A Thousand Fishing Flies... Or, So

A fly is a lure made to resemble an insect or otherThe Nymph, for example, is engineered to look like
fish food. The idea behind the design is simple andthe developing insect who has not yet sprouted his
true: make a lure that looks like the natural prey ofwings. In its larval form the real thing may often float
some fish and they'll come racing onto the hook.through the water or crawl along underwater rocks.
Since at least the mid-17th century and probably forAt that stage they are irresistible to a hungry trout.
hundreds of years before, that idea has been testedOr so the eager angler wants to believe. Hope
over and over again.springs eternal in the sport of fishing.
It works pretty well.Terrestrial flies are lovingly shaped to imitate
The creativity of fishermen and their friends whonon-aquatic insects or worms. Even prey that doesn't
make flies for fun and profit is astounding, not leastseek to live on or under the water may live near it.
to the anglers themselves. Flies are often as muchUnluckily for them they often find themselves in
works of art as practical devices. But practical theyunexpected locations where the fish are happy to
are. Whether made to look like a mayfly, a tinysee them.
prawn or even a small rodent, a great fly is aAnother type called Streamers are made to look like
wonder.baitfish. They may be used in freshwater or
There is the humble Dry Fly. Designed to float on thesaltwater situations and they are as diverse as any
surface, it may appear to a curious fish to be aother category of fly. A Clouser that resembles a
dragonfly resting on a pond. Or, it may look like anyminnow is a favorite of many, but a Sucking Leech
of a thousand insects that rest on the water beforehas its fans, too.
moving on. The real thing often doesn't get theNot all flies look like animals, however. Some are
chance to leave.made to resemble plant food that some fish also
An Orange Stimulator, for example, may look like aenjoy, such as berries, seeds or flowers. Petals and
grasshopper who jumped a little too far. The hope isfruit that grow near the water often drop into it
that the 'insect' will prove too tempting to resist.where the fish are very grateful. Carp flies are a
That hope is often satisfied. Flies like this are usedcommon variety in this category.
more often for freshwater fishing, such as a favoriteNo angler can long resist the urge to make his or her
lake where the waters are calm.own fly. Sooner or later that latent creativity bursts
A Wet Fly, by contrast, is designed to sink justforth in the desire to up the odds of landing that
below the surface where they might resemble anperfect lake trout. Let your inner artist out and enjoy
insect who is about to see a watery grave. Thefishing that much more. Even if you don't catch
angler intends the fish to see a dry grave rightanything you'll have at least one thing to brag about.
afterward.