Fly fishing is a style of fishing which has remained highly popular for centuries. Today the sport is popular throughout the world with various fly fishing resorts to be found in such diverse places such as Alaska and Scotland. Part of the appeal of the sport has to do with the unique challenges and the fine skills that the angler is required to master in order to catch his quarry.

Most important in fly fishing is the piece of equipment known as the fly (hence the name!). Flies are artificial lures which have been created using various materials but usually following a well known fly pattern. Different fly patterns are often used in different locations and weathers and if one fails to work then it is likely that a change to another pattern will lead to success. Some fly patterns have been used in fly fishing for a great many years and are widely known to anglers.

The fly is usually designed with two things in mind, that is, it should behave like, and look like, the natural food of the fish. The fly patterns usually attempt to make to fly look like a creature which the fish will usually eat but made in such a way as it also moves in the water in a similar fashion.

The appearance of the fly is further enhanced by other pieces of fly fishing equipment such as the fly fishing rod, line and reel. All of the equipment has to be finely balanced to ensure that it creates the perfect conditions for the perfect cast while remaining sufficiently strong reel in your quarry.

It is of immense importance that all fly fishing equipment remains light in weight while also being extremely strong (in order to be able to land the large fish such as Atlantic salmon). Fly fishing rods can be purchased in various sizes from between seven and nine foot in length. The fly fishing rod should also be flexible enough to ensure that you can cast great distances with minimal effort.

High on the list of wanted fly fishing equipment of many anglers of today is a set of high quality waders. Modern materials have been created which allow lightweight waders to be “breathable” which means that the angler can remain dry and cool while fly fishing in the river. Besides waders there are many other items and accessories which vary in importance from the necessary to the superfluous.

One of the beauties of the sport of fly fishing is that it can be relatively cheap to get started. It is possible to buy a cheap fly fishing kit from most sports shops and it is also possible to hire equipment in some places reducing the initial outlay considerably. However it is strongly advised that you have at least a couple of fly fishing lessons before you go on your first trip, just to get to grips with the basics.

Fly fishing can prove addictive and, after only a few trips, you may well find yourself looking to make opportunities for yourself to go fishing. This is great if you live near suitable waters but for most of use we have to plan well in advance as getting to the best fly fishing spots often involves a fair bit of travel, especially if visiting far off places such as Scotland or Norway (or if you live in that part of the world, Alaska or Colorado).

Whichever resort or stretch of water you choose to fish it is almost guaranteed that you will have a wonderful time. Such fishing trips can be further enhanced if you travel in a group, and this has the added advantage in the increased that at least one of you will catch a fish on the day.

The Sockeye, from Alaska, is the most valuable of all salmon. It grows to 24 inches in length and weighs between six and nine pounds. It makes up 25 to 30 percent of Alaska’s commercial fishing. During spawning season, the males turn a beautiful red, and therefore are often called “red” salmon.

Coho’s are the next (third) most valued fish. These “silvers” as they are called, because of their bright silver color, are popular in the marketplace and often sold whole. The Coho runs to about 29 inches and weighs on an average of nine pounds. The favored ways of processing them is smoking or canning.

Another common salmon is the Chum salmon, however these types of salmon are less valuable to fishermen because their meat is pale and yellow in comparison to the red salmon, making them less desirable to the consumer. Chum salmon can reach a length of 30 inches and weigh about 8 pounds.

The least valuable of Pacific salmon is the Pink salmon. This is also the smallest of the salmon, weighing 4 pounds and averaging about 22 inches long. Even though the Pink salmon is the least valuable of all the salmon it is found in the most abundance. Pink salmon are used mostly for canning and not for eating fresh over the coals.

There are many fishing charters along the northern Pacific coast that are very popular among sport fishermen. If you are an avid fisherman you may want to think about chartering a boat to take you to the finest salmon fishing places along the coast. Many of these charters also offer whale watching tours which is a great way for you to combine your fishing vacation with a bit of sightseeing. Take your time finding the right charter for you as there are many different packages that you can choose from, including one day excursions to week long trips. You will want to join a charter that doesn’t have too many people booked with it, since the smaller the group is the better your salmon fishing trip will be.