What to consider as a fly-angler

Fishing line maintenance was mentioned at the end of yesterday’s column. A couple more thoughts about making sure the fishing line you are using is up-to-date and continues to be the strength you desire.

Situation: A group of friends decide to replace the line on several of their fishing reels. They purchase a 1,000-yard spool and meet to accomplish two tasks.

First, they will remove the old line from each reel. Second, they replace the old line with new line. This will allow five anglers to place 200 yards of fresh line on five reels.

A common line strength for Columbia Basin trout anglers is 6-pound test, but walleye and bass anglers will go with a higher test line.

Some reels have two or more spools, which allows the owner to have 6-, 8- and 10-pound test line available as the fishing situations change.

Always dispose of used fishing line in a responsible manner.

Fly-fishing anglers

There are fly-fishers heading to Basin waters, both lakes and streams, all time of the year. It is unusual to find a day when a fly angler isn’t fishing some stretch of Rocky Ford Creek.

The creek is a catch-and-release-only water, meaning every fish caught must be released. It is also a fly-fishing only water, meaning only fishing flies with barbless hooks are allowed.

Rocky Ford Creek is an internationally-known fishing destination for anglers around the world.

This is a good time for fly fishermen to check their equipment. Fly boxes should be checked and, yes, hooks sharpened. Fly anglers are more attuned to sharpening hooks, as most carry a hook sharpener in their fly vest.

This is also a time for fly tyers to check the types and sizes of flies in their fly boxes. There might be gaps in fly types and sizes, if the angler has had a successful 2019 fly-fishing year. The gaps may show a need to tie more of one fly or another.

Most fly anglers carry several sizes and colors of certain types of flies. The Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear Nymph is an example. It is tied in a variety of sizes, from 12 to 20. The size is the hook size with a size 12 being larger and the descending sizes going down to 14, 16, 18 and 20.

This is a wet fly, meaning it is fished under the surface of the water, being it a lake or stream. It resembles a variety of underwater bugs. This fly is named for the main body material, which is fur or hair from a hare or rabbit, mainly the base of the ear or hare’s face.

Tomorrow: More fly angler considerations.