Better gear doesn’t make a fly fisher good. But good gear makes fishing better. And good gear doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Whether you’ve been fly fishing for decades or you’re just getting started, there are some inexpensive items out there that will help streamline your experience on the water. Organization …
Buying a Father’s Day gift for a fly fisherman should be an easy enough task. Gear, and stuff in general, is a big part of the angling culture. But there are two big problems: He might already have one. He might not need that. Thankfully, there are some things that every fly fisherman needs. Moreover, …
After threatening to do it for over a year, I finally did it. I bought a pair of high-end, premium, expensive fly fishing nippers. For years I’ve used whatever. Usually this meant cheaply made, free, serviceable nippers. They performed well in the context of their primary function: they nipped tippet material. Even the dodgiest pair …
I’ve been tying a lot more flies as of late. I’ve also been trying to be more consistent in the quality of my tying. To best achieve this, I’ve turned off the television. But I can’t have silence. That just won’t do. The solution is easy: podcasts. I already listen to them while I am …
When I found out about the Genesis rod series from Risen Fly Fishing, I was excited to get my hands on it. What happened when I received the 9′ 5-weight and took it out to cast? My anticipation was well founded. Reason being, the Genesis is A) a value, and B) flexible. In terms of …
I live in Massachusetts. That means that for most of the fall, winter, and spring I don’t have to do pesky things like yard work or go outside. I’m usually covered in feet of snow. This affords me little opportunity for simple or mundane outdoor pursuits. On the positive side, this allows me to read …
In fly fishing, there is nothing wrong with doing things the hard way. Fly anglers sometimes revel in it. In fact, it could be argued that there is a certain virtue that only comes through patient diligence. There is also nothing wrong with fishing smarter, not harder. These days gadgets and gizmos can can create …
The reality is that most fly fishers are not full time, professional fly fishers. We have office jobs, we go to school, and we fill our days with various important responsibilities. Time on the river is so special because it is the exception, not the rule. That doesn’t mean that the part of us that …
“What are you reading these days?” I ask that question at work, of family, and to folks that I interact with in the fly fishing community. It might come across as nosy or weird, but I am truly interested in what people are interested in. What we read, and the rationale behind it, is fascinating. …
Driving. Folding laundry. Grocery shopping. Mowing the lawn. Waiting for the doctor. All of these monotonous intervals could very well be time for you to be alone with your thoughts. Or, you could tap on your smartphone and listen to something entertaining. And if it just so happens that you are into this whole fly …
