Category: Stories

Education, Stories

My Top 6 Simple Fly Picks For Trout

Walking into a fly shop can often be overwhelming at times. There are so many flies, variations, and sizes. The first thought that can come to your mind is how am I supposed to know which fly to choose? When selecting a fly, many factors can play a part. Trout are weary and sometimes they just simply won’t eat. Depending on who you ask, different people will tell you it’s because it’s simply because of temperature, weather, flows or even because they only eat dropper hopper dropper rigs. Let’s throw all that out the window and stick to very simple and effective patterns that produce fish. After all, you have a chance to catch a fish on the wrong poorly tied fly with the right depth and a good drift.

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Education, Stories

How to Choose the Right Location to Fly Fish

Whether you are a seasoned angler or new to the sport, there are a number of things to consider when choosing where to fly fish. In general, fly fishing is most commonly associated with remote rivers. However, if you are willing to get creative, the options are seemingly limitless. Here, we will discuss the various locations anglers can fish, the most productive time to fish each location and how to effectively fish them. Learn More “How to Choose the Right Location to Fly Fish”

Education, Stories

How To Prepare For Your First Saltwater Fly Fishing Trip

Freshwater fly fishing dominates the industry with roughly 80% of all fly fishers only fishing freshwater. Well, maybe you’re an expert at catching 22 inch browns on a size #22 midge or you’ve been crushing largemouth on poppers like it’s your job and want to change it up a bit. Maybe you want to see a 6 pound bonefish take you into your backing in the blink of an eye. Or maybe you want a shot at chasing tailing Redfish in the mud flats of the Lowcountry. There are a lot of similarities but also a few key differences between fresh and saltwater and hopefully this write up will help you prepare for your first trip to the saltwater. Learn More “How To Prepare For Your First Saltwater Fly Fishing Trip”

Education, Stories

Women Fly Fishing On The Water

Women on the Water
…breaking into the boys club

I grew up fishing the gulf coast with my dad and brother. The three of us spent a lot of time on the water with my dad untangling lines, patiently instructing us on casting various reel types, and teaching us about the saltwater ecosystem. I was hooked on spin fishing from a young age, even though I was almost always the only girl out on the bay. My dad and brother didn’t seem to mind me tagging along in the summers, but the fall was a different story. Every year when the leaves starting changing colors, the boys would head up to north west Arkansas with a father son group to fly fish on the Little Red river – and, being a girl, I wasn’t invited. Learn More “Women Fly Fishing On The Water”

Education, Stories

Honor Among Fly Fishers and Non-Fishers Alike

With the rapidly burgeoning number of fly fishers, I’ve noticed a corresponding decline in fishing etiquette. This is occurring with what appears to be newcomers and mid-comers to the sport as well as a few of the fly fishing guides. I suspect everyone who has spent much time on streams and lakes can attest to this.

Whether it’s fishers who don’t respect or understand the unwritten rules of crowding another fisher or boat or guides who take their clients directly through fishing runs that are being used by wade fishers when alternative routes exist . . . the list could go on.

Fortunately, I find these incidents are still the exception and not the rule.

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Education, Stories

The Fly Fishing Photographer

For anglers, being on the water is where many of our most memorable experiences are created. Capturing those moments on film, or in megapixels helps us to relive the instances that frame our experience. But balancing photography time with fishing time is a tricky business which requires a balancing act between rod and camera.

Elevenmile Rainbow
As a photographer, capturing images like this pre-release shot are no problem when the camera is out and ready to go. Rather than fumbling to stow your rod and get into a suitable position you are able to get the shot quickly and get the trout back into the water with minimal handling stress.

For those who aspire to strike the balance between rod and camera, take heart because it can be done by keeping one thing in mind; you can’t get the shot with a fly rod in your hands, believe me I’ve tried. Learn More “The Fly Fishing Photographer”

Education, Stories

Fly Box Frustration and Redemption

What do these 3 fly fishing scenarios have in common?

Scenario 1:

You’ve been on the water for an hour, just blind casting and waiting for something to happen. Praying for the hatch or to see some rises. Suddenly it happens, a couple BWOs start floating off the water and the trout start rising. You reel in, re-rig your leader and pull out your fly box to grab a BWO emerger because you can tell that’s what they’re eating . . . Learn More “Fly Box Frustration and Redemption”

Education, Stories

Just Go Fly Fish – Time On The Water Is Your Best Instructor

I’ve always wanted to learn to fly fish. The old romantic idea of swinging a fly rod on some lone stream without another soul around always captivated me. Fly fishing had been on my bucket list for almost a decade before I put an honest effort into the craft. I started to save money for gear and lessons several times, but some unforeseen expense around the house always came up that depleted the bulk of my cash (taking on any new hobby after kids come is always difficult). Eventually I did get all the gear, piece by piece. I made a few mistakes and ignored common sense advice along the way, like spending more on my fly reel than my rod and going cheap on a quality fly line but it all worked out in the end – somethings must be experienced rather than heard before a lesson is learned. Learn More “Just Go Fly Fish – Time On The Water Is Your Best Instructor”