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fishing
Artificial fly
Fly lure
Fly tying
Amadou
Cul De Canard
Trolling t/streamer
Clouser D/Minnow
Diawl bach
Egg sucking leech
Flesh Fly
Hare's Ear
Klinkhammer
Muddler Minnow
Pheasant T/Nymph
Woolly Worm
Woolly Bugger
fly fishing
recreational
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Classic 19th Century Artificial fly-The Triumph
Classic 19th Century Artificial fly-The Triumph

Artificial fly is an angling term closely associated with the sport of fly fishing although artificial flies maybe used in other forms of angling. For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. A fly lure, Fly, or "pattern" in the terminology of Sport fishing and Fly fishing, is an artificial Fishing lure tied most commonly Fly tying is the process of producing an Artificial fly to be used by anglers to catch Fish via means of Fly fishing. Amadou is a spongy flammable substance prepared from bracket fungi. Cul De Canard (CDC (French for "Duck bottom" is the fluffiest down feathers from the bottom of a Duck; they are very buoyant and are used when tying dry flies A trolling tandem streamer fly is a style of fishing fly designed to be fished behind a moving boat The Clouser Deep Minnow is an artificial fly commonly categorized as a streamer and is fished under the water surface Also called "little devil" diawl bach is a popular fly pattern used in British still waters and an appropriate lure to use when the fish are feeding on Midge The egg sucking leech is a Artificial fly used in Fly fishing. Hare's Ear is one of the most traditional artificial flies used in Fly fishing. The Klinkhammer is a popular Emerger used in Fly fishing to catch grayling and trout The Muddler Minnow is a popular and versatile Artificial fly of the streamer type used in Fly fishing and Fly tying. The Pheasant Tail is a popular Nymph imitation used when Fly fishing. The Woolly Worm is an artificial fly commonly categorized as a wet fly or nymph and is fished under the water surface The Woolly Bugger is an artificial fly commonly categorized as a wet fly or streamer and is fished under the water surface Fly fishing is a distinct and ancient Angling method most renowned as a method for catching Trout and Salmon, but employed today for a wide variety of Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is Fishing for Pleasure or Competition. Angling is a method of Fishing by means of an "angle" ( hook) Fly fishing is a distinct and ancient Angling method most renowned as a method for catching Trout and Salmon, but employed today for a wide variety of In general, artificial flies are the bait which fly fishers present to their target species of fish while fly fishing. Bait is any substance used to attract Prey, eg in a Mousetrap. Artificial flies are constructed by the practice of fly tying. Fly tying is the process of producing an Artificial fly to be used by anglers to catch Fish via means of Fly fishing. Artificial flies may be constructed to represent all manner of potential freshwater and saltwater fish prey to include aquatic and [[Terrestrial animal |terrestrial]] insects, crustaceans, worms, baitfish, vegetation, flesh, spawn, small reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds, etc. Freshwater is a word that refers to bodies of water such as Ponds lakes rivers and streams containing low concentrations of dissolved Salts and other Total dissolved Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting A worm is a common name given to a diverse group of invertebrate animals that have a long soft body and no legs Bait fish are small fish caught for use as bait to attract large predatory fish particularly Game fish. Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region it refers to the Ground cover provided by plants Flesh is the soft part of the body of a person or animal which is between the skin and the bones Spawning is the production or depositing of large quantities of eggs in water Reptiles, or members of the class Reptilia are air-breathing Cold-blooded Vertebrates that have skin covered in scales as opposed to hair or feathers Prehistoric amphibian Amphibians (class Amphibia such as Frogs Toads Salamanders Newts Gymnophiona, Sirens and Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. Artificial flies were originally constructed from various furs, feathers, threads and hooks. Fur is a body hair of any non-human Mammal, also known as the Pelage. Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering or Plumage, on Birds They are considered the most complex integumentary structures This article is about the fiber product For the type of joke see Shaggy dog story. A fish hook is a device for catching Fish either by impaling them in the mouth or more rarely by snagging the body of the fish Today there are literally dozens of different types of natural and synthetic materials used to construct artificial flies[1]. In the early years of fly fishing through the mid-20th Century, effective artificial fly patterns were said to be killing flies because of their ability to put fish in the creel for the fly fisher. By the mid-19th Century, there were thousands of artificial fly patterns. Today, the number of distinct patterns is probably incalculable. The term Fly lure is a British term synonymous with Artificial fly. A fly lure, Fly, or "pattern" in the terminology of Sport fishing and Fly fishing, is an artificial Fishing lure tied most commonly

Contents

History

First known illustration of a fishing fly from John Denny's The Secrets of Angling (1652) ,
First known illustration of a fishing fly from John Denny's The Secrets of Angling (1652) [2], [3]

The first literary reference to flies and fishing with flies was in Ælian’s Natural History probably written about 200 A. D. That work discussed a Macedonian fly. The Treatyse on Fysshynge with an Angle was published (1496) within The Boke of St. Albans attributed to Dame Juliana Berners. The Book of St Albans (or as spelled at the time of publication The Boke of St Albans) was the last of 8 books printed by the St Albans Press in Juliana Berners (or Barnes or Bernes) (b 1388? English writer on Heraldry, hawking and Hunting, is said to have been The book contains, along with instructions on rod, line and hook making, dressings for different flies to use at different times of the year. Probably the first use of the term Artificial fly came in Izaac Walton's The Complete Angler (1653). [4]

Oh my good Master, this morning walk has been spent to my great pleasure and wonder: but I pray, when shall I have your direction how to make Artificial flyes, like to those that the Trout loves best?[5]

Frontpiece from Bowlker's Art of Angling (1854) showing a variety of artificial flies
Frontpiece from Bowlker's Art of Angling (1854) showing a variety of artificial flies[6]

At the same time Walton was writing The Complete Angler, John Denny published The Secrets of Angling (1652) which contains the first known illustration of an artificial fly.

By the early 1800s, the term Artificial fly was being routinely used in angling literature much like this representative quote from Thomas Best's A Concise Treatise on the Art of Angling (1807) to refer to all types of flies used by fly fishers.

The art of artificial fly-fishing, certainly has the pre-eminence over the other various methods that are used to take fishes in the art of angling[7]

Although the term fly was an obvious reference to an imitation of some flying insect, by the mid-1800s the term fly was being applied to a far greater range of imitation.

The term fly is applied by sea fishermen to a certain arrangement of feathers, wax, etc. , which I am about to describe the manufacture of, and which may be used with considerable success in mackerel, basse, and pollack fishing. I am not disposed to think, however, that such baits are ever mistaken by the fish which they are intended to capture for flies; but the number used, the way in which they are mounted, viz. , several on one trace, and the method of their progress through the water, rather leads me to the belief that they are mistaken for a number of small fry, and treated accordingly[8].

Imitation

Illustration of a large Pike fly (1865)
Illustration of a large Pike fly (1865)[9]

A major concept in the sport of fly fishing is that the fly imitates some form of fish prey when presented to the fish by the angler. As aquatic insects such as Mayflies, Caddisflies and Stoneflies were the primary prey being imitated during the early developmental years of fly fishing, there were always differing schools of thought on how closely a fly needed to imitate the fish's prey.

In the mid to late 1800s, those schools of thought, at least for trout fishing were: the formalists (imitation matters) and the colourists (color matters most)[10]. Today, some flies are called attractor patterns because in theory, they do not resemble any specific prey, but instead attract strikes from fish. Paul Schullery in American Fly Fishing - A History (1996) explains however that although much has been written about the imitation theories of fly design, all successful fly patterns must imitate something to the fish, and even a perfect imitation attracts strikes from fish. The huge range of fly patterns documented today for all sorts of target species-trout, salmon, bass and panfish, pike, saltwater, tropical exotics, etc. Trout is the common name given to a number of Species of Freshwater Fish belonging to the Salmonidae family Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. Bass (ˈbæs is a name shared by many different species of popular Gamefish. A Panfish, also spelled pan-fish or pan fish, is an edible Game fish that usually doesn't outgrow the size of a frying pan are not easily categorized as merely imitative, attractors or something else. [11]

Contemporary Usage

The term Artificial fly is rarely used today in angling and fly-fishing literature, except in an historical context. The term Fly is generally understood by anglers to mean an artificial fly and is understood by fly fisherman absolutely as an artificial bait which is cast by a fly fisher.

Contemporary Examples

The categorization of artificial flies has evolved considerably in the last 200 years as writers, fly tiers and fishing equipment retailers expound and promote new ideas and techniques. Additionally, as the popularity of fly fishing expanded globally to new and exotic target species, new flies and genera of flies came into being. There are many subtypes in some of these categories especially as they apply to trout flies. Trout is the common name given to a number of Species of Freshwater Fish belonging to the Salmonidae family As well, any given pattern of artificial fly might well fit into multiple categories depending on its intended use. The following categorization with illustrative examples is derived from the following major artificial fly merchants offerings.

Category Illustrative Examples
Dry Fly - A Dry fly is designed to be buoyant, or to float on the surface of the water. Orvis is a family-owned retail and mail-order business specializing in high-end fishing hunting and Sporting goods. In Physics, buoyancy ( BrE IPA: /ˈbɔɪənsi/ is the upward Force on an object produced by the surrounding liquid or gas in which it is Dry flies typically represent the adult form of an aquatic or terrestrial insect. Dry flies are generally considered freshwater flies.

The Adams - A typical dry fly

Orange Stimulator - A caddisfly or grasshopper imitation

Royal Wulff - A classic attractor pattern

Green Drake Dry Fly
Wet Fly - A Wet fly is designed to sink below the surface of the water. Wet flies have been tied in a wide variety of patterns to represent drowned insects, baitfish and other underwater prey. Wet flies are generally considered freshwater flies[15].

Grizzly King - A classic wet fly

A Woolly Worm wet fly

Professor wet fly
Nymph - A Nymph fly is designed to resemble the immature form of aquatic insects and small crustaceans. The Woolly Worm is an artificial fly commonly categorized as a wet fly or nymph and is fished under the water surface Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting Nymph flies are generally considered freshwater flies[16].

Brook's Montana Stonefly nymph
Emerger- An Emerger fly is designed to resemble the not quite mature hatching aquatic insect as it leaving the water to become an adult insect. Emerger flies are generally considered freshwater flies.
Streamer - A Streamer fly is designed to resemble some form of baitfish or other large aquatic prey. Streamer flies may be patterned after both freshwater and saltwater prey species. Streamer flies are a very large and diverse category of flies as streamers are effective for almost any type of gamefish[17]. Game fish are Fish pursued for Sport by recreational Anglers.

Woolly Bugger - A universal streamer pattern

Mickey Finn - A classic streamer pattern

Clouser Deep Minnow - A popular streamer pattern used for both fresh and saltwater fishing

Black Conehead Egg Sucking Leech

Muddler Minnow - a sculpin imitation

Schenk's White Minnow - A popular eastern chub imitation
Terrestrials - Terrestrial flies are designed to resemble non-aquatic insects, crustaceans and worms that could fall prey to feeding fish. The Woolly Bugger is an artificial fly commonly categorized as a wet fly or streamer and is fished under the water surface The Clouser Deep Minnow is an artificial fly commonly categorized as a streamer and is fished under the water surface The egg sucking leech is a Artificial fly used in Fly fishing. The Muddler Minnow is a popular and versatile Artificial fly of the streamer type used in Fly fishing and Fly tying. ( For the American submarines named "Sculpin" go to USS Sculpin) A Sculpin is a Fish that belongs to the Order Scorpaeniformes

Dave's Hopper a terrestial dry fly imitating a common grasshopper
Bass and Panfish Flies, Bugs and Poppers - Bass and panfish flies, bugs and poppers are generally designed to resemble both surface and sub-surface insect, crustacean, baitfish prey consumed by warm-water species such as Largemouth bass or bluegill. Micropterus ( Lacépède, 1802) is a Genus of Freshwater Fish in the sunfish family (family Centrarchidae A Panfish, also spelled pan-fish or pan fish, is an edible Game fish that usually doesn't outgrow the size of a frying pan The largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides) is a Species of Fish in the sunfish family. For the exoatmospheric nuclear test refer to Bluegill (nuclear test. This genera of flies generally includes patterns that resemble small mammals, birds, amphibians or reptiles that may fall prey to fish.
Pike and Musky Flies - Pike and Muskie flies are generally designed to resemble both surface and sub-surface crustacean, baitfish prey consumed by species of the genus Esox such as Northern Pike or Muskellunge. The northern pike (known as the pike in Britain Esox lucius, is a Species of carnivorous Fish of the genus Esox (the pikes The muskellunge, Esox masquinongy, is also known as the muskie, musky or maskinonge. This genera of flies are larger than bass flies and generally includes patterns that resemble baitfish and small mammals, birds, amphibians or reptiles that may fall prey to fish[18].
Carp Flies - Carp flies are designed to resemble various vegetative sources of food that carp feed on such as berries, seeds and flowers that may fall into the water[19]. Carp is a common name for various Freshwater Fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large
Salmon Flies - Salmon flies are a special genera of flies tied specifically to fly fish for Atlantic Salmon. Atlantic salmon, known scientifically as Salmo salar, is a species of Fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Salmon flies may be wet flies or dry flies. Salmon flies are also tied in classic and contemporary patterns[20].

Durham Ranger - a Classic Salmon fly

Green Highlander - a Classic Salmon fly
Steelhead and Salmon (Pacific) Flies - Steelhead and Pacific Salmon flies are designed for catching andronomous steelhead trout and pacific salmon in western North American and Great Lakes rivers. The rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a species of Salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. Many types of fish undertake migrations on a regular basis on time scales ranging from daily to annual and with distances ranging from a few meters to thousands of kilometers
Egg Flies - Egg Flies are designed to resemble the spawn of other fish that maybe encountered in a river and consumed by the target species.
Flesh Flies - Flesh Flies are designed to resemble the rotting flesh of pacific salmon encountered in a river and consumed by the target species.
Saltwater Flies - Saltwater flies are a genera of flies designed to represent a wide variety of inshore, offshore and estuarial saltwater baitfish, crustacean and other saltwater prey. An estuary is a semi-enclosed Coastal body of Water with one or more Rivers or Streams flowing into it and with a free connection to the open Saltwater flies generally are found in both sub-surface and surface patterns[21].

White Lefty's Deceiver - An all purpose saltwater baitfish imitation

Gold bendback shrimp fly

Cockroach Deceiver (Lefty Kreh)
Bonefish Flies - Bonefish flies are a special genera of saltwater flies used to catch Bonefish in shallow water. The bonefish is the Type species of the Albulidae, or Bonefishes. Bonefish flies generally resemble small crabs, shrimp or other crustaceans[22].

Crazy Charlie - A popular bonefish fly
Tarpon Flies - Tarpon flies are a special genera of saltwater flies used to catch Tarpon in both inshore and offshore waters. The Atlantic tarpon, Megalops atlanticus, inhabits coastal waters estuaries, Lagoons and Rivers It feeds on various fish and Crabs Tarpon flies generally represent small baitfish commonly preyed upon by tarpon[23].

Stu Apte Classic Tarpon Fly
Striped Bass Flies - Striped Bass flies are a special genera of freshwater-saltwater fly used to catch Striped Bass in freshwater, inshore and offshore waters. The striped bass ( Morone saxatilis, also called rock or rockfish is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Striped flies generally represent small baitfish commonly preyed upon by striped bass.

See also

Annotated bibliography of fly fishing

Further reading

Notes

  1. ^ Wakeford, Jacqueline (1992). Fly Tying Tools and Materials. New York: Lyons & Burford Publishers, Preface. ISBN 1558211837.  
  2. ^ Denny, John (1652). The Secrets of Angling. London: Robert Triphook, 20.  
  3. ^ Leonard, J. Edson (1950). Flies-Their origin, natural history, tying, hooks, patterns and selections of dry and wet flies, nymphs, streamers, salmon flies for fresh and salt water in North America and the British Isles, including a Dictionary of 2200 Patterns. New York: A. S. Barnes and Company, 33.  
  4. ^ Hills, John Waller (1921). A History of Fly Fishing For Trout. London: Phillp Allan & Co.  
  5. ^ The Complete Angler (1653)
  6. ^ Bowlker (1854). Art of Angling-Containing Directions for Fly-Fishing, Trolling, Making Artificial Flies, etc. , frontpiece.  
  7. ^ Best, Thomas (1807). A Concise Treatise on the Art of Angling. London: B. Crosby and Co. , 93.  
  8. ^ Lord, W. B. (1863). Sea Fish and How To Catch Them. London: Bradbury and Evans.  
  9. ^ Pennell, H. Cholmondeley (1865). The Book of Pike. London: Frederick Warne and Co, 232.  
  10. ^ Pennell, H. Cholomondeley (1884). The Modern Practical Angler. London: George Routledge and Sons, 65-78.  
  11. ^ Schullery, Paul (1996). American Fly Fishing-A History. Norwalk, CT: The Easton Press, 85-99, 228-234.  .
  12. ^ Orvis Online Fly Catalog
  13. ^ Farlows of Pall Mall Website
  14. ^ Umpqua Feather Merchants Fly Gallery
  15. ^ Hughes, Dave (1995). Wet Flies: Tying and Fishing Soft-Hackles, Winged and Wingless Wets, and Fuzzy Nymphs. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811718689.  
  16. ^ Schwiebert, Ernest (1973). Ernest George Schwiebert, PhD (1931-2005 was born in Chicago on June 5 1931 Nymphs-A Complete Guide to Naturals and Imitations. New York: Winchester Press. ISBN 0876910746.  
  17. ^ Bates, Joseph D. (1966). Streamer Fly Tying & Fishing. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books.  
  18. ^ Reynolds, Barry; Berryman, John (1993). Pike on the Fly-The Fly Fishing Guide To Northerns, Tigers, and Muskies. Boulder, CO: Johnson Printing Company. ISBN 1555661130.  
  19. ^ Reynolds, Barry; Befus, Brad; Berryman, John (1997). Carp on the Fly: A Flyfishing Guide. Spring Creek Press. ISBN 1555662072.  
  20. ^ Bates, Joseph D. (1970). Atlantic Salmon Flies and Fishing. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811701808.  
  21. ^ Richards, Carl (1995). Prey: Designing and Tying New Imitations of Fresh and Saltwater Forage Foods. New York: Lyons and Burford Publishers. ISBN 1558213325.  
  22. ^ Kreh, Lefty (1992). Fly Fishing for Bonefish, Permit & Tarpon. Birmingham, Alabama: Odysseus Editions.  
  23. ^ Kreh, Lefty (1992). Fly Fishing for Bonefish, Permit & Tarpon. Birmingham, Alabama: Odysseus Editions.  
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