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The True Cast – What line weight fly rod is really best for trout?
My answer to this question—which I get asked at least once a week by someone—has evolved over time. But before we get into the weeds, let’s put a few universal truths out there for context. The actual weight of a fly rod and the “weight” of the line it is designed to work with are two completely…
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Summer fun: Bass and sunfish on poppers
Overhanging branches and a swirling wind made this a tough cast. It came together, the moderate action 3-weight Sage fly rod loading nicely, as always, and the meaty fly landing with a splat deep in the shady pocket. Next came the slurp, then the fight, then the fish to hand — another stout bluegill that just couldn’t resist the…
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TROUT Tip – Make it fun
If you’re motivated to teach fly fishing to kids, it is imperative to keep it fun. Sure, we’d like them to perfect the cast and find joy in matching the hatch and catching fish, but in the end, it’s all about making them want to come back to it. If lessons keep coming at them at warp speed, they’ll quickly lose interest. Make it fun…
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Spend summer chasing smallmouth with streamers
Summer has gotten under way with historically low water and high air temperatures, both of which can put a lot of stress on our trout fisheries. What else can we do if we’re not fishing for trout? House projects are caught up, garden chores are done and the yard’s mowed. Now what? Target smallmouth bass on the fly Bronzebacks, small jaws, smallies or whatever you want to call them can be an absolute…
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Chasing rainbows: all about and how to catch rainbow trout
Perhaps the most iconic of all trout species, the rainbow is one of the most recognized game fish around the world. With both wild and widely introduced populations, rainbows can be caught on six continents. But this sparkling example of a salmonid traces its humble roots back to North America’s West Coast. With its silvery and…
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Stream champion: Bernard “Bud” Nagelvoort
It was a sultry day in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, the combination of heat and humidity creating a heat index that’s uncomfortable at best, dangerous at worst. Sitting in his comfortably air-conditioned home near the Shenandoah River, Bernard “Bud” Nagelvoort was glad he already got his workout in. “I already got my run in,” he said…
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TROUT Tip – troubleshooting the cast
Since we’ve been harping on how warm and low waters are, especially across many favorite trout streams in the West, let’s talk about correcting casting mistakes since that’s a good way to spend your time if you’re not fishing. Typically, one of three mistakes is made when learning to cast a fly rod (and made even years after having…
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