Techniques

Most fly fishers aren’t big fans of winter. The cold weather slows down the insect activity and fishing action and makes conditions on the river so tough that many anglers just put their rods in the corner and stare longingly out the window while they wait for spring. However, there are some who look forward to the coming of winter like kids waiting for...

Question: A lot of articles about winter fly fishing include discussions of dry flies, but I’ve never seen a single fish rise in winter. Is the cold-weather hatch a myth, or do I just live in the wrong place? —Tim, Waterville Valley, NH Answer: It’s true that winter is usually thought of as the season for nymphing, not for rising trout and dry flies...

The first time I used an intruder fly, it changed how I fish. It was on a steelhead trip in Washington, on a river I had never fished before, and I was having a hard time hooking up. Steelhead were in the river—I could see them jumping as they moved upstream—but my arsenal of classic and reliable steelhead flies just weren’t doing the job. On my third...

Excerpted from Phil Monahan’s new book The Orvis Quick-Start Guide to Fly Fishing Fly-fishing success starts before you make the first cast. Did you choose the right stream or section of river? Did you bring the right equipment and rig your rod in a way that will help you make the right presentation and land the fish? Did you remember where you put your...

Question: I've been working on swinging flies for trout, but I'm struggling with how you control the speed of the swing. What's the secret? —Jeff F., Rexford, NY Answer: Newcomers to fly fishing with streamers and wet flies often simply cast across the current and let the fly swing downstream under tension, hoping a fish will strike. However, by adjusting...

As the days shorten and water temperatures fall, night fishing can become the default for those who work a 9-to-5 and still need to find time to fish. It is also an opportunity to find big fish that often hide out of sight during working hours. Predators feed heavily before winter, and the hours after sunset offer quiet water and some of the most aggressive...

For most anglers living in the U.S. or other parts of the world, access to bonefish can be challenging, especially when compared to species like bass, carp, or trout. But there’s a reason people travel thousands of miles for a one-on-one encounter with a bonefish. Whether you find smaller fish in large schools feeding on the flats, larger singles tailing...

Winter fly fishing requires a certain amount of masochism. You’ve got to take pleasure in the pain. From stingingly numb fingers to slipping and falling along icy banks, chasing trout in the early winter is often about testing yourself and finding out just how much you can endure. Yet the fact is, with the right preparation, the right spot, and the right...

Question: How do I determine how much weight to add to my line when nymphing? —Sean, Colorado (via the Ask MidCurrent form) Answer: We’ve all stood midstream, casting a pair of nymphs through what looks like perfect trout water, watching the indicator float by untouched, and wondered: “Do I have too much weight on, or not nearly enough?” That...

Some of my favorite fly-fishing methods are when you combine the best aspects of two different techniques to create something new. Like mixing peanut butter and chocolate or blues and bluegrass, these blended fishing techniques form their own delicious harmony on the water and can help you catch fish when more traditional methods just aren’t producing...