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The downstream mend
Many of us, particularly those who walk and wade with a fly rod in hand, incorporate the upstream mend in order to get a better, longer drift when we're nymphing or floating a dry fly through fishy water. But for anglers who are swinging streamers or soft-hackles, the downstream mend needs to be a part…
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At home on the Tongass
My father once told me that “home is where you hang your hat.” I believed it, for a time, at least. I mean, as a young boy, who was I to argue with the wisdom of a grownup? I’ve come to realize, though, that “home” is where everything seems to fall into place just right.…
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Off Season
We all have a passion in life, even if, like my kids, we haven't really figured out what it is yet. For fly fishers—real, die-hard, rather-fish-than-eat anglers—our passion is simple. A rod, a line, a fly and some water are all it takes to ignite the lamp in our souls and put our passion to…
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The lowly whitefish
The mountain whitefish native to the northwest U.S. There’s trout water, and then there’s trout water that also holds mountain whitefish. The latter is likely healthier. Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) are often greeted by anglers with the same enthusiasm they might afford a creek chub or a sucker. The slightly downturned snout may not be as…
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Desert Dries
Steelhead are never easy to catch. If they were ... well, they wouldn't be steelhead. But they might be especially difficult to catch on a skated dry fly. One western river, the desert section of the lower Deschutes, is known for big, fresh-from-the-Columbia chromers that will, indeed, hit a dry fly on the skate. https://youtu.be/uht997Ccw_M…
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Red Tag Wet Fly
Wet flies fished on the swing can be among the most effective patterns for trout, particularly in late summer and early fall when migratory fish, like brown trout and brook trout, are aggressive and hungry. https://youtu.be/j9Pp2Xuq-J0 Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions ties a great wet fly pattern in the video above. Although originally tied in…
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Pine Squirrel Trout Spey Streamer
My streamer fishing has been on hold this summer—I've been on a dry-fly kick, what with hopper season in full swing here in the West. But, when it comes time in just a few weeks, I'm going to tie a few Pine Squirrel Trout Spey streamers, thanks to the video below from Tim Flagler of…
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