Kubie Brown

There's nothing more satisfying in fly fishing than the sound of a screaming reel. It's the sound of success, the sound of joy, and often the reason many of us go fly fishing. This is especially true in Spey casting, where hours of calm serenity and rhythmic casting are shattered by a hooked fish streaking downstream. The peeling line makes your reel sing...

I sometimes hate waiting for trout to strike. While fly fishing is traditionally a game of patience—searching your box for the right pattern, making elegant casts, and watching your fly drift perfectly through the current to entice a strike—sometimes I just want to skip all the "art doesn't come easy" nonsense. Sometimes I just want to wade into a river...

I often hear salmon and steelhead anglers complain about the challenges of catching fish. They grumble about rough weather, endless hours on the water, and sparse fish returns, but I disagree with them every time. As an avid salmon and steelhead angler myself, the toughest part about catching anadromous fish is finding the right leader for the job. The...

One of the biggest problems with tying big streamers for trout is finding the right hooks. Most standard streamer hooks have thin gaps and long shanks, essentially designed for tying classic patterns like the Mickey Finn and the Muddler Minnow. These traditional hooks don't work well if you're trying to craft larger, articulated streamers that big fish...

Nothing tests your patience more than winter fly fishing. Between the numb extremities, frozen guides, and generally slow action, it's the time of year when putting away the fly rod and planning that tropical vacation you've always talked about seems like a better idea. However, what many fly anglers don't realize is that winter presents one of the best...

I hate nymphing with strike indicators. It's not that I don't believe in the technique or have some sort of "dry or die" superiority complex (well, not entirely)—it's just that I can't stand staring at them. As a fly fishing guide, I do whatever I can to put trout in the net for my clients, and that often means spending endless hours glowering at strike...

When you start Spey casting for steelhead, finding a rod can be overwhelming. The market is flooded with hundreds of options featuring different lengths, qualities, and features. Spey rods are marketed to make it seem that without a precisely sized rod for your specific river, line type, and casting style, your chances of catching an already elusive...

After a long sunny season of leaving your rods, flies, and waders in your car—ready in case you come upon some juicy looking water—the idea of storing it all for the winter has a feeling of finality. As the first frosty days rear their icy heads, your fly fishing stuff goes into the garage or basement with a gentle pat and reassuring word that you'll...

There comes a time in every fly angler's life when they decide to buy a boat. It's a decision that doesn't come lightly. Boats are expensive to buy and maintain. They come with a whole menagerie of accessories—oars, motors, and trailers—and in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors which all must be considered before committing. In fact, it's quite...

As much as we all love dry fly fishing, there are times when you've got to get your flies below the surface. Whether you're nymphing or fishing streamers, most of the action often happens underwater, and it's up to you to get your flies down to the trout's level. While you can rely on the natural weight of beads or weighted eyes on your flies, when fishing...