Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link to Amazon, meaning if you decide to purchase an item through that link, Flyberta will get a small commission at no cost to you.
Finishing up your first season? Getting into some serious fall fly fishing for the first time? Wondering what you can do in the off season?
If so, here are some of Flyberta's simple tips to finish off this season as productively as possible, set the tone for many years to come!
A solid day spent on the Bow, on a day off from teaching fly fishing lessons
1. Get out for some fall fly fishing!
As September and October roll around, many fly fishers holster their rods, forget about the rivers, and return to work like the season is over. While some areas have seasonal regulations that close fishing in the fall, September and October can provide some of the most productive fishing seen during the year! Before winter, fish are making serious efforts to bulk up and will often feed on large terrestrial patterns late into the fall, when most fly fishers think "hopper dropper" season has long past. In fact, some of our favourite grasshopper days here at Flyberta take place in mid-October! This time of year also creates a unique challenge alongside great fly fishing. Water levels are typically lower and colder, hatches become more sporadic, and fly fishing windows can vary up to hours as streams take time to warm up. As a result, fall fly fishing becomes the perfect time to solidify and hone the skills you've learned in your first year. Laying down accurate and delicate casts are often rewarded with equally delicate takes from large, bulking fish.
Here's some photos from our most recent fall trip, on an awesome day of late September weather!
Looking for suggestion or tips on maximizing fall fly fishing?
DM us on Instagram @flyberta, or shoot us an email at flybertaflyfishing@gmail.com!
2. Look back on your year!
Although this sounds like a simple recommendation, reflecting on the highs and lows of your fly fishing experience is a fantastic way to develop as a fly fisher
and realize how far you've come!
One of our favourite ways to reflect is taking a good ol' gander at our camera roll and taking a moment to think about days spent on the water with a rod in hand. Even though most of the lessons learned have taken place on a field, in the water, or looped around a bush 63 times, a picture from a day of fly fishing can make you think of what went well that day, how you've improved, and can solidify those lessons learned (and may have already forgotten).
Here's a moment on the right from my summer excursion to Vancouver Island. This random tree root on a remote beach had nothing to do with fly fishing, but offered an opportunity to capture one of my favourite photos, and is a great reminder to pay attention to the smaller details that are so often overlooked.
3. Watch some YouTube videos!
Here at Flyberta we have to admit, as well as many of the other fly fishing instructors, shops and fishers out there, that Youtube has become one of the best fly fishing resources available. There are countless instructional videos, fly fishing films, fly tying videos and more that represent a limitless opportunity to learn more and get excited about fly fishing.
In person lessons, like the 1-on-1 Fly fishing lesson or group fly fishing lessons we offer are a great way to build a foundation, or add to your arsenal of skills in a hands-on, personalized manner. That being said, don't hesitate to find new tips, information and tactics on Youtube (and other sites for that matter). Hearing recommendations, and even watching someone else's technique will help you grow exponentially faster as a fly fisher than exclusively trying trial-and-error on your own.
A Youtube duo with an incredible knowledge for fly fishing and well produced videos are Amelia and Dave from Jensen Fly Fishing. These two have been exploring and fly fishing the waters of Alberta and around the globe for over 30 years, and have dozens of incredibly instructive videos on YouTube. We highly recommend giving them a watch on a day off, a rainy day, or when you're looking for some new advice.
Here's a link to their website and YouTube channel!
4. Talk to your local fly shop!
If you ever get the opportunity to get out with Flyberta for a lesson or a guided trip, you will hear us preach this one non-stop. Head over to your local fly shop! The wonderful people that run these shops know the local water like no one else. They get non-stop on-the-fly reports from people headed to and coming back from different bodies of water around the province. On top of that, they are probably out guiding or fishing themselves on their days off! Whether it be a specific fly you saw on the water, places to go, techniques to try, gear recommendations, your fellow fly fishers are friends. Most fly shops are looking to build lasting relationships with you as a customer and are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Here's a list of a few of our favourites in Calgary:
Iron Bow Fly Shop:
163, 5005 Dalhousie Drive NW Calgary, Alberta, T3A 5R8
Phone: (403) 288-3474
Email: info@ironbowflyshop.com
Outfly Fishing Outfitters
109, 9919 Fairmount Dr SE
Calgary, Alberta, T2J 0S3
Phone: (403) 278-6331
Fish Tales Fly Shop
626, 12100 Macleod Trail SE
Calgary, Alberta, T2J 7G9
Phone: (403) 640-1273
Email: sales@fishtales.ca
Bow River Troutfitters
Suite 120 400- 5th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0L6
Phone: (403) 282-8868
5. Get involved in the fly fishing community!
There are dozens of ways to meaningfully get involved in the fly fishing community, and starting early on in your fly fishing days is a great idea! From fly tying nights, to Women's fly fishing meet-ups, and even to conservation projects, there are many opportunities to meet other fly fishers, and make a positive impact on the fly fishing community. A fantastic resource for this is Instagram. Check out fly fishing pages in your area and connect with people. Although we at Flyberta wished we could have been more involved with conservation efforts this summer, it was awesome to see Albertan fly fishers rallying around issues all over the province on social media.
@thebugparade is a great account that is super active in the community around Calgary! Check them out!
6. Start fly tying!
Arguably the best bang-for-your-buck off-season activity, fly tying is a great way to learn more about entomology, fly selection, and fly materials. Additionally, fly tying provides a fantastic opportunity to meet people and build a relationship with you local fly shop. Keep an eye out on a fly shop's social media, their website, or even browse the web, and you'll certainly be able to find instructional courses or videos that can aid you in your fly tying journey.
I myself learned fly fishing through Iron Bow Fly Shop's Beginner course around 5 or 6 years ago, and it was an absolute blast. Included in the fee was a starter kit of materials, and it was arguably the best introduction I could've asked for into the art of fly tying. To this day I occasionally see people from the course on the river, and it never ceases to bring a smile to my face.
Below we've attached an awesome, relatively inexpensive kit offered by scientific anglers, that includes the materials to tie some of our favourite flies (including an elk hair caddis!)
*This is an affiliate link to Amazon
Here's one of my PB brown's I caught on a late summer night, using an elk hair caddis! Definitely an easy to tie, highly effective fly.
Hope you enjoyed our list! Have any suggestions, questions or even want to share some sweet pictures from your first season? Fire us an email at flybertaflyfishing@gmail.com!
Thanks for reading!
Will
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link to Amazon, meaning if you decide to purchase an item through that link, Flyberta will get a small commission at no cost to you.
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