Phil Monahan

Question: I'd appreciate a discussion on monofilament vs multi-strand thread. Also, How do twisting or untwisting thread help and cause the thread to move toward the eye or away from the eye? —Don from Bozeman, MT, via our online form Answer: Fly-tying thread seems like a fairly uncomplicated topic. I mean, you just wrap it around the hook to hold all the...

With a sparsely attended Catholic church at one end and a Taco Bell at the other, Benmont Avenue is representative of the hard times that have befallen many American mill towns. This is not the scenic Vermont of postcards, but instead a hardscrabble part of town that features rows of low-income housing, a couple of tire shops, and the dreary, hulking mass...

Every year, hundreds of trout anglers travel to exotic destinations such as Belize or The Bahamas in pursuit of their first bonefish on the fly. But even experienced fly fishers can end up humbled because they aren’t prepared for the ways in which flats fishing makes different demands on them. Here are five essential ways to prepare for and maximize your...

Question: I’ve always used an improved clinch knot to tie on flies and a double surgeon’s to attach tippet. My fishing buddy keeps telling me I need to switch to “100% knots.” Is there really such a thing? —Mark C., via email Answer: The short answer is No. Fly fishers love nothing more than arguing about the relative merits of knots. Everyone has...

Although I joined MidCurrent on December 1, I’ve spent the last few weeks working in the background on a few special projects, while Johnny Carrol Sain has continued doing his usual brilliant job overseeing the website and newsletters. This week, he’s handing the reins to me. (Fear not, Johnny is still part of the MidCurrent team, but he’s also...

When winter's chill descends, many anglers put their fly-fishing gear away and focus on fly tying or some other hobby until the first warm spell of spring or Opening Day rolls around. But wherever regulations and open water allow, you can catch trout throughout colder months, and if you’re willing to be outside to ski or snowshoe, why wouldn’t you also...