Techniques

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...

I have been fly fishing with my dad since I was a little rug rat. When I reflect on my childhood, fishing was everything. If I wasn’t catching fish, I was probably catching snakes or lizards in the backyard. You can’t teach kids the natural desire to roll around in the dirt and try to outsmart critters, but what you can do is make an environment...

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...

Winter is the most frustrating time to be a fly angler. The weather is cold, the rivers are frozen, and warm sunny days of casting dry flies to rising trout seem so far away. Most of us just deal with it or find another hobby to keep them occupied during the cold months. Perhaps you’ll do a bit of winter nymphing here and there just to stay in shape, and...

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...

The end of winter is always an exciting time for fly fishers. It’s time to start dusting off the rods and prep for the early part of the season. It also happens to be a time when trout in lakes and ponds get very aggressive, leading to some fun opportunities. Remote Waters The Adirondack Mountains of New York feature many remote ponds that are locked up...

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...

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...

Question: I really want to get out on the water this winter, but one thing is stopping me: I hate being cold. What are the best ways to stay warm on the water? —Fred W., via email Answer: Winter fly fishing is a great way to escape cabin fever, and it feeds your angling jones during the dark months. However, to enjoy your time on the water, you need to...