| Requirement | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | ||||||||
| (b) 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. | ||||||||
| (c) 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: | ||||||||
| (a) Tie backing to the arbor of a fly reel spool using an arbor knot. | ||||||||
| (b) Tie backing to the fly line using a nail (tube) knot. | ||||||||
| (c) Attach a leader to the fly line using a nail (tube) knot or a loop-to-loop connection. | ||||||||
| (d) Add a tippet to a leader using a surgeon’s knot or a loop-to-loop connection. | ||||||||
| (e) Tie a fly onto the terminal end of the leader using an 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 salt water 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: | ||||||||
| (a) Explain the importance of practicing Leave No Trace techniques. Discuss the positive effects of Leave No Trace on fly-fishing resources. | ||||||||
| (b) 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 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, “catch and release,” and obeying fishing regulations. | ||||||||
| 10. Catch at least one fish on a fly and identify it. | ||||||||
| 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. (It is not required that you eat the fish.) | ||||||||
| Fly Fishing merit badge completed | ||||||||
| Fly Fishing merit badge presented |
For answers and more resources, see https://scoutermom.com/25321/fly-fishing-merit-badge-helps-and-documents/