Not every angler has Seychelles-caliber water in their backyard. (Just like most trout anglers aren’t calling the Madison or the Yellowstone home.) But an overwhelming number of fly fishers live within a reasonable drive to the coast. Moreover, many people head somewhere beachy for business or pleasure throughout the course of the year. You are …
Fly fishing for trout with a mouse fly is a really exciting way to revisit your favorite water. It also may very well yield some of the biggest fish… fish you didn’t even know swam in your well-known holes. Using mice is also a pretty straightforward and easy way to fish. Cast, retrieve, repeat. Hear …
These fish are more than substitutes or fall-backs. Yes, time on the pond will give you a chance to improve your casting. You will have other fishing opportunities in the warmest months when it would otherwise be unwise to pursue trout. You will learn new things about fishing streamers and topwater patterns that you can …
When it comes to fly fishing, I’m a disciple of the school that teaches that fly selection is less important than presentation. There is always a place for matching the hatch. More often than not? Size, silhouette, and drift win the day. Because of this, I’ve honed in my fishing and my fly box. It …
Do you enjoy the game “Would You Rather”? A hypothetical scenario is given, and you must choose between two, often quite different options. Here’s a good fly fishing would you rather: Would you rather only have weighted streamers or weightless streamers in your fly box? Maybe you answered right away. But maybe you see why …
Don’t burn me at the angling stake for the title of this episode! (If anything, you’ll find that I’m guilty of being slightly misleading.) In a day and age where big, heavy, articulated streamers get a lot of publicity, it is important to remember that there are similar flies that accomplish slightly different tasks. There …
If you think the first fly to come off of your vise is going to look like something you’d mount in a shadow box, you’re going to be pretty disappointed. Truth be told, there are plenty of reasons why beginner fly tyers get frustrated, stall out, or give up. I have done all of those …
I’m sure there is a complex behavioral theory that describes my own, personal fly tying. Basically, the more I tie the more I enjoy tying. The more I enjoy tying, the better my flies seem to look. (Note that I said seem.) And while the long, dark nights of winter are by no means the …
I know. You like your flies. Dozens of patterns; hundreds of individual fish catching pieces of potential. But really, how many do you actually use? While it isn’t for every angler (or every situation), cutting down the flies you carry on the water can actually streamline your fishing. It will certainly make packing and organization …
Who hasn’t seen a Mickey Finn? The fly has a history that goes back at least 100 years. It has enjoyed staying power for the simple reason that it catches fish. Consequently, it is a fly that you’ll find in assortments sold to beginners as well as on the vises of seasoned experts. Living in …
