#Bass

Paul

Jan 8

Simms Challenger Mid Deck Shoes Review

One of my favorite times to be on the water is when it's raining. Although the fishing can be absolutely phenomenal, it can also be absolutely miserable if you're not 100% prepared for the adverse conditions. Even if much of your body stays dry, having wet feet will likely make you feel cold and uncomfortable all day long. I've certainly been there before, but footwear like the new Simms Challenger Mid Deck Shoes help me avoid these situations. These shoes are designed tall t

Paul

Dec 17, 2022

Kistler Bakk 5/6 Fly Reel Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship If you're a conventional bass fishing addict like I am, the name Kistler should instantly ring a bell. Based in Texas, the brand has garnered a loyal following over the years, especially with rods such as their well-known Helium series. For 2023, Kistler is switching things up by expanding into the fly fishing market with both rods and reels. Although this move came as a complete surprise to me, it's always intriguing when a company decides to jump i

Paul

Nov 14, 2022

Ross Evolution LTX 3/4 Fly Reel Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship The Ross Evolution LTX series are not exactly new reels, having been out for about four years now. Designed with attributes from the Evolution R and original Evolution LT, the result is a modern, downright sexy lineup that's suitable for fresh and saltwater use. While it took me forever to get my hands on an LTX, I recently became the owner of a new 3/4 model, which is the smallest in the family. Let's get into this reel and see if it's truly as good

Temple Fork PRO III 5-Weight Fly Rod Review

Paul

Oct 30, 2022

Temple Fork PRO III 5-Weight Fly Rod Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) is a brand name that is synonymous with affordability. Although TFO has some higher end, more moderately-priced offerings within their massive lineup, they still offer a healthy number of rods (and reels!) with very friendly price tags. Over the years, I've heard folks say that fly fishing is only for the "elite" or the "rich," but TFO has helped squash that stereotype by allowing more people to access good equipment. Pic

G. Loomis IMX-PRO Creek 4-Weight Fly Rod Review

Paul

Apr 28, 2022

G. Loomis IMX-PRO Creek 4-Weight Fly Rod Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship I've always been intrigued by fishing small waters. Whether I'm chasing trout, micro tarpon, or whatever, there's just something different and special about catching fish in these more intimate settings. It's a common misconception that only small fish live in these types of environments, but I can tell you from personal experience that's not always true. In fact, here in Florida, it can be pretty mind-blowing what lives in the smallest of waterways!

Paul

May 17, 2021

Simms Waypoints Rain Jacket Review

When it rains, it's not always cold outside. Growing up in Northern California, our wet season was from roughly November through April, giving us rain for several hours to maybe an entire day. Fishing in those conditions was often a cool to downright cold experience, so typical heavier-duty rain gear was usually required. Here in South Florida, that need isn't nearly so frequent. On days when the temperature is up and the rain starts to fall, the last thing I want is a rain j

What is the Best Fly Rod Weight for Bass?

Paul

May 10, 2021

What is the Best Fly Rod Weight for Bass?

Typical freshwater bass aren't the hardest pulling or biggest fish around, but a big part of what makes them so much fun is the variety they offer the angler. Whether we are talking largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, they constantly adjust to different conditions, often show distinct preferences for certain types of forage, can be found anywhere from open water to thick cover, and will hold at wildly different depths—even on the same day. These and other variables make

Paul

Feb 15, 2021

Sage SONIC 4 Weight Fly Rod Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Just like with conventional rods, fly rods can be crafted with specific purposes in mind. Examples of these would include rods with oversized guides and beefed-up actions for saltwater usage, or rods that are soft and delicate geared towards targeting trout on smaller waters with dry flies. These sticks can be great and all, but many anglers simply want a rod that's made for more generalized usage. This is where the Sage SONIC comes into play. SONIC

Fly Fishing Leaders: The Simple and Short

Paul

Jan 21, 2021

Fly Fishing Leaders: The Simple and Short

Fly fishing leaders don't always follow the same style and length ranges. A tapered leader of about 7 1/2 feet to 10 feet in length is a pretty typical setup used by many. Depending on the configuration, leaders like these can be designed to fish dries, nymphs, or streamers and for both freshwater or saltwater angling. Of course, there is not one single way to go about constructing leaders. Fly fishing leaders can range from short to long and from complex to super basic. Lead

Paul

Jan 11, 2021

Fenwick Aetos 3 Weight Fly Rod Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Based on what I see and hear, the Fenwick Aetos seems to be a popular choice thanks to the friendly price tag and solid reviews. Unfortunately, I never got around to actually fishing one of the last versions, but when I heard that a newly-redesigned Aetos series was on the way, I had to pursue getting one out here for some testing. Let's take a look at what should be an extremely fun model to fish...the diminutive 7'0" 3-weight! Pond hopping, anyone?

Leviathan Prophet 5 Weight Fly Rod Review

Paul

Dec 6, 2020

Leviathan Prophet 5 Weight Fly Rod Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Do you like to be different? In the world of fly rods, a handful of brand names take up a huge amount of market share. There's no doubt that these companies produce some absolutely awesome rods, but some anglers just prefer to step outside the box and fish gear that's much less common. To satisfy this desire for uniqueness, an easy solution is to seek out a custom rod builder. But who to contact? If experience and premium materials matter to you, Lev

Paul

Nov 18, 2020

Scott Sector 6 Weight Fly Rod Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Scott is among those manufacturers at the top of the game when it comes to who builds the best saltwater fly rods. I had some limited experience with their last two premium saltwater lineups—the X2s and the more recent Meridian—and was thoroughly impressed with the feel and performance of each. Although casting those rods was a real treat, Scott is now delivering even more sweetness for us inshore and offshore anglers in the form of their newest Sect

Paul

Nov 9, 2020

The Highs and Lows of Fighting Fish

How to fight and land a fish. After the initial hookup, there are many little tricks that can be used to give the angler higher odds of a successful catch. Changing the level at which you hold the rod during the fight is just one of them. When fighting a fish, it's common for a lot of folks to just keep the rod at around the same level the entire time. In many instances this might be adequate, but throw more variables into the mix and it can be helpful if not absolutely criti

Paul

Oct 18, 2020

ECHO Lago 6 Weight Fly Rod Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Back when I was a teenager and living in California, I had a trusty 10-foot 7-weight rod that I used for trout, steelhead, american shad, and even striped bass. That was a stick that saw quite a bit of use, but after selling it over 20 years ago I have stuck with rods measuring 9 feet and less. My move to Florida surely had something to do with that, but long rods can certainly be used anywhere a little extra reach is desired. The Lago rod series is

Attack the Angles When Fishing Streamers

Paul

Oct 15, 2020

Attack the Angles When Fishing Streamers

Fishing around structure and cover. It's something I love to do whether I'm casting around pilings, weedlines, or a solitary boulder in a river. The precise presentations and anticipation of my fly getting ambushed by some lurking lunker keeps the interest and excitement high, even when fishing is slow overall. When fishing what I feel is a very likely spot, I'm not the type to just make a few presentations and move on — in fact, it kind of drives me crazy when I'm fishing on

Paul

Oct 1, 2020

The Basics of Fall Bass Fishing

Ahhh, the fall. It's my favorite time of year and one that's full of some great fishing memories in both fresh and saltwater. It can also be a great time to fly fish for bass...if you can find them! Read on to learn some basics about finding, patterning, and catching bass in the fall. What Happens In the fall, days get shorter, nights get cooler, and water temps start to tick down. When that consistent drop in water temperature starts, bass will begin to move in what is often

Paul

Mar 9, 2020

Orvis Recon 8 Weight Fly Rod Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship The Helios 3 rods are Orvis' top-of-the-line offerings, and they are indeed impressive. I've fished the 5D, personally own a 4D, and have great things to say about both. But, that performance comes at a cost, and a premium cost it is indeed. What to do if you can't justify or afford such a lofty price tag, but still have an appetite for strong performance? The new Orvis Recon may be the answer. From what I hear, the last generation of Orvis Recon rod

5 Subtle Things to Look for When Fly Fishing for Bass on Lakes

Paul

Feb 27, 2020

5 Subtle Things to Look for When Fly Fishing for Bass on Lakes

Part of what makes bass fishing so much fun to me is that there is often a complex puzzle to figure out. Resulting from things like weather and water temperature shifts, bass will move around from mere inches of water in the backs of coves to suspended out over a hundred feet of open water. Anglers trying to locate bass will often gravitate to the most obvious forms of structure and cover, but the more subtle spots and signs are sometimes what you really need to key in on. Lo

Waterworks-Lamson Speedster S Fly Reel Review

Paul

Jan 27, 2020

Waterworks-Lamson Speedster S Fly Reel Review

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship What are three of the main aspects you look for in a fly reel? Appearance, drag performance, and weight are likely the big ones, but what about retrieve speed? Just because a reel has a large arbor doesn't automatically mean it has a fast retrieve — a bigger spool diameter gives you that faster rate of retrieve. With a name like Speedster, it was obvious that Waterworks-Lamson built these reels with an emphasis on rapid retrieve rates. Redesigned to

Paul

Jan 6, 2020

Sage PAYLOAD 6+ Weight Fly Rod Review

Intro/Specs/Craftmanship When some anglers think of fly fishing, they usually envision casting small flies to trout in a mountainous river out west. Of course, there's much more to it than that. Lines can get heavy and patterns can grow to sizable proportions. Once you enter this more "extreme" side of fly fishing, a specialized fly rod will make handling things a whole lot easier. Enter the new Sage PAYLOAD series. As the name suggests, each rod is designed to tackle heavier

DEMYSTIFLY

Demystifying the Gear and Art of Fly Fishing