Grass Carp vs. Common Carp on the Fly: How to Tell Them Apart and Catch Both
No whiskers, different menu, different fly. Christian breaks down how grass carp and common carp differ, how to fish each on the fly and why the rules vary so much...
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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
Where to Put the Fly: Leading Cruising Carp, Head-On Shots and Spotting the Eat
Which carp shots to take and which to pass, how much to lead cruisers, sink-time math for 2 vs. 4 feet, a quiet approach, the tells of an eat and...
The Drag-and-Drop Method for Carp, Step by Step
Cast past the fish, skate the fly into its lane and let it fall beside its head. Guest-tested steps, a carp reaction table, fly weights and a park practice drill.
Catching Carp You Can't See: Fly Fishing Murky, Brackish and Off-Color Water
Can't sight fish your carp water? How to find carp by their mud, bubbles and wakes, fish tides and brackish flats, and choose flies and tippet for low visibility.
Hot Water, Hoot-Owl Closures, and When to Stop Fishing for Trout
When is water too warm for trout? Thermometer thresholds, how hoot-owl restrictions work, and the heat-day routine that keeps released fish alive.
Trout Rising but Refusing Your Fly? A Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Checklist
Rising trout refusing every fly? Read the rise form, fix the drift, then change size, stage and tippet - the checklist that ends refusal evenings.
Tippet Rings: When They Help, When They Don't, and the Knots to Use
Tippet rings save your tapered leader - but not on every rig. Where they help, where they hurt, and the clinch and Davy knots that hold them.
Casting in Tight Cover: Bow-and-Arrow, Roll and Sidearm for Brushy Creeks
Losing flies in the willows? Here are the four casts that work on brushy creeks, plus how rod length and approach angle decide which one to use.
Cast Farther by Aiming Higher: Line Speed, Hauls and Trajectory
Aiming at the trout is why long casts die short. Here is how line speed, a high stop, the double haul and a clean release add real fly casting distance.
The Hopper Leader: Turning Over Big Dry Flies Without Hinging
Your hopper keeps landing in a pile of slack. Here is the leader taper, tippet X size and tippet length that turns a size 8 foam fly over on every...
Two-Fly Nymph Rigs: Tandem Setups That Cover Twice the Water
Tandem nymph rigs let you test two depths and two patterns on every drift. Here's how to build one, space it, weight it, and keep it from tangling.
Mono Rig Leader Formula: Build One Rig You Can Fish All Day
Build one 27-foot mono rig leader and swap only the bottom six feet. Full diameters, lengths, knots, and four technique modules for a whole season.
Tight Line Nymphing: The Mono Rig Setup That Finds Fish in Any Current
A mono rig replaces fly line with 28 feet of monofilament. Here's the build sheet, the sighter read, and how I adapt tight line nymphing to any current.
Bottom Bounce, Strike Zone or Tracking: Choosing Your Nymph Depth Strategy
Dead drift is three techniques, not one. Bottom bounce, strike zone and tracking — how each is rigged, when each wins, and how to pick the right depth.
Mono Rig vs Fly Line for Nymphing: Which One Actually Drifts Better
A guide's honest comparison of the mono rig and fly line for nymphing — sag, contact, wind, range, hook sets, plus how to run both systems on one rod.
The Distance Advantage: Why Fishing From Farther Back Catches More Trout
Most trout spook before you ever cast. Learn how far back to stand, the approach angle that keeps you hidden, and drills to fish accurately from 35 to 50 feet.
How a Fly Leader Works: Butt, Taper and Tippet Explained
Why does your dry fly land in a pile? Learn how the butt section, taper and tippet work together, the 60/20/20 leader rule, and when to bend it.
Why Your Knots Break: Habits That End Break-Offs for Good
Losing fish to curly pigtails and snapped tippet? Six simple knot habits, from lubricating and seating to tippet age and wind knots, end break-offs for good.
Mid-Drift Roll Mends: Reset Your Line Without Spooking the Run
Long drifts going wrong halfway down? The roll cast mend lifts a far belly off fast current and resets the drift without a noisy recast. Here is how.
Matching Your Streamer Retrieve to Current Speed and Water Temperature
Fast water needs short strips. Slow, cold water needs long pauses. Here's the current-speed and temperature table I use to pick a streamer retrieve.