FlyRods

When I first got started fly fishing one of my favorite things to do was hang out in local fly shops in Salt Lake City. I had a few that I frequented, and I used any excuse I could come up with to make a trip to them.While I was in the stores I’d ask questions, listen, …

We love to read about great conservation projects such as this one.The Central Colorado Conservancy (CCC) in the Arkansas Valley announced this week that it had raised the final $50,000 needed for the Ark River Community Preserve in southern Lake County – ensuring that the $1.1 million project can move ahead with …

The history of fishing is parallel to the history of mankind. Fishing was a source of survival for humans for tens of thousands of years, before turning into a recreational endeavor and industry powerhouse. Fly fishing is a much younger sport, however, when compared to the history of subsistence fishing, which helped form civilization as …

Maybe you were lucky enough to recently be invited on a fly fishing trip with some of your friends. Or maybe, you’ve just always been intrigued by the sport. But to get started, you don’t need top shelf gear, and the cheapest fly fishing gear will do just fine to get you into the sport. …

There are many good reasons to use a 7 wt rod. But there are really just a handful of 7 weight fly rod uses that everyone agrees on. We’ve listed four of them below, but first some context.The most common fly fishing rod for beginners to purchase is a 5 weight. A good …

If the world were just, the fly fisherman would never be separated from the river. The itch to fish would never require a trip to the river to scratch it, because one cannot journey to a place where he’s already found.Sadly, in the world we live in, we are constantly being forced from the river, we never …

When you think of saltwater fishing, wading boots may not be at the top of your mind. Warm sand and cool water all come together to create a perfect storm that makes for bare feet weather. Which I completely get. There’s something freeing about being barefoot in the water casting a fly to shallow water …

The take was unlike anything I’d felt on a fly rod and the headshake was enough to kill most prey. The sleek body torpedoed out of the water, once, twice, then three times, showing off the white and red rabbit-hair streamer each time. The jumps ignited  a series of whoops and cheers from my fishing …

You’ve had your line for a couple of years now and never had an issue with it. It sailed through the guides without hesitation, and floated on the water like a timber rattler swimming across a stream. But as the years have waged your line has been exposed to sun light, algae, abrasion from debris and …

While the fly fishing traditionalists continue to fish exclusively for native, natural trout with only dry flies and bamboo rods, the modern fly fisherman has turned his high-tech gear and unprejudiced attention to new quarry: the freshwater bass. And if you’ve ever caught one, even with sacrilegious non-fly tackle, you understand why.Bass are …

So, you’ve decided to enter the life-consuming world of fly fishing, a decision that will bring you years of excitement and frustration.And the frustration comes right at the beginning.Getting into fly fishing is complicated and confusing. There just seems to be more gear you need to buy than for traditional fishing, and it all has confusing names. …

Fly fishermen are known to obsess over equipment. They want the best waders, the coolest nets, the sleekest most waterproof packs. Their fly boxes are full of every insect, crustacean, and baitfish, all meticulously organized. Their clothing has enough SPF to reverse the effects of ultraviolet radiation.And they love their fly rods.Often times though, fly fishermen start their …

When I first started fly fishing I would exclusively use dry flies. Dry fly fishing is simple – you watch the fly float on the water, try to maintain the same speed as the current, and when a fish eats it you set the hook. I saw what was going on and I knew what …

My next pair of wading boots might have to be the ORVIS BOA System Pivot Wading Boot! I’ve been eyeing these for a while, and they’re high up on my (never ending) gear list.I love the idea of the Boa tightening system on these boots. Not like tying your boots …

The rod and reel are the two staple tools a fly fisherman uses to chase fish. But, for many fishermen, the reel is a much less important piece of equipment than they may realize (sorry to break it to you).Depending on the type of fishing you do, I would sometimes recommend saving money on your …

How to use split shot to catch more fish when fly fishingFly fishing began with the exclusive use of flies on the surface of the water. Later to become known as dry fly fishing, this method results in exciting, visual takes. Everyone who has ever caught a fish on a dry fly had a smile …

Fly fishermen are always dealing with the cold. Trout, salmon, steelhead, pike, and char are our favorite targets, and all these species live in cold water, usually in cold places. And while we may all prefer a warm spring or fall day, the fish don’t stop biting when winter comes around, so we keep fishing, even when it’s cold. …

“The fish of a thousand casts.”Get used to hearing that phrase if you’re targeting steelhead with a fly rod.It is a fish that is as elusive as it is desired; as difficult to catch as it is beautiful; as frustrating as it is worthy.Steelhead trout are truly the fish of a lifetime earning them a …

As a fly fishing novice, one of the best things you can do to learn more about fly fishing is to simply spend more time around people who love to fly fish. And fly fishermen or women aren’t difficult to find. Just head to your local brewery, and look for the group of sun burned, …

Spotting scopes have many different uses, with the top three being wildlife viewing, hunting, and birding. However, there are so many scopes on the market today it can be difficult to find a high-quality, affordable scope.In my own search for the best spotting scopes under $1000, I discovered there are some key factors to consider. …

Tying the Griffith’s Gnat; one of the most popular and effective adult midge patterns.