How to Mend a Fly Line

Fly fishing is a tremendous form of fishing that calls upon an angler's skill and powers of observation like no other. To be successful, a fly angler must develop their fly fishing skills as well as their ability to read the water and understand the trout they are attempting to lure. Various casting and line management techniques are used when presenting a fly. Mending a fly line is one of the most essential abilities a fly angler should master. Mending allows for small adjustments to the fly presentation that can make the difference between a strike and a long day.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly rod with matched reel and line
  • River with slow to moderate flowing water
  • Waders
  • Selection of fishing flies including dry, wet and nymph
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cast the fly line to a spot on the water such as a riffle or run where the water is flowing into still water. This is a typical fly presentation when working an area leading into calmer water where fish may be waiting to feed.

    • 2

      Allow the current to carry the fly downstream. Watch the main fly line as it may begin to overtake and pass the leader, tippet and fly.

    • 3

      Mend the line as a means of straightening the line while in the water so that the fly is not pulled downstream by the heavier line.

    • 4

      Point the rod tip at the fly. Raise the tip of the rod slightly and flick your wrist with a rolling motion in the upstream direction. This motion will cause the line to roll slightly along its length and move upstream away from the fly. The goal is to move only the line and not the fly itself.

    • 5

      Continue to watch the line and make more mending adjustments so that the fly is positioned to waiting fish.