Beginners

part-1

As a longtime commercial fly tier, I’m used to people marveling about how fast I can tie. Truth is, short…»

Frog

Passionate fly fishers dream of having their kids turn into their best fishing buddies. It often doesn’t happen at all,…»

Hold

[Simon Gawesworth is one of the world’s finest casters and more importantly, a gifted teacher. What follows is an excerpt…»

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  Smallmouth and largemouth bass might be America’s most popular gamefish—and for good reason. These hardy, stocky predators smash lures…»

In a small stream, an upstream presentation is the most logical. On bigger rivers, there are more options. Geoff Mueller Photo

How to catch trout on nymphs, streamers, and drys         Now that you know the food items…»

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Every fly fisher would like to cast better and more efficiently. Why is it, then, that many fly fishers can’t…»

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Your rod, reel, and line are important, but putting it all together and making it work effectively is a major…»

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  One of my great fly-fishing pleasures is bugging for smallmouth along the shores of a beautiful lake. I don’t…»

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  Those of us who have experienced the excitement of hooking wild, stream smallmouth on a fly can’t help but…»

Surface1

  I was fortunate to discover fly fishing over 60 years ago and of all the techniques I’ve used and…»

Seasons Of The Sunfish

I’d like you to consider three questions: What is the first fish most of us catch on a fly? What…»

Midge-Life

  Trout eat a host of aquatic insects, terrestrial insects, other fish, crustaceans, leeches, worms, and other foods. The food…»

Hold

(Visual galleries after article) As fish hunters we sometimes see the fish we’re after, other times we encounter “searching water”…»

Steelhead and salmon are anadromous which means they hatch in fresh water, the young migrate to the ocean or a large lake where they grow to maturity; then the adult fish return to freshwater rivers and streams to spawn and the salmon die. Ross Purnell Photo

How to catch the fish of a lifetime     Steelhead and salmon are anadromous fish, which means they hatch…»

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America’s most popular fish     Smallmouth and largemouth bass might be America’s most popular gamefish—and for good reason. These…»

Fish in a stream look for places where they can find shelter from the current, hide from predators, and still be close to good feeding opportunities. The 12 locations identified here are only a sample of some of the places you’ll find trout, bass, and other gamefish in a stream. KEY: 	1 	Depth Change 	2	Backeddy 	3 	Current Seam 	4 	Tributary 	5 	Undercut Bank 	6 	Overhanging  		Vegetation 	7 	In Front of a Rock 	8 	Bank Obstruction 	9 	Riffle 	10 	Tail of a Pool 	11 Head of a Pool 	12 Behind a Rock

Learning how to read the water     Locating fish is the first step to a successful outing. In moving…»

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Beginner bug blueprints—mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, midges, terrestrials, and more     Trout eat a host of aquatic insects, terrestrial insects,…»

The best way to learn fly casting is from a qualified professional at one of the many fly-fishing school offered around the country. photo courtesy of the Wulff School of Fly Fishing

Get started right with professional instruction     Unless you have a friend or relative who also happens to be…»

Your rod and line should match in weight. Your reel should also be sized to match your rod and line for a balanced outfit. Barry & Cathy Beck Photo

How to choose the right rod, line, reel, and other gear for your fishing     To get started fly…»

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Simple steps to deliver your fly to the fish       Casting a spinning rod and casting a fly rod…»

Tying good knots is a prerequisite to successful fly fishing. Practice your knots at home before you go fishing so you can do it quickly and correctly when you are on the stream. David J. Siegfried photo

It’s easier than you think   Knots don’t have to be a roadblock on your way to fly-fishing Nirvana. Don’t…»

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The riffle gradually smoothed into a foamy green run, except for several swirling breaks as the water flowed over a…»

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In mid-October longtime British fishing champion and Hardy & Greys Ltd. Category Manager Game,  Howard L. Croston demonstrated to 10 expert fly fishers why…»

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There is a common misconception that Florida tarpon fishing is all about making 90-foot hero casts. Wrong. Often—especially when the…»