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 …
You care about your flies. More than that, you care about the organization of your flies. You spend time, energy, and effort to tie or buy your flies, so it only stands to reason that you should be concerned about where they go. Of course, you can put flies in anything. An old Altoid tin …
Earlier this week, I shared my annual holiday fly fishing gift guide. Over at Trout & Feather, I decided to take things in a little bit of a different direction. I don’t want to spoil the five delightful suggestions that I offer up in the article. Let’s just say that they include singing wall fish, …
Whether or not you agree with measures taken to handle COVID-19, it is clear that daily routines of students have been significantly affected. Depending upon age and location, children and teenagers may very well be spending the bulk of their day in front of a screen. While this impacts reading, writing, and arithmetic, there are …
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 …
Many a fly shop counter has heard the debates and the arguments. “Those aren’t flies.” “If it is within the law, it is a fly.” “That’s a lure.” “You’re just jealous you can’t catch as many fish.” …and so on. In this episode I take a brief look at the spectrum of fly authenticity. I …
This month on Trout & Feather, I’ve contributed an article titled Learn from Your Ancient Angling Ancestors. It focuses on one of the most valuable tips I can give new and experienced fly fishers. It has to do with how you approach the river… before you even approach the river. A thousand years ago, without …
Most fly tying revolves around a few basic techniques. And these techniques are essentially all about you revolving materials around a hook. Figure that out, work on the nuance, and you’ll soon be tying and fishing good flies. So where do you go from good? Experience comes from trial and error. Feathers that look good …
