Carp Fly Fishing in Utah: Where, When and How
Utah Lake, the Jordan River and beyond: Christian's home-water guide to finding carp on the fly in Utah, with the seasons, DWR rules and algae safety checks that matter.
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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
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...
Patience and Carp: Why They're the Hardest Fish Worth Chasing
Why carp humble even great anglers, and the habits that fix it: weather-based carp days, a shot-counting scorecard, a pre-trip checklist, a fishing log and a reset routine.
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.
Carp on the Fly: The Complete Beginner's Guide
Yes, carp on the fly is a real thing. Christian Bacasa covers carp biology, where and when to find them, the starter kit, the core sight-fishing method and gentle releases.
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.
Wet Wading on a Budget: Shoes, Socks, and When It's Safe
Wet wading is the cheapest way to fish summer rivers. Christian Bacasa covers budget shoes and socks, traction, and the water temperatures that make it unsafe.
Backpacking for Trout: A Beginner's Fly Fishing Kit and Bear-Country Basics
A trip into the Uintas with a first-time fly angler: the beginner backpacking kit that works, and the bear-country rules worth knowing before you hike in.
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.
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...
Six Reasons Trout Refuse Your Dry Fly (and the Fix for Each)
When a trout looks at your dry fly and swims away, it is telling you something. Here are the six fixes for dry fly refusals, in the order I check...
Suspended Nymph, Floating Sighter: A Tight-Line Approach to Dry Dropper
How to fish a tight line dry dropper: build the Y, hold the dry, steer the nymph, and read the three strike windows trout give you in pocket water.
Tight-Line Dry Fly Fishing: Using Your Mono Rig on the Surface
Fish dry flies on a mono rig: the leader conversion, the lobbing stroke, the mid-drift reset, and the honest limits versus a floating fly line.
Fishing Dry Flies Downstream: The Fly-First Approach for Spooky Trout
Spooky trout refusing your dry fly? Fish it downstream: fly-first delivery, built-in slack, and the low hook set that turns flat-water refusals into eats.
Short and Stout: A Leader Formula for Brushy Small Streams
Long leaders collapse in the brush. Here's my 6 to 7.5-foot small stream leader formula for brook trout creeks, plus shortcuts if you'd rather not tie one.
Light, Standard or Heavy: Picking the Right Dry Dropper Rig
Light, standard or heavy dry dropper rig? Compare dropper length, fly weight and water type, plus how to keep the dry fly floating all day long.
Small Creek Streamers: Big-Fish Tactics for Skinny Trout Water
The biggest trout in a small creek eats other fish. Here is how I approach, cast, and swim small streamers upstream into tight cover without emptying the pool.
The Water Was Fine. The Fishing Wasn't.
The thermometer said go. Ninety degrees of air said otherwise. I fished anyway, saw nothing, and it never came together - which turns out to be its own kind of...
Fly Fishing Islamorada, Florida Keys: Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit
Islamorada flats fishing: tarpon, bonefish and permit month by month, the 40-inch tarpon rule, permit closure dates and published guide rates.