What is the most essential part of your fishing rod? That is a bit of a trick question. The answer is really all of it. Hook-keeper aside, there aren’t really nonessential components on a fishing rod. Of course you need a handle. Obviously you can’t fish without a reel seat. Each guide, including the tip …
It might have been on my fourth trip to the island duck blind when I said it out loud. “I think we need a bigger boat.” The small kayak worked great earlier in the season. Then, I wasn’t bundled up and I wasn’t carrying as much gear. I was also by myself. In December, ferrying …
Admittedly, I get more excited about rods than I do reels. In fact, I think I geek out more over fly line than I do reels. But that doesn’t mean I relegate reels to the category of nippers, knot tools, and wading boot shoelaces. Today I cover a handful of reel-centric topics. Whether you’ve got …
Silicone. Foam. Compartment. Each style of fly box has its devotees. Honestly, I think each and every one has pros and cons. The fly fisher with a diverse set of angling interests probably can find use for every one of them. But don’t stop with these three. Mix in an incredibly viable, time-tested mode for …
There are some things that are better done before you leave to go fishing. Whether you’ve got a handful of random trips to local streams in your immediate future, or you’re going on that big-ticket trip, your home is the ideal place to prepare for the water. It might seem romantic to simply throw your …
Do you have a crusty, old, fly rod sitting up in the attic? Or how about in Grandma’s attic? Assuming that you have a decent relationship with said grandma, maybe you should take it out for a spin this season. There is a lot of fun and functional angling value in acquiring and using antique …
Your stuff shouldn’t own you. But if you own stuff, at least take care of it. Fly fishing gear is meant to be outside, get wet, and pushed to the limits that wild animals and wild places require. That doesn’t mean that it will be happy if it has to endure a difficult life in …
We have all heard it before. Fly fishing is too expensive. Well, let me tell you something: Maybe it is. But there are plenty of other popular activities that cost as much, if not more, money. How do I know? I’ve been looking to upgrade my duck hunting gear. By that I mean I’ve been …
Streamer fishing. The ways in which people think about it are much more diverse in the 21st century, but at the core it is still all about imitating a baitfish to trigger a predatory response. Whether you want to throw a six-inch, weighted, articulated fly with a PG-13 name or a size 10 gray ghost, …
Dry fly season is right around the corner. You probably have all you need to take advantage of this magical time of the angling year. But a $5 purchase could really help your cast and presentation. What might that be? Well, in this episode I walk through a few pieces of gear and techniques that …
