February 2015

BY LEFTY KREH An important and often ignored principle for making the best presentation, getting distance or using various types of lines is the angle at which the fly line is directed on the forward cast. While many people cast at the same angle for most situations, you need to modify the

BY WAY YIN I was recently had the pleasure of participating in a series of seminars with Scott MacKenzie, who most experts would consider the greatest spey caster - ever. Scott and I were telling our audiences that we felt this was the best time in history for people to get into

BY MICHAEL HATFIELD Streamers are patterns tied to imitate a larger food source such as a leech or baitfish rather than a small aquatic insect. Depending on the fish species you are targeting a streamer can be as small as, say a #8 micro bugger or something as large as a ten

How To Choose the Right Fly Line Weight BY LEFTY KREH Let me begin by saying that rod manufacturers design rods for the average person to use under average conditions. So unfortunately, most fly fishermen use only one weight of line on their favorite rod. Written on the rod blank or handle is a

Catching Brook Trout Out West BY BRIAN O'KEEFE Here in Oregon I really like the springtime, early season opportunities for brook trout in many lakes, and creeks. People who know western rivers may not know that a section of the Deschutes River, near Bend, Oregon, has a healthy population of big brookies. By

Swinging for Steel  By Mike Verhoef Even with the number of times I have seen a steelhead almost pull the rod out of a persons hand it still always reminds me of the favorite saying I heard a number of years back……”the swing is the thing but the tug is the drug”! Once

By Michael Hatfield In times of low water flow on a trout stream, fish can get very spooky because there isn’t the natural protection from their predators that the water normally provides.  During these times, fishing can be difficult, but by following a few simple tips, success can still be achieved. First off,

Capt. Leo Wright Leo Wright Guide Service, LLC   Smallmouth fishing on the fly may be this fisherman’s favorite challenge.  Don’t get me wrong, I love all species: the famed steelhead of West Michigan’s waters, bonefish on the flats of Belize, or striper in my native New England. If it’s fishing, I’m in. It’s

By Jerry Darkes As a guide for both steelhead and smallmouth bass, I am always looking for equipment that helps customers fish more effectively.  The skill level of my clients varies from highly experienced to total novice.   When they use my gear, I want to put something in their hands that can

Balancing fly line, rod, and reel. Assembling a balanced fly fishing rig is as easy as matching the numbers on the fly line to the numbers on the fly reel and fly rod. For instance, you would match an Ultra 4 5-weight fly line with a 5-weight fly rod, and you'd spool it