Catching to RELEASE?

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Why do people go fly fishing? Is it for the joy and pride of telling the world what a skilled fisherman they are? Or is it to be out in nature, enjoying the beauty of nature either alone or in the company of close friends? Whatever the reasons, it makes sense to practice catch and release. Catch and what? Catch and release. The act of catching the fish, unhooking it and then gently releasing it back to its natural habitat. Isn’t it counter productive to release a fish that you have tried so hard to catch? Why release when you wanted to catch in the first place? For a start, Catch & Release ensures that the fish numbers don’t get depleted and there is always a chance for others or maybe even yourself to enjoy catching the same fish time and time again. A live fish in the water is worth much more than one on the dinner table. C & R also allows the fish to maintain its number and reproduce to ensure the sustainability of the species. Time and time again, we have heard of rivers, lakes and even parts of the seas being depleted of fish. This is bad news for fishermen and anglers, but there is also a hidden side not many are aware of. The balance of the ecosystem will be negatively affected too. Every species in the ecosystem has a role to play, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. The world is about balance and nothing upsets this balance when a secondary and tertiary consumer is removed from the food web. Fish biologist will tell you that the longer the fish live and the bigger they grow, they will have more time to collect pollutants, toxins and harmful chemicals from their surroundings. A big fish may look good for the table, but we may unsuspectingly be poisoning ourselves. When we release the bigger fish, we are releasing mature fish that are ready to spawn and ensure the continuation of the fish that we love to catch. It also makes economic sense to practice C & R. Anglers spend good money to travel to fishing location. Imagine the amount of money spent on gear, transport, accommodation… If the area is depleted of fish, it will no longer attract angles and the local economy will be affected. All of the above have been said and discussed many times over. Some might argue that C & R is is cruel and cause unnecessary suffering to the fish. And some say that it is not right for us to cause harm to our fellow creatures. My take on this is; before we truly understand the beauty of nature, we will not have a personal agenda to save it. I have been fishing for many years and have gone through the various stages of fishing; catching and bringing home everything to selective C & R and now to mostly C & R. As a casting instructor, I actively promote fly fishing and I see this as a great platform to educate anglers on the importance to practice conservation and preservation of our nature. A small price to be paid for the bigger good to the environment. Education is the tool that we must have to start creating change.      

Fly Casting Technique: 5 Essentials in Fly Casting

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The 5 Essentials in Fly Casting Essential #1: Eliminate Slack Line Line should be kept in tension throughout the cast. You can start to load the rod as soon as you life the line. This allows casting to begin earlier. Left: Slack line Right: No slack line With slack line the rod needs to be moved further to eliminate the slack line before casting can begin. It will reduce the casting stroke and there is no tension to load the rod. —————————————————- Essential #2: Timing At the beginning and the end of the cast, there is a pause to allow the line to straighten out before proceeding to the next cast. Pause is directly proportional to the length of line outside the rod. LONG LINE = LONG PAUSE SHORT LINE = SHORT PAUSE Tips: 1) Look over the shoulder to see if the line has straighten before proceeding with the forward cast. 2) Too short pause – hear a snap, break the fly / tippet off 3) Too long pause – the fly line falls to the ground due to gravity If timing is right, you will feel the line tug. —————————————————- Essential #3: Vary the Casting Stroke & Casting Arc Casting stroke = the distance the rod tip moves during a cast Casting arc = the angle the rod moves during a cast LONG LINE = LONG STROKE = LONG PAUSE SHORT LINE = SHORT STROKE = SHORT PAUSE —————————————————- Essential #4: Smooth Power Application Smooth power application (Start Slow, End Fast) The line speed allows the line to shoot out when the rod tip stops. Smooth power application can eliminate a concave tip path. Concave tip path will cause tailing loop. (We will look into this in tailing loop section) Crisp stop – when the rod stops, the momentum carries the line beyond the rod tip and create a loop. —————————————————- Essential #5: Straight Line Path (SLP) The line always follow the path of the rod tip. Straight Line Tip Path + Rod Tip Stop at SLP = Narrow Loop Convex Tip Path / Rod Tip Stop BELOW SLP = Wide Loop Concave Tip Path = Tailing Loop —————————————————- SUMMARY

Fly Casting Technique: Roll Cast

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What is the usage of roll cast? – When space is limited (no space at the back) – Straighten your fly line – Bringing your sinking line up to the water surface – Tail Wind (Wind blowing from your back to front) How to Roll Cast? First, bring the fly line back parallel to yourself, creating a big D loop. Use the line in the water as an anchor. (It is important that your casting hand to be level to your ear.) At this point, the fly line will be hanging to the side of your body forming a ‘D’ loop like the diagram. After the ‘D’ loop is formed, do a forward cast. In order to do a WIDE ROLL CAST : stop the rod tip lower than straight line path (SLP) In order to do a NARROW ROLL CAST: stop rod tip near the straight line path (SLP)

You need a reel too?

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You need a reel too? Brandon Ho FFI CCI Now you have got yourself a fly rod, there are only 3 other things that you will need before you are ready to go catch that fish. Time to get a reel. Many will tell you that a reel’s main purpose is just to store line. There is no purpose for it during the cast and doesn’t help you land fish. The rod does all that. One might be better off just buying the cheapest reel in the market. Before you bolt out the door to get that reel, just spend a few minutes to read this. Think for a moment about the fish that you are going to catch. Is it a small fish in a clear mountain stream or a feisty giant snakehead in the sweltering heat of a tropical lake or even the acrobatic sailfish in the blue ocean? There is a different reel to cater to every occasion. You will need to consider the conditions of fishing, whether in fresh water or salt water, how much backing can the reel accommodate, does the reel need strong stopping power… The considerations are endless and mind boggling. Here we are just going to focus on the essentials to get you started. Reel manufacturing process Die cast This method of production involves pouring molten alloy or injected into moulds. This process was first used by Hardy in the early 20th century. This is the technology that pushes the price of the reel down. Good news for the fly fishers. It also allows manufacturers to be creative in designing reels that is impossible to be accomplished with a machining process. However, there is a setback. Die casting is not as precise as machining, causing some reels to feel flimsy and may not be as durable as machined reels. CNC machining CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, a manufacturing process which uses computers to control machine tools, including lathes, routers and grinders. The material used to create the reels are usually aerospace grade aluminum. The parts are then anodized to prevent corrosion, making them suitable for saltwater use. The reels are made to precise tolerances and are lightweight, strong and if used properly, will last a long time. Having considered all the technologies and space age materials that are put into the construction of this reel, the price will definitely be higher that a die cast reel. Reel design There are basically 3 main designs of fly reels. The arbor is the one that one have to take a closer look at when choosing a reel. The arbor refers to the distance from the center spindle to the base of the spool. Standard Arbor This is the traditional reel design, used mostly for trout fishing. It has a smaller arbor and the frame is narrow. This design can hold a lot of line but the it has a lower retrieval rate as with each rotation of the handle, the spool only rotate once and the retrieve is very much depended on the diameter of the spool. With the small diameter of the spool, the line is coiled into a smaller diameter, creating more memory into the fly line, causing the  line to coil and suffer from memory coil. However, this is not a big problem as the solution to this is just to pull the line to straighten it. Mid Arbor As the name suggest, this design is between the standard and large. The reel is wider giving it the capacity to hold more line and also increasing the retrieval rate. The larger diameter also reduces the occurrences of memory coil. Large Arbor This is the latest design in reel manufacturing. They are much larger than the other two designs for the same line rating. This larger arbor gives a faster retrieval rate and reduces memory coil. One downside of this is that the line capacity might be reduced. However, the modern designs are larger, increasing the line capacity. The use of modern designs are highly machine to reduce as much weight as possible without weakening the structure of the reel. Drag System When a strong fish pulls line out of your reel, you will want a drag system that will allow you to apply pressure to the fish to tire it out. The amount of drag you need will very much depend on the of fish you are targeting. If you are targeting small mountain fish, there is really no need for a powerful drag as most of the time, you will not get a chance to fight the fish off the reel. The story will be different if you are targeting the fast running fish such as the bone fish or Giant Trevally where they will pull the line out to the backing with a single run. You will need a good strong yet smooth drag. Spring and Pawl This is the traditional drag system. You might know it better by its other name, clicker drag. This system employs a cog mechanism that applies pressure to the spindle. It looks like a loaded spring pawl which engages a small gear. As the line is pulled out of the spool, it causes the pawl to ratchet against the tooth of the gear, giving it the unmistakable clicking sound. As you can imagine, it doesn’t give a lot of stopping power. This system is useful when the fish doesn’t have much running power. The advantage of this drag is that it is light and will be a good fit for lighter rods. Pros – lightweight Cons – light drag that doesn’t offer strong stopping power Disc Drag This drag works on the concept of compressing washers to create friction so as to apply tension on the spool as line is being pulled out. The washers are usually made from a variety of material. Cork washer are very widely used in disc drag as it compresses and rebounds gradually, giving it a very smooth startup.…

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I want to buy a fly rod!

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I want to buy a fly rod! Brandon Ho FFI CCI After deciding that you finally want to pick up fly fishing, the next question is: What type of fly rod should I buy? There is no easy answer for this as there are literally hundreds if not thousands of different types of rods out there, from cheap fly rods that cost no more than a good meal at a restaurant to one this is expensive enough to use as a down payment for a car. How does one simply decide on what to buy? First, let’s take a look at what function does a fly rod perform? A fly rod basically does 3 things: 1)    Casting the fly line – the rod serves to launch the fly line out, presenting the fly to the fish 2)    Controlling the movement of the fly – once the line is on the water, the fly fisher needs to move the fly in a way that would entice the fish to grab it and swim away. This is accomplished by using one hand to strip the line in through the guides of the rod. 3)    Hooking and fighting the fish – when a fish takes the fly, the fly fisher will use the rod to help set the hook and then control the movement of the fish using the rod to tire and control the fish until it is ready to be landed. How to choose a fly rod? Weight If you are to go to a fly shop tell the shop assistant that you want to buy a fly rod, get ready to answer a few questions. The first and most important question would be: What do you want to catch? The answer will affect other aspects of the equipment that you will need. The fly rod comes in many different sizes or weights ranging from wt 1 for small fish in small jungle streams to wt 6 for larger fish like jungle perch (sebarau) and to wt 12 for the speeding sailfish, and some bigger rods up to wt 14 for the offshore pelagic like giant tuna and marlin. ————- Action Once you have determined the size, you will need to decide on the action of the rod. Modern rods typically comes in 3 different actions. Actions refer to the flexibility of the rod of how much the rod flexes. The action depends on how much the rod bends during a cast. The 3 different types of actions are: 1)    Fast action (tip flex) Fast action rod or sometimes refer to tip flex rods as the name suggest is a rod that flexes at the tip. The rest of the length of the rod remains fairly straight. Since it bends only at the tip, it will take a shorter time for it to bounce back to its original position, hence the name fast action. 2)    Medium action (mid flex) This types of rod starts bending from the middle of the rod, giving more time for the rod to bounce back to its original position. This is a more versatile rod and in my opinion, an easier rod to cast and more forgiving when a not so perfect cast is executed. 3)    Slow action (full flex) As the name suggest, this rod bends the most, at the lower half of the rod. It requires a longer time to return to its original position after the cast. This type of rod is perfect for fly presentation. It is also more fun to fight a fish as it is a very flexible rod, allowing the fish to bend the rod with its every run. ————- Fly rod length Fly rods usually come in the range of 6 feet to 15 feet. The different lengths are used for different purposes. The length of the rod does affect the casting distance. Usually, a shorter rod is used in small streams with limited casting space. The shorter rod tends to be more flexible and has less backbone to fight large fish. For longer rods, it is easier to cast long distance and gives more control over the fish. For rods of 10 feet or more are usually spey rods or double handed rods. The more common length of rods are 8 to 9 feet. It is more practical to cast and has the widest general use, from accuracy casting to gaining a bit more distance to reach the fish. ————- Final considerations How many pieces? Due to the length of the fly rod, it usually comes in 2, 4 or more pieces for ease of storage and transport. In the past, the concern with the guides and finishing would affect the performance of the rod. That push was for the fly fishers to go for a few pieces as possible, but with the improvement in technology, these issues have become almost a non-issue. Material With the advancement in technology, newer materials are used to construct fly rod, each bringing its own advantage to the rod performance. Graphite – this is the game changer when first introduced in the early 1970s. This material allows rod manufacturer to make lighter, stronger, more sensitive and durable rods. Many of today’s rods are made using this material. Boron – this material was originally used in aerospace design. Boron fibers are usually added to the blank to make it stronger and more sensitive. Boron fibers on its own is very brittle and hard to work it. Fiberglass – is making a comeback to fly rod scene. There is a good follower of fiberglass rods. Some casters like the slower action of the rods as compares to the faster graphite rods. This allow the casters to enjoy a slower casting stroke. The softer action also allows the rod to be cast at a more confine space as it loads well even with less line out. Another reason for its popularity is the enjoyment one gets from fighting a fish. The fight from a small fish is greatly emphasized by the fiberglass rod.…

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What is Fly Fishing?

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What is fly fishing? By Brandon Ho, FFI CCI Fly fishing is a sport rather than a commercial activity where one would catch a huge number of fish and sell the fish for a profit while depleting the natural resources and destroying nature in the process. As a fly angler, the aim of this activity is to pit one’s skills against the intelligence of the finned creatures in the beauty of nature. The joy comes not from bringing home the carcass of a dead fish but releasing the beautiful fish back to its home, knowing that you have enjoyed nature in a responsible and sustainable way. So, how do we go about fly fishing? To start, we will need to get the gear ready. Contrary to popular believe, fly fishing is not a hobby for the super-rich, but an affordable pastime anyone can participate regardless of background and age. Let’s get started. __________________________________ The Gear All you need to get started are: 1)    A fly rod 2)    A fly reel 3)    A fly line and backing 4)    A fly leader 5)    Flies __________________________________ The Fly Rod A fly rod can range from 6 feet to 15 feet with the 9 feet rod being the most popular for its practicability and easy of casting. The rod comes in different weights from 0 weight to 14 weight used for tackling big tunas, marlins are other strong fighting pelagic. A 5 or 6 weight would be a good place to start. __________________________________ The Reel A fly reel’s basic function is to hold line as most of the time are fish fighting is limited to handlining the fish in. However, it you are hooked up onto a fast running fish with lasting stamina, a smooth drag is essential to prevent being broken by the run. Fly reels also come in different sizes. Choose a reel that matches the rod. __________________________________ The Fly Line and Backing The fly line is the main things that allows the fly to be cast out to the fish. This is usually a braided line or a mono line covered with a layer of polymer. It is this layer of polymer that determines the characteristic of the fly line; floating, intermediate or sinking lines. Also not forgetting the sink tip where the tip of the fly line sinks while the rest of the line floats. The fly line comes in different weights with different characteristics. Choose the line that matches the type of fish you are targeting. __________________________________ The Leader The leader is a length of nylon that connects the fly to the fly line. The length of the leader is usually the same length of the fly rod but then again it depends on the type of fishing you are doing. The leader can either be monofilament or fluorocarbon, where both has its own pros and cons. __________________________________ Flies This is the component that attracts the fish. A fly is usually an imitation of the prey that the target fish usually feed on or it can be attractive fly that plays on the fish predatory instinct. The fish will strike the fly because it just happens to swim across its path. Flies are usually made from either natural materials such a fur or feather bound together with thread. Now there are more and more synthetic material that can be used to make flies. The fly is where the term fly fishing comes from. Are you now ready to start your fly fishing adventure? Contact us to begin a new fishing adventure. __________________________________ Looking for more fly tying materials? Click the link below for our online store. Chasing the Belum Sebarau on fly Blog / By flytiecast Chasing the Belum Sebarau on fly Hampala macrolepidota or better know locally as sebarau, is a much sought after fresh water gamefish in Malaysia. These freshwater wolves can be found in clear rivers and streams, which flow through pristine rainforest hunting small fish and freshwater prawns. They can also be found in large water reservoirs. The focus of this article here is on the sebarau in Royal Belum, in the state of Perak. Being a predatory fish, you can imagine the speed and strength of these fish. They are good fighters if you are able to hook them. Hooking them is another big challenge. They like to hide among deep sunken trees and snags. You must be prepared to lose some flies when targeting them. These fish are mostly active during the morning and evening hours. During these time, popper flies are effective. You will be able to see them rise neat the trees and also vegetation. Cast your popper in the direction of the rise and let the ripple smoothen out then move your popper with short moderate retrieve, creating loud splashes. The sebarau take on the surface popper is heart stopping. Out of a sudden you see a splash and the popper disappears into the water and at almost the same time, you fly line tightens and you are on to a challenging fight. At this moment, the fight is in the fish’s advantage. It will head down to the nearest snags while trying to shake off the annoying hook. Going barbless increases the odds of the fish winning. When the sun is high up in the sky and the temperature increases, these fish will hide deep in the snags, avoiding the heat. This is the time to break out your sinking line. Casting accuracy is key to winning this game. Look out for sunken trees and cast out as close as you can to the branches underwater. Allow the fly to sink almost to the bottom before starting a quick retrieve. The fish are attracted to fast moving flies as their natural prey are fast swimming baitfish. Small sebarau will take light taps at your fly but a huge one will engulf your fly and head to the snags. Quick reflexes are essential to successfully landing these fresh water wolves. The sebarau in Royal Belum can…

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Fly Fishing vs Normal Fishing

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Let’s start with the similarities. Both are effective ways of catching fish. If the intention is to catch fish, why is there a need to use different methods to do the same thing? My opinion on this is; how much fun do you want in the process of catching fish?   Equipment Normal fishing requires the use of a spinning rod, reel, fishing line (either monofilament or braided line), hooks, sinker, bait or lure. Fly fishing uses a fly rod, reel, backing, fly line, tippet, leader and flies.   Presentation Normal fishing depends on the heavy lure or sinker as a weight to be cast out towards the fish. Fly fishing uses the fly line as the weight to cast the light fly out towards the fish.   Cost It takes very little to start fishing and for normal fishing, anywhere below RM 150 can get you a decent set up. On the other hand, fly fishing equipment tend to be a little pricier. You can get a fly fishing combo for around RM 600.   Effectiveness in catching fish Both are effective ways of catching fish and certain skills are required to master both methods of fishing. The learning curve for fly fishing is undeniably steeper but the satisfaction is much more compared to normal fishing.   Final thoughts Normal fishing with bait or lures are more result oriented and at times can out fish fly fishing. However, fly fishing is considered by many as the purist’s way of catching fish. The core idea is to challenge the fly fisher to be a better angler. It allows you to be more observant of your surroundings as the flies are imitation of the natural diet the fish consume. You become a learning angler and pay attention to your surrounding, enjoying nature as it is intended to be. To understand nature is the first step to loving nature and it will go a long way in the conservation and preservation of our fragile environment.