History of Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is an angling technique that has been around for centuries, with evidence of the practice dating back to ancient civilizations such as the Romans and the Chinese. The earliest recorded reference to fly fishing in literature comes from the Roman poet Claudius Aelianus in the 2nd century AD, who wrote about Macedonian fishermen using artificial flies to catch fish.

The technique of fly fishing involves casting a lightweight lure, known as a fly, using a specialized fishing rod and line. The fly imitates the appearance and movement of an insect, enticing fish to strike. Fly fishing has traditionally been associated with freshwater fishing for trout and salmon, although it can be used to catch a wide variety of fish in both freshwater and saltwater.

Fly fishing gained popularity in England during the 16th century, with the publication of Izaak Walton's "The Compleat Angler" in 1653. This book, which is still considered a classic of English literature, describes the art of fly fishing and its connection to nature and the environment. The book helped to popularize fly fishing as a leisure activity for the upper classes, and it also introduced the use of artificial flies tied with feathers, fur, and other materials.

In the late 18th century, fly fishing began to evolve as a sport, with anglers competing against one another in fishing contests. This led to the development of new fly patterns and techniques, as anglers sought to outdo one another with bigger and more impressive catches.

The development of synthetic materials in the 20th century led to the creation of new fly patterns and the mass production of flies, making fly fishing more accessible to the general public. In addition, advances in fishing technology, such as graphite rods and synthetic lines, made it easier for anglers to cast farther and with greater accuracy.

Today, fly fishing is enjoyed by millions of people around the world, with dedicated communities of anglers in countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Many anglers view fly fishing as not just a sport, but as a way of connecting with nature and the environment, and as a means of preserving natural resources.

In conclusion, fly fishing has a rich and storied history that spans centuries and continents. From its origins in ancient civilizations to its modern-day popularity, fly fishing has evolved as a sport, a hobby, and a way of life. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a beginner, fly fishing offers a unique and rewarding way to connect with nature and experience the thrill of the catch.

9 Amazing Fly Fishing Locales of the South

We all know the North and the West have some amazing fly fishing destinations, but we think the South boasts some equally exciting spots to wet your hook. This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but these nine gorgeous freshwater rivers and creeks are well worth a visit for some Southern action on the fly!

9.  Toccoa River in North Georgia

The Tocca is heralded as one of the best trout rivers in Georgia.  With its headwaters running from Union County and into Lake Blue Ridge, it then becomes a tailwater fishery.  In all sections of the river you'll find healthy populations of rainbow and brown trout.  According Georgia Outdoor News, the Toccoa boasts all the necessary attributes of a trophy trout stream.  The section of the river below Blue Ridge Dam is stocked bi-weekly during the months of its trout season; however the river is open year round!  For more info, visit this link at blueridgemountains.com  

8.  Slickrock Creek in North Carolina

North Carolina is home to just about every type of trout stream imaginable, whether you prefer wild or stocked trout streams, free flowing rivers, freestone rivers, tailwaters or the intimacy of smaller creeks. So this was a tough choice.  But you just can't go wrong with Slickrock Creek.  This meandering stream holds a healthy population of brown and rainbow trout, and even brookies depending on the section of the river.  Plus, the fishing pressure is moderate to minimal, and the scenery is unrivaled.  Access can be challenging, but if you're a true angler, you know that the best fishing is the toughest to reach!   For further info, check out the North Carolina Sportsman

7.  Clinch River in Tennessee

This tailwater trout stream brims with trophy-sized browns and rainbows as well as the occasional brookie for miles below Norris Dam.  The Clinch produces monster Browns and rainbows year after year, boasting a Tennessee State Record for Brown Trout.  With anglers often pulling 5-10lb+ trout from this stream, even its average rainbow could dwarf that of many other fisheries.  So if you are looking for a chance to catch monster trout with fairly easy access to the river, the Clinch is well worth a visit!  To learn more, visit Fly Fishing Tennessee

6.  Canyon Tailrace Section of the Guadalupe River, Texas

Yep, you heard right.  The Lone Star State is not usually famed as a trout fishing hotspot, but the Canyon Tailrace section of the Guadalupe River maintains water temperatures amply cool enough to support a healthy population of trout.  Located in the Texas Hill Country and only a short drive from Austin, you'll find glimmering, turquoise-clear waters full of stocked trout.  The beauty here is unique, differing from anything you'll see further East.  So the scenery certainly adds to the Guadalupe's allure, as waters fall into deep blue-green pools and across ancient sheets of rock, periodically adorned by towering cypress trees.  If you have never visited the Texas Hill Country, start planning your trip!  Thanks to excellent stocking programs implemented by the State, this river in Texas has earned the attention of angers nationwide! To learn more about this fishery, visit GRTU

5.  Sipsey Fork Below Smith Lake, Alabama

Flowing from the frigid depths of Lewis Smith Lake, the Sipsey Fork tailwater is Alabama's only year-round trout fishery.  Just an hour's drive northwest of Birmingham and boasting a healthy population of stocked rainbow trout, the crystal clear waters of the the Sipsey offer a great opportunity for trout anglers of the deep south to get their fix.  Sipsey trout move freely for many miles along the river's gentle current, but only the first couple are publicly accessible for wade fishing.  However, boat fishing and kayak fishing are welcome, and, as with all tailwaters, the biggest fish are often caught further below the dam.  The area is quiet, surrounded by pristine woodland and home to a diverse ecosystem of wildlife, making it any angler's dream.  To learn more and hear from the local experts, visit Riverside Fly Shop 

4.  Whitewater River, South Carolina

While mostly consisting of a gentle and wadable current, this mountain trout stream dons two magnificent waterfalls, with the best trout fishing in between the drops.  Its waters are cool year-round, providing an ideal habitat for rainbow and brown trout, both wild and stocked.  However, anglers MUST be careful to avoid fishing close to the top side of the falls, as this can be very dangerous.  Such an adventure!  What angler doesn't love the sound of rushing waters, cascading over massive boulders and spilling down into crystal pools below?  The majestic beauty of this river together with its bountiful population of trout make it no mystery why it made the list.  To learn more about fishing in SC, check out this guide. 

3.  Spring River, Arkansas

The Spring River is Arkansas' only free-flowing trout stream, offering a truly wild experience for anglers.  Its waters begin at Mammoth Springs and provide a constant flow year-round, its headwaters pumping nearly nine-million gallons of sub-sixty degree water per hour!  This massive spring river is home to a high volume of stocked rainbow and brown trout, many of them of trophy size.  According to Arkansas.com the best spots to catch the browns and rainbows on the Spring are where the water tumbles into deeper pools below the falls, offering scenic and exciting opportunities to wet your fly in the Natural State.    

2.  Rapidian River, Virginia

The Commonwealth is dotted with a vast number of rivers and spring creeks, many of which provide ideal conditions for trout to remain prolific.  But the Rapidian is unique in that it holds a robust population of completely native brook trout.  Once a favorite fishing spot of President Herbert Hoover, this intimate stream is covered in a woodland canopy, so anglers should be prepared to cast conservatively and bring their "A" game.  To learn more about fishing this southeastern gem of a fishery, visit this link at Virginia.gov

1.  Little Red River, Arkansas

Touting a pristine river bottom of shimmering sands occasionally giving way to gravel and deep-green moss, this crystal-blue tailwater spills from the dam at Greers Ferry Lake and offers up an angling utopia.  Brandishing an international fame as a blue-ribbon trout water, the Little Red is a mecca for MASSIVE trout, drawing high levels of attention even from Western Anglers.  It has produced multiple world-record brown trout, only recently being dethroned as the king of trophy brown trout fisheries by the new "all-tackle" record caught in the South Island hydro canals of New Zealand.  

Even so, the Little Red River's reputation for being one of the world's greatest trout streams remains set in stone.  This twenty-five mile stretch of premiere trout fishing waters below Greers Ferry Lake offer action for both waders and drifters alike. Deep pools, tumbling shoals, occasional forks, and rock overhangs provide plenty of cover and thus an ideally dynamic environment for trout to thrive all year.  And you will never forget the sweet smell of its frigid 45-55 degree waters, especially in the morning.  If you have not fished the Little Red (yet), you are surely missing out! Click here to learn more.    Who knows, you might be the one to catch that next WR brown!   

Finding the Balance: fly line, leader and tippet

Every wonder why that rod just isn't carrying that fly out as far as you'd like it to, or why your leader or tippet are not getting more distance between the fly line and your fly, or why your tippet is curling up or getting loops in it?  These problems can create ugly issues with your presentation to the fish, but can be solved.  

It is important to note to any new fly fisherman/women out there that the leader is generally not just a straight "fishing line" tied to the end of your brightly colored fly line.  

Solution:  Make sure you have a tapered leader.  A tapered leader, whether welded/continuous or tied by hand will fare much better.  This is due to the gradual change in weight distribution across the line as you cast, transferring the loop smoothly all the way from the fly line at the tip of your rod to the fly at the end of your leader.  You can get a good tapered leader in most fly shops and certainly on amazon or online.  Also, be sure you purchase a leader that is the appropriate size for the type of fly you are fishing and the size rod you are using.  For instance, don't go on trying to cast a mouse pattern on a three weight rod using 7x tippet.  

Generally, if you are fishing a 5wt rod or something of in that range, use the "clinch knot" to tie a tapered leader onto the end of your fly line.  Then if you need anything more than that, use the "double surgeon's knot" to tie on another foot and one half or so of 4X or 5X tippet.  If you are going for trout, use a smaller tippet (or very fine-ended tapered leader).  If you are fishing for bass, go with something a little thicker, probably at least size 4X (and be ready to let him run!).

Also keep in mind that fly or hook size is an important factor here as well, but I will save that for another day.  Refine your skills and master the balance, tailoring everything to the fish species and the presentation you are seeking, and you'll catch more fish.     

Tight lines,

Daniel

Rod Sizes Rundown

Good afternoon!

When I began fly fishing, one of the most confusing things to me was the jargon associated with the sport.  Many novice and even intermediate fly anglers are not familiar with the various sizes and uses of rods, line, leader, tippet, hooks, etc.  This may seem like a rather dry subject, but the knowledge pays off when you know what kind of equipment to use, which should be tailored to the fish species you are seeking and the environment you will be fishing in.  For instance, if you are fishing a small creek with low-hanging trees, choose a shorter rod of lower weight size.  If you are fishing a large river like the Madison (in most spots) you might want to stick with at least a 5 wt.    

To begin, the jist of rod sizes is that they run from a 0 weight (often abbreviated as "wt") all the way up to a 12 weight and beyond.  The largest sizes are usually for saltwater species (EVEN MARLIN!).  The general rule is that, the bigger the fish, the higher the rod wt.  However, this is not always the case.  Often larger brown trout (a particularly finicky and sought-after species) may be caught on a rod size of about 3-5, but could weigh 15+ lbs.  This goes for trout in general, as they are the best at spotting a thick, glossy line below the surface and behind your fly, which can cause them to get spooked, brown trout all the more so.  

Now, if you are fishing for brook trout in a small Appalachian stream, you certainly do not want to be using a 10 weight rod.  Trust me, i fished a tiny stream out West for brookies once with a 9 ft 5wt rod and it was a circus - a miserably tangled, tree-hung, and high-hooked debacle, not to mention there was grizzly poo all around me and no phone service for miles!   Even still, I have caught many rainbow trout with an 8 wt rod, but a 4-5 wt is more than capable of handling the  lot and the occasional trophy swirling about the other end of your leader at any given time.  It is often said that a 5 wt. rod is the most versatile size, so it is a great starting point.    

If you are just starting out as a fly angler for trout, you should lean toward a rod in the 3-5wt range.  Anything above a 5 wt may in most circumstances be more suited for steelhead, bass, or something of larger size.  On the other hand, if you are tossing a tarpon pattern in the salt water flats, you will probably want at least a ten weight.  

Next time, I will discuss the fly line, leader, rod balance.  This is important if you plan on being an effective fly caster and want to catch as many fish as possible.  So not only do you need to have the right size rod, but you also need to have it rigged with the corresponding line size AND the appropriate leader for the method of fishing you are undertaking, i.e., fishing dries, nymphs, streamers and so forth.  

Use coupon code STREAMTEAM for streamers in the shop and/or DEEPSOUTHTEAM for shirts and see what happens! ;)

Thanks for reading,

-Daniel

Always Trying to Get Back

My Papaw taught me to fish and instilled within me a love for it.  I got a little older, and he taught me how to cast a fly rod.  Over time, I got busy with life and didn't go fishing as much, as many of us do.  My Papaw also gave me a knife that he'd had for many years. and I used that knife fishing and hunting for many years.  I cherished that little brown knife and it's tan holster. It was very special to me.  It always reminded me of my Papaw, all the things he taught me, and how we both loved fishing so much.  He loved us all more than he could ever put in words.  My Papaw passed away in 2015.  He was a Woodsman of the World and a true outdoorsman.  When he was sick, I reminisced with him about his "numbered worms," trick (supposedly why he would always catch way more fish than everyone else) and about the time he caught the biggest bass of his life fishing with me.  Before he died, I promised him I would find the time once again to do all the things we used to do, like hunting and fishing, because I loved those things just like him and missed them.  I wanted to carry on the outdoor tradition for our family as I once did as a child and as a teenager.  I have fished more in the last two years than I had in the previous six combined.  Fishing just seems to bring me a little closer to him.  One rainy afternoon last summer, two friends and I were fishing this creek south of Bozeman, Montana while on a trip.  I had my Papaw's knife with me at the very creek pictured above.  I had the holster strapped to my waders and used the knife to sever some tippet in rigging up.  It was rainy and muddy, but we fished anyway.  Rain soaked the trees an intense green hue and the water ran crystal gray.  No phone serviced for miles, the gentle patter of rain atop our hats and the canopy of trees crisscrossing the creek were like a lullaby from the wild.  I lost my knife by the creek that day.  I was very upset, but later I realized that if there was any place to lose it, it was there.  Now the creek has it, but I'm always trying to get back to the Creek now, so I guess it's ok. I know my papaw wouldn't be too disappointed in that. ~Daniel

This Is Just The Beginning

(from our latest Instagram post)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSNYKSRgvwf/

Dear Fellow Anglers,

You've seen this one before, but this is me - the regular guy behind the name. I'm not the only Deep South Angler, we are all Deep South Anglers. I started this company with the vision of spreading joy through fly fishing and its wonderful tradition. I cannot express the breadth of happiness that fishing has brought me over the years of my life, even in the toughest and saddest times. In the same way, close to my heart is the South, where I know the sport has the extraordinary potential to flourish as more and more anglers of both cool and warm water fish species are introduced to this amazing sport. I truly believe the entire fly fishing community will be benefitted by such a movement in my home region. I also wanted the company to symbolize a tremendous respect for nature. It is Deep South Angler's promise to give 5% of every single sale back to conservation so that our precious waterways will be protected for generations of fly fisherman to come. Thanks to everyone for the support so far, I cannot express what it has meant. Also, I would not have made it far without the advice and input of my good friend and creative partner @lpritch3, a great fisherman and trusted friend. I decided to post this to allow some transparency with the company. We would love to hear any feedback from any of you anglers and friends out there. What would you like to see most from Deep South Angler? Currently, we are working on more flies, shirt designs and even rods for the coming weeks and months. We are also developing plans for a video series. Please know that you mean so much to Deep South Angler, since you have been there with @deepsouthangler from the ground level. We are just getting started, so the only direction from here is up!

Tight lines y'all,

 

Daniel

Looking Forward, Pointing Behind

The other day I was hiking down to the river on a little-known trail.  It was beautiful, covered in moss and rose high above the water and peaked on top of a cliff.  Then, it got steep. I was overwhelmed by the excitement and beauty of it all that I got careless on my way back down to the river.  The ground was slick, I was wearing my waders and holding my 9 foot 8 wt rod in hand.

I was talking/shouting across river at my friends who had taken the other path down to the spot we were going to fish, telling them what a gorgeous site they were missing.  And as I made my way down the steep path, I started to slide.  Then I tried to shuffle my feet to regain control but couldn't stop.  My friends watched in horror from the river below as I helplessly began to tumble down the path.  There were trees everywhere, and I was headed straight for one of them.  I braced myself as I knew I was about splinter a leg against the tree or worse.  Just a few feet away from the certain serious injury, I plopped down in the dirt with one final attempt to stop myself.  It all happened so fast, I can hardly explain it; but, somehow, this move shifted my course just to the left of the tree, barely missing it. 

After I skidded to a stop past the tree, I knew I was just fine, but was my rod?  I had been holding it by the cork grip the entire time, with the rod tip pointed back - just as I was taught to do.  Still, I thought surely my "big fish" rod was a goner, but it wasn't.  I glanced over to my right, my hand was still tightly clutching the grip, and the the rod ran uphill behind me, all in one piece! 

This is a real life example why you should always carry your rod by the grip with the tip pointing behind you.  If you do this, you don't even have to think about it - the rod just bounces off of everything.  Not only did it save my rod, but it also likely contributed to my ability to regain control during the fall.  And this allowed me to avoid serious injury.  So ALWAYS, ALWAYS keep that rod tip pointed behind you when on the walk or hike down to the water, not only is it good for the rod but it could save you a broken bone or two.   

Tight Lines and (Almost) Right Angles

A hefty rainbow sits facing the current in a pool behind a bolder, rising on occasion for a morning morsel.  You've seen him rise once, twice, and now can't wait to get your dry in front of him.  You amble over closer near the pool and cast just to your side of the boulder, allowing your fly to swirl around into the neutral little cranny he's resting in and feeding from.  The cast was beautiful, he rises to the occasion for a satisfying slurp . . . He strikes hard - blowing water all over the place - your heart leaps with excitement as you attempt to pull in the slack and set the hook!   But before you get to set that hook, he's no longer on, and you've lost another good fish.  

And now, you see him once more down there sitting in the same pool, deeper than before - he has returned to base and has spit out your presentation.  You cast at least half a dozen times over, trying to call him back in for a snack on the surface, but he doesn't move.  And finally you throw what you think is the perfect presentation, one that no fish in its right mind could resist.  To do this, you had to inch a little closer to the stream, careful not to cast a shadow.  Then, Much to your dismay, that full bodied, fiery red striped rainbow darts away, taking your hopes of another good fish with him.  

What went wrong?

Tight Lines

After each cast, when you are satisfied with the presentation, pin the line to the cork grip with your index finger, being sure there is no slack in your line in front of your finger.  This way, when there is a forceful strike on the other end, the fish will nearly set the hook on himself, making it easier for you to seal the deal.  

Otherwise, he just yanked about a foot of slack in your line.  And before you can gather yourself to tighten the line and set the hook, he has realized your fly doesn't taste as good as he imagined it would and drops it like it's a hot potato.  

97 degree - (Almost) Right Angles

A trout's vision above is centered on the top of its head like a wide cone shape (97 degrees, that is: almost a 📐).  The vertex is the point of the triangle that sits on top of the trout's head.  Therefore, the deeper he is, the further out he can see.  Though you didn't cast a shadow when you inched closer after the trout retreated deeper into the pool, he saw you coming and darted away.  Be mindful of the trout's cone-shaped field of vision.  

Next time, approach him entirely from behind, because then he will never see you coming and will end up in your net rather than a runaway.  

Tight lines and heavy nets,

Daniel

6 Essential Tips for Casting and Presentation

Lets get the rundown on the cast (now, I do realize it is taught in many forms and fashions by various instructors and veteran anglers, but I believe the technique I discuss below to be among the best).

So you're ready to start slinging that brightly colored string back and forth with your rod, right?  Well it's not exactly that simple.

I will only assume you know how to hold the rod from here. If you are reading this, you more than likely understand the general concept of fly casting (especially after reading the above paragraph).  You rather gently GENTLY NOW! swinging your rod back and forth in front of you and behind you, allowing the line to begin to straighten and present your fly to your target. The following rules describe the techniques you should begin with and should always remember if things start to get sloppy.

1. The Rod/Forearm Continuum. Your rod is one with your forearm and your elbow is planted firmly down toward your waist at your side.  Remember:  It is NOT all in the wrist.  Allow your wrist to bend as much as is natural so you don't look frozen or like a robot, but do not rely on your wrist to cast.  The motion is in your forearm.  You want to pretend that, within reason, your forearm and your fly rod are fused together - your arm is part of the rod and your rod is part of your arm.  They are continuous.
2. The Eleven and One Rule.  You generally do not want to allow your rod (including your forearm) to move past the two o'clock or the ten o'clock position in behind you and in front of you, respectively.  If your line is slapping the water in front of you or behind you and you are only casting a few feet, then you should pay close attention to whether you are following the Eleven and One Rule.
3. Hauling.  As you begin to cast the line back and forth in rhythm behind you and in front of you, with each cast behind, or "back cast," you want to "haul" or pull more line out of the reel so that when you come forward the line will extend further toward your target.  Note: there is something called the double haul in which you pull out line during both your front and back casts, but it is more advanced.  We will stick with the basics for now.
4. Let the Line Straighten Out in the Air.  LOOK OUT FOR THE TREE! When casting, always let the line completely straighten out both in front of you and behind you.  This way it will "lay" out on the water in front of the fish and not wad or curl up, which would create an unnatural and unwelcome sight on the surface to any fish below.  If you let the line straighten IN THE AIR out in front of you and behind you and follow the other rules above, the line should "lay" out in front of you instead of slapping the water and scaring the fish away.
5. Pin the Fly Line to the Grip of the Rod with Your Index Finger.  After you have completed your cast to your target spot, ALWAYS pin the line to the cork grip with the index finger of your dominant hand (or casting hand).  You must KEEP your finger there. If you don't do this, you could miss a fish biting because the slack in your line is not pulled tight. Here's a secret: many anglers do not put this rule into practice, even some more advanced ones.  So you are ahead of the game already.
6. The Mend.  This is one of the most important practices to keep in mind right after casting.  The fish generally will not bite a fly that is drifting at an unnatural pace through the current.  For instance, if there is slack in your fly line drifting through the fastest part of the current and your fly is in the slower part of the current, the fly line will start to pull the fly at an unnaturally fast pace.  This can often be prevented or "mended" by lifting the tip of your rod up and flipping the slack between you and your fly against the current, or upstream. In other words all this does is flip the slack in your line up past the fly so the fly drifts properly and isn't pulled rapidly downstream (with the current) by a wad or loop of slack in your fly line.  You want your fly to drift along at the current's pace as a natural fly or other bug would.  This technique can often be the difference in catching fish and scaring them all away.

I hope you have enjoyed and learned from this post.  For my next post, I plan to provide a glossary of important terms, i.e., the basic parts of the rod, line, leader, backing, tippet, and reel.  Soon after that I will go on to discuss equipment essentials; rod types and rod weight or sizes; different types of flies, their uses and what they represent; and later move onto more advanced fishing strategies and techniques, product reviews, fish species and popular fishing locations.  In the future I will be posting audio, video and image content related to each topic, as well as an update to this post soon.  Thanks for reading.

From the water's edge,

Daniel Tackett

Founder,

Deep South Angler