The weather in Virginia had been horrible. Snow, snow, snow, and cold, cold, cold! Then came the sudden change of warm weather, with snow melt, and increased stream flow. But in Virginia, that doesn’t always mean high, muddy water. Rather, snow melt often leads to a modest rise in the stream flow, with continued clarity, […]
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Tag: trout streams
Get Out of the Drift Boat!
For many first-time anglers, the journey begins in a drift boat, on a big western stream. Captivated by their experience, I’m often asked what one can do to learn more about fly fishing. My short answer is, “Get out of the drift boat!” A typical day for beginners in a drift boat consists mostly of […]
Fly Fishing for Brown Trout in Nelson NZ
I just returned from a trip, fly fishing for brown trout in Nelson NZ. Roughly twelve years ago, I visited the Taupo Region of the North Island, and fished several tributaries to lake Taupo. The fishery there was dominated by rainbow trout. This time, I wanted to fish the Nelson Region of the South Island, […]
Fishing the Dry Fly as a Living Insect
I think that Leonard Wright Jr. is one of the twentieth century’s most overlooked fly fishing authors. Well known to his contemporaries, his works have been “lost” over time. I found his first book, “Fishing the Dry Fly as a Living Insect” (1972), in a used bookstore in Ennis, Montana. It had a musty, old-library odor […]
Orvis PRO Trout Line
Orvis acquired Scientific Anglers several years ago. Since that acquisition, the Orvis lines have undergone a complete overhaul. The most recent line upgrade was recently introduced as the PRO lines. This is a review of the Orvis PRO trout line. This fall, I cast and fished the smooth Orvis PRO trout line (https://amzn.to/39VlC9V ). It has a […]
Fly Fishing Central Idaho
This August, fishing-buddy Reid and I chose to go fly fishing in Central Idaho. From our Montana base in Ennis, we drove west, through the Big Hole Valley, entering Idaho through the Chief Joseph Pass. It is a historical site, paying homage to the famous Nez Perce retreat to Canada. Once in Idaho, we drove […]
Fly Fishing the Subsurface, Tightline Nymphing
Last month, in “Fly Fishing the Subsurface, Suspension Nymphing“, I began a series of blogs reviewing techniques used to fly fish the subsurface for trout. This blog, “Fly Fishing the Subsurface, Tightline Nymphing”, continues the series. I prefer to use the inclusive term, “tightline nymphing”. It lumps Euro, Czech, Polish, Spanish, French, Hewitt, Brooks, and […]
“Tactical Fly Fishing”- a Book Review
“Tactical Fly Fishing”, by Devin Olsen, is the latest book by a member of the Fly Fishing Team USA. Like previous team members’ books, it details the various methods of Euro Nymphing, or tight-line nymphing. However, this is still a valuable addition to the current fly fishing literature. The real strength of Olsen’s work lies […]
Read Trout Streams Like an Expert, Even if You’re Not
When I take newcomer fly fishers to a stream, one of the first questions asked is where to cast the fly. Teaching newcomers to read trout streams is challenging. More experienced fly fishers are accustomed to breaking down the water into primary lies, feeding lies and holding lies. They look for riffles, runs, pools, tailouts, […]
Global Warming, a Call to Trout Anglers
I was prompted to write this blog after reading an editorial, written by 13 year old Kian Tanner, already an avid trout angler. It was titled “Are There Any Adults in the Room?” (https://www.hatchmag.com/blog/are-there-any-adults-room/7714744). Call it “Climate Change”, or “Global Warming”, I don’t care. But the inconvenient truth is that our planet is warming. Trout […]
“Nymph Fishing for Larger Trout”, a book review
Another of my favorite author’s is Charles E. Brooks. He hales from an earlier era, and wrote several books, two of which I have read. I particularly liked “Nymph Fishing for Larger Trout” (1976). It is illustrated by Dave Whitlock. Although concise, the author summarizes ten nymphing methods employed at that time. In addition, he […]
“Trout”, a book review
Ernest Schwiebert is probably my favorite fly fishing author. He began fly fishing at the age of eight. During his lifetime, he fished with most all the famous Catskill fly fishermen. They regarded him as a pre-eminent colleague at an early age. He authored five books on fly fishing, three of which I have read. […]
Fly Fishing, Getting Started
‘Tis the start of a new year! I couldn’t think of a more apropos topic than “getting started” into the sport of fly fishing. I intend the discussion to be helpful both for those interested in starting, and those helping others get started. There are five minimal essentials needed to place an artificial fly on […]
“Moving Water”, a Book Review
In “Moving Water”, Dave Hall, fly fisher, author and artist, combines his talents to reflect upon experiences along his life-long fly fishing journey, shared with friends and family. The verses come in snippets, leaving much unsaid. The accompanying misty, muted paintings portray the peace, tranquility and beauty to be found in nature and friendships. The […]
Fly Line Basics
Many, if not most, fly fishers believe that a good cast is most dependent upon the fly rod and the caster. However, I would posit that the fly line contributes as much to the end result as the rod. In addition, once the cast is completed, the choice of line impacts the presentation and effectiveness […]
Fishing Streamers
As leaves begin to turn from green to crimson and gold, trout anglers begin to think of fishing streamers. While streamers can, and probably should, be fished throughout the year, few question their especial efficacy in the fall. This is particularly true in streams inhabited with fall spawners, that is, brown and brook trout. Exhausted […]
Native Trout Restoration
I am a life member of Trout Unlimited, and believe in the balance of nature that biodiversity provides. But native trout restoration is an issue that gives me angst. It’s hard to witness the destruction of a healthy fishery with rotenone, in the hopes of restoring a native fishery. I do ponder whether it is […]
Fly Fishing Southeast Idaho
This summer, fishing buddy Reid and I planned a camping trip to include south central and southeast Idaho. But temperatures in the mid-nineties and forest fires in the central portion of the state led to a change of plans. We confined our trip to fly fishing southeast Idaho. The major fishery there is the Henry’s Fork […]
Fly Fishing Spring Creeks
When I began fly fishing for trout, I was fortunate to be living in Virginia. The Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia boast over 2,000 miles of native brook trout water. Such small mountain streams offer the ideal venue for learning how to fly fish for trout. They require stealth, accurate casting, and good presentation. In […]
Fly Fishing Tough Conditions- Catching Trout Despite Th...
Before I retired, I tried to fish two or three times a month. Working Monday through Friday and sharing a weekend on-call schedule, I couldn’t afford to wait for an ideal set of fishing conditions. When I had a week-end day free, I either went fishing and dealt with the conditions at hand, or I […]
Fly Fishing Season Transitions- Strategies for Trout
Over the past several years, I have written separately about the four seasons of fly fishing for trout. Done in this manner, I think it’s difficult to convey the many changes that occur during the transition from one season to another. With this piece, I will focus on the transitions. It is during these periods […]
Fly Fishing Northeast Idaho
Last winter, fishing buddy Reid presented me with a challenge. The past few summers we fished in southwest Montana. Looking for a change, he most wanted to get away from the hordes that flock to the well known streams in that region. After some thought, I suggested that we try fly fishing northeast Idaho. Much […]
Fly Fishing Etiquette- Some Real Scenarios
I recognize that to venture into the topic of fly fishing etiquette may be Quixotic. But with the ever increasing number of anglers on our streams today, unpleasant encounters seem to be increasing. The discussion of etiquette usually comes up after a drink or two at the end of a day’s fishing. After a retelling […]
Spring Fly Fishing in the Blueridge Mountains- a Photo ...
Spring is the season of hope, at least for fly fishers. We have become weary of winter, of fishing impossible-to-see midges, and of standing in chilly rain and snow waiting for an olive hatch to happen. Spring refills the trout streams with water, and promises a return of more predictable hatches, with flies that don’t […]
Fly Fishing Small Streams
Most trout anglers who take up fly fishing get their start by fly fishing small streams. What is it about small streams that attracts us? Is it their abundance? The sound of a mountain stream plunging over rocky falls into waiting pools? The gullibility of some of its finny inhabitants? Perhaps it’s the intimacy between the fly […]
Matching the Hatch and Other Fly Fishing Short Stories
I want to start the new year off with a bit of a twist. Instead of writing an advice column, I’m going to offer a few vignettes, spin some fly fishing short stories. They arise from quirky but true events that have happened over the years. Matching the Hatch “When you come first to the river in […]
Fly Fishing Fall- a Photo Essay
Fall is a special season for all, especially for fly fishers. The multi-colored riparian foliage is like a brilliant tapestry, strung along the streams’ edges. Its sheer beauty is sometimes distracting when fly fishing fall. But the trout, brook and brown, are in peak condition, ready to spawn, and fiercely defend their reds. Thus it is the […]
Fly Fishing Destinations – Ennis, Montana
Fly Fishing Destinations – Ennis, Montana Montana and fly fishing are almost synonymous. Ever since Norman MacLean’s novella, “A River Runs Through It“, became a movie in 1992, fly fishing has become increasingly popular. As a result, Montana has become a major destination for fly fishers. There are so many good streams and destinations in Montana to consider, […]
Fly Fishing the Riffle
Whenever I’m scouting a new trout stream, one of the types of water I look for is the riffle. Why? Well, to paraphrase the famous bank robber Willie Sutton, I want to fish riffles “because that’s where the fish are”! In this article, “Fly Fishing the Riffle”, I will describe the features of a riffle, its […]
Fly Fishing Tips: How to Find More Trout
Fly fishing magazines frequently publish articles with titles like “Six Steps to Better Fly Fishing”, or “Ten Tips to Catch More Trout”. But in this article, “Fly Fishing Tips: How to Find More Trout”, I’m going to up the ante, and discuss THE ONE TIP which is most likely to put more trout into your net. I […]