Mending Fly Line the Right Way: Common Errors and Easy Fixes
Late mends, oversized mends and upstream-by-habit mends cost more trout than no mend at all. Here are the six mending errors I see most and how to fix each.
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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
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.
The Only Knots a Trout Angler Needs: A Field-Tested Set of Six
Tired of break-offs and knot cards? These six fly fishing knots cover every trout connection, plus a when-to-use table and a simple practice plan.
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.
Why Trout Refuse Your Nymph: Diagnosing Drift, Depth and Lane
Refusals are data. Here's the four-variable checklist I use to tell whether trout are rejecting your drift or your position, and what to change first.
Fly Fishing for Beginners: A 30-Day Plan From First Cast to First Trout
New to fly fishing? This 30-day plan takes you from gear and knots to backyard casting, reading water and three trips that end with your first trout.
Why Trout Spook Before You Cast: A Stealth Checklist
Most trout are scared off before the fly lands. Here is how trout see and feel anglers, plus eight simple stealth fixes that keep fish feeding.
Landing More Trout: Fight Fish Faster With Side Pressure and Smart Angles
Most trout are lost to a high rod, heavy drag or a rushed net. Learn side pressure, drag settings and net timing to land fish faster and release them healthier.
The Swap-Out Euro Leader: One Nymphing Leader Built From Interchangeable Sections
Two tippet rings turn a euro nymphing leader into three swappable modules. Swap sighter or tippet in 30 seconds without ever shortening your leader.
Less False Casting, More Fishing: How to Keep Your Fly on the Water
Stop false casting and fish more: the time-on-water math, water-loaded casts, roll cast pickups, and when drying a dry fly justifies one extra false cast.
The First Two Seconds: What to Do the Moment Your Streamer Hits the Water
Most streamer anglers lose the eat in the first two seconds. Here's how to trap slack, match your first move to the cast angle, and strip set every time.
Tailing Loops and Weak Casts: Fixing Creep and the Early Stop
Creep and the early stop are the fly casting mistakes that kill loop energy. Spot both from the side with your phone, then rebuild the stroke at 20 feet.
Euro Nymphing or Indicator? A River-by-River Decision Guide
Euro nymphing or indicator? The river decides. A decision table by depth, distance, current and wind, plus how to fish both rigs without two rods.
How to Get Nymphs Deep in Fast, Heavy Water
Weight on the fly, weight on the leader, or weight in the line. Three deep nymphing techniques for heavy water, plus how far upstream to start the cast.
The Dead Drift Myth: What Drag-Free Really Means Under the Surface
Most dead drifts die to micro drag you never see. Here's what a true drag-free drift looks like underwater, why yours fails, and how to diagnose it fast.
What Big Trout Really Eat: Picking Flies for Trophy Fish
Big trout eat small bugs far more than most anglers admit. Here is the forage-first way to pick flies for trophy trout, and when big streamers pay off.
Effort on the Water: The Mindset That Separates Good Days From Great Ones
Great fishing days aren't about more hours. Here's the fly fishing mindset that works: real effort on every drift, a steady tempo, and smarter changes.