343 articles tagged with "Gear"
The season opener in Oregon let me get back to the type of fly fishing I love best, climbing mossy boulders with a light rod in the coast range looking for aggressive trout. Didn't see anyone for hours and caught enough fish to lose count.For the most part, these cutthroats wanted nothing to do with anything but dry caddis patterns.
Pairing it with my Mojo bass and throwing your typical small and large streamers/ poppers/ bugs. Is there anything decent around $100? Id like to keep it less than $150. My current reel is heavy and it’s very easy for line to slip through the seems soo looking for the opposite of those things lol.
Anyone tried to extract the small threaded shaft for a handle on your fly reel. I found one and it's in pretty good shape other than the handle. I was thinking about trying to drill a small hole and extract it with a small screw driver or something. Any ideas or tips?
Took my brother out for his first trout fishing experience and he out fished me. Although he used all my gear and I told him where to cast its was thrilling experience as a novice myself to teach someone else my hobby. Biggest was 15" smallest was around 9.
https://preview.redd.it/km1zhh64vp2h1.jpg?width=662&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81d4b83f0157dd71f1e7a0f9aeb8eda5043e95f8
By Justin Pickett I have never met anyone who could pick up a five-weight fly rod and make consistent, accurate fifty-foot casts without ever having prior experience with fly casting. I used to play a ton of golf. So much so that at one point, much earlier in my youth, I could hold my own on any given course and typically shoot Par.
Hi guys,I’m hoping to get some advice on alternative lures to the megabass range. The reason I want alternatives is solely price, they look incredible but are very expensive. No doubt they are worth the money but I just don’t have that kind of cashflow at the moment unfortunately.
People think I’m insane using a fly rod on the upper Niagara river but it’s possible. White wooly bugger.
I’ve always had decent luck and know how to catch decent sized probably stocked trout but, I’m starting to go out to bigger lakes here in Alaska and got skunked yesterday using all my usual lures and techniques for 10 inchers.
Hey.I am in the market for a camera setup to make fly tying videos. I don’t want to spend massively - as one can do with cameras - so shoot through recommendations for $1000 USD. I would need convincing to push the budget to $2000 if necessary.
I’m looking to get a Ultra light setup for trout I’m not exactly sure what to be looking for 😅😅 any advice is much appreciated
Rode my Honda shadow (320 miles round) to kernville ca and spent two days wondering eventually at night in the edge of town I got my first two trout out of a real river ever …. They were babies tho used a black nymph
Through the years in conventional fishing the lures just kept getting more expensive. My first week of fly fishing I noticed immediately one fly costs an average $2.80 compared to $8-$12 for just one name brand lure.I picked these up from my local Walmart for $12 Total.
By Dan Frasier For all you flats guys and bank fishermen out there. Landing, unhooking, wrangling, getting a picture, and releasing a fish can all turn into a giant goat rodeo. Nothing makes it worse than having a bare hook connected to a nearly invisible line which is tied to your very expensive rod; flailing about.
I am pretty new to fly tying. I think I have tied a total of 6 flies before these two. I know they are not the prettiest but do you think they will still catch fish? Criticism is welcome as long as its constructive! Trying to improve so I welcome any tips you have. If I am doing things right, tell me that as well.
I’m thinking of getting a 10’ 6wt rod with a sink tip line but not sure. I already have a 9’ 5wt with floating line and a 9’ 7wt with sinking line. Just wanted to see what yalls thoughts are.
It was also my first day catching multiple fish on a fly rod. Got all of them on a prince nymph
Caught my first smally on the fly rod today! It has taken about a year, a ton of frustration, today it was all worth it.
My clients are often not so good at drying out dries, nor being able to see em out on the water.
Was out fly fishing and couldn’t get my flies out far enough with a 9’ 5wt will I need a bigger heavier rod since my rivers are bigger? Also these pools were at least 10-15 foot deep and I can’t imagine how I would be able to cast effectively with that amount of leader on.
The Jackall Timon Deka Bung is freaking.... I dunno what to say... I'm imitating trout pellet feed that the trout eat at the hatchery! And it catches em!
We tested the best streamer rods of 2026 on the water.
Don't worry she was only outta the water for the length of this video. Only been fishing trout the past little while but I'm really enjoying it on my UL rod. Used a worm for this one on a slip bobber & 4lbs line. I'm from Alberta Canada mostly stock fishing here but it's still a good time.
I received an email from a reader the other day asking advice on steelhead nets. I thought it was a topic worth some discussion. We put a lot of thought into rods, reels, lines and flies but often the piece of equipment that seals the deal is an afterthought.
Like the title says what a difference (to me) in casting bass flys on a 6wt vs a 5wt. I’d loaded up 6wt line but had been using a 5wt rod. I was making do but wanted to at least see if there was a difference so I ordered a new rod to try. HUGE difference!!
Caught on lure… Kept this trout for dinner, tasted delicious!
Everything you need to know to hit the green drake hatch just right.
IT'S HARD TO OVERSTATE THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFIDENCE IN FLY FISHING. IT'S OFTEN THE SPECIAL SAUCE ON SUCCESS. I squint into the sun. My eyes burn from sweat and sun screen. I take a few deep breaths and puff them back out. I stretch my neck side to side, it pops and cracks.
MODERN WATERPROOF ZIPPERS HAVE REVOLUTIONIZED THE DESIGN OF WADERS. The ease and convenience of zip-front waders is easy to get used to. There was a time when I scoffed at the idea, but now I can't see fishing in anything else. Especially with the durability and dependability found in the new waterproof zippers.
I’ve spent the last 10 years spin fishing for bass, walleye and pike in Minnesota. I’ve gotten hooked and experienced all the highs and lows fishing has to offer. Always admired and appreciated fly fishing because of the technique, approach and culture that is associated with it but never had anyone around me that was into it.
i recently got the kestrel bfs and zephyr featherlight rod, 6lb braid and 6-4lb leader i’ve been slaying bass on the combo, and soon here the trout streams will open back up again..
Howdy folks! Picture for traffic.A couple days ago I was prescribed a big dose of radiation, I'm now too radioactive to spend time around others. I'm stuck in a room for the next week with nothing but some books, my fly tying gear, and work.I'm hoping folks will give me some ideas of their favorite fly patterns to start expanding my repertoire.
I saw a video of someone using a trout magnet i think with no weight and no bobber and they are getting so much more distance then me. is something wrong with my setup? 1000 series reel
*Pic for attention*Hey everybody! I started fly fishing two years ago. My first rod was a 5wt that I loved, but wanted something a little more delicate for smaller streams in Colorado. I then bought a 4wt. At the time I didn’t realize how close these two were to one another.
First time fly fishing, hoping to go for small mouth bass tomorrow. Pulled my fly rod out of the closet after some years and I’m not sure what I’ve got here.
Looking for a 3wt rod. I have a butter stick in 7'0 3wt, but am having a bad time when I fish indicators on it. I typically use xs oros if I'm going that route.I like my girlfriends 3wt Clearwater the little I've used it for indicators. I was wanting something similar to that. The tfo and classic trout are a little cheaper.
Hopedale, Louisiana6wt Scott Centric (fun fight)Fly - Convict Killer (purple and black, self tied)Guide - Gabe Lambouhttps://www.instagram.com/gabelambou?igsh=bnN6aGJnaWUxdWk4
Left rod: Tenryu Rayz SpecterRight rod: M-Aire Glass
By Jesse Lowry Fishing is as much of a mental game as any sport. Whether it's having confidence in your gear, the conditions, your technique, hell, even in the fish, the psychological factors play a role in how we perform on the water.
Innovative Design Delivering Freedom, Clarity, and Convenience for Both Work and Play KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Midland, leader in communication technology trusted for quality and reliability, announces CLIPTALK, the company's first weara…
I’m sure this has been talked about already so I’m sorry to beat a dead horse. What did you all do to stop yourself from feeling overwhelmed? I’ve only ever went fishing for catfish. Just cast out and leave it sit. So I’ve never been the best fisherman to begin with.
We tested the best saltwater wading boots for saltwater fly fishing.
So im fairly new to fly fishing with only one rod. I know the best answer to my question is have 2 rod setup but i want to get more better at fly fishing before buying more gear. So question is, say if im throwing streamers with 2x taper leader and i want to throw size 14-18 nymphs or dry flies.
My best trout producers going on 30 years. Stocking them up tonight. 🙂
A Note from Nick (@sandbar_flies): “I wanted to tie a match the hatch style squid fly with wings that imitate a real squid. I named this fly the Love Machine because when put in front of a fish they can’t resist. This particular trip i was able to test it out on redfish from the […]
Lionfish may be the mother of all invasive species. Take a moment to think about this: a lionfish (native to the Indo-Pacific) has no natural predators in the Atlantic ocean. It can live up to fifteen years, reaching sexual maturity in less than a year. Once mature, a pair can spawn as often as every four days.
Out of interest what weight class rods do most people use for trolling for trout? Flat lining and down rigging. Would you use a light rod or stick with a medium rod?
2.5lb tippet I thought was going to snap at any given point on 3wt rod bent like a candy cane. Unbelievably difficult to net and a long ass fight but she fully recovered for the release.Unreal day
Went to visit family and threw the 4wt in the car because why not? Was hoping to find some brown trout from shore given the info I’d read on the water. Had about 12 perch and no luck on a single trout in 5+ hrs. Sadly I had forgotten the streamer box at home but had one (very poorly) home tied black bugger leftover in the bottom of my gear bag.
Only problem is I don’t know how to fly fish… he did give me a fly rod though so I’m excited to give it a try. I love trout fishing so anything that gives me an excuse to put on my waders is good enough for me. Cheers.
The fly fishing world can be super technical and specific, and at times certain techniques or approaches can start to feel almost rigid.
Been fly fishing for a few years. Been a lifelong fisherman, so I'm not super green but fly fishing is different. Went out yesterday, brought my new 3wt because I really wanted to fish some dries. It's a bit early where I am and the weather was cold (snow in the morning). So I fished without luck for hours.
In a few weeks I'm going to Yosemite national park and I want to try my hand at trout fishing. I'm still a beginner and I just have a telescopic rod and spinner combo. What line and bait should I use? There's a lot of regulations for fishing in the park so any help would be great!
A close family friend and mentor of mine in his late 70’s introduced me to fly fishing last summer. He guided all around Montana when he was my age and he said his wife panted rods for Winston when they were living in Twin Bridges.
By Bob Reece When connecting a person and a fish is the foundation of your job, the fly that you use matters. The pattern design as well as the hook that it’s founded upon must both deliver.
Spent a decent bit out on this river today and caught absolutely zero fish. Initially started by throwing inline spinners upstream, but it was impossible to get the lure to spin at all due to the current and it wasn’t until it got downstream where it had any action.
For a 7wt rod what is your favorite streamer line that holds up. I had a buddy that just bought the SA 250 grain streamer pro and it ripped first time fishing it. Want something reliable that sinks fast so in the shallow stuff I can just retrieve faster and it’ll get down in the deep stuff.
Mods: please remove if not allowed but looking for feedback.Hey all — I got tired of bouncing between random recipes, YouTube videos, and messy material lists, so I built a fly tying app to make things easier at the vise.Right now it includes:Fly pattern libraryRecipes + tutorialsMaterial trackin...
Read more about Windy morning throwing the lure, managed to catch this beautiful brookie..
Had a slam on my local river with streamers yesterday. Never moved so many fish in this river like I did yesterday. My 6wt setup with large arbor reel and full sink line was originally for Stillwater but it’s become a killer for me in my go to river.
By Justin Pickett Oh, the world of fast fly rods…. They can be great tools. Some of my favorite rods are most definitely faster than your “average joe” rod.
The countdown to Adult Swim's Rick and Morty Season 9 is now down to less than three weeks, which means it's time to check out the season's new opening sequence. As we all know, sometimes it's a preview of what's to come – and sometimes, it's filled with some…
Using a 7' UL rod with a 1000 size spinning reel. 6lb braid with 6lb mono leader. Is this sufficient for targeting Trout? Considered dropping down to 4lb mono, but not sure of the benefits.
For the stream it was on, it couldn’t have been very much bigger. It jumped and made runs and took me to my reel for the first time for a trout on the fly. I was so used to stripping line to bring in fish it took me a second to realize I needed the reel.
We've gotten some decent rain the past couple weeks, so I broke out the fly rods and hopped around a couple crossings targeting bass and sunfish.It was a cold start in the mid 40's , but still was able to wet wade as the river water was warm enough. Caught a couple nice post spawn bass and various sunfish on a fly I tied up.
I started building my own fly rods, which had been fun, and finally started fishing them. Made a Euro Nymph rod, and a switch rod for fishing the surf.
Read more about Beautiful brookie on the lure from today.
Took my euro nymph rod and reel out and caught over 20 rainbows and a brown. As I was leaving got this nicer rainbow. Definitely one of my better fishing days!
My first memory of bringing a trout to hand with a fly rod took place back in the spring of 1990, on a seasonal trout stream, located 45 minutes north of Atlanta, GA. It was a far cry from a trophy trout at 10-inches, but that freshly stocked rainbow trout, touched my eleven year old fishing soul to the core.
Easy productive fly that I've been tying. Trout seem to love it. Uses UV mop chenille and hot orange marabou.
We stayed at a lodge outside of Hancock NY last weekend, and my daughter, 15yr got her first Rainbow. And was her first catch on a fly rod. Did a good netting and release. #16 Hendricks. Super proud of her.
Today I caught my first trout on my fly rod! After grinding multiple spots out near me that are stocked with trout, I finally landed this little guy! Thanks to everyone that responded to my previous post on me being super discouraged that I couldn’t even get bites from trout. Caught this stocked guy at a pond with a green wooly bugger.
I've been eying up Gary Loomis's NFC blanks for a while. I just came across this article about NFC/Edge rods resisting PE take over and darn it that's reason enough to support the company alone besides their rods/blanks being top of the line and made in USA.A $100 "Golden Ticket" helps NFC grow and gets you one of any blank in their line-up.
This article, like many I’ve written, began with a conversation I had with my brother, Tom. Tom and I are brothers separated by a mutual hobby. We both love to fish but in very different ways. Tom gets after bass on gear. A skill I respect but don’t especially prefer. I suck with a gear rod and it’s just not the experience I enjoy.
Picked this up yesterday. Gonna use it for summer steelhead with my Scandi setup. I’ll keep my R8 8130 for winter fish and a Skagit head. When my Burkie arrives, I’ll turn this into a loaner rod for buddies that want to go and try out swinging for steelhead.
Nailed two trout and a smallie using the Palms Alexandra Shade 43S while doing some keiryu bfs fishing in Philly!
I want to try to go trout fishing tomorrow but I’ve never gone and I have these lures for pan fish and other things like that and I just wanted to know if these would work for trout fishing I also have some live worms I plan on bringing with me. Also any tips or tricks?
I was talking with a friend the other day about doing some fishing in Colorado, his home state. This is a good topic to bring up if you are trying to lure me into an extended conversation. Colorado is near to my heart. He was throwing out places we might fish and said "I know you love the Dream Stream, but I hate that place".
Can’t find any info on the sink rate for the Fast version but thought these look ideal for my streamer fishing on the river for trout, and even useful for swinging wet flies.Also the built in welded swivel looks pretty handy for easy tippet changes and avoiding line twist.Have a 5wt and 7wt rod, ...
Bought my first fly rod a few weeks ago. This afternoon was the most active fishing day I've ever experienced. It was take after take, I had to release a bunch but kept my limit for supper. Haven't caught anything until today and iv been out alot trying to get my casts down.
Found this old bamboo rod in my late father-in-law's things, still in the box, still wrapped in the original paper. All my rods are graphite or fiberglass, never used bamboo. It's got 3 different tips, and the handle is reversible, so it can be used for a fly reel or spin reel I think. Any help on what I'm looking at would be much appreciated.
what is this fly and how would you tie it? the booty is craft fur. is it a dragonfly nymph? mostly i want to know how to do the hollow craft fur with flashhttps://preview.redd.it/qwck1ksghdyg1.png?width=984&format=png&auto=webp&s=0fc1f926b27b47d36f3d346eee7ba806dcc3ed5c
Just finished tying this brown rabbit fur streamer. The natural fur has incredible movement on slow retrieves — perfect for bass and pike. Can’t wait to test it out this weekend! 🎣
Booked a day of fishing in Scotland while on vacation to the River tweed, a river known for housing large brown trout, grayling and salmon. I’m primarily a salt water angler so the realm of trout fishing is pretty foreign to me, but I ended up hooking into this fish on a 2wt sage ESN and he screamed down river probably 40 yards.
THE STASH IS BACK! Rob "The Stash" Smith is back to share one of his favorite redfish flies with us. The Rusty Enema is a proven producer anywhere redfish are found. It's a great attractor pattern that pushes a lot of water, which is like ringing the dinner bell for redfish in dirty water.
Wondering if this is cause for concern or just normal. I’ve seen rods with alot more cracks like this. This is in the second lower section
I bought my first fly rod today and was able to land this little guy! I had so much fun. Just thought I would share hahaEdit: Thanks for all the support guys very friendly community you’ve got here
Customer let us fish his pond on lunch. Biggest bluegills I’ve ever seen
I had the opportunity to hit the water for about 3 hours this morning. It was fairly slow as far as the fishing was concerned. I was fishing a small lake that just had a 3 day trout tournament fished this last weekend. I landed (3) 12-15” rain bows and this nice 6lb 3oz rainbow.
Read more about Got to break in my new dry fly setup on an awesome Hendrickson hatch. I see a lot of Winston and Orvis rods out here. Are there any Hardy fans?.
What’s going on everybody, wanted to come by here and get y'all's opinion real quick.Me and my friends are taking a backpacking trip here soon to the wind river range in Wyoming.
I took both the lure rod & fly rod out today. I bought this rod in February & have never really used it besides 1 20 minute session a few days ago, but I got too frustrated & picked up the spinner again.
Fly Fisherman is the world's leading magazine for fly fishing. Every issue provides expert advice on the latest fly fishing techniques, the newest tackle and the hottest new fly patterns. Through informative articles, it highlights the best destinations for t…
I use the 1/64th oz. Trout magnet jig head (I like gold) tied to 2-8 lbs. fluoro carbon leader (I use 4lbs. or 5lbs. PLine fluoroclear) use lightest bobber you can that still allows you to see it well and cast far enough. (I use the pink 3/8 thill pencil bobber, spring bobber).
THE OTHER DAY I RECEIVED THIS EMAIL FROM A READER. *** "Just wanted to bring up an issue that has been eating at my soul for years! I just can't wrap my arms around the thought of using a bobber.
Ben Miller is a Montana-based artist known for his Fly-Cast Paintings of rivers, created using a fly rod instead of a traditional brush.
While I appreciate Orvis keeping its long-running Recon rod series alive, I wish they’d update the name whenever they refresh this stick. Each iteration has been called the “Recon,” but I had the chance to review their latest version, which debuted early in 2026.
By: Alice Tesar My outdoor gear is always put to the test when I take it for a spin with my toddler. Recently my partner and I were fishing with him at a local spot that has a wide rocky bend. We let him play around, eat a few rocks, and investigate sunbathing snakes while we got some casts in.
How do you find and catch trout on days when there doesn’t seem to be much action? When the river looks like it’s boiling with rising trout and you’re having to wipe the BWOs out of your eyes just to tie on a fly, it doesn’t take a degree in entomology to catch fish.
Is there a link between vinyl records and fly fishing? I'm prepared to make a completely unreasonable argument. Whether or not you agree with it, it might actually help you catch more fish. If not, it will absolutely make for a better music listening experience.
Stocking trout refers to the practice of releasing young or adult trout into rivers, lakes, or ponds to supplement or enhance local fish populations, typically for recreational fishing purposes.
By Louis Cahill This easy fishing knot will help you catch more fish. I learned the Double Figure 8 Loop Knot when I started getting serious about tarpon fishing. It quickly became the go-to knot for all of my saltwater and streamer fishing. I even use it to attach nymphs from time to time.
After 20 minutes in the river, caught a snag with my streamer and gave it a tug. Now I get to replace a blank for my Echo Lift. After having it for 3 years and snapping it twice (could be me, I don't want to disparage Echo, I'm still new at fly fishing) , maybe something more sturdy is in order.
Done similar to a popping bug or a crease fly . Meant to be fish on its side as a cripple .
weighed around a kilo and was 56 cms long it took on a 13 gram viking herring
Caught this nice brown whilst hiking for 6 days along the famous Overland trail in Tasmania, Australia. The other pics show the sky I was fishing under & then some of the rest of our hike.Everyone seemed to be counting grams to drop for the hike, whilst I had all my trout gear in my 23kg pack, ha.
I don’t usually like to go above a #14 on the bow but stonefly nymphs are proven big fish producers and are happening right now.Simple and easy tie, looks sexy with a metallic brown bead
I'm setting up a new pole with Braid and I was wondering what's the best way to set up a leader best knots? or is barrel swivel ok?also would love some baits yall prefer I have alot of rooster tails, spinners, spoons powerbait, ect and best ways to use them and set them upAreas I'll be fishing st...
From Cheech’s video posted early this morning. Similar to Rowan Nyman’s Royal Wulff Cripple. I did not trim the hackle flat…yet; may just notch it.
Had a good session today at my local Stillwater trout fishery. I don’t usually fish for stocked Trout but I had that trout itch & the river is currently flooded by 1.2m.
By Daniel Galhardo I believe fly-fishing is first and foremost and excuse for us to spend time outside. And it is an incredibly good one. But, deep down it is truly nature, the environment where we find ourselves, that keeps us going out for more.
Hi allI love chasing migratory browns and rainbows in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie tribs. I want to expand my game and dip into the Spey game.
I have a few Rapala minnows that I'd like to use for trout, but they are treble hooked and removing/adding hooks seems pretty difficult (I spent like 10 minutes trying to get the treble hook back on after I took it off).
Went camping for a night in the GWNF and got on my first native brookies. Caught 20-30 in a few hours of blue lining with a tenkara rod.
A few months back I asked for recommendations for my Billy Pate Salmon Reel and a 4wt orvis that I came into possession of and decided to go the route of modern fiberglass because my introduction to fly fishing was an old Shakespeare.
The 7-weight is overlooked by most anglers, but it might be the most versatile rod weight out there.
I've been getting into trout fishing and want to bring my fly rod from MO to CO for a fishing trip. The catch is my wife and newborn are coming with me. Are there any good places to stay and fish close together? We're going the week after Memorial Day. Also looking to hike if I could get suggestions for that too.
I love trout fishing and have caught hundreds of them at this point but this one on my new fly rod was one of the funniest for sure. I was using a small black streamer in a small creek. Had a lot of fun can’t wait to hit the trophy section of the river next week!!!
Read more about can i trout fish with a medium rod, 8lb main line, 4lb leader ?.
Larval Ephemeroptera collected from the Portneuf watershed of Southeast Idaho in late March.https://preview.redd.it/9awf6bh7wetg1.jpg?width=1632&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f7eef958a9abc0de086fe9677458fc2622b15146https://preview.redd.it/fmy8sph8wetg1.jpg?width=1436&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8e1eeaf35b...
Is it a sin against fly fishing to get a cheap spinning rod to use these on?
Been looking for a starting trout pole and have a bass pro gift card. want something at a budget rate as I’m just starting and am not too picky just want reliable. Have bass fished and have a decent rod. I seen this rod and know its for Kokanee and I have some nearby but will primarily be fishing off the shore or on a boat but not trolling.
Been getting really into tying the past few weeks and finally got a chance to take them to the water! It was a super slow day but towards the end I found a few killer pools. Pheasant tails did well, but the other patterns I tied didn’t get any love!Need to order some more feathers and get into production mode now.
went to a paylake yesterday and we cought a ton of fish. two really good sized ones. this one was 66cm and my colleague even cought a 70cm giant.Rainbow Trout, 66cm, almost 4kg. Cought on a passive rod with Libra Lures fatty worms with strong cheese scent.
I am a huge fan of Pat Cohens legs. He also has a book (Super Bass Flies) I highly recommend getting if you can. I’ve tied well over 75 of his deer hair frogs dialing the original pattern in but changing it a little bit to suite my needs. These are a lighter weight version of his flutter frogs that can be thrown on a 6-7 weight fly rod.
Some context: I am very new to fly fishing but not new to fishing in general. My Rod and Reel is the 5wt 9' Orvis Encounter with a 9' 3x leader on a Rio Gold line (I spent too much money on my line I think).
So I’m new to trout fishing I have done mostly salt water fishing and fresh water only for large mouth bass but wanting to do trout fishing in a lake (North Carolina) where I will be going camping and I wanted to get into fly fishing but decided not to since a good rod is somewhat expensive and I...
Like a lot of kids, I spent most of my adolescent summers chasing bass and bream on the local creeks and ponds in my area. Most days, a single rubber-legged popper tied to the end of my leader, was all that I needed to catch fat bream and the occasional lunker bass.
Moved up to NW ONT for school and started to target trout in the Thunder Bay region. I've caught some medium-sized Lake trout and some 3 -5 inch rainbows on a fly rod.
I was fishing stocked trout in a small stream in Montgomery County Maryland the other day and the trout were rising frequently at dusk. I am not sure what they were eating. I saw one mayfly looking bug but do not think that was the main hatch. I would like to try to fly fish but do not know much.
Read more about Landed my PB; Beautiful buck rainbow. Released healthy. Rocky, weedy, snaggy creek and 6lb test made for a hell of a rodeo… Not sure what he weighed but the measurement from the crease of my curled hand to the top of my tattoo is 12”. Northern Ca..
The trout season here in Scotland has already begun.
I bought this for rainbow trout fishing, was like $60, will this work for a lighter reel? Then I have a 7’6 Ultralight pole
I mostly fish large rivers and lakes with an 8wt and 6wt TFO (love them). When I hit the smaller creeks I go to a 5wt glass rod (very noodly) which I like very much. But I have access to some very narrow and brushy creeks with trout and smallies (that get little pressure) and wonder if I should go a little lighter and modern to enjoy these fully.
Made a dumb mistake replacing a 5wt trout setup with an 8wt and didn’t switch the reel out. Bought it cause I liked the but had the cork on it. Have a new 5wt coming so what reel should I buy
My dad surprised me with this nice reel my brother and I gifted him back in the late 90’s/early 2000’s ish. He doesn’t fish anymore and I’ve been really into trout fishing over the past year or so. Have plenty of ultralight spinning and bass setups.
I’m looking to fish steelheads soon. The rain is hammering this week and they’re heading up the damn after I’m sure. I’d like to know which of this you think I’ve got the best chances using.Edit: I know these are less than ideal. I was gifted some OSLO lures I’d planned on using from Mishawaka Lure and Tackle Co.
I am looking at getting a Stillwater rod for fishing for rainbow trout in BC interior lakes. I already have a 9’ 5 weight, but have been kicking the tires on a Loomis 10’ 4 weight.
Tied this fly over 15 years ago in school program and recently dug it out. Set up my first fly rod this spring and put it to use
This video popped up from a fishing trip last spring. It was the greatest bad fishing trip of my life. At one point the moose were 15 yards from me.
Fly fishing for bass requires the right rods, reels, lines, and leaders to cast to and catch fish. Here's our recommendations.
Stand up with me here streamer guys, you know what I'm talking about! First of all I am in no way making light of Ms. Parks courageous acts or life of service. She is on my list of personal heroes and that list is pretty damn short.
Good morning, fellow fishermen 🐳I'm looking for some tips and tricks to improve my casting from the bellyboat.
A settlement has produced an amended Environmental Resources Permit for a proposed rock mine in Florida's Everglades Agricultural Area, clarifying the project's approved scope and requiring new permits for any expansion—but the project survives, and Army Corps review is still pending.
By Jeff Hickman IT'S TIME FOR THE BIG BOYS. With the rapidly increasing popularity of Spey fishing, targeting Chinook salmon has also recently become hot. These large powerful anadromous fish have always been attractive to fly fishers in areas with strong populations.
Read more about SLS-501 Is the Best Rod I've ever purchased for trout and crappie.
I decided to try my hand at fly fishing back in December and bought a 9’ 5wt and a 7’6” 3wt. After a few unsuccessful trips I finally caught a few brown in Hot Creek in California on a recent trip to the Eastern Sierra. The afternoons of practicing fly casts in my front yard paid off.
So I took an Orvis fishing seminar and I have the bite. In your opinions what are some good brands to buy and learn on? As far as my range. I’m looking at 1K to 1200 for everything. Shoes, waders, rod reel, net the whole thing.Orvis was pushing hard on their gear but dayum that was pricy.
Haven’t done much fishing since high school. I used to fish at a local pay lake that stocked trout. Back then it was just me my friend a couple rods and some power bait. Can anyone catch me up on the modern day necessities for shoreline lake trout fishing.
I'm planning a three feek mottly solo drift, from Great Falls Montana to Fort Peck dam. Three weeks? Sleeping on a bid decked white water boat. I'll pivk up an outboard motor at the head if Fort Peck Reservoirr. 80 miles of lake is a bit too much do riw.On the way down I want vo eat Channej Cattish.
I am pretty new at fly fishing, so my gear is limited. I picked up a reddington edc 5wt and cheeky drip 375 which can handle 5/6 wt. I am from New england so its primary use for me is trout fishing. However, I am going to Florida from April till June and want to use it down there for some bass fishing, if feasible.
As a beginner, if you thought picking a fly rod was tough with all the options on the market, you’ll probably feel like that’s child’s play compared to picking out a fly line.
Read more about Purchased my first fly rod setup last night and caught my first fish on it! Looking forward to Sunday to figure it out on the Chattahoochee!.
Made some Lures based off the Mukai B-Chatter and it did some work yesterday when they stocked a pond by my kiddos school. Started slow... Wanted other lures at the bottom. But when the temp warmed up and the sun was out..
"The pond was full of those great lily pads, and I guess that's where the problem started." I guess I should be happy, but I'm not. Ever since my in-laws moved to South Carolina the compulsory visits have had a silver lining. I discovered a little bass pond just down the road.
A friend of mine sold me his brand new, never used Sage TCX 8wt Switch rod.
Hey guys, I just got into fishing and really enjoy fishing for Rainbow Trout off a kayak in local rivers. I also want to be able to do some shore fishing though and go bass fishing.
ELATION, PANIC AND EPIPHANY. THAT'S THE USUAL ORDER OF EMOTIONS WHEN AN ANGLER LANDS THEIR FIRST BIG TROUT. I had the pleasure of seeing a dear friend land his first trophy trout recently and I think that's a pretty fair description.
Didn’t get to measure sadly, and the Clearwater rod was a worthy sacrifice
One for sale near me. Fair to good condition. I love old timey reels. No idea what it’s worth. Are they good reels? Or valuable?
I’m looking to get into fly fishing. I grew up fishing, moved away from it for a good 15 years but my brother rekindled my love for it by inviting me out on the ice a few times this winter.
Hi everyone, I'm wondering about fly line differences in value and how much more actual effectiveness you get per dollar. right now, on most of my rods, I'm using SA frequency boost, which is about $60-70 line.
"Yamame" is a dwarf riverine form of cherry salmon/masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou). Almost all Yamame are males, and they participate in spawning with sea-run females.On Sakhalin, we call them "podkamenka" (literally "under the rocks"). They inhabit mountain rivers in large numbers and bite well on all types of lures.
By Bob Reece A baetis pattern with a secret. “Hopper” Juan Ramirez is full time guide on Colorado’s South Platte and Arkansas Rivers. His years of experience on these water have allowed him to build an on-the-water knowledge base that is second to none. One of his recent creations, the Slim Shady Baetis 5.0, is testament to his understanding.
Picked up the Contact lll 1093 and honestly bummed. I came from using the Contact ll and loved that rod but feel I have lost so much with this one. I’m curious what people think but I personally want to go back to the prior generation despite wanting to like this new release.Loss of power - Rod feels like it has lost its backbone.
I’m new to fly fishing just my second time out ever and I have no idea what I’m doing.I have a 9ft 5wt rod and 5/6 reel. 9 ft 4x leader and 4x tippet. So I was using a double nymph rig with a #12 stone fly as my first fly.
Due to unfortunate events fishing on my lunch break today, I find myself in need of a new spinning rod. More often than not I fish BFS but today decide to try the spinning rig, and the top half of my rod went down the river. So now I’m shopping.
And I want specifics, weight, colour, brand.
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Dry fly fishing is an addiction. Watching a trout rise slowly from the bottom of the river to slurp down your perfectly drifted fly does something to your brain that makes you instantly want more.
Nine months after a single brown trout photograph triggered one of northwest Montana's most urgent fisheries investigations, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says eDNA testing found no trace of the nonnative fish—but the agency isn't standing down.
HERE'S ONE IMAGE AND AND A BRIEF STORY FROM AN ESSAY I DID FOR HATCH MAGAZINE. TO SEE THE REST OF THE IMAGES VISIT HATCH. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID. In August of 2010, at he end of a hectic and exhausting summer, I found myself in western Alaska for a week at the Alaska West Lodge. Frankly I was a little burned out.
Fish for your attention. Im considering an 8wt rod for steelhead and some ocean beach casting. Im thinking tfo nxt, tfo ntr3, cortland sl 444, two aventik 8wt sink lines and a cheap aventik reel for poverty level ocean beach casting.I am spending more on steelhead, but would like the option of some beach casting if i end up over there.
We made it out to our local State Park today and had a good day. I fished a vintage glass rod that my dad found in his house and gave to me. My casts got a little sloppy with the slower action but I love how the glass feels. My only knock against it is the weight, it feels like swinging a bat compared to my modern 9ft 5wt fast action.
Picked myself up a new reel at my local fly fishing shop! Super excited to get back out on the water and try and get my first trout on my fly fishing set up. Caught a couple of small bass and bluegill last season.
I bought my first ever fly rod back in December and haven't had a chance to use it until yesterday. I've never fly fished before and all I'll say is I don't think I'll be touching any of my spin rods ever again. Tight lines everyone
By Paul Pucket FISHING WISE, I HAVE NEVER HAD A YEAR LIKE THIS ONE. I am fishing in places I have never fished and feel very lucky to have the opportunities. The main difference between this year, and the prior years spent chasing these mindless, slimy, instinctual creatures, is that I am limited to one fly. All year. The Everglades Special.
There’s something about getting friends and family into this sport! So satisfying seeing their reaction and pure happiness fighting a fish for their first time on a fly rod.
Got a new euro rod and 2nd fish on it is my new pb rainbow! 20incher.
Just bought my first euro rod and went out today to use it, targeted this rainbow for a good while had him eat once and missed it then eat again and bring him home! (Stocked fish ofc)
I told myself I didnt “need” a new combo. Then at 4 am I grew restless, woke up, went on Ebay and bought a reel.6’6” TFO Trout & Panfish rod1000 series JDM Legalis4 lb monoMy current rig is just a float down to a 1/32 oz jig with a plastic creek bug
By Louis Cahill How do you connect your leader to fly line when the pressure is really on? This is sure to be a lively topic. I wasn’t aware this was such a hot button topic until I published an article by Devin Olsen titled, “Making The Connection,” and watched the comment section light up.
What should I be throwing here, sorry for the video being short and bad, it’s a pretty fast river, splits into 2. (It’s to the left you can kind of see it) I’m pretty new to trout fishing and have a spinning rod. This was last time I went and I only took a few spinning lures.
I fly fish a lot, and have been tying flies and building rods for years. Apart from heavy or salt water rods, I’ve never given too much thought to reels though, and usually run them on the cheaper end for 5wt and under. A relative who was hardcore in his younger years fishing in Appalachia recently passed away and I inherited these guys.
So what is the best lure for trolling with no downrigger? There is a lake we hit up and they rent out boats . What is the ideal lure . This lake also has striped bass but they plant one to two thousand lbs of trout every week
went out to the local creek today and saw a eando fly fishing so i walked up to chat, turns oit we had the same exact lure on! haha
Suckers are going crazy here in the Ozark’s so I tied up an orange fly to imitate them for smallmouth.The spooks are 5.5 inches and just shy of 7inches.
On the first official Travel Creel trip, a group of anglers gathered on the Oregon coast chasing winter steelhead. Travel Creel founder Joshua Schwartz had organized the trip around a simple idea: bring good people together around great fishing and even better food.
The last time I ordered fly tying materials from FTD was in 2017 and it was their holiday box.
Couldn’t post a pic in my reply to someone asking about Kauai bones. Here’s a big one from Oahu a few years back.Bring the 8 weight and the 20# test!
Does it really matter that much for my rod and reel set up?I use my Shimano Nexave 4000hg for just like eveything, bass, Pike, walleye, creek chub etc, so it does have 25-30 I’ve test on it.do I NEED a smaller reel and light set up for trout?
I’m no stranger to St. Croix fly rods. Growing up, those were the rods my dad had stashed behind the seat of his truck, and the rods I subsequently snapped in my first futile attempts to fly fish.
The maruta are entering the rivers of Eastern Japan now. The run isn't in full swing yet, there are enough fish around for a good day's fishing.7 Had a surprise carp too that certainly tested the 4x tippet and size 16 jig hook.
By Justin Pickett THE SETTING SUN IS WARM AT MY BACK AS I STAND AT THE REAR OF MY JEEP. I slip on my guard socks and wrench down on my boots until I’m happy with the fit. No need for waders today. The deep south humidity is smothering as I place my Buff around my neck.
hi everyone, my name is Enrico. I‘m from Italy and recently moved to Cambridge for university (I’m 23).I brought my fishing gear but I don’t have a car here. I would love to join someone for fishing trips in the following months. happy to split the Gas and a bring food (I’m a good cook).Depsite beeing young I’m also quite experienced.
For March Madness, we thought it would be fun to put to the test a topic widely debated by fly anglers: the best species. In this March Madness Bracket Challenge, vote for your favorite species in each of four regions and see what comes out on top.
I had a short window to get out the other evening so I targeted some likely water on my home river, where I can almost always get into fish. Starting at a bend in the river, I rustled up some rainbows and whitefish on a double nymph rig; then switched over to a pine squirrel jig streamer and moved upstream to a glide under a cutbank.
Hey Front Range anglers. I know this sub is all over but the Colorado fly fishing sub doesn’t get much traction and I know there’s a good amount of us here. Anyway, just picked up a rod quiver for a rather great, even remarkable deal on marketplace. I lowballed the crap out of the guy (as one does on Facebook) and he bit without a fight.
Hi all, this popped up locally to me. Looks like a beautiful rod. I know that some cheaper bamboo rods are janky, but this looks fairly high quality. Any help with identifying weight would be appreciated. I asked the seller and they said they don’t see any thing on the rod. All I know is it’s an 8ft 4 piece.
Win a beautiful, limited-edition black 7' 6", 5-piece, 4-weight high-performance modern glass fly rod from Epic.
This is to replace my 10yo Simms guiding boots. After reading a lot negative feedback with regards to the recent decline of Simms gear quality, I opted for this one. I have high hopes that this pair would last longer than the Simms. Can’t wait to try them on the next trip.
Trout season is opening for me in a couple weeks here in NY. Looking to possibly add a few pieces to the tackle box. Whats everyone's go to lures,soft plastics baits? (Not flies)
By Jeff Hickman SPEY CASTING IS A PROCESS REQUIRING SEVERAL STEPS TO BE FULLY COMPLETED IN A SEQUENCE. To effectively and consistently make good spey casts you need to focus on these steps, especially when learning. But even veteran and advanced two-handed casters also need to focus on the important steps.
I currently fish a 9 ft 5-weight for trout and now I’m thinking about adding a second rod mainly to cover smaller streams.
Over the past half-decade, as I’ve dived into teaching new anglers on essentially a full-time basis, I’ve come to realize quickly what is and isn’t necessary for a day on the water. You need a rod, reel, line, leader, tippet, split shot, indicators, floatant, flies, and a net.
Hi!I recently got a Maxcatch Gold 7wt floating line. Mostly for testing, but also for trying trout fishing in rivers/small lakes. I'm not rich, so splurging for a 4 or 5wt kit is not an option yet, considering how I 90% of the time fish in saltwaters. But the end goal is to buy a 5wt rod. My question is...
Hi guys. My local river trout season just started today, I’ll be heading out tomorrow evening for the first cast of the season. The river is quite high just now & is moving quickly.
Things are heating up in our DIY fly rod build. Matt Draft is back for the third video in our seven part series on building your own fly rod. In this video you’ll learn about tip tops, how to spline a rod blank, wrap your guides and get everything aligned.
If they didnt produce i wouldnt waste time tying them but some of my largest bass and trout ive caught on them
I’ve been trout trolling mostly from my first kayak since November and chasing trout up here in Nor Cal.Checked out a new spot and finally had one of those days were as soon and you drop your gear it’s getting bit.
The weather has been nice for a week or two so today I headed for the first session of the year. Expectations were low since I had never fished this early into the year.My plan was simple: two rods, 7wt streamer rod with intermediate line and a couple woolly buggers and a 5wt with floating line for nymphs and dries.
By John Byron It’s a thing. Gear Acquisition Syndrome. GAS. The most you can use at any one time is one. One guitar. One fountain pen. One fly rod. But how many you have is N, where N is a much bigger number than one. That’s GAS. The concept and phrasing, GAS, came from the world of music. Yes, how many guitars, pickups, mikes, etc.
I used to have a Diamondback All American 6ft 3wt 2pc, but it got stolen in 2006. It was perfect for fishing tight small overgrown New England brook trout streams.Diamondbacks canned the model. Shortest rod they offer is 7.5. Any suggestions for a 6ft 3wt?
I am starting my second full season of fly fishing and spend a fair amount of time on the Cape in the summer (usually early and late summer). An older neighbor recently gave me two rods that he used to use for striper fishing; 8 and 9wt Orvis rods and a Battenkill reel.
Anytime I tie flies that I really like, I seem to always take them to work with me the next day just to mess around and figure out what I want to change or just admire the work.Can you spot the mistake I made on one of these?I’m also a huge fan of Andreas Anderson. If you don’t know who that is, look him up and be amazed.
Been out of fishing for a few years, lost a few of my trout rods while moving, looking for suggestions for a good reel to put on a 5’ ultralight rod I’m gonna use for small rivers/ streams
Woodworking has taught me a few things about fly fishing. Before Gink and Gasoline I was, for a time, very involved in the world of woodworking. I was fortunate to photograph and spend time working with some of the most talented folks in the field, many of them are still great friends.
Bit of an upgrade for the upcoming season. + Where do you prefer the balance point to be on an euro nymphing setup?
Just getting in to fly fishing and I got a Patagonia gift card from a relative for $300.
I'm wanting to get into fly fishing, as I'm going to the Smoky Mountains by Cosby Creek in Tennessee. I'm just uncertain whether I should get a 4 or 5wt rod for trout and panfish.
Hey all, been fishing a 5wt on rivers and lakes for my entire tenure. My local is mostly lakes, apart from a small creek here and there with tiny browns.
I recently bought a shakespeare micro series 7' light rod for stocked trout in lakes.What's your go to setup for trout (braid, mono or floro) what pound of braid, mono or floro you use and what kind of rig.I only fish for pike before using my gx2 medium action and i only use straight monofilament...
Used once. Pristine condition. It's wasted on me. $500 + shipping from LA.
New to western fly fishing. I picked up a Clearwater combo recently, and I'm excited to head out when trout opens here. I have noticed however that the movement of the rod will cause the reel to turn slightly back and forth producing a click as it spins regardless of how tight the drag is set at.
So I’ve loved carp fishing on conventional tackle they fight crazy hard and they’re some cool looking fish and i know people target them on a fly so I was wondering if it’s fun, what flys, what weight rod, and how to catch them on a fly
I'm looking for an 8wt fly rod for largemouth bass, throwing Clousers and poppers... the standard LMB flies so a fast action rod would be good. I was also considering the Echo 84B.
Read more about River season opens up in 5 days, Finally got everything together ready for it. Trout lures, Salmon Lures & A good set of flies. It’s been months since I was able to catch some brown trout🎣😆.
DID YOU KNOW THAT 10% OF THAT NEW FLY REEL GOES TO SUPPORT FISHERIES? It's true. Thanks to the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 and the Dingell-Johnson Act of 1950, a 10% excise tax on all hunting and fishing equipment goes into a trust fund to support fish and wildlife management.
Here’s another fly that was tested out. I can’t remember the name of this fly but it’s a nice musky fly. I am in love with the action for bass.Thoughts, opinions, critiques are always welcome!
Had a banger of a day on a Wisconsin spring creek. Fished in-between some rain showers and managed 30 some fish in only 4 hours all on dry fly bites (The best kind)! Fell in love with my new Moonshine Rod Company 7'6" 3wt. That thing will bomb a dry fly to the moon and back, accurately!
Some fish turn into goals you measure seasons against. For Kieran Hoffman, the chase for a true double-digit largemouth had followed him for years. He’d come close, but never on the fly, and after more than a decade of casting and learning, it started to feel less like a dream and more like unfinished business.
From PFAS-free waders to dual-compound boot soles, this spring's new releases push performance and sustainability in equal measure.
Caught my first fish yesterday on my new fly rod. This is my 4th time out since I got into fly fishing in December and yesterday was the first day I caught a fish. Was using a copper john and a strike indicator. Caught about 7 bluegill in a 30 minute time span.
By Louis Cahill You can sure catch a lot of trout with no more than ten feet of fly line, but does that mean that casting doesn’t matter? I had this conversation recently. I was fishing a classic, pocket water stream with a friend and at some point he asked me point blank why I was catching fish and he wasn’t.
Hello,I'm not at all new to fishing, but am completely new to the world of fly fishing. I live in Southern Ontario, Canada, and once things warm up in a few weeks I plan on giving it a real effort.
IF YOU'VE BEEN THINKING, "I LOVE GINK AND GASOLINE BUT I WISH IT COULD BE MORE LIKE JACKASS", THEN TODAY IS THE DAY YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE! There are two kinds of fishermen. The ones who have hooked themselves and the ones who are about to. It's a bad feeling the first time you put a big streamer hook in yourself past the barb.
New to the sport and have a few questions after my fire day out on my own. Previous experience was with a short class at a local fly shop, and a few day trips with a friend.
Hey y’all, I have fished my whole life but never got into fly fishing and was thinking about picking it up. Biggest concern is getting the necessary gear on a budget which is about $200 atm. Is this possible and what should I expect getting into this new hobby!
Howdy yall. After a push from the might-as-well-be-brother-in-law (I need to pop the question), I got some gear using my pro discount from Far Bank.
I’m looking and can’t see any name on it. So if anyone might have an idea I’d loveTo hear it.
Haven’t been fly fishing too long so I am by all means still in the learning phase. I am an avid fisherman with your standard rod and reel, but fly fishing is a whole other sport I’ve learned! Anyways, thought I’d share this pic of what I would call my PB rainbow.
Trout and Salmon magazine has been the Voice of Game-Fishing in the UK and Ireland since 1955. Every month the finest contributors in the sport deliver informative, inspirational and entertaining writing, offering sage advice on locations, tackle and tactics,…
So I’ve been fly fishing for trout around Fife, Scotland for the last year (Wormit mostly with some River Eden failures lol) and I wanted a better way to track trips and conditions.I couldn’t find an app that focused on the stuff that actually matters to me when fishing, so I started building one myself. It’s called Fishable.
My boss was working at a clean out and an old man left some fly fishing gear behind, of course he knew I fly fish and asked me if I wanted it. I know it’s a creel but I’m unfamiliar with the brand and age. HELP!
If you had to get a rod that can throw dries and indicator rigs, and then one dedicated streamer rod what would your choices be? Upgrading my redington trout classic setup and also getting a rod to throw some streamers.
Welcome back to another episode of This Week in Fly Fishing, where Wills and Jared explore the latest fly fishing news and controversial opinions On this episode, we sit down with Drew Nisbet, Marketing Director for Sitka’s new line of fishing products, to talk about what it takes to build techni...
I fish for trout with a spinning reel in the Southeast and my typical setup is a St. Croix 6 ft ultra-light trout rod with a Shimano Ultegra 1000 reel and 4lb Fluorocarbon line. I am used to catching 10-14 inch fish, but I have recently discovered a section of river that is holding dozens of trophy size fish.
For those who fish a DT line and have fished the 444 has anyone tried the new airflow double DT? Any thoughts or reviews? I’m coming from many years of WF lines and looking to start in with DT for some of my shorter casting and longer leader setups. Any insight is appreciated.
At what point does a fly become a lure or soft platic you happen to throw on your fly rod? I think this minnow pattern crosses that line...
I fish at a lake where I'm seeing action around 100 feet from the bank, which I cant reach with my gear.How ridiculous is it to bring my 10' surf rod and fling that thing out there into the deeper waters?I'm targeting trout and the lake I'm at doesnt have a lot of rock cover, so I figure they're ...
Moving to the foothills of the Uintas and getting things in order. Got my fly rods and spinning rods ready to go. Now I have my spinner tackle and some of his old flies.
At Flylords, one of the topics we cover frequently is new gear. Our goal with gear coverage is to test new products on the water and determine whether they are worth the investment.
In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, Charlie Craven with Charlie’s Fly Box ties a dry fly that every angler will wince at the sound of, the Mosquito. Learn How to Tie This Fly: Difficulty: Intermediate March has begun and with it comes hopes of warm weather and productive days on the water.
Packing for Success in the Amazon If you haven't read part 1, you can find it here. Preparing and packing the right gear prior to your departure to the Amazon is crucial for your overall trip enjoyment and fishing success.
Ive been on a few camping trips with the fly rod and gone home empty handed. I went up to the Victorian high country in Australia to camp for a week recently with the family and was hoping to change that.I tried to put everything i had read into practice on the last fish of the trip, saw a rise and cast out to it.
Season opens this weekend where I’m at and I’m trying up some streamers for the first time as it’s still pretty cold so I’m not expecting a whole lot of dry fly action which is usually what I fish. Not sure on hook size but it’s a 6.5mm brass bead. The only rod I have is a 9ft 5wt and I’m wondering if a streamer of this size is too big for my rod.
Lake run browns in WNY, all caught drifting and swinging streamers.
By Bob Reece Dunnigan’s P.D. Nymph is a trout magnet. As I’ve moved further into my fly tying and fishing journey, I’ve been blessed to meet some outstanding people. Casey Dunnigan happens to be one of them. A skilled welder by trade, his ability to create with his hands is evident in his fly tying as well.
My father-in-law passed along some fly fishing gear and these caught my eye.Probably from Michigan. Based on some other items I'd guess 1950s?
Decided to have a rod custom made for my wife for Valentine’s Day knowing she would be more likely to actually try if she had something “cute” that is her own.Even though it’s early in the year we drove up to my favorite freestone river as she said she was ready to try it out.
Hey everyone. Looking for some suggestions for gear as a beginner into trout. I fish tournaments and go out on big lakes and ponds for bass so all my gear is really tailored to that.I have a handful of stream and rivers near me I’d like to fish this year for trout on days I just want to sit and hang on the shore.
Molded on the back of a waxy soup spoon.Fabric cement cures in an hour or two. UV resin almost instantly.I know from making molded diving bills too kig is best. All lightweight fly rod motion flures have to be tuned, once, either at streamside or in the bath tub.Tuning means snipping away with scissors or toe nail clippers.
Perhaps this is a silly question, but here we go. If I'm snagged on a rock while nymphing, how do I actually unsnag myself? Coming from tenkara, it's recommended to collapse the rod and pull the line so as not to snap the tip.
By Justin Pickett As a beginner in the fly fishing world, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. And confused and while meandering aimlessly through a fly shop, or magazine, or a “big box” sporting goods store.
Rented a kayak to go on a nearby river today, and somewhat on a whim decided to take my fly rod (equipped with a standard floating line and wooly bugger) with me and see how it went. Overall I'd say it was kind of awkward, but one fish was caught and I'm interested to try more.
WHEN MICHAEL STIPE, LEAD SINGER FOR THE BAND R.E.M., MADE A STRING OF APPEARANCES ON THE COLBERT REPORT AROUND THE HOLIDAYS I WAS SHOCKED BY HIS CURRENT PHYSICAL APPEARANCE. To be sure, none of us are getting any younger and I applaud Stipe for embracing his graying hair and changing features, but there was more too it than that.
Bozeman rod maker Bill Blackurn made these Doh Gapen style MuddlersIt might have been Dah Bailey who popularized the clipped head incrrnation. Dan was a gift to civilization. But I do still like the original Muddlers best.
“Cuba is two weeks from today!!! Got to admit I’m a little nervous going where my phone and credit cards don’t work, and taking some ancient helicopter.” That’s the text I got from my buddy Geoff this morning. He’s had this Cuba trip planned for almost a year but it’s only now sinking in.
I want to go to baja to fly fish for marlin, tunas, dorados, roosterfish, etc.Where do you buy gear for thiskind of fishing? Cabela’s and bass pro rarely has any wt 11/12 rods. What is the right setup for rod, line, etc for this?
I’m getting into the sport a bit more now and I’m looking at getting a 9’ 5wt redington classic trout while I have some spare change but I was wondering how important the reel really is? I’m looking to stay around the $300-$350 total between rod and reel.If anyone has other recommendations please...
The Long Haul review series is crafted to give you an honest, in-depth look at how products perform over time.
Fly fishing boats are tight spaces by design. Between rods, fly line, nets, and all the random essentials that pile up over the course of a day, it doesn’t take much for a clean setup to turn into a mess.
I've been slaying trout in the small streams near Nederland using Panther Martin spinners. I like the black body with the yellow spots. Anyone else have a go-to lure for high-mountain streams around here? Always looking to expand my tackle box, lol.
By Jason Tucker I could not have been more shocked to find myself in the Bahamas than if my spaceship had crashed there. The call came on Thursday. “Can you go to the Bahamas for a week?” “When?” “We leave Saturday.” I checked with my employer, girlfriend and bank account. For once in my life the answer was yes.
Had no luck pulling streamers, switched to the BFS rod and caught 3 over 22in in the last half hour. Slowly twitching a brown Yum hellgrammite on ned rig across the sandy bottom by the weed beds.
Read more about Had a pretty spectacular day. Went 2 for 6 on steelhead and a couple browns to hand. The "GoTo" continues to produce..
Jako Lucas is no stranger to the Fly Fishing Film Tour, nor far-off, stoke-filled destination fishing adventures. For this installment of F3T Behind the Lens, we sat down with the team behind Black Sheep: Jako Lucas of CaptainJack Productions and Wade Kelly of Flow State Productions.
Roosterfish(pez gallo) in my opinion, are by far one the hardest fighting and elusive fish that can be pursued with a fly rod.
I was looking through old pictures from when I was guiding from a mothership in Oman. We would get schools of fish hanging out in our lights at night, and I figured out I could drift little flies to them in the tidal current.Pictured are a Lunar Fusilier, a black tip trevally, a striped fusilier, a flagtail, a wave Garrick/dart.
I’ll be in the Destin, FL area this June and would love the chance to target tarpon on the fly. So far, I’ve only found one charter that specifically offers tarpon fly fishing trips.
Finally getting around to sorting photos from this past season. One of the fattest trout I’ve ever seen, and no slouch in the length department either
Fly Fisherman is the world's leading magazine for fly fishing. Every issue provides expert advice on the latest fly fishing techniques, the newest tackle and the hottest new fly patterns. Through informative articles, it highlights the best destinations for t…
When choosing between graphite and fiberglass fly rods, it’s smart to consider where and how you fish. I got an email the other day from a reader. Here’s an excerpt: “I am looking at a 7wt predominantly for trout and smallmouth here in Tennessee.
I was given a Spey rod/reel setup by a relative a while back, but the line on it is not actually designed for Spey.
Hi everyone,I’m actively shopping for a second fly fishing rod in anticipation of next season. I currently have a 5wt setup that I bought last year to target trout and smallies.I’m looking for a second setup to complement it and I’m wondering if I should go with a 8wt or 9wt.
While working in a fly shop once, an angler came in with a broken rod that he needed help sending in for warranty work. The manufacturer of the rod offered complete replacements, but did request that the angler explain how the rod was broken.
Hi all, I’m an 19M and have fished for the best part of 10 years, however only ever done float, spinning and sea fishing. Recently i have inherited some fly fishing equipment which i am desperate to get out and try. However im finding the range of flys and types of line quite overwhelming and leaving me clueless what to use.
THAT NEW DIY FLY ROD IS JUST ABOUT READY TO FISH. In this, the last video of the series, Matt Draft, of Proof Fly Fishing, shows you how to fix some common problems that happen when building a rod. These helpful techniques will ensure that your rod is perfect and will help with future repairs. I hope you have enjoyed this series.
I've never flown for a fly fishing trip, but I'll be flying out to PA this spring and plan on getting some fishing in. How are people traveling with waders/boots? I see tons of options for transporting rods/reels, but less specific options for traveling with waders and boots.
Me and a buddy who are relatively new to the fly fishing world are planning a trip to the snake and Missouri rivers around late June and need some advice.
bought an old tackle box for 20$ at an antique market last October.
I want to get a higher end rod, starting with a range I generally fish a lot. A light all around fly rod, sans euro styles. This range suffices a majority of my fishing.it seems Winston stepped out a bit from their dry fly only vibe and the Air 2 looks appealing but I have not spoke with anyone who has fished one.
Caught a few smolt this winter but this is my first proper sized fish on a fly rod and my first steelhead/lake-run rainbow. Egg pattern under an indicator on a 6wt.
So I recently purchased a 7 foot 63 weight that I plan to use in small streams and little ponds for bluegill and trout. What's some good lines you guys use on a 3 weight rod, I'm assuming just a standard wait forward floating line? Bit open to different ideas. I currently own a 8 weight and a 6 and a 5 weight.This is my first 3 weight.
Debating on which one of these I should get for my first 5 wt rod. I'm new to fly fishing so when it comes to casting action I don't really have much of a point of reference. I already have a 4 wt and a 6 wt.
These are some wet n’ dry soft hackles that have produced consistently for me over the years. They’re meant to be fished on a team of three upstream over riffles on warm summer days in the sort of water that dries and weighted nymphs are kind of useless.
I’ve never had a dog who was a really good fishing partner. When I brought Josie home, I knew that was going be be a goal. My dog and me out on the river, doing our thing without any particular plan. It sounds good on paper but anyone who fishes with dogs knows it isn’t always ideal. Ive definitely had dogs who weren't with the program.
I recently ordered a diamondback gen 4 online. The more I’m researching, it almost seems as though it could be viable as a dry fly rod as well. Is this true? If so, what qualities that a euro rod have that cross over into a dry fly rod? I purchase a 10’7”3wt. I know that there’s no “rules” but I want some opinions and knowledge.
Walk into any fly shop, or browse around online, and you’ll quickly realize there are more fly rod choices out there than questionable food at a casino buffet. In this case, though, picking a less-than-stellar rod won’t give you food poisoning, so there’s a lot less risk involved.
https://www.finner.co.uk/products/xcel-fly-fishing-rodAnyone have experience with or opinions on the above? I’m looking at upgrading from my Temu Sougayilang special.TIA!
By Bob Reece As we move toward spring, the presentation of streamers increases for many fly fishers. For those of us that tie our own, the use of some materials is far more common than others. Marabou tends to be one of those materials, particularly in the tails of many bugger style streamers.
I don’t really know what I’m doing yet. I’m going backpacking with friends and we’re planning to try and catch trout. I’m thinking about getting the Daiwa Megaforce Travel Rod 2.10 m because it folds down small enough to fit in my backpack.I’d like to invest in decent gear without breaking the bank, but I’m confused about line sizes.
By Garner Reid A GOOD PORTION OF MY FLY FISHING INVOLVES THROWING SOME SORT OF A SINKING FLY LINE. Realistically, half of my time on the water involves streamers and sinking lines at least for some part of the day. If I am not out on the water guiding for streamer-eating fish like stripers, I’m in the fly shop talking about them.
In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, APH Flying Tying shows us a fantastic attractor pattern you can fish all year long, the Red Tag Nymph.
Follow along as we explore the latest fly fishing news and controversial opinions in This Week in Fly Fishing with Jared and Wills. In this episode, Matthew Schultz with Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters joins the crew to talk about the concerning conservation issues the Boundary Waters are facing.
Each winter, brands bring new and updated gear to the Denver Fly Fishing Show. It’s a chance to see what’s changing, what’s being refined, and what products are making their way into anglers’ hands in the coming season.
Bonefishing, for me, is the purest form of the drug. I’m just returning from the first of three G&G Bonefish Schools in the Bahamas. This trip was more of a reunion than a school, with better than half of the anglers returning for the second or third time.
NOAA's decision not to list OP steelhead under the ESA has conservation groups reviewing legal options and demanding immediate action from state and tribal co-managers — all while the peak of the wild winter run is underway. Image by Hone Creative
One of my biggest accomplishments so far, the California heritage trout challenge. Fort the first trout, I went up to the Tahoe area to catch the Lahontan cutthrot trout.
Was throwing lures all morning with no follows or hits. Tried something a bit unconventional and was able to hook into this one with two trout worms wacky rigged on a trout magnet jig under a bobber. Close to 15 inches.
Just came back from La Paz BCS. Hired a guide in Ensenada de Muertos for some fishing. We trolled lures for a few hours then Capt said change of plan and we hit the beach inside the lighthouse. He threw live sardines to get them frenzied and I cast into the fray, tuck the rod under my arm and two hand retrieve fast.
Got my birthday present a little early. Headed out to the beach today. Make no mistake, I am as newbie as they come but I just couldn’t stay out of the water. 9ft rod, 9line, rio saltwater leader…just used the chartreuse fly today. Looked like a fool for the first 30 mins, but got to feeling it after that. Had one hit and miss but that feeling.
By Bob Reece Three points of contact provide stability. There are a plethora of patterns that new tiers could begin with. Yet three in particular lay out the fundamental techniques needed to create a stabile foundation for your fly tying future. The Woolly Bugger, Pheasant Tail and Elk Hair Caddis have all proven their worth.
Like so many others out there, I've broken my fair share of fly rods over the years. I've slammed them in tailgates, stuck them in ceiling fans and I've squashed quite a few trying to get in and out of my cataraft to quickly.
Orvis just announced the newest addition to its fly rod lineup, the redesigned Recon series. Since the release of the first Recon back in 2015, this rod has developed a huge following as a mid-priced, performance-driven fly rod.
I HAVE DEFINITE IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO CATCH BIG TROUT. APPARENTLY THEY ARE ALL WRONG. Like every other guy or gal with a fly rod, I have some pretty strong opinions about the kind of flies that catch big fish. These opinions are based on years of experience and experimentation.
By Bob Reece Round rubber and spandex are two members in the vast tide of synthetic materials that have washed over the fly tying world in recent years. They have both been used to create numerous surface and subsurface patterns. However, I would argue that one is better suited for the world above while the other thrives below.
Last week, I wrote about my close encounter with a highly-collectible rod, the Winston 8’6″ 4-weight BIIt, nicknamed “The Staff of Moses.” I’m still kicking myself for not buying it (despite the $800+ price tag), but hopefully when the next one comes along, I’ll have some extra cash laying around.
The three-model collection pays tribute to the legendary saltwater "Grand Slam"—the rare feat of landing a bonefish, permit, and tarpon in a single day.
Some fly rods end up as more than just another entry in that year’s product catalog. A select few gain a cult following, often retaining their value (and exceeding their original retail price) as the years march on.
The 2025 Fly Fishing Holiday Gift Guide offers a selection of practical and quality gear suitable for both novice and experienced fly fishers. Featured items include essential tools like nippers, nets, packs, fly boxes, gloves, and forceps.
Any kind of two-handed fishing is confusing for those of us who mostly fish with a single-handed rod. I asked the great Pete Kutzer...
It’s that time of year to bring you all an updated 2024 Fly Fishing Holiday Gift Guide. The shear amount of quality fly fishing gear out there is astonishing. That makes it almost impossible to get the fly fisher you know something they’ll truly love, even if the prices are still a little high.
Have you ever been confused about How To Fish Nymphs? Well no more! Check out this great video by Far Bank Fly Fishing School where the series takes a look at fly fishing with nymphs. This episode focuses on nymph fishing for trout.
Knowing how to tie some knots is a useful bit of knowledge to have in general. Why not increase your fly fishing knowledge with the best fly fishing knots to learn? Add these to your arsenal and you’ll be ready for almost any fly fishing situation and be able to rig up your gear in […]