Question: "When fishing rivers, under what conditions do I use a soft-hackle fly? And can you recommend a pattern for an intermediate level tier?"
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“Fine Lines”
Current and quotable.- "If, as I suspect, trout fishing is something of a disease, then it is also something of a therapy in itself.” - Tom Sutcliffe
- "...[I]n terms of desired outcomes, a sporting activity is not highly rational, because we do not seek the most efficient means to accomplish the goal.” - Nick Curcione
- "To say that it was all just a matter of catching fish would be like saying that astronomy is nothing more than noticing the stars.” - Harry Middleton
Essential Trout Flies: Hooks
Confused by the variety of hook sizes and styles when it comes to using the right hook for your pattern?
Read more...“Ask the Experts”
- Dealing With Wind
- How Long Do Prepackaged Leaders Last?
- What About Soft-Hackled Flies?
- Getting Them On, Then In
- How Well Do Fish Recover From Being Foul-Hooked?
- How to Land and Release Fish When Fly Fishing Alone
- Casting Unruly Rigs
- Which Fly Rod Ferrule Is Best?
- Windows of Opportunity
- Picking the Top Five Dry Flies
- Do’s & Don’ts of Guided Fishing Trips
- Fly Casting From a Drift Boat
Latest News
Tippets: Patagonia Takes on Federal Government, Colorado River Faces Record Low Runoff, Puget Sound Salmon on Drugs
Patagonia has always been outspoken in their support of environmental causes. But since the beginning of the Trump administration, the company has increased their activity in messaging about the environment. From Yvon Chouinard as an unlikely CEO, to the recent … more
Video Hatch: “Study to be Quiet”
This short film features beautiful footage of a trip to Maine’s Moosehead region to fly fish for brook trout. Via Tight Loops.
Tippets: Filming with Todd Moen, Top Guide Flies
Todd Moen has traveled the world in pursuit of some of the best fly fishing locales. However, he “can more likely be found behind a video camera filming somebody else fishing,” writes Mark Morical, “or in front of a computer … more
Video Hatch: “Above Barriers”
This video features great footage of backcountry brook trout fishing in Minnesota. Via Blue Forest Films.
Books »
- “Calm, Cool, and Collected”
An excerpt from Steve Raymond's terrific new collection of essays, "A Fly Fisher's Sixty Seasons."
Flies »
- Why an Emerger Is Almost Always a Better Bet Than an Adult
This is the stage of mayfly hatches that trout prefer—when the emerging dun gets stuck trying to escape the nymph shuck.
Tippets
Gear »
- New and Improved Gear – Spring 2018
Ergonomics, compactness, functionality, durability: they’re all part of product design and improvement, and it’s what gear designers constantly think about.
People »
- Lefty: Fly Fishing’s Moonshot Pilot
When we talk about generational changes in fly fishing, and particularly about the irreplaceable and irrepressible personalities who helped ensure the emergence of fly fishing as a popular sport and expanded its influence, Lefty Kreh will be at the top of any list.
Techniques »
- “I Can See Clearly Now”
"This is the kind of fly fishing I did as a boy in Southern California, and the tiny, gentle waves felt good as they broke around my calves."
Travel »
- In the Valley of the Rainbows
Patagonia is a land of soaring mountains, wide gravel roads, cold blue rivers, and legion trout.