Fly-Fishing
Fly-fishing is a specialized form of fishing that combines skill and
artistry. Because it is so rich with tradition, it is a passion for
millions of people. The beauty of the water, the solitude, and the
skills that the sport requires have made fly-fishing very important in
the lives of many notable people.
Requirements
- Do the following:
- Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in fly-fishing activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards. Name and explain five safety practices you should always follow while fly-fishing.
- Discuss the prevention of and treatment for health concerns that could occur while fly-fishing, including cuts and scratches, puncture wounds, insect bites, hypothermia, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and sunburn.
- Explain how to remove a hook that has lodged in your arm.
- Demonstrate how to match a fly rod, line, and leader to achieve a balanced system. Discuss several types of fly lines, and explain how and when each would be used. Review with your counselor how to care for this equipment.
- Demonstrate how to tie proper knots to prepare a fly rod for fishing:
- Tie a backing to a fly reel spool using the arbor knot.
- Attach backing to fly line using the nail knot.
- Attach a leader to fly line using the needle knot, nail knot, or a loop-to-loop connection.
- Add a tippet to a leader using a loop-to-loop connection or blood knot.
- Tie a fly onto the terminal end of the leader using the improved clinch knot.
- Explain how and when each of the following types of flies is used: dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, streamers, bass bugs, poppers, and saltwater flies. Tell what each one imitates. Tie at least two types of the flies mentioned in this requirement.
- Demonstrate the ability to cast a fly 30 feet consistently and accurately using both overhead and roll cast techniques.
- Go to a suitable fishing location and observe what fish may be eating both above and beneath the water's surface. Explain the importance of matching the hatch.
- Do the following:
- Explain the importance of practicing Leave No Trace techniques. Discuss the positive effects of Leave No Trace on fly-fishing resources.
- Discuss the meaning and importance of catch and release. Describe how to properly release a fish safely to the water.
- Obtain and review a copy of the regulations affecting game fishing where you live or where you plan to fish. Explain why they were adopted and what is accomplished by following them.
- Discuss what good outdoor sportsmanlike behavior is and how it relates to anglers. Tell how the Outdoor Code of the Boy Scouts of America relates to a fishing enthusiast, including the aspects of littering, trespassing, courteous behavior, and obeying fishing regulations.
- Catch at least one fish and identify it. If local fishing and health regulations allow, clean and cook a fish you have caught. Otherwise, acquire a fish and cook it.
Resources
Scouting Resources
Boy Scout Handbook; Conservation Handbook; Fieldbook; Deck of First Aid; Emergency First Aid pocket guide; Be Prepared First Aid Book; Freshwater Fishes pocket guide; Camping, Cooking, Fish and Wildlife Management, and Fishing merit badge pamphlets
Books
- Alley, Robert H. 40 Best Trout Flies. Frank Amato Publications, 1997.
- Best, A. K. A. K. Best's Fly Box. The Lyons Press, 2006.
- Hughes, Dave. Essential Trout Flies. Stackpole Books, 2000.
- Hughes, Dave. Trout Flies: The Tier's Reference. Stackpole Books, 1999.
- Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Fishing (Outdoor Skills and Ethics Series). Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, 2004.
- Leiser, Eric. The Complete Book of Fly Tying. Knopf, 1977.
- Lord, Macaulay. The L. L. Bean Fly-Casting Handbook. The Lyons Press, 2000.
- Martin, Darrell. Micropatterns: Tying and Fishing the Small Fly. The Lyons Press, 1999.
- McKim, John F. Fly Tying: Adventures in Fur, Feathers, and Fun. Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1998.
- McNally, Tom, and Tom Beecham. The Complete Book of Fly Fishing. McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing, 1997.
- Morris, Skip. Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple. Frank Amato Publications, 2002.
- Rosenbauer, Tom. The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide. The Lyons Press, 1998.
- Rutter, Michael. Fly Fishing Made Easy: A Manual for Beginners With Tips for the Experienced. Globe Pequot Press, 2006.
- Shook, Michael D. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fly Fishing. Alpha Books, 2005.
- Sousa, Robert J. Learn to Fly-Fish in 24 Hours. McGraw-Hill, 2006.
- Talleur, Dick. Modern Fly-Tying Materials. The Lyons Press, 1995.
- Whitlock, Dave. The L. L. Bean Fly-Fishing Handbook. The Lyons Press, 2006.
- Wulff, Joan. Joan Wulff's Fly Casting Techniques. The Lyons Press, 1994.