Your fishing rod has a limit to how much weight it can lift and cast effectively. This is called the “power” of the rod. Anglers can use this chart as a guide to match up the right rod, lure weight, and line size for the right balance. Rod Power Lure Weight Line Size Ultralight 1/64–1/16 oz 1–4 lb test Light

All things in fishing — from casting to netting a big fish — get easier the more you do them. Although true, this advice assumes you’re learning on your own. Fish with an experienced angler, though, and you can learn a lot about what to do, and even what not to do. This shortens the learning curve. Here are ten things I learned the hard way.

Fishing trips should be fun for all involved. Here are some tips to help you make every trip a winner for kids. Kids need to be introduced to fishing the right way. Ever notice that almost every adult has a memory of going fishing as a child? Ever notice how many adults have a single, lone, solitary childhood fishing memory?

Successful fly fishing starts by finding out if the water temperature is ideal for fishing or if your day is better spent preparing your fly gear for the next outing. Make sure you have the appropriate weighted fly line and rod for the fish you’re trying to catch. © Annette Shaff / Shutterstock.comOptimum water temperatures for fly fishingFish don’t do much if water is too hot or too cold, so you might not want to waste your time fly fishing in certain weather conditions.

By Greg Schwipps with Peter KaminskyTo catch fish consistently, anglers need to know some things about the fish they pursue and the habitat where those fish reside. A prepared angler is often a successful angler, so you can use a chart to help you decide what to bring on your next fishing trip. For more preparation, you should know common catches and their usual haunts.

The fly rod gets the fly to the fish. It uses the line to do this. The principle of the rod is like a bull whip or a wet towel that you would roll up and snap at your friends during high-school gym class. All seasoned fly fishermen agree that a good fly rod is as light as it can possibly be while still doing its job.

The destinations that follow are generally acknowledged among the world’s best for saltwater fly fishing. As the old saying goes, “There are many fish in the sea.” A lot of them are wonderful for fly rodding, and each year we discover more. For the most part, ocean fish are bigger and stronger than their freshwater cousins.

A fly reel is one of those things that you think about only if it doesn’t work. Part of the reason for this situation is that, in general, reels are very well designed and, for the most part, very well made. With a minimum of care, a reel can last a long, long time.A few different fly reels are shown here. A spinning reel can have dozens of moving parts; a fly reel has just a handful.