Looking for detailed and up-to-date information to use on the water to improve your fly fishing experience? Congrats…you found it! Through my fly fishing blog, you’ll learn about the setups I use, situations to identify feeding fish, preferred gear, and more! Have a topic you’d like explored in-depth? Contact me to get those gears in motion!
Fly fishing is known for its connection to nature. It’s known for being relaxing on one hand and equally challenging on the other. It brings us together; everyone loves a free coffee at the local fly shop! And fly fishing is especially steeped in tradition, heck Fly Fisherman magazine always called it “The Quiet Sport.” Then along came the Mop fly. Can one fly really disrupt the entire sport of fly fishing?
The short answer is “No,” but it can create a speed bump, which is exactly what the Mop fly did. Even personally, this fly had an impact. In 2015, just after the fly started gaining a following, I recorded a Mop fly tying video (found here). Yet I didn’t publish the video until the next year. Why? I knew that releasing a Mop fly video would alter my YouTube channel. And it did.
Poetry in motion for fly fishers is watching a trout rise to a dry fly. This visual aspect of fly fishing is a style many prefer, especially apparent by the number of anglers that chase epic bug emergences like blanket caddisfly hatches on Montana’s Missouri River, the Hex mayfly in Michigan, and Penn Creek’s Green Drake hatch in central Pennsylvania. The simple approach is to show up and fish, yet the following pieces of gear will increase the number of fish you catch, plus make for a more enjoyable experience.
Podcasts are special, especially those about fly fishing. Is it because we yearn for knowledge, and so many give us tips, insights, and expert advice to help us catch more fish? Maybe it’s because fly fishing podcasts are the perfect companion when driving to the river, or even a roadtrip to a new destination. Some provide incredible stories that resonate deep within us, whereas others appeal because they closely resemble a group of friends sitting around and talking shop, making us feel like we’re part of the group. There are lots of options for fly fishing podcasts today, and each one brings its own flair to the party.
Does the perfect fly rod exist? If you would have asked me 30 years ago, then I had an EASY answer for you: Yes, the perfect fly rod is a 9’ 5-weight. Yet I rarely fish that rod anymore, so what's changed? Let’s talk about using different fly line weight to chase different fish, plus I'm going to share with you some fly rods that are perfect (at least for me!).
When looking at that gorgeous brown trout I caught while fly fishing, do you really think Instagram “helped” me catch it? That’s a good question, though many will argue that the wild trout was caught because of time spent on the water and doing my homework. Where do platforms like Instagram and TikTok come in? Continue reading as I make the argument that they did contribute to that trout.
Let’s be honest, there is a STEEP learning curve in fly tying. With all of the materials, techniques, tools, and nuances, it’s a hobby that takes time to learn. But have you ever looked around your bench and wondered how you accumulated so much STUFF?!? I just did so and realized there were 5 things I could live without.
So you’re thinking about getting into fly tying! You’ve done some research, checked out some YouTube channels (hopefully MINE), and even talked to a friend. But you have that one burning question: Is fly tying worth it?!? Trust me, you’re not alone, so let’s find out if tying flies is right for you.
Let’s be honest, can a fly really KILL fly fishing? Of course not! Yet in fly fishing, many hold true to the belief that there is that perfect fly, the magic bullet, one that will catch EVERY fish in the water. Once finding that fly, will the experience be ruined for you…or enhanced? Let’s find out!
In fly fishing, traditions run deep. For some, it’s spending time with a best friend on the same water year after year. For others, it’s filling the box with that perfect dry fly (an X-Caddis, of course!). In Pennsylvania, our tradition falls heavily on the opening day of trout, in my case, a family affair!
Take a look below to see some of my recent posts on Instagram. With each, I share new patterns, ideas, fly fishing techniques, favorite fish, and lots more. Click on each picture to learn more.
What type of fly fisher are you? Maybe your motto is “Dry Fly or Die” and the Parachute Adams is a go-to during a hatch. Perhaps Kelly Galloup is your idol, and there’s always a streamer fly on the end of your line. Love fly fishing emergers? There’s no question it’s a favorite of mine, as it’s my most popular presentation for Trout Unlimited clubs and fishing groups. For those trout fly fishers that love to catch fish on a consistent basis, though, look no further than nymphing.
Anglers agree that trout eat most of their diet subsurface, concentrating on nymphs, bait fish, and other food sources that get delivered to them by moving water. Successful fly fishers maximize their catch rate by focusing on these food sources, especially when there is no hatch present. Nymphs are especially important, as they form a significant portion of their diet. Fly fishers have been imitating them for decades with patterns like the Hare’s Ear and Pheasant Tail. So where do Euro nymphs fit in, what exactly are they, and why are they so darn effective?