Fly Fishing Merit Badge

Overview

Fly-fishing is a specialized form of fishing that combines skill and artistry. Because it is so rich with tradition, it is a passion for millions of people. The beauty of the water, the solitude, and the skills that the sport requires have made fly-fishing very important in the lives of many notable people.

Requirements

(1) Do the following:
- (a) Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in fly-fishing activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards. Name and explain five safety practices you should always follow while fly-fishing.
  
  Resources: Why Is Fishing Dangerous? Don’t Overlook These Risks! (website), Wader Safety 101 (video)
- (b) Discuss the prevention of and treatment for the following health concerns that could occur while fly-fishing: cuts and scratches, puncture wounds, insect bites, hypothermia, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and sunburn.
  
  Resources: Splinters (video), How To Treat Cuts and Bruises (video), How To Treat an Insect Bite or Sting | First Aid Training (video), Hypothermia (video), What Is Dehydration? (video), Heat Exhaustion vs Heat Stroke (video), Sunburn (video)
- (c) Explain how to remove a hook that has lodged in someone’s arm.
  
  Resources: Removing a Fishhook (video), How To Remove a Hook (video)
(2) Demonstrate how to match a fly rod, line, and leader to achieve a balanced system. Discuss several types of fly lines, and explain how and when each would be used. Review with your counselor how to care for this equipment.

Resources: How To Set Up a Fly Rod and Reel (video), How To Set Up Your Fly Line, Leader, Tippet, & Flies (video), Understanding Fly Line Tapers (video), Cleaning and Maintaining Your Fly Fishing Gear (video)
(3) Demonstrate how to tie proper knots to prepare a fly rod for fishing:
- (a) Tie backing to the arbor of a fly reel spool using an arbor knot.
  
  Resources: Arbor Knot (website/video)
- (b) Tie backing to the fly line using a nail (tube) knot.
  
  Resources: Nail Knot (website/video)
- (c) Attach a leader to the fly line using a nail (tube) knot or a loop-to-loop connection.
  
  Resources: Loop to Loop Knot (website/video)
- (d) Add a tippet to a leader using a surgeon’s knot or a loop-to-loop connection.
  
  Resources: Surgeon’s Knot (website/video)
- (e) Tie a fly onto the terminal end of the leader using an improved clinch knot.
  
  Resources: Improved Clinch Knot (website/video)
(4) Explain how and when each of the following types of flies is used: dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, streamers, bass bugs, poppers, and saltwater flies. Tell what each one imitates. Tie at least two types of the flies mentioned in this requirement.

Resources: Fly Fishing Flies Explained (Streamers, Nymphs, Dry Flies & More) (video), Bass Popper Fly—Bass Series:McFly Angler fly Tying Tutorial (video), Saltwater Flys (video)
(5) Demonstrate the ability to cast a fly 30 feet consistently and accurately using both overhead and roll cast techniques.

Resources: Overhead Cast and Roll Cast (video)
(6) Go to a suitable fishing location and observe what fish may be eating both above and beneath the water’s surface. Explain the importance of matching the hatch.

Resources: Match the Hatch Fly Fishing (video)
(7) Do the following:
- (a) Explain the importance of practicing Leave No Trace Seven Principles and the Outdoor Code. Discuss the positive effects of the Leave No Trace Seven Principles and the Outdoor Code on fly-fishing resources.
  
  Resources: What Is Leave No trace? (video), 7 Principles—Leave No Trace (website), LNT Basics (video)
- (b) Discuss the meaning and importance of catch and release. Describe how to properly release a fish safely to the water.
  
  Resources: Proper Catch and Release Fishing Practices (video), How To Safely Handle Fish for Catch & Release Fishing (video), Ethical Catch and Release (video)
(8) Obtain and review a copy of the regulations affecting game fishing where you live or where you plan to fish. Explain why they were adopted and what is accomplished by following them.

Resources: Fishing Licenses, Rules, Regulations (web)
(9) Explain what good outdoor sportsmanlike behavior is and how it relates to anglers. Tell how the Leave No Trace Seven Principles and the Outdoor Code relate to a fishing sports enthusiast, including the aspects of littering, trespassing, courteous behavior, and obeying fishing regulations.

Resources: Understanding Basic Fishing Rules and Etiquette (video), Fly Fishing Guidelines with Leave No Trace (video)
(10) Catch one fish on a fly and identify it.

Resources: Fish Identification Apps (website), How To Identify Common Freshwater Fish (video)
(11) If regulations and health concerns permit, clean and cook a fish you have caught. If you are unable to catch a fish for eating, acquire a fish, clean the fish you acquired, and cook the fish you acquired. Note: It is not required that you eat the fish.

Resources: How To Clean, Descale, and Gut a Fresh Fish (video), How To Clean and Care for Your Catch (video), How To Fillet a Fish (video), How To Clean a Fish Before Cooking (video), How To Cook a Fish (video), 5 Easy Ways To Cook Fish (video)

Resources

Note: This is an unofficial archive of Scouts BSA Merit Badges that was automatically extracted from the Scouting America website and may contain errors.