Fly Fishing Costa Rica: The Basics of Fly Fishing
Herbert Hoovert once said that to go fishing is the chance to wash your soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of the sun on blue waters. There is no better way to catch fish than to try fly fishing Costa Rica.
Fly fishing – fishing with a rod and line, and an artificial lure to imitate fish prey was first recorded around the year 200 CE, in Macedonia. While modern innovation has improved the durability and quality of the materials, the basics of this kind of angling have remained the same. You simply attach a lure or fly to a line, cast it in the water, and then see what happens.
Today, we’ll share with you the basics of fly fishing – why you should choose this over other methods, the right gears to look for, and the casting basics. Keep in mind that this guide is for those who have never fly fished before, or have only done so a few times and with little knowledge. This is for those who’ve always wanted to get into fly fishing Costa Rica but still haven’t figured out where to begin. If you’re one of them, then you’ve come to the right place.
Fly Fishing Costa Rica: Why choose this over other types of fishing?
While spin casting using a spinning reel is a good introduction to fishing, most anglers would say fly fishing elevates this pastime into real art. Why? The differences are so many, especially when it comes to the practicalities. Here are some of them:
- The rods are lighter and longer
- The fly or bait is super lightweight and artificial. They are meant to imitate food instead of using live bait or heavy lures.
- The line is heavier, and this is what provides the weight to cast, and not the lure or bait itself.
- You’re fishing in moving water instead of still lake water
- You’re constantly in motion. You aren’t just sitting on a boat and waiting for a bobber to dip.
Beyond these practical differences, fly fishing is labeled as the purer form of angling. It needs craftsmanship and true skill to cast the line and the flies themselves are a work of art.
So why fly fishing? With spinning reel fishing, the objective is a combination of relaxation and volume – to catch as many fish as you can while having a nice outing on a boat, or sitting on a chair on the shoreline. Basically, it’s just a lot easier. But with fly fishing, it’s more of a challenge. Will you be successful in tricking the fish into biting onto your artificial bait? Can you get the fish hooked at the right moment and tease it into your net? Will you be able to navigate the stream and know where to place your artificial bait, so the fish will most likely bite?
Fly fishing is more of an artful and poetic form of fishing, and this is why you should try it, too!
Fly fishing Costa Rica: Which type of gears do you need?
When you think of fishing, the first thing you’ll probably think of is all the stuff you need to be successful. You might even get intimidated because there are so many things to bring with you, and this is normal for beginners. There are so many types and weights of lines you can use. There are cases where you can put your bait in, a gel to coat and waterproof the bait, and tools for knot-tying and knot-untangling. Also, there are vests, waders, and other clothing essentials.
But in reality, you don’t need all these to get started. Just grab a pole, some line and some bait (or flies), throw it in the water, and see what happens next. You’ll be surprised you’d catch some fish to boot. When you get started with fly fishing Costa Rica, you might end up with plenty of specialized gear, but you really don’t need all that.
Fly fishing Costa Rica: How to cast and catch
Once you have your gear and bait (or fly) all set, then it’s time to cast. If you watch seasoned fly fishermen in action on the stream, you’ll witness art in motion. Notice how they move their arms – followed by the line and fly, delicately placed on the water just exactly where it is wanted. But as for a beginner like you, you should expect that this isn’t what it will look like.
Here’s the scoop on casting: find someone who will teach you. This is the only way you’ll be able to learn fly fishing better. There are so many guides you can find out there, but as a beginner, you’ll get more confused. But here’s something you should understand: there are too many types of casting, and there are too many subtle motions and arm movements. There can also be too many ways you can make mistakes for you to understand all of them. As they say, experience is the best teacher, so we’ll only touch on things that will matter to you as a beginner.
Fly fishing is one of the skills you need to learn in the flesh rather than online – either from a friend or a family member who knows how to fish. You can also learn it from an expert to help guide you along. And this goes for hooking and ultimately catching the fish, too. For the basics, below is a list of terminologies associated with casting and catching that you’ll come across with, once you get started with fly fishing Costa Rica:
- Presentation
- Strike
- Monofilament
- Setting the hook
- Indicator
- Leader
- Riffle
- Tippet
These are just a few terminologies. You don’t want to be wading into the waters on your own. This exponential increase in the interest in fly fishing has been a surprise. When it comes to fly fishing, remember that this isn’t a skill you can learn on your own. It involves a lot of movements and actions. If you need someone to guide you, the best way is to hire an expert in fish flying Costa Rica now.
