Techniques

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

There are a lot of things in this world that don't make sense, yet somehow work anyway—like the placebo effect, cold fusion, or how a cold beer is refreshing after a long day on the water while still managing to dehydrate you. But perhaps the biggest mystery of them all is why we try to catch pike and musky on a fly rod. It just doesn't make sense. Fly...