The Fly Fishing Obsession: Part 2

The Fly Fishing Obsession: Part 2

Life has an amazing way of working itself out for the better. The last article I wrote was almost a year ago but so much has changed. What has not changed is my love of fly fishing!

Little did I know that fly fishing would be my rock when my fiancé broke up with me for the last time in December. He had told me on multiple occasions that I needed to go out and do more things by myself as I was too dependent on him for my happiness (not sure that was entirely accurate). This may have been the reason that I jumped 100% into fly fishing as Nati, the Goldendoodle and I could do it by ourselves. Leaving him to sit on the couch being introverted.

It took that moment in December to realize just how lucky I had been to stumble into an amazing community. Continue reading “The Fly Fishing Obsession: Part 2”

How to Choose the Right Location to Fly Fish

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. Continue reading “How to Choose the Right Location to Fly Fish”

Learning A Good Fly Fishing Knot

Learning A Good Fly Fishing Knot

Back in the day when I was about 9 years old and deemed old enough by “Mom” to go fishing alone, it was all I wanted to do – and all I did after chores were done. We lived about a quarter-mile from a river that was stocked for the trout season and had its share of typical river species as well. Unfortunately, my dad was always working in the family business to make ends meet for us, so it was just me and my meager gear. Continue reading “Learning A Good Fly Fishing Knot”

How To Prepare For Your First Saltwater Fly Fishing Trip

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. Continue reading “How To Prepare For Your First Saltwater Fly Fishing Trip”

Women Fly Fishing On The Water

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. Continue reading “Women Fly Fishing On The Water”

A Fresh Start & Exciting Journey Through Fly Fishing Guide School

A Fresh Start & Exciting Journey Through Fly Fishing Guide School

I was halfway across Illinois when I asked myself “Are you sure you want to do this?” I had been on the road alone for roughly five hours and was starting to feel some trepidation. I was traveling by car, to Fort Smith Montana to chase a nearly 20-year dream, but now I was having second thoughts. It would be a long, lonely two-day drive, at the end of it would be the Big Horn Angler Lodge and Fly Shop near the famous trout river of the same name, and a week of learning the ins and outs of being a fly fishing guide. Continue reading “A Fresh Start & Exciting Journey Through Fly Fishing Guide School”

Honor Among Fly Fishers and Non-Fishers Alike

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.

Continue reading “Honor Among Fly Fishers and Non-Fishers Alike”

Fly Box Frustration and Redemption

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 . . . Continue reading “Fly Box Frustration and Redemption”

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

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. Continue reading “Just Go Fly Fish – Time On The Water Is Your Best Instructor”