Traditionally, the answer to this question was almost always trout. After all, fly fishing has always been regarded mainly as a freshwater angling method. In fact, it’s been used for fishing trout so much that some has just called it as the trout fish fishing technique.
Of course, as a freshwater angling method you can use it to catch lots of other types of freshwater fish. But you can also customize the technique so you can use it for saltwater fishing as well.
What, Exactly, is Fly Fishing?
As the name indicates, it’s a fishing method that uses a fly. Since it’s not exactly practical to use actual flies, you use artificial lures. You cast these lures on the water, and you hope and pray that the fish nearby mistakes the fly as their potential food. If you’re lucky, that fish becomes your food instead.
With this method, you can target specific fish that usually feeds on tiny creatures and insects that land on the water surface or moves underneath the water surface.
It’s called dry fly fishing if your flies sit on the water surface. Your flies generally resemble the food the fish usually go for, like actual flies and other insects, and even rodents.
It’s called wet fly or nymph fishing when your flies sit under the water surface. They can look like hatching flies, or other creatures in the water that your target fish eats.
But you can also use fly fishing for the saltwater, and go after bigger fish. You just need the right artificial lures that can imitate what they eat. That means getting flies that look like crayfish, or even like small fish that the big fish eat.
That’s the key to proper fly fishing. Get the right flies that look like food to the fish to catch your target fish.
What’s the Correct Fly Size?
This can be rather difficult to deal with, if you’re a newbie. That’s because there’s simply a wide range of fly size options to pick from. And you can’t just pick one arbitrarily. You have to pick the most realistic size.
You should also remember that the higher artificial fly size numbers refer to the smaller fly sizes. That’s to say, the sizes from 22 to 16 are tiny, while the sizes 6, 4, and 2 are much bigger.
To help you pick the right size, you need to consider the following factors:
1. What’s the Time of Year?
If it’s the winter season, go with the smaller sizes (under size 18). Most available insects during this season are tiny, like midges.
If it’s summer, go with the bigger sizes. That’s because fish often have larger insects to prey upon, including beetles and even grasshoppers.
2. What Type of Insect Are You Imitating?
Basically, you should get artificial flies that resemble the most common insects in your area. Those are the insects that your target fish usually eats, for the simple reason that these insects are available.
But then you should know the lifecycle of these insects, and their sizes during particular months. Just look around and take notice. For example, during late spring and early summer, you’ll find stone flies under rocks that may be an inch or two long. So, just find a fly in your fly box that has the same size as this one. The same rule applies if you go for smaller nymphs and may flies.
3. What’s Your Target Fish?
This is simple. Find out what your target fish eats, and find the flies that look like their food. Simple and easy.
How to Cast with Different Flies
You want to use a fly that looks like the actual insects, because you want things to be realistic. You want to fool the fish into believing they’re getting actual food.
But that also means you have to cast your fly properly, to also give the right impression. That means casting in such a way that presents the expected behavior of the fly.
That’s a skill that you need to practice. If you’re a newbie, you should start with casting smaller flies first. The bigger ones may be a bit more difficult.
The good news is that you can always go online and find tutorial videos on proper fly-fishing casting methods. The key to mastering the techniques is like with any other skill: you need lots of practice.
Fly Fishing in Freshwater
This is an easier option, since you can easily find rivers, lakes, and streams anywhere in the country. Look for water like streams and rivers with a constant current.
What kind of fish do you catch fly fishing in freshwater? With luck, you may be able to catch the following:
- Bass
- Carp
- Grayling
- Pike
- Salmon
- Sunfish
- Trout
But you can also try out lakes, if you’re patient. It’s just that it’s a bit different compared to fly fishing in rivers and streams.
As we’ve mentioned, fly fishing is very popular for targeting trout. The best areas for trout fly fishing include:
- Colorado Rivers. The trout can be huge, and you can also find unique species.
- San Juan River, New Mexico. When each mile contains almost 15,000 trout, there’s a good chance you won’t waste your time.
- Deschutes River, Oregon. Come here during the spring and early summer.
- Yellowstone National Park. It’s great for brown and rainbow trout.
Fly Fishing in Saltwater
You will have to practice casting while you’re on a boat, so that you don’t end up shaking the boat in the process. If you’re a newbie, you should start by casting from the front end of the boat.
What kind of fish do you catch fly fishing in saltwater? With practice and the right gear, you may end up with the following fish:
- Bonefish
- Redfish
- Snook
- Striped bass
- Tarpon
The larger species will need tougher, saltwater-resistant rods, and you should be a bit more knowledgeable before you even try. But you can get lucky and catch the following:
- Barracuda
- Marlin
- Sailfish
- Shark
- Tuna
- Wahoo
Conclusion
What kind of fish do you catch fly fishing? You can catch trout, and many more besides. Finding out what you can catch (and practicing your skills along the way) is part of the fun!