You DO NOT have to fish flies with a bona-fide fly pole and fly line.
You can easily use a typical spin outfit (although I DO recommend a 7′ ultra light pole, like the Ugly Stik series so that you can feel the hit).
First let’s talk knots:
Improved Clinch Knot:
I use this to tie the line (after it comes through the water bobber) to the EYE end of the snap swivel.
I also SOMETIMES use this to tie the fluorocarbon leader to the fly (mostly Renegades) and cinch it down.
But mostly to tie leader onto the fly I use the Non-Slip Loop Knot (see further down).
Overhand Loop Knot:
I tie TWO of these for extra strength. Just run the loop through the hole twice.
This is the knot at the TOP of your 6’ leader and you hook the loop into the snap swivel.
Remember: the reel line runs through the pole out the top of the pole, then through the water bobber (go through the FAT end first) and then tie an improved clinch knot (see above) to the eye end of the snap swivel. See below for a photo of how this all goes together.
Then you’ll hook the overhand loop knot to the SNAP end of the snap swivel (so you can take it on and off and put on different leaders with different flies).
Non-Slip Loop knot. I use this for Woolly Buggers, Scuds, and SOMETIMES Renegades.
Renegades don’t really need to be “floppy”, but Scuds and Woolly Buggers should be “floppy” to imitate something alive.
Let’s talk casting bubbles. Sometimes called “water bobbers”.
I use EXCLUSIVELY the Double X Tackle Tough Bubble medium (in a 12 pack).
I usually get them at Sportsman’s Warehouse.
Finally: how to fish this setup:
1. If they are hitting on the surface: fill up the water bobber 2/3 full, cast it out (you can cast it a country mile) and slowly retrieve. If the fish are skittish of the bobber, you can sort of hide it by twitching it rather than a slow steady reel. If there is a slight bit of wind providing riffles on the water, then you’re in bidness…the riffles hide the bobber and you can slowly retrieve and the fish most likely won’t get spooked. When you are fishing on the surface, you can SEE your bobber floating merrily along. Look a little past it and you can sometimes see the fly (but usually the fly is slightly under the surface maybe 1-2″). You will SEE the fish slam the fly. Try not to get spooked and yank the fly out of the fish’s mouth before they actually eat it. It’s a timing/feel thing…you’ll miss a few I’m sure…but you’ll get the hang! And it’s a blast!
2. If they are NOT hitting on the surface, then fill the water bobber COMPLETELY FULL. Cast it out (you can now cast it out TWO country miles). Let it sink a little and use a slow retrieve occasionally twitching it with a fast reel…then slow the reel down again and so forth. If the fish are super deep, then you’ll literally have to let the full bobber get down to the bottom and then start your retrieve. You can usually feel the bobber “bump” on the bottom…then just start your retrieve and try to keep it off the bottom. This method of fishing is kind of fishing “blind” because you can’t see the fish actually hit the fly. This is where the super flexible rod tip of the Ugly Stik 7′ ultra lite pole comes in. Just watch that tip and you can SEE (and feel) the fish hit the fly. You’ll get the hang of it.
In BOTH situations above, don’t rip the fish’s lips off setting the hook, but don’t set the hook so lightly that you don’t get a good set (and you subsequently lose the fish). Give the pole a decent lift and yank to set that hook. Another trick is if you have a lame hook set, keep fighting the fish and when you are a few more seconds into the fight, when you have a nice tight line to the fish, go ahead and set it again with some force to make sure you don’t lose the fish at your feet.
Now…if you have BARBED flies, you’ll probably be fine…set the hook, then just play the fish and net them and do what you need to do. If you are fishing a lake that requires BARBLESS hooks, you need to definitely set the hook and then keep CONSTANT tension on the fish. Remember to “load up” the rod by keeping the rod at a 90-degree angle from the fish so that the rod is curved and is taking most of the brunt of the fight. The advantage of 6lb mono here is that the mono will also stretch a little and give you some “feel” and play so that the fish won’t just shrug off the fly *and* you won’t get much slack in the line (like you can with pure fly line) so you can generally keep control of the fish better (this is in my opinion, I’m sure some fly fishermen purists out there can argue with me all day long).
This is the 7′ ultralite Ugly Stik that I like to use (you can usually find them on sale for $20-$25).
Another pole I absolutely LOVE (even more than the Ugly Stik above) is the Eagle Claw Pack-It Spin-Fly Rod 4Pc 7’6, Glass, Model:PK601-7’6. Because of the extra 6″ of rod length, you can REALLY cast a water bobber FAR (perhaps 3 country miles). Even more importantly though, is the FEEL of this rod when fishing flies in the method above. The tip is so sensitive that you really have a good feel of the hit and can easily translate to setting the hook and reeling that monster in. Plus, because it breaks down to 4 pieces you can fit it and the small 20-size reel into your suitcase and take it to Chicago to fish the hotel pond (yes, I have done this…had a great time). Obviously it fits in a backpack nicely for hiking into a gorgeous lake full of trout (yes, I have done this a LOT also). Anyway…if you can get ahold of this particular rod I HIGHLY encourage you do so (get a few) because they are excellent for this method of fishing.
A word about catch and release:
If you are going to catch and release (this is mostly in the trout realm), PLEASE do us ALL a favor and get a decently LARGE non-nylon net (they are usually a type of rubber net material). Net the fish and KEEP THE ENTIRE NET AND FISH IN THE WATER. Carefully get the fly out of the fish’s mouth (a Ketchum Release tool works GREAT for this) preferably WITHOUT TOUCHING THE FISH. If you MUST touch the fish, get your hands wet first. Once the fly is out of the fish’s mouth, turn the net over and let them go.
Here is a large rubber type net that I use (Frabill Sportsman Series Landing Net, 17 x 19 Hoop , Premium Rubber Netting, 36 in Collapsable Handle).
Enjoy!