When Should Fly Line be Changed?
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.
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When Should You Change Flies?
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
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Ed Shenk: Professor of the Letort
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
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Classic Dry Flies: The Royal Coachman
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
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Watch: Slate Drakes on a Mountain Stream
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
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Studded or Felt-Lined Wading Boots: Which is Better?
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
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Tippet Rings: How and When to Use Them
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
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Check Out the Dark Skies Fly Fishing Channel on YouTube!
Dark Skies Fly Fishing now has a YouTube channel! Every week, we explore new waters and new species throughout this region as well as instructional fly tying videos. Hope you’ll check it out, like and subscribe to our channel! Here are a few of our recent productions: https://youtu.be/WK8QTi5gvvg?si=_yj6j4d43EucygRVhttps://youtu.be/UcFaqUv4I2g?si=MC9uusRLP78BvBaShttps://youtu.be/9E6bkTCdGmA?si=ev0AA-gEOA20onPi Did You Enjoy Watching Our Videos?
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Tough Days are Inevitable: Adjustments to Make When Fish Aren’t Cooperating
It would be nice if every day was a banner day. It would be nice if every car ride home after fishing was a windows down, radio up kind of ride, driving with a smile on your face as you called to mind every trout brought to hand. But this is fishing, and not
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Nymphing Techniques for Great Lakes Steelhead
Egg patterns get all the glory for Great Lakes steelhead, but truth is, a variety of nymphs and streamers will also catch fish. Sure, the right egg pattern in the right situation can produce a banner day, but if you focus more on presentation than on trying to find that “magic egg color,” you’ll catch
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