Earlier this week I wrote about fishing long, light fly rods. Writing it got me thinking about how incredibly practical and fun something like a 9′ 3-weight is for certain situations in trout fishing. Moreover, these are length/weight models that aren’t as common as shorter lightweight rods. Consequently, they’re not usually discussed. I wanted to …
Not every river yields twenty-inch trout with consistency. Especially in smaller waters, footlong fish are the norm. As contentment in fly fishing is subjective, trout like these are targeted and celebrated. It is for good reason that fly fishers love to use light line weights for these trout. 4-weights and under are preferred when angling …
Fly line is the underappreciated member of the fly fishing gear trinity. Rods and reels get all the hype. A lot of that is deserved. But your rod is really only as good as you can cast it – and you can’t cast it without fly line. “Any old fly line will work” isn’t a …
You can keep your flies in anything. At the end of the day, it is how you fish your flies – not where you store them – that ends up catching fish. Of course, for only a few dollars you can get the right fly box. It might lead to better organization. It could even …
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 …
“Montana iconic.” This is how Allyson Earnest, co-owner of Whiskey Leatherworks, describes their Cutthroat Belt. “It features the intricate pattern of the fish, but also the precision that goes into the way we work the leather. It is the perfect kind of thing to wear in Missoula… or anywhere else!” The pattern is eye-catching. Underneath …
There are some ways that you can get more casting in. There are some ways that your casts can be better at the end of the day. There are some ways that you can cast to fish that haven’t seen as much pressure. And they all involve moving; just a little bit more. In this …
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 …
When was the last time you tried a rod that was two or three weight designations lighter than your usual setup? Whether you fish in the salt, for warm water species, or trout, there are some legitimate reasons to downsize. In this episode I focus primarily on the true ultralight line weights – 2, 1, …
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 …
