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Atherton No. 2 Nymph
Tying the Atherton No. 2 Nymph
Well-known fly pattern creator John Atherton wasn't much for literal imitation when it came to tying his flies. Instead, he was the discipline's answer to impressionist painters—nothing looks exactly right in an Atherton creation, but nothing looks too out of place, either. Thankfully, trout often seem to look at flies the same we tend to…
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Fly fishing tips from north of the border
Fly-fishing tips from our friends up north
I love to fly fish in Canada. From the spine of the Rockies to its boreal forests, the Canadian north rivals any fishy locale on the planet, and fly fishing is a great way to get to know the waters of this region. The folks at The New Fly Fisher — anglers like Mark Melnyk,…
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The final eight: how to tie some great trout flies
Eight flies, one tournament. May the best fly win
The TU-Loon Outdoors Spring Fly Showdown is in its final week, and the tournament is down to its final eight flies. Not surprisingly, given that most of us learn to fly fish for trout before we branch off and try to tackle other species, like bass and pike, or saltwater critters like bonefish and tarpon,…
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Inspiration
Fishing lore, wisdom and humor are an antidote for troubled times.
I’ve long felt that standing in moving water feels purgative. So in troubled times my mind turns ever to fishing, especially for trout, in the clean, cold waters in which they thrive. But I’ve not done any wading lately, in any sort of water, even though it’s possible under California’s “Shelter In Place” rule. Call…
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When overdoing it is a good thing
Tying flies through the outbreak Like a lot of anglers who endeavor to tie their own flies, either out of economic necessity or simple hubris, I tend to overdo it sometimes. I was scheduled to take a trip at the end of the month to the marshes and beaches of south Alabama (yes … check…
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Surf candy
Fly fishing on both coasts for striped bass wouldn't be the same without Bob Popovic's Surf Candy. It's one of the best patterns anglers can use for stripers that are crushing bait in the salt, and even for fish that are migrating upriver en route to spawning water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBkSZoX-TMo Tim Flagler ties the Surf Candy…
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The spey cast, part three
How to avoid the collision loop
We've learned about the "point" and how to avoid the "bloody L" as we learn to spey cast from RIO Products' Simon Gawesworth. Now, the casting artist has his sights set on angles, targets and how to avoid the dreaded "collision loop." https://vimeo.com/382097693 As Simon notes, any fly cast—not just a spey cast—has a distinct…
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