Fly Fishing Merit Badge (Boy Scouts)

• 1: Do the following:
  
  1. 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.
  2. Discuss the prevention of and treatment for health concerns that could occur while fly-fishing, including cuts and scratches, puncture wounds, insect bites, hypothermia, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and sunburn.
  3. Explain how to remove a hook that has lodged in your arm.
• 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.
• 3: Demonstrate how to tie proper knots to prepare a fly rod for fishing:
  1. Tie a backing to a fly reel spool using the arbor backing knot.
  2. Attach backing to fly line using the nail knot.
  3. Attach a leader to fly line using the needle knot, nail knot or loop-to-loop connection.
  4. Add a tippet to a leader using a loop-to-loop connection or blood knot.
  5. Tie a fly onto the terminal end of the leader using the improved clinch knot
• 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.
• 5: Demonstrate the ability to cast a fly 30 feet consistently and accurately using both overhead and roll cast techniques.
• 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.
• 7: Do the following:
  
  1. Explain the importance of practicing Leave No Trace techniques. Discuss the positive effects of Leave No Trace on fly-fishing resources.
  2. Discuss the meaning and importance of catch and release. Describe how to properly release a fish safely to the water.
• 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.
• 9: Discuss what good outdoor sportsmanlike behavior is and how it relates to anglers. Tell how the Outdoor Code of the Boy Scouts of America relates to a fishing enthusiast, including the aspects of littering, trespassing, courteous behavior, and obeying fishing regulations.
• 10: Catch at least one fish and identify it.
• 11: If local fishing and health regulations allow, clean and cook a fish you have caught. Otherwise, acquire a fish and cook it. (You do not need to eat your fish).