Anyone who spends time fishing for trout knows how effective artificial flies can be as a trout bait. Heck the terms “trout fishing” and “fly fishing” seem to be synonymous to many people, but fishing with artificial flies requires specialized equipment and skills that aren’t an option to the traditional spin fisherman. That is until a traditional spin fisherman is introduced to the world of fly fishing bubbles.
In this article I will explain why using fly fishing bubbles to catch trout is an excellent trout fishing technique. First of all a fly fishing bubble is simply a small float that slips onto your line and can be filled with water for weight. After the bubble is filled with water, the weight of the bubble gives you the ability to cast and retrieve a lightweight fly in an effective manner while using traditional spin fishing tackle.
As the title of this article outlines, using fly fishing bubbles is an excellent way to catch trout and this trout fishing technique is set up as follows. The first thing you need is a fly fishing bubble (sometimes called a casting bubble). Your line is threaded through the fly fishing bubble and a swivel is tied to the end of your line to act as a “stopper”, thus stopping the bubble from sliding past it.
A leader is now added to the opposite end of the swivel. Some people buy pre made leaders with a loop tied onto the butt end, providing you with an easy way to clip your leader onto a snap swivel. If you don’t have a pre made leader, a length of light line can be used instead. It’s a good idea to not use line heavier than six pound test if this is the route you are going to take. Whichever way you choose to go, your leader should be from five to eight feet in length.
Now an artificial fly is added to the end of the leader. Both wet and dry flies can be used with fly fishing bubbles. For the person new to this trout fishing technique a dry fly should be used. Being able to see the fly on top of the water makes learning the nuances of this fishing technique much easier.
At this point the fly fishing bubble itself is submerged into the water and the “stopper” is depressed, allowing water to enter the bubble itself. Fill the bubble three quarters of the way full of water and release the stopper for the best results. Now the rig is cast into the water. Allow the water to settle and slowly reel in the bubble with artificial fly in tow. A stop and start retrieve is usually the most effective, but as with all fishing techniques experimentation is the key to success.
The bottom line is that this trout fishing technique can be used by almost anyone and is the best way to fish an artificial fly while using traditional spinning tackle and gear. Fly fishing bubbles are an excellent way to catch trout, there’s no doubt about it.