Fly Fishing Lures Explained

There are many enthusiasts and adventurers who go to Alaska and enjoy fly fishing. Fly fishing is a method of catching fish, dating back to as far as the second century. Baits used in this method should be practically weightless and attractive. Baits, instead of live or dead bait, are usually artificial flies, for they are definitely lighter and show off much color. There are many different artificial flies, all categorized according to how they are used and to which prey should they be used on.



An artificial fly should, first and foremost, be able to imitate what a fly should actually look like. They are generally classified into three classes, the dry flies which are those who normally stays on the surface of the water, the partially submerged insects, which half of its body are normally in the water, and the below the surface, in which the entire bait is submerged in the water.



Dry flies normally imitate the actual flies which actually stay on the surface but dare not submerge themselves in the water, such as grasshopper, dragonfly, ant, mafly, caddisfly, stonefly and beetles. They are sometimes designed with colorful and bright colors which will manage to attract the prey even if the prey itself is viewing it from the water.



The partially submerged or sub surface flies include larvae, worms, nymphs, crayfish, pupae, leeches, baitfish, and many more insects which are practically aquatic insects. For wet flies, on the other hand or the streamers, the usual imitations or models are the scuds, and minnows.



Artificial flies are usually made from furs and feathers. This is because these raw materials are practically weightless. They are usually more preferred than a live one, since they quickly dry up and could be reused every time.



Fly fishing is a good method that easily helps attract the fish you prey on, due to the colorful appearance of the artificial flies as bait. Although it is of course good to use an actually insect as the bait, practicality shouts at artificial baits, since it could be reused at any time possible. But whether you use artificial bait or a live lure does not matter. What is important is that you know what you are doing, and you are aware on how to properly approach the prey, with proper use of the techniques introduced in catching fish.