Stillwater fly fishing can be very rewarding and enjoyable. Some anglers believe that it is necessary to own specialized gear in order to fly fish on lakes and lochs. While specialized gear can be helpful, it’s not always necessary to have long heavier rods or sinking lines. Fishing from the bank or shore will often get an angler into feeding fish, so even watercraft are not always required.
When fishing ponds and lakes, I will often use a 5 wt. rod with floating line. Flies will depend on local insect activity, but include everything from dry flies when the fish are taking them, nymphs, streamers, wet flies and chironomids.
There are times when I will want to use some other gear such as sinking lines. When there is no action near the surface, I like to take along a cassette reel system that has spools of different line types. This means I can quickly change my line when searching for fish at various depths. My preference is to use Sixth Sense fly lines, and I’ll carry the “slow glass” which sinks just under the surface; a line that sinks at the rate of 3″ per second; line that sinks at the rate of 5″ per second; and finally, one that sinks at 7″ per second.
When fly fishing for larger fish in lakes, I also prefer a heavier rod of at least 10 1/2 feet in length. These rods are also helpful when casting in windy conditions.
When the fish are not biting within casting distance of the shore or bank, having some type of watercraft is of course an advantage. If you are on a budget but want to get out away from the shore, consider an inflatable float tube. They are easily transported and can make stillwater fly fishing very enjoyable!
You are invited to learn more about fly fishing at All About Fly Fishing.
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