if there is a guide or instructor available during your fly fishing vacation. This person can give you some very valuable tips in order to improve your technique and may also be able to read the water better so as to recommend the best spot for finding the fish in the first place. An experienced angler might not need a guide or tutor but if you're still new to the hobby, having such an expert around can really enhance your fly fishing vacation.

Nothing Ruins a Good Fly Fishing Vacation Like Crowds

Also, find out if your resort or lodge is very busy during the time when you're going to be there. Nothing ruins a good fly fishing vacation more than loud kids running around or canoes and kayaks disturbing the water where you're trying to fish. If you're planning your fly fishing vacation at a resort or lodge that specializes in fly fishing and nothing else then you may be safe, but if you're just planning a getaway at a lodge or resort then you may need to do some checking and be selective. Try to plan on going during the off-season when things won't be so crowded or find a resort that caters only to the anglers.

Other Activities for a Change of Scene

You might also want to see about other activities available during your fly fishing vacation. If you're sure you'll spend all your time on the water then this is fine but very often vacationers want something to break up the time. See if they offer other activities even if it's horseback riding, hiking, biking, sightseeing, barn dances, or anything else. Check out nearby areas and be prepared to spend at least some of your time during your fly fishing vacation doing something else. Bring your mountain bike if you have one and some hiking boots; even if you don't use them it's better to be safe than sorry!

Relax On Your Fly Fishing Vacation

And remember to relax when on your fly fishing vacation. One reason so many love this hobby is because it's so slow-paced but if you're used to being on the lake doing some typical fishing while trolling, you might get impatient. Check out the scenery while fishing and be sure to breathe in the fresh air so that you really and truly enjoy your fly fishing vacation.

Dwindling Salmon Stocks in Scotland

The BBC has reported anglers in Scotland are being urged to put back all the salmon they catch in a bid to conserve stocks.

All the major Scottish rivers are showing significantly reduced stocks, according to the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards (ASFB).

Anglers are keen to keep the fish they catch - with only 70% being returned to the water after being landed. Salmon fishing is an important revenue stream for the area.

The AFSB hopes that calling on anglers to return salmon to the water will give them time to spawn later in the year, and asked members of regional angling clubs not to start fishing until right upto the end of June.

Although the measures are voluntary, the AFSB warns that depleted stocks need time to recover, and that any recent improvements can be remarkable short lived if the forces of nature work against the fish.

Full BBC Story

Trout, Fly-Fishing Season in Full Swing

At last, despite some hideous weather, the fly-fishing season is finally open! Remember, no matter how keen you are to get back out there and catch your biggest fish yet, heavy rains can swell rivers and make conditions more difficult. Always respect mother nature.

If you want to check out season dates for the individual US states, check out here.

And for the Canadians, this is about the best link I could find - http://www.ofah.org/fishing. There is a link to Fishing Regulations which list regulations for each species by area within the province. You may be able to find similar organisations for the different Canadian provinces.

The fishing tournaments are hotting up too - find a great list of forthcoming events here.

Enjoy the fishing. I might check out the 333 tournament....

Save Money by Repairing Your Fly Fishing Line

How many times have you planned a fantastic day of fishing only to find that somehow the fly line got caught and then damaged as you tried to free it. Maybe it got wrapped around a sharp rock or all tangled in a nearby tree. Perhaps it even got snagged on your fishing-reel spool and the frame?

And because new lines are so expensive at roughly $70 for a new one it makes sense to try and repair the line first.

A problem like this can easily curtail your fishing trip. But it doesn't have to if you follow some of my tips on repairing fly lines that have had their coatings shredded slightly or nicked at some point.


There are two main problems with having a damaged core. The first one problem is when your line has lost its integrity it can take on water, which can make the line behave oddly usually making it sink. Secondly, the distraction and annoyance you feel when your fingers run over the damaged section when you cast

If you are using a PVC fly line, the process is a little more complicated and difficult, because of the need to use a heat-shrink tube to cover the damaged section. This is kind of sleeve is the sort of tubing you often get you to attach a braided loop the end of the fly line. It's also the kind of thing that you could pick up in a hardware or electrical store.

All you need to do is apply a piece of tubing that just larger than your line. When you're doing this repair the most serious thing that can go wrong is applying heat carelessly and damaging intact portions of your fly line.

• Cut a section of tube that is about an inch longer than the damaged portion of line that needs repairing.
  
• Carefully slide the tube over the damaged area then whole league section to be repaired over a normal tungsten light bulb.
  
• The gentle heat from the bulb is just enough to heat the sleeve but not melt your existing coating - or burn your fingers.
  
• This process causes the sleeve to shrink fit over the damaged part and you can very carefully trim off any excess with a small sharp craft knife.
  Smooth off the join using a tiny soft pieces along the edges.
  

TIP: If you're not sure how this process is going to turn out you can always use a test portion taken from the very end of your line and practice with that rather than trying to do the fix right in the middle.

A simple and straightforward solution for non-PVC lines is to use an adhesive to rejoin the damaged ends of the core and the coating back together again.

Although the fixing may eventually buckle and crack because of the flexing of the fly line over time, this temporary fix can be enough to salvage your line for a few more fishing trips.

• Gel type super glues and compound adhesive create the best results.
• Make sure that the adhesive you apply covers all the damaged area completely
• Keep the coating relatively thin.
• A toothpick, with its fine slightly flexible tip is an excellent tool for applying the adhesive.
• Any excess can be wiped away with a moistened finger.
• Once the adhesive has been applied push the two ends together and hold the surfaces together to give the glue time to bond effectively.
• Once you've made good the repair you must let the line dry completely before using it again otherwise your hard work will have been in vain.

So now you have enough information to minimise the damage and keep your fly line in operation for a bit longer. Just try not to concentrate too much with your fingertips as inevitably you will still feel the repair.

Happy fishing,

John