Articles

Fly fishing 101: Knowing your bugs, made easy

The need-to-know essentials of mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies and midges

by John Juracek - Thursday, May 13th, 2021

A March Brown (Rhithrogena germanica) mayfly (photo: John Juracek).

Insects are the root of flyfishing. Without them, there is no basis for our sport. This fact alone is justification enough—to my way of thinking, at least—for possessing a working knowledge of insects and their behavior. Practically speaking, a knowledge of insects helps us predict where and when the best fishing is likely to occur, greatly increases our chances of finding feeding fish when we do get on the water, and informs our choice of fly pattern in any given situation.

The Schminnow: 'The only fly you need'

A simple-to-tie, easy-to-cast pattern that can catch fish anywhere baitfish swim

by Chris Hunt - Wednesday, May 12th, 2021

Photo: Chris Hunt

The first time I met Norm Zeigler was in his fly shop on Sanibel Island about a decade ago. I was visiting the area for the first time and I wanted to cast to snook in the troughs of the gentle surf along Sanibel and Captiva islands.

The wild unknown

Locked within delicious moments of uncertainty are the reasons we fish

by Johnny Carrol Sain - Tuesday, May 11th, 2021

Photo: Johnny Carrol Sain

Ripples have long since faded from its last gurgle as the black popper sits motionless on the mirror-surface. The calm harbor it rests in is formed by a quarter-circle of boulders choking off the current as it races silver across algae-slick rocks. The pool is small for this creek but more than waist deep. And it’s the only still water among the riffles before the shoal dumps into a much larger pool of aquamarine twenty yards or so downstream

It’s classic smallmouth holding water. There has to be a fish in here.

8 bonefish tips for new (or rusty) flats anglers

Avoiding common mistakes that can cost you shots

by Chris Hunt - Wednesday, May 5th, 2021

Releasing a Long Island bonefish that ate a pink puff fly (photo: Chad Shmukler).

Three of us fanned out across an idyllic leeward bonefish flat situated on the southern end of Long Island, one of the many “family islands” of the Bahamas. For each of us, it had been some time since we’d stalked and cast to wily bones, and it felt good to shake the rust off.

A rod tip

If you're looking for a fishing tip, this one is worth your time

by Todd Tanner - Tuesday, May 4th, 2021

Photo: Todd Tanner

I was talking to my friend Chris while I drove to the river this past Saturday. It’s a short drive, so it was a short cell phone conversation, crammed full of the unending travails of writing — it’s an affliction we both share — and fly fishing.

We stayed on the phone as I parked and pulled on my waders, and Chris asked me a question which I’ve heard any number of times over the years.