I have a few core beliefs about tools: A tool should have enough flexibility to be used in a number of situations, or… A tool should perform a singular and necessary task well enough to justify it’s presence A tool should be priced so that it can be used without too much concern or thought …
Double-hauling a size 18 Parachute Adams out into the middle of a pond on a windy day is not my normal fly fishing. But some days that is where the fish are, and that is what they’re biting. It was what was in front of me and I had to figure out a way to …
How many fly rods do you own? How many of those rods are within one line-weight designation of another? It is very normal to own an 8-, 9-, and 10-weight. Many trout anglers have multiple 5-weight rods; each with a different length or flex profile, each giving him or her an advantage as the situation …
Wading boots are a lot more than shoes that fit over waders. The right pair of boots will help you stay safe and keep you comfortable, ensuring more time on the water. But choosing a wading boot is about more than does it fit. It also goes beyond the kind of sole on the bottom …
“What is the best fly fishing book?” That question is just as absurd as someone asking what the best stream or best fly might be. In literature, as in fishing, there is a lot of room for subjectivity. So fishing literature? There are as many opinions as there are titles. Still, some books have had …
To fish dry flies right, you need floatant. A little dab from these tiny tubes will keep bugs riding high and looking natural. But like anything else in fly fishing, there are various kinds of floatant products that have been created. These other tubes, tubs, and bottles do a lot more than just float your …
I have fished with a lot of vests, chest packs, and other fly fishing gear storage solutions in the past 20 years. Most work pretty well, Still, all of them have at least one or two major drawbacks. The right bag or pack for your gear involves: A) the means to hold what you need …
Prior to moving to New England I didn’t use canoes or kayaks very much. It was a matter of priorities and necessity. When I was outdoors I went fishing or hiking. Neither really required a vessel. Every now and then I would float a river for fun, but paddling and angling never really mingled. Ten …
Wading is simple… in theory. You stay upright and you stay dry. Don’t go too deep and don’t go in fast water. In warm weather you wear sandals or lightweight shoes. The rest of the year you wear waders and boots. As with everything else in fly fishing, wading footwear has been designed, redesigned, and …
When was the last time you learned something from watching a fly fishing film? I’m not talking about what you gleaned from sweeping shots of dramatic scenery or triumphant hugs after trophy catches. I mean tips n’ tricks: do this to catch that. Fly fishing films are often entertaining, notoriously artsy, but lacking in their …
