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The True Cast – Sight fishing tip: Find the player
The fun really starts when you spot a bunch of trout in a river, but this is when you have some decisions to make. Naturally, the first question that comes to mind is what are the fish eating? If you’re lucky, the answers are likely flying all around you in bug form. And if you see snouts poking up on the surface,…
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Photo of the Week – back to school
While this isn’t the school most students are preparing for, this school is equally important. Fish swim together, especially when growing, for safety reasons. They’re probably learning from one another during that time as well, just as we humans do when we go to school. Here’s to a great summer and educational school year.
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TROUT Tip – Eliminate pressure
Along the lines of keeping it fun, pressure is not fun for anyone learning something new. This is just as true for kids as it is for adults. If your student flubs a cast, help them brush it off by encouraging them to try again or suggest a tip to help on the next one. If their fly lands in…
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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…