Author: Brady Laehr

How to Tie a Beadhead October Caddis Pupa Fly: Video
Fly Tying Fundamentals, Fly Tying Video's

How to Tie a Beadhead October Caddis Pupa Fly: Video

The Beadhead October Caddis Pupa, also know as the Great Autumn Sedge is a go to caddis pupae imitation. Tied with a soft hackle and segmented coloration this fly can be very effective if fished at the right time. Look for the emergence of these bugs to happen later in the day, sometime between September and November. The more leaves you see falling to the ground the better. It is also a great top fly in a tandem rig with a small midge imitation trailing.

Now let’s see what you can do. #avidmaxflytyers

Continue reading “How to Tie a Beadhead October Caddis Pupa Fly: Video”

How to Tie a Poison Tung Fly: Video
Fly Tying Video's

How to Tie a Poison Tung Fly: Video

Developed by Carlie Craven, this pattern is a great midge imitation. He developed this pattern with a light body, blue ribbing and a grey collar creating a fly that is unique and will fool fish in picky situations. Our variation is a dull version tied with a dark gray body and black ribbing rather than the blue. You can also tie it in various browns and with different tints of blue wire. This is a must for any winter tailwater fishers box.

Now let’s see what you can do. #avidmaxflytyers

Continue reading “How to Tie a Poison Tung Fly: Video”

Fly Fishing Articles, Fly Tying Fundamentals

The Tools for Fly Tying

Brady's fly tying bench
Brady’s fly tying bench.

Flies are expensive, easy to loose, and very brittle. Anyone who has spent any time fly fishing has come to this realization. We spend a lot of money on flies only to lose them on the bottom of the river or in the tree 15’ overhead. If we are lucky, they start to fall apart after having caught numerous fish. The natural next step once discovering this issue is to begin tying your own flies Continue reading “The Tools for Fly Tying”

Fly Fishing Articles

Tacky Fly Boxes: How They Changed The Way I Store My Flies

Possibly one of the best benefits I have working in the fly fishing industry is the access to cool new products. Most of you fly fisher people out there have probably now become familiar with the new Tacky fly boxes over the last year or so. Winning best of show at the 2015 IFTD show (International Fly Tackle Dealer), for their fly boxes as well as numerous other awards. Tacky has quickly become a well known name, thanks to their unique products. As soon as we got these in our shop and on our website I had to pick up a couple to see what they were all about. Anxious to get them on the water and in action, I wanted to share my initial thoughts after loading them up with flies. Continue reading “Tacky Fly Boxes: How They Changed The Way I Store My Flies”

Fly Fishing Articles

Umpqua Swiftwater ZS Tech Vest Review

Umpqua Feather Merchants has long been known for their flies: creating impressive processes to develop great consistency over a very large selection. While they maintain their excellence in this category, over the past few years they have developed into a broader offering of fly fishing gear. Their packs and vests are a newer addition to the company’s heritage, but, in my mind, they have made some great strides with their products. Continue reading “Umpqua Swiftwater ZS Tech Vest Review”

Fly Fishing Articles

How To Choose A Fly Line

So you have a new rod and found a good deal on a reel, but something’s missing. In fly fishing there is one way to get your fly out on the water in a way that makes it look like a fat juicy meal, the fly line of course.

The fly line may be the most important item when considering fly gear. Fly lines come with different tapers, weights, and materials that are perfectly matched to your specific fishing gear, locations, and conditions. However, all the different types of lines on the market make it a very tough decision. Especially if you have never fly fished before. Let’s start at the beginning.

flylines

Examples of the different WF5F fly lines Continue reading “How To Choose A Fly Line”

Fly Fishing Articles

Staying Warm While Winter Fly Fishing

The temperatures are dropping, here in Colorado the snow is falling, and the Ski resorts are open. Fly fishing season is over…right? Well it doesn’t have to be. If you plan well and bring all the necessary gear you can still get out on the river.

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When it’s cold outside the water is probably twice as cold. Not only that but the cold moving water makes the air around the water even colder. Keep this in mind when looking Continue reading “Staying Warm While Winter Fly Fishing”

Fly Fishing Articles

5 Things You Need To Start Fly Fishing

Have you ever watched a video, heard a story or even just seen a picture of somebody who caught an enormous fish using a fly rod and thought to yourself, “I want to do that!”.

Typically after this thought comes; “What do I need to fly fish”? There are so many different types of fly fishing that it is easy to get blurry eyed when shopping for fly gear. Let’s talk basics. In my opinion there are five items (Categories) that you will need to think about obtaining when making the leap to fly fishing.

flyfishing

1. Fly Rod and Reel

The first and most important is the fly rod and reel outfit. I bundle this all into one item, but really its two components. Continue reading “5 Things You Need To Start Fly Fishing”