Although synthetic materials have certainly grown in popularity in recent years, some of the best materials for tying flies are and always will be natural feathers and fur. Pheasant tails are a prime example. Not only is this the primary ingredient for its namesake, the Pheasant Tail Nymph, but it’s a major component of countless […]
How to Clean and Preserve Natural Feathers and Furs for Fly Tying Read More »
Hobbies can be expensive, and fly fishing is no different. Good gear isn’t cheap, and the longer you fly fish, and the more involved you get in the sport, the more expensive that gear will tend to be. However, just getting started in fly fishing doesn’t have to break the bank. You can still get
How to Get Started Fly Fishing…On A Budget! Read More »
The longer a fly line or leader sits unused, the more likely it is to develop memory. This memory is usually in the form of tight coils from being stored on a reel or, as is the case with leaders, tightly wound in packages on store shelves. Fortunately, no matter how bad the memory is,
How to Remove Memory from Your Fly Line and Leader Read More »
In this post, you will learn when it’s time to change your fly line as well as how to make sure your fly line lasts for many years to come.
When Should Fly Line be Changed? Read More »
Recently, I received this message from a reader of this blog: “When fishing a long pool or long run that you know is holding fish, how many drifts through the pool should you make before you decide it is time to change your fly?” John B., St. Marys, PA. One of the great mysteries of
When Should You Change Flies? Read More »
Ed Shenk fishes Letort Spring Run in the 1950s. (Photo by Lefty Kreh, used with permission.) Ralph Edward “Ed” Shenk was born in January 1927 and grew up not far from the banks of Pennsylvania’s famous Letort Spring Run. When Shenk was a kid, he was asked about the fishing on Letort Spring Run one
Ed Shenk: Professor of the Letort Read More »
Not long ago, it dawned on me that I’d never caught a trout on a Royal Coachman, perhaps the most famous of all classic dry fly patterns. So I headed to a local Class A wild trout stream and purposed to change that. It was literally a downpour, but the trout were cooperative. Within a
Classic Dry Flies: The Royal Coachman Read More »
A new video on the Dark Skies YouTube channel shows us exploring a mountain stream for native brook trout using a Slate Drake pattern. Slate Drakes are unique in that they don’t hatch like typical mayflies. Instead of emerging from the water’s surface, they crawl up on to boulders and other structure in and
Watch: Slate Drakes on a Mountain Stream Read More »
Someone recently asked, should I get waders with studded or felt lined wading boots? It’s a good question, and there are positives and negatives to each. I’ve owned both types, and will explain what I prefer better and why. What are Studded Boots? Studs are placed into the soles of wading boots to improve traction
Studded or Felt-Lined Wading Boots: Which is Better? Read More »
Tippet rings have become a necessary part of my fly fishing set up. They increase the life of your leader and make changing tippet sizes a breeze. Simply attach one to the end of your leader with a clinch knot, and then use another clinch knot to attach the tippet to the ring. Easy as
Tippet Rings: How and When to Use Them Read More »