It’s the best time of year for dry-fly fishers. It’s “terrestrial season.” Hoppers, beetles and ants are the flavor of the day, and high-floating foam imitations are among the best flies out there to chase top-water trout that are looking for big meals during this rare time of plenty. Video of Chernobyl Ant Here, Tim
We’ve all dreamed of being the first angler to set foot in some remote paradise. The first to cast to catch fish that have never seen a fly. That fantasy is buried in the depths of all our souls, and, sadly, for most of us, it won’t become a reality. But we can live vicariously
So, here’s the deal. If you don’t want to do this, your fly fishing soul is dead. Granted, simple finances and the challenges that come with travel to remote places where golden dorado congregate in cold, clear rainforest waters might make this a dream adventure that never comes true. But if a part of you
Damn it’s cold outside, right? When these deep freeze “bomb cyclones” dip into the normally temperate climes of the American South and leave us all chilled to the bone, I tend to start surfing the travel sites for great deals to points south. Way south. Tropical south. And that, of course, makes me think of
Thank you to Donegal PA TU Veterans Service Partnership and to Bill Nolan for your efforts to tie some flies for the national TU Veterans Service Parternship program. We are very grateful for your generous gift. Please be assured that we’ll put them to good use for our veteran couples trip to Slough Creek and
I have worn Carhartt work jackets since I was in college. They are tough, durable, and unlike the rest of us, they look better as they age. The Carhartt Rain Defender was my first foray into the company’s rain gear, and I was pleased. I took it carp fishing one cloudy day, and appreciated the
This showed up in my feed this week, and I just had to share it. It’s a couple of years old, but I’m of the mind that Hank Patterson is actually pretty ageless. And kudos to Orvis for bringing Hank on board to promote some new fly fishing techniques. I mean, where else would hear
Here’s a pretty common challenge: you’re on a great stretch of trout water at last light, and fish are rising to small mayflies or tiny micro-caddis flies. You have the right fly, but in the low light, there’s virtually no chance you’re going to be able to see it. How many times have you been
About us Founded in 1985, we are the largest exclusively fly fishing retailer in the Southeast. Our 4000 square foot store in Asheville NC offers the best selection of premium fly fishing equipment and customer service. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are ready to help anglers of all levels on their next fly fishing adventure.
With as much as a good pair of Gore-tex waders costs these days, it pays to do your best to take care of them. But even in the best conditions, waders will eventually fail—water is pretty determined to find its way into even the smallest of holes. Above, Cameron McDonald from Simms walks you through
The guys at Trouts Fly Shop in Denver hit the Colorado River recently, and they did some serious damage to the river’s lively browns and rainbows using baetis imitations. Baetis, often imitated in the dun form by the venerable Blue-winged Olive, are great springtime flies, and among the first mayflies to emerge and hatch when
I love to swing soft-hackle flies. It’s one of the best fishing methods I know for trout in steadily moving water with a generally constant depth. Below, RIO Products Brand Manager Simon Gawesworth shows you what kind of water you’ll be looking for when you’re out to swing soft-hackles, and he’ll give you some gear
The bucktail wing is one of the elementary ingredients in a number of popular flies, from Clousers to Coachmen … even some caddis patterns call for bucktail. But, man, can it be hard to work with or what? I’ve always struggled with bucktail—I either lash it too tightly to the hook shank, which makes it
Winter midge fishing is at its peak here in the West, and I’m always amazed at how big trout will take the tiniest bugs this time of year. In that spirit, Tim Flagler offers up his Corded Midge Larva, a diminutive midge tied on a tiny size 24 hook (which generally disqualifies me as someone
Tools & Resources to Help You Raise More Money Online & Engage New Communities The all-new TU Fundraising Platform is designed to provide your chapter or council with fast, easy and incredibly effective digital tools which marry great fundraising resources with exciting social and crowdfunding opportunities. Your chapter can use this tool to setup any
One of the earliest stonefly hatches is likely about to start on some fabled trout streams in the West. The skwala stoneflies — a dark, greenish-gray bug — should be about ready to pop in rivers like the Bitterroot, the Blackfoot and others in western Montana, and other rivers throughout the region can claim hatches
We are conveniently located upstairs on the corner of Main Ave and College St in the center of downtown Durango. Our local rivers are anywhere from 10 minutes to 1-hour drive from our front door. Durango is ideally situated between the mountains and high desert offering a great diversity of fishing opportunities. Whether you are
You are invited to join Trout Unlimited, TROUT and Fly Fusion magazines this March through May to celebrate trout and the local fly-fishing communities across the West!
Taylor’s Sneaky Coyote. By Mark Taylor I’m off in a bit on a quest for fly-tying materials. Usually this mission involves a short drive down to the local Orvis store or nearby Sportsman’s Warehouse. But this time of year, it means I’m headed to the woods, bow or gun in hand. I wouldn’t go so
Wes Gwaltney, president of the New River Valley of Trout Unlimited, fishes the West Prong of the Pigeon River near Gatlinburg, Tenn., in late April. Even as damage from 2016 fires remains, the forest in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is greening up with the arrival of spring. (Mark Taylor photo.) By Mark Taylor
