This isn’t a review of the updated Redington Butter Stick. Because I’ve never held the rod.* But I received an email from Redington that made me want to pick one up. I get a lot of fly fishing industry emails, and I delete nearly all of them after reading the subject line. This one made …
Better gear doesn’t make a fly fisher good. But good gear makes fishing better. And good gear doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Whether you’ve been fly fishing for decades or you’re just getting started, there are some inexpensive items out there that will help streamline your experience on the water. Organization …
After threatening to do it for over a year, I finally did it. I bought a pair of high-end, premium, expensive fly fishing nippers. For years I’ve used whatever. Usually this meant cheaply made, free, serviceable nippers. They performed well in the context of their primary function: they nipped tippet material. Even the dodgiest pair …
When I found out about the Genesis rod series from Risen Fly Fishing, I was excited to get my hands on it. What happened when I received the 9′ 5-weight and took it out to cast? My anticipation was well founded. Reason being, the Genesis is A) a value, and B) flexible. In terms of …
I live in Massachusetts. That means that for most of the fall, winter, and spring I don’t have to do pesky things like yard work or go outside. I’m usually covered in feet of snow. This affords me little opportunity for simple or mundane outdoor pursuits. On the positive side, this allows me to read …
In fly fishing, there is nothing wrong with doing things the hard way. Fly anglers sometimes revel in it. In fact, it could be argued that there is a certain virtue that only comes through patient diligence. There is also nothing wrong with fishing smarter, not harder. These days gadgets and gizmos can can create …
I’ve frequently written about how outdoor shows can be “the most fun fly fishing thing you can do while not actually fly fishing.” These expos often encompass the best of the off-the-water elements of fly fishing: the people, places, and things that go into the pursuit of fish. As we head into the winter months …
Driving. Folding laundry. Grocery shopping. Mowing the lawn. Waiting for the doctor. All of these monotonous intervals could very well be time for you to be alone with your thoughts. Or, you could tap on your smartphone and listen to something entertaining. And if it just so happens that you are into this whole fly …
“That’s a nice fishing rod.” It is a cold, hard fact that 75% of the time that particular phrase occurs is while someone is standing indoors, wiggling the tip of a fly rod. Ask a fly shop employee. Ask a company rep at a tradeshow. Hand your average angler a fly rod and see what …
It was over eighteen months ago that I wrote about the concept of monthly fly subscriptions. I took a look at the flies, the packaging, the cost, and the presentation of a handful of the companies that were offering a “flies by mail” subscription. By and large, every offering was relatively close to one another …
