Fly fishing is a method where an artificial fly is used to catch the fish. The fly is cast for luring the fish and it can be in a form of rod, reel and specialized weighted line. Fly fishing is usually done in fresh water or salt water.

Fly fishing is mostly used to catch trout, grayling and salmon and it is also used for catching a wide variety of species like pike, bass, panfish and carp. Here are some tips to do fly fishing when it rains as it requires a lot of effort and intelligence to catch the fish in running water.

• Proper Fishing Equipment

Before you set off for fly fishing, make sure that you have the proper equipment for this activity. Rain might make fishing difficult as there will be low visibility and water flow will be very fast. The rod usually becomes heavy while you are fishing in the rain so make sure that you choose the proper fishing rod for fly fishing. Keep 5-6 rods in your store while you are fishing so that if one fishing rod snaps then you can use another for fishing.

• Take Advantage Of Low Lights

Most of the fishes are active during low light conditions as they come on the surface to eat insects. They feel protected during low light conditions thinking that their predator will not be able to see them. Cloudy mornings will give the most fruitful rewards in the form of various fish. Use dark colored fly patterns while fly fishing as this will let the fishes see the offering in a much clearer way.

• Target Slow Water

When you are fly fishing in the rain, then do try to fish in the slow water as fishes come to the surface to eat insects during this time and you might be lucky enough to go home with a good catch. The slower the water flow, better will be the chances of catching up fishes as they will come there to catch their prey.

• Point Your Shots

This might be difficult when it is raining but it is not impossible as once you give that perfect shot you will be able to catch the fish for sure. Keep your thumb or index finger at the target and your cast will fly where you want it to be. This gives you a better grip and control on the fly.

• Use An Attractive Fly

An attractive fly really works for you in the rain while you are fly fishing as the fish will move towards it and there are brighter chances of getting a good catch. This works when you are prospecting that catch will be there. But when you know that in a certain area there are low chances of catching a fish, then do not try this attractive fly for fishing. Maintain a steady rod when you catch your prey and keep the rod as high as you can until you bring your prey to the surface. Or else it might snap and jump back into the water.

The sunshine state of the USA is not famous only for its sandy, sprawling beaches, and miles of coastline! The peninsula located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico is surrounded by water on three coasts. Its diversity of marine wildlife and underwater environments makes the state ideal as a scuba diving destination. Apart from scuba diving, Florida is also preferred by water sports lovers, especially those into knee boarding and snorkeling. You can pick from beautiful coral reefs, underwater caves, and historic undersea wreckage sites if you are unsure about where to scuba dive in Florida.

Why Florida is sought after for Scuba diving

There are several reasons for Florida’s popularity as a scuba diving destination in the USA. These are:

• Diversity of spots – catering to scuba diving enthusiasts with varying needs and penchants.
• Excellent connectivity to the rest of major US cities and European destinations.
• Nice weather for most of the year.

Top Scuba diving destinations in Florida

• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Touted as the first underwater park in the USA, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a major choice for scuba diving in Florida. It has been named after John Pennekamp, the newspaper editor known for his efforts to preserve the Florida Keys Reef in the 1960s. While diving, you can enjoy watching the colorful enticing corals. The marine wildlife is also amazing and the species of lobsters and parrotfish are nothing short of visual delights.

• Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

If you want somewhat offbeat diving experience in Florida- go to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. The experience of diving while watching the manatees swimming around is an enthralling experience. The manatees are large herbivorous marine mammals and they are also called sea cows. In the National Wildlife Refuge, you can pick a spot to dive and sink to the bottom- watching this huge but harmless marine animals swimming in the vicinity.

• Devil’s

Do not be frightened by the ominous name as this underwater cave is a haven for scuba diving lovers visiting Florida! The roof of this cave collapsed thousands of years back. So, you can reach the subterranean river easily. It is also used as a scuba diving training zone. The water in Underground River has a temperature of 72 °F, so you will never feel too cold! The surface opening was narrow but it was widened in the 1990s. It is nothing short of an underwater visual extravaganza!

• Rainbow River

If exploring undersea dark caves is not your thing, and you are wondering where to scuba dive in Florida try this! The Rainbow River, located in Dunnellon, Florida offers a perfect rejuvenation recipe for Scuba diving lovers looking for freshwater destinations. The 5.7-mile river is a delight that you will not know until you have dived to the depths of it. The crystalline turquoise water of the spring-fed river, amazing underwater vegetation and wildlife will leave you dazzled. Based on the time you head there, what you see under water may vary. Most divers watch the enticing turtles- there are enough varieties. The amazing underwater flowers are enthralling too.

• Sarasota

To enjoy scuba diving in the Gulf coast region in Florida- Sarasota is a good choice. There are a number of dive shops here and the dive sites offer a lot of attractions. You can enjoy diving almost all over the year as water visibility and temperature remains ideal. The major dive site is the wreckage site of Bayronto, a British freighter which sank to the deaths of sea in a hurricane in 1919. Around 18 miles southwards of Sarasota is the famous Venice Beach, which is a great place to lounge around for a few hours. It is known for abundance of fossilized shark teeth deposits. The teeth fossils belong to ancient shark species that used to inhabit the waters millions of years back.

• Panama City

Popular with tourists preferring its vast coastline, Panama City also attracts a large number of water sports lovers. There are diving schools and several attractive dive sites around the coastline to explore.

• Miami

Known better for its flamboyant Beach scene, Miami is also good for diving. There are several world war era wrecks that serve as nice dive sites. You can try any of the 75 dive-able wrecks near the city coastline. Flamingo reef is also ideal for divers.

These were but a few of the many fabulous diving spots you must visit when in Florida. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and set out on a vacation like no othe

In today’s digital world, not many people take the fancy of hunting a fish under the water, killing it and then bringing it back to the surface to enjoy it like a meal. Well, there are people who love to try the thrilling sport of Spearfishing.

Let us learn all about spearfishing through this guide – something you will for sure wants to know before you go spearfishing. Let’s learn what it is all about, how can do it and the equipment you need to carry every time you are underwater for this adventure. Read it through and become a pro in no time.

What exactly is Spearfishing?

You might have already browsed the internet looking for answers to your question, “what you need to know about Spearfishing”. Well, spearfishing in simpler terms is just one of the ways of fishing where the fish is caught and is speared using a sharp tool.

Earlier days, the tools that were used were poles or just spears and this is what most people even today imagine about spearfishing tools. But the modern day tools are light in weight and are more sophisticated. People now use slings or the spearguns when they are spearfishing.

People who are interested can spearfish when they are swimming or scuba diving. If you do not want to really get underwater, you can as well hunt for the fish standing on the boat or on the shore itself.

The History

The history of spearfishing can be dated back to the time when humans first started hunting to feed them. In earlier days, it was believed that harpoons were used by fishermen. There are also indications of spearfishing in the past and most of these can be found as cave drawings. Some of them have also been documented as texts.

Spearfishing is used in different cultures and some countries even insisted spearfishing to be added as a sport in the Olympic Games.

The Common Ways of Spearfishing

If you are really wondering as to what you need to know about Spearfishing, it is about the common ways used in spearfishing. It can be said that there is no right or a wrong way to spearfish. While there are many methods used, listed below are some of the common ways of spearfishing.

Shore Spearfishing

Well, the name says it all! In this kind of spearfishing, the diver or the fisherman dives only from a shore – it can be a beach or even an entry area of a water body like a river. This is one of the most commonly used methods.

Most of the shore divers make use of a dive mask, wear the fins and carry a speargun along with them instead of slings or barbed poles. This kind of spearfishing does take a lot of practice as you would be entering into the water against the waves. So, if you are a beginner, it is better you take along your friend or a guide who is well experienced inshore spearfishing.

Boat Spearfishing

This kind of spearfishing is quite a common method used by fishermen from around the world. This is helpful if you wish to get to those areas that are hard to reach when you dive from a shore.

You can make use of different kinds of watercraft for the same and use boats or jet-skis or even kayaks. This method is quite similar to shore spearfishing and the diver does need to carry all the needed equipment. As you will be using a boat, it also gets easy to use your scuba gear too.

The Traditional Non-Diving Spearfishing

The traditional way to spearfishing is also used by many where a normal spear is used. This process does not include diving and the fisherman holds his spear in the hand while standing on a boat or on the land.

Sometimes fishermen also get a stand in shallow water to fish using this method. This is known to be the hardest of all the methods as there is water refraction and the spear has to be aimed lower than the fish. But as it is said, anything can be achieved with practice.

Let us now have a look at the equipment that is needed for spearfishing.

The Equipment Needed

People can go spearfishing with just one piece of tool, which is the spear. But there are other equipments that can be used as they the whole process a lot easier and fun. Let us see the kinds of fishing equipment you can use.

• A pole spear
• A spear gun (you can get the best of Spearguns online at the best prices)
• A Sling
• The snorkel gear like the mask, the finds, and the snorkel.
• A scuba diving gear
• A wet suit
• Boat
• A dive knife
• Dive gloves
• Diver down flag

While the above mentioned are a must have, there are many other types of equipment that you can use when spearfishing. Let us know talk about various spear instruments in detail so that you get an idea about their differences.

• The Pole Spear – The pole spear is also called the harpoon and this is the equipment that has been used both in the modern as well as the historic times. In the recent times, a spear-like projectile is widely used by people who are into spearfishing.
• The Speargun – A speargun can be used to shoot the target using a spear and is one of the most preferred equipment today. You can find two types of spearguns – rubber powered and air powered. Though both are equally effective, the rubber powered speargun is popular.
• The Sling – The sling is also called the Hawaiian sling and is much similar to the rubber powered speargun. Slings are known to be hard to use and are certainly not for beginners.

Legality of Spearfishing

The laws of spearfishing can differ from country to country. This is illegal in a number of locations and is legal in certain places, but only for a few months. The laws of spearfishing vary from state to state in the United States and can further vary by local municipality. Certain factors like conservation efforts and other regulations are considered before deciding on its legality. For example, in the state of Florida, spearfishing is legal but is restricted to only a few fish species.

Conclusion

Spearfishing is indeed the oldest method to catch fish and is also used worldwide, both commercially and recreationally. While there are certain methods to choose from, you can choose your ideal method of fishing based on your country or state laws. If you are beginner, you can choose a pole spear to start with as it is adventurous as well as fun.

Spearfishing is a fun and effective hobby and hopefully, the article has provided an insight into the same.

So, wait no more! Now that you are armed with knowledge, get into your can-do spirit today and start spearfishing. Do not forget to get a good spear gun and who knows, you might as well get hold of the best fish this weekend. Just dive in – the waters are just fine!