There are days when I leave my car in the morning and don’t see it again until I’m ready to call it quits. Those are good, long days of fly fishing. Just as frequently, I’ll fish a little bit here and then head over there to fish that hole. Maybe I’ll leave the river to …
Double-hauling a size 18 Parachute Adams out into the middle of a pond on a windy day is not my normal fly fishing. But some days that is where the fish are, and that is what they’re biting. It was what was in front of me and I had to figure out a way to …
How many fly rods do you own? How many of those rods are within one line-weight designation of another? It is very normal to own an 8-, 9-, and 10-weight. Many trout anglers have multiple 5-weight rods; each with a different length or flex profile, each giving him or her an advantage as the situation …
“What is the best fly fishing book?” That question is just as absurd as someone asking what the best stream or best fly might be. In literature, as in fishing, there is a lot of room for subjectivity. So fishing literature? There are as many opinions as there are titles. Still, some books have had …
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 …
Two Empty Rivers When I moved to Massachusetts in 2010, state-published fishing guides were still promoting Atlantic salmon runs in the Merrimack River. Massachusetts and New Hampshire had infused money and fish into the river to encourage the return of these majestic animals. Initially I was excited. While every angler I talked to was aware …
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 …
Wading is simple… in theory. You stay upright and you stay dry. Don’t go too deep and don’t go in fast water. In warm weather you wear sandals or lightweight shoes. The rest of the year you wear waders and boots. As with everything else in fly fishing, wading footwear has been designed, redesigned, and …
How would you rate your favorite fly rod? 5 stars? 2 thumbs up? Are you not into rating things? Regardless, people rate, review, and chime in on rods, reels, nippers, marabou feathers, fly shops, guides, and even moderately interesting websites and podcasts. This all begs the question: What do you do with this information? In …
It is okay to get excited about the little things in life. A good parking spot. An onion ring mixed in with your french fries. A nice sunset on your evening commute. Inconsequential, yes. But no one is going to fault you for smiling about it. If all that holds true, then it is absolutely …
