Like many fly fishers, I started chasing trout with a 5-weight. This versatile size worked well enough for most circumstances. As I fished more, and found myself spending a lot of my time on smaller streams, I learned how shorter and lighter rods could be more efficient and effective. And, most importantly, more fun. Back …
I love a good sales pitch. In fact, one of the things I enjoy the most at fly fishing shows is hearing people hawk their products. But after riding the circuit for a while, I start to say “no thanks” when people ask if they can show me how their gizmo will surely help me …
Do you have an Amazon gift card burning a hole in your pocket? You don’t need me telling you what to buy. But if you wanted a suggestion, I’d encourage you to pick up a fly fishing book. If you can make a little bit of time, there is always time to read a good …
A rod is the iconic and quintessential piece of fly fishing gear. It only stands to reason that a new fly rod under the tree is the ultimate gift for the angler. Buying a fly rod is often a very personal experience. This makes buying one for someone a potentially daunting task. However, there are …
Looking for the 2022 update of the Butter Stick? Here’s my experience with the new, yellow rod. A month ago, I wrote that I wanted to buy the new Redington Butter Stick based solely upon the marketing. Today, I’m writing that you should buy the new Redington Butter Stick based solely upon my experience fishing …
This isn’t a review of the updated Redington Butter Stick. Because I’ve never held the rod.* But I received an email from Redington that made me want to pick one up. I get a lot of fly fishing industry emails, and I delete nearly all of them after reading the subject line. This one made …
When was the last time you read a book that truly changed the way you looked at fly fishing? Perhaps an author explained a technique in an original, helpful manner. It could be that a fly tyer developed a pattern that you’ve employed to great success. Or, a narrative might have been so engrossing that …
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 …
