Tactics & Techniques Archives - Dark Skies Fly Fishing

Fishing Skinny Water: Riffles, Pockets, Side Channels, and Bank Water

2 Comments / All, Tactics & Techniques / Justin Leidy

In the springtime, driving along popular stretches of streams and creeks often gives way to multiple cars in every pull off and numbers of fisherman stacked up in likely runs and pools. This scenario occurs as regularly in stocked put-and-take waters as it does special regulations sections. Sometimes, finding a place to strategically work with […]

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Fly Fishing with Midges: Best Midge Patterns and How to Fish Them

Leave a Comment / All, General Interest, Tactics & Techniques / Ralph Scherder

Midges are some of the most common insects found in waterways all around the world. This article discusses tactics for catching more fish with midges, favorite patterns, and when to use them.

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Fall Fly Fishing Tactics for Trout

2 Comments / All, General Interest, Tactics & Techniques / Ralph Scherder

Fly fishing during fall can be spectacular. This time of year, trout are feeding heavily in preparation for the spawn and winter. But that doesn’t mean they’re also easy to catch! This article provides tactics and tips for making the most of your time on the water this fall.

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Best Flies for Fall Fly Fishing for Trout

4 Comments / All, General Interest, Hatches & Patterns, Tactics & Techniques / Ralph Scherder

Fall fly fishing can be both picturesque and productive. Learn which flies you should carry in your fly box to catch more trout this fall season. This article discusses 15 of our favorite patterns.

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How to Fish and Tie Flying Ant and Fur Ant Patterns – and When to Fish Them!

2 Comments / All, Fly Tying, Tactics & Techniques / Ralph Scherder

Flying and fur ant patterns are some of the top producing flies for trout and panfish during the summer and early fall months. In this article, we explain why they work so well and provide tips for fishing with some of our favorite ant imitations.

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All About the Connection: How to Connect Fly Line to Leader and Leader to Tippet

Leave a Comment / All, General Interest, Tactics & Techniques / Matt Marter

It’s often said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and that also applies to the connections used in your fly fishing rig. The knots you tie and methods used to connect fly line to leader and leader to tippet can often mean the difference between fly fishing success and failure.

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Chasing Bronzebacks: Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass

2 Comments / All, Tactics & Techniques / Matt Marter

Fly fishing for smallmouth bass is one of the best ways to pass those warm summer months when streams start to warm. Smallmouth bass can be found in rivers and streams big and small throughout this region and offer plenty of hot action on the fly!

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After the Strike: 3 Keys to Landing Big Trout

Leave a Comment / All, Tactics & Techniques / Ralph Scherder

Landing trophy trout takes practice. Unfortunately, experience losing big fish is often the best teacher, but with these three tips, you can reduce the learning curve and get more trophy trout into the net.

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Nymphing for Wild Trout During Central PA’s White Sucker Spawn

2 Comments / All, General Interest, Tactics & Techniques / Justin Leidy

Nymphing during the white sucker spawn on a Central PA limestone stream is an experience you’ll never forget. This article discusses the intricacies of timing and fishing this natural phenomenon.

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Egg Patterns for Trout: Best Colors, Sizes, When, and How to Fish Them

3 Comments / All, Tactics & Techniques / Ralph Scherder

Overall, I’d consider myself a little late to the egg game. When I first started fly fishing, Glo Bugs and Sucker Spawn seemed the rage, but using these flies often failed to consistently produce as many trout as I’d hoped, and quite honestly, I found that a good Prince Nymph or Pheasant Tail Nymph produced

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