Fly fishing question!?
Posted by admin on Sunday, January 24th, 2010
Hi, this weekend im going to Wisp resort in Maryland, planning to do some fishing. I heard is all fly fishing, no regular fishing. You cant use hooks with barbs either. Can i use a regular fishing rod with dry/wet flys and a barbless hook to fish? I dont want to buy a couple fly fishing rods when ill probably never use them again. Thanks for answering!!
Filed in Fly Fishing Rods | 3 responses so far
Chaddon 25 Jan 2010 at 12:18 am 1Interesting question. The answer depends on a couple factors you really haven’t revealed. You said you’ve heard it’s all fly fishing, no “regular fishing” (fly fishing isn’t regular?). Anyway, if you’re saying they don’t allow so-called regular fishing, then there’s not much you can do — you’ll have to use fly gear (maybe they have some to rent, or you could borrow some from a friend?).
What I think you mean is that there is no bait fishing allowed, either because of private regulations or state regulations. If this is the case, then you should be able to use any kind of lure you like, let alone gear, so long as the hook barbs are pressed down. Usually, in the eyes of state agencies and private property owners, a lure is a lure is a lure — whether it’s a fly or a Rapala.
I think it’s unlikely that you will be in a situation where you HAVE to use flies but can choose your rod and reel — that would just be… strange. But if that’s what it comes down to, then yes, you can use wet and dry flies with spinning gear. If you want to use a wet fly, just tie it on the line and then use a large-ish bobber about 12 inches (or more) up from the fly. A dry fly is meant to stay on the surface, so you don’t need the bobber to float the fly — the bobber is there to provide casting weight. It’s a kludge, but it can work. For wet flies, add some split shot for casting weight and to help the wet fly sink. If you’re using streamers or minnow imitations, pull them through the water like a wounded baitfish. If you’re using nymphs, use a small bobber to detect takes and let the fly drift naturally beneath the bobber.
Obviously, you should find out for sure what the situation is. Call the resort and find someone who can tell you in what ways and with what gear you’re permitted to use. Private, secluded resort waters are typically rich fishing, so I’d try to be as prepared as possible so you can catch lots of lunkers.
Lubers25on 25 Jan 2010 at 12:24 am 2Wisp has several rivers within driving distance along with a pond and I believe a lake on the premises. If you are fishing the rivers off of the resort, the local regulations apply to the water you are fishing. You will need to contact the resort to find the regulations for the waters on the resort though.
Orvis has partnered with the shop at Wisp. If you need to rent fly gear, it is available there for you.
joedon 25 Jan 2010 at 1:06 am 3It’s not the fly…
The difference between fly fishing and conventional tackle fishing is in fly fishing you use the weight of the line to carry the lure (fly) and with conventional tackle (spin, bait casting, etc) you use the weight of the lure to carry the line.