Many times over the years, I’ve talked with people who said they’d fish new waters but they don’t know where to start or even how to find new places to fish. They’ve read great things about a particular stream or river but have no clue about access, stream conditions, what fly hatches might be there, […]
Exploring New Waters: How to Find New Places to Fish and Have A Successful First Trip Read More »
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2OA1y9g5DA&t=150s In this video, Dark Skies Fly Fishing contributor Justin Leidy discusses the importance of color changes in riffles and runs and how to located the seams where fish are most likely to be feeding. To read more about nymphing this type of water, check out “Is it a Riffle or Run…and Does it Really
Watch: Reading the Water, Color Changes and Seams Read More »
On a business trip to State College earlier this spring, I had only two hours of free time and decided it should be spent fly fishing on Bald Eagle Creek in Centre County. Not to be confused with the nearby stream of the same name, this Bald Eagle Creek is a 55-mile tributary of the
Fly Fishing Bald Eagle Creek in Centre County Read More »
Fish often enough, and every now and then something amazing happens! In early July, following several days of thunderstorms and cooler weather, I was able to get on the stream and chase some big wild brown trout. I ended up landing my personal best wild brown, and I was fortunate enough to get it
Watch: Massive Wild Brown Trout Caught and Released! Read More »
Although I’ve fished small streams for smallmouth bass my entire life, most of that was done with conventional tackle. Occasionally I picked up the fly rod and caught a few, but I didn’t really focus on them with the intent to get better at catching them. The past couple years, though, I’ve purposed to change
Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in Small Streams Read More »
Discusses a summer visit to the Fly Fishing Only section and what you can expect when fishing there this time of year.
A Good Day on Yellow Creek’s Fly Fishing Only Section Read More »
Bluegills and other panfish on a fly rod are fun for kids, but they’re fun for adults, too. The nice thing about these species is their simplicity. If they’re hungry, they eat, and they’re generally not as selective as trout. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be picky. In fact, they can be downright infuriating,
Favorite Panfish Flies Top to Bottom Read More »
If you believe in luck, then you believe in lucky items. A rabbit’s foot, a lucky hat, maybe even a lucky fly. But how about a lucky net? I recently obtained a hand-crafted, 22-inch wooden handled net from Jennings Net Co in Mercer County, PA. The 22-inch handle is important here because, without it, I’m
Review: Jennings Net Co’s Hand-Crafted Fishing Nets Read More »
Fishing with big dry flies is fun. An easy-to-see Stimulator or hopper pattern floating in the current and a long shadow rising up to engulf it. It’s the stuff of dreams. Fishing big dry flies is not always easy, though. Big dry flies twist the line, are a pain to cast, and require an
Stimulators and Hoppers: The Art of Fishing Big Dry Flies Read More »
For the first time ever, I drove down Owasse Road to the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) section of Pine Creek in the PA Grand Canyon and encountered no other vehicles parked along the stream. Moreover, after tugging on my waders and stringing up my rod, I pushed through the foliage to the
Finicky Trout and BWOs: Matching the Evening Hatch on Pine Creek Read More »
