MidCurrent Staff

Question: Is there a secret to mending a fly line? I just can’t seem to get it right. Help! —Doug Smith, CO (via the Ask MidCurrent form) Answer: If there’s one skill that separates average fly anglers from consistently successful ones, it’s mending. While it might not be as glamorous as a perfect cast or a perfectly timed strike, mending is perhaps...

Question: Why do some fly fishers (especially older guys) scoff at using strike indicators, often referring to them as “bobbers”? Is it better to fish without an indicator? If so, how do you do it? —Ryan B., via email Answer: Although indicators had been invented decades earlier, it wasn’t until the 1970s—when Dave Whitlock became an indicator...

Question: I recently underwent knee surgery, so I’m not as nimble as I used to be. I’m a little nervous about wading in rivers, especially during the high water of spring. What are the best ways to stay safe and avoid an unintentional swim? —Cody G., via email Answer: Wading is an essential skill for fly anglers seeking access to productive water, but...

Question: I recently went to a presentation on winter fly-fishing, and all the dry flies discussed were smaller than size 20. I am almost 70 years old, and there’s no way I’ll be able to see those patterns on the water. What’s my best option? —Jeff K., CT Answer: For those of us in our bifocal years, this is a real problem. If we can barely see...

Question: I love to fish early spring hatches of blue-winged olives using flies tied with CDC, but after a while the CDC fibers get stuck together and I can’t get the fly to float well anymore. What’s the secret? —Brennen M., Salt Lake City, UT Answer: CDC (or cul de canard, which means “duck’s ass” in French) is a killer wing material because...

Question: I plan to fish streamers a lot this spring, but I struggle to cast sinking lines of any kind. How can I make sure my streamers get deep enough if I’m using a floating line? —Charlie H, via email Answer: While sinking-tip lines and loop-to-loop sinking heads make it easier to get streamers down in the water column, there are plenty of...

Question: I'm still tying on Mustad & Son 94842 hooks (upturned eyes) that I bought in the 1970s. I don't see upturned-eye hooks in catalogs anymore. Is there any real difference in hooking ability between up-eye, down-eye, and straight-eye hooks? ~ Carl via email Answer: Fish hooks might seem simple at first glance—just a bent piece of wire with a...

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...