Your First Trip Abroad: Five That Are Hard to Get Wrong
Belize, the Bahamas, Argentina or a Montana dry run. Five first trips with short journeys and forgiving fishing, plus the line-management mistake that ruins day one.
Featured post
Alaska Will Change Forever: Go Now
Alaska, a land renowned for its wild, untouched landscapes and abundant wildlife, offers some of the most spectacular fly fishing experiences in the world. But with increasing popularity and looming...
Fly Fishing Insider Podcast Blog
Their First Mountain Stream
Moving water is the first genuinely intimidating thing you'll ask a kid to do. How to build the nerve for it without pretending there's nothing to be nervous about.
The First Fish They'll Remember Forever
You get one shot at a kid's first fish. Here's how to handle the ninety seconds around it so it becomes the story they tell for years.
Bass Are a Better First Fish Than Trout
Trout are what we love. Bass are what says yes. Why the local pond beats the blue-ribbon river for a kid's first real season of fishing.
Start Them on a Spinning Rod
Handing a six-year-old a fly rod first is a decision most of us make for ourselves, not for them. Why spinning gear is often the better on-ramp — and how...
The Day You Stop Holding the Rod
There's a moment where you have to stop steering your kid's cast and let it be theirs. Here's how to know when it's coming and how to hand it over.
Depth Is the First Decision: Finding and Holding the Right Level on a Lake
A river hands you the presentation for free. A lake makes you build it, starting with a depth you can actually reproduce.
Let Them Chase the Snake
The day your kid stops fishing and starts flipping rocks isn't a failed trip. Here's what the research says about why that hour outside still counts — and how to...
Redfish 101: Reading Pressure, Leading the Fish, and Why You Should Never Trout-Set
Florida guide Lucas Largo on educated vs. honest redfish, the clock system for casting, and breaking the trout-set habit for good.
Fly Tying Lessons From a Vagabond: Thread Control, Movement, and Dollar-Store Materials
Canadian tier Rick Passek on the three things that make flies fish: sharp observation, obsessive thread control, and fearless material experimentation.
Keep Fish Wet: The Three Simple Rules That Help More Fish Survive Release
Keep Fish Wet's Sasha Clark Danylchuk shares three simple catch-and-release rules that help more fish survive, plus why the Coke-on-gills trick fails.
How to Start Fly Tying Without Wasting Money on Materials
Dave and Justin of Togens Fly Shop on why most new tyers overbuy, how to build a stillwater kit that fits your water, and where to actually start.
The Right Way to Thread Your Fly Rod
Most anglers thread their rod with bare tippet and lose it back through the guides. Here's the fold-the-fly-line trick that fixes it.
All About Tenkara: Misconceptions, Gear, and the Beginner's Mindset
Tenkara demystified — rod length, line types, and why a "beginner's mindset" might be the most useful gear tip in fly fishing.
Making Your First Fly Fishing Trip to Montana
Standing waist-deep in the Madison River on a crisp August morning, watching a 20-inch brown trout sip PMDs off the surface while the Tobacco Root Mountains provided a stunning backdrop,...
5 Best Fly Tying Kits for Beginners: Learn to Tie Your Own Flies
Learning to tie your own flies transforms your fly fishing in ways that surprise most anglers. Beyond the obvious benefit of saving money on flies, tying connects you to the...
10 Best Fly Fishing Rods for Beginners in 2025
Choosing your first fly rod can feel overwhelming. With hundreds of options ranging from $50 to $500+, how do you know which rod will actually help you catch fish without...
Why 2025 Might Just Be the Perfect Year to Pick Up Fly Fishing
Picture this: you're standing knee-deep in a mountain stream at dawn, the only sounds coming from moving water and maybe a kingfisher somewhere upstream. Your line unfurls in a graceful...
25 Tips for Fly Fishing Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide
Fly fishing is a fun and rewarding activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. However, for beginners, it can be a bit overwhelming to...
YouTube for Beginner Fly Fishing Questions
When I was new to fly fishing I recall having a ton of questions about when, where, what, etc. I was always wading through the junk online to get to...