MidCurrent Staff

Question: I've been fly fishing for three decades and have watched social media transform our quiet sport into something unrecognizable. Places I once had to myself—spots earned through years of exploration and trial-and-error—are now overrun after being geo-tagged and shared online. While I understand the enthusiasm to share catches and beautiful...

Question: Total newbie to fly fishing here, and I'm honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed with the casting part. Been watching tons of YouTube videos and reading articles, but now I'm even more confused. Seems like every "expert" has their own take on the "perfect cast," and I'm starting to second-guess if I'm doing anything right at all. Is there actually one...

Question: Can you recommend comprehensive fly fishing pattern books that include detailed material lists and step-by-step pictures for tying flies? I'd like to start a collection board displaying flies I've personally tied, turning it into a long-term project. Are there structured guides for this, or do most people approach fly tying more seat-of-the-pants...

Question: I've been inspired by the simplicity of tenkara, but I enjoy the advantages of casting longer distances and the capability a reel offers for managing big fish. In the spirit of simplifying, though, I've decided to pare down my fly box. Now I'm not going full-survivor mode here, but let's say I could only carry three flies for all my fishing...

Question: I own a Martin Mohawk 22 automatic fly reel. Did Martin produce many of these models, and does anyone else collect them? Always curious about the history behind vintage tackle. Answer: You're definitely not alone in owning a Martin Mohawk 22, but you're part of a rather exclusive club. These automatic fly reels have become something of a quiet...

Question: Been fly fishing spring creeks for years, but lately I’ve been thinking a lot about light tippet. While part of me wants to keep chasing that perfect technical presentation, I’m wondering if I’m being selfish. Are we putting too much stress on the fish? Answer: There's something deeply satisfying about fooling a selective trout with 6X or 7X...

Question: I keep losing nice fish because I can't decide whether I should get them on the reel or just strip them in by hand. One morning last week I bungled a solid rainbow, and that left me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Are there any rules of thumb for making this decision? Answer: We've all been initiated into this club: Your dry drifts...

Question: I was reading through a recent MidCurrent newsletter and noticed the "Hippie Stomper" pattern being featured. It got me thinking about other fly names that seem needlessly crude or carry negative social connotations. Isn't it time our sport moved past these kinds of names? I can't imagine they help make fly fishing more welcoming to newcomers...

Question: I picked up Euro-nymphing last fall and now I'm catching way more fish than I ever did. Don't get me wrong—it's fun, but it feels almost too effective to be real fly fishing. Like using a cheat code or something. Am I the only one feeling like this? Answer: If you've hung around enough fly shops lately, you've probably heard the grumbling. Some...

Question: Last week during a solid BWO hatch, I was going nuts switching between different shades and sizes while the guy next to me was crushing it with a basic Parachute Adams. Made me wonder if I've been overthinking this whole match-the-hatch thing. How much does exact matching really matter versus just getting a good drift with a reasonable pattern...