DEMYSTIFLY

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship The new YETI Panga Backpack 28 brings a lot of what we love about the Panga 50 Duffel (reviewed here, by the way!) and delivers all that goodness in backpack form. Fly anglers bring any number of tools and accessories with them on a fishing day, but for storing more and larger items like snacks, extra clothing, a camera, or spare spools, a roomier storage solution like a backpack can come in handy. Coupled with YETI's legendary ruggedness, the Panga

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Click pawl reels are the ultimate in lightweight simplicity. These old-school systems use a small piece of metal (aka a "pawl") that clicks against a small gear on the inside of the spool to produce the necessary drag resistance. While a system like this lacks much if any adjustability like a more typical disc-drag fly reel, they save weight and produce a very audible sound that some anglers prefer. The ZERO reels from Redington have been out for som

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Personally speaking, I never really had a huge interest in fiberglass fly rods up until just a few years ago. Nowadays, there's some really high-quality options out there ranging from soft, slow trout rods to snappier saltwater-specific models that can easily handle an adult tarpon. Since starting Demystifly in 2016, I've been able to fish a few glass rods and it really changed my perception. No, they aren't super lightweight and ultra crisp like som

Say what? You've never fly fished for bass?!?!?! These highly-accessible fish can be found in a ton of locations and offer incredible sport on a fly rod. Of course there's many different flies that will trigger a bass to strike, but none offer the sheer overall awesomeness of a topwater fly. Getting that first blowup on the surface is nothing short of addicting and might cause you to temporarily forget about trout. As I type this post here in late May, you folks out there in

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Five to seven weight rods are not only my favorite rods to fish, but currently also my most used. In particular, I have a special affection for lightweight saltwater-style rods in 5 and 6-weight sizes as they have the stouter components and more powerful actions that I often prefer. With this in mind, the 6-weight Exocett from Thomas and Thomas seemed like an ideal candidate for review. As the flagship saltwater fly rod series from T&T, they pack a p

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Redesigned in 2016, the new Orvis Mirage is a real looker. Its futuristic lines—particularly on the back frame—really give it a unique look that easily separates it from the competition. These fresh cosmetics combined with a host of strong features makes the Mirage a very appealing upgrade over its predecessor. Although at the time of this writing the reel has been out for nearly two years, I felt it was imperative to get one reviewed here on Demysti

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship For much of my fly fishing, a fast-action rod is what I prefer. That type of action just matches my casting style very well and is versatile enough to handle pretty much anything I do. That's not to say I ignore the others, though. While extra-fast action rods are a little more specific in what they excel at, they definitely can offer an edge when extreme distance casting, throwing over-sized flies, and cutting through wind with the utmost authority.

Have you ever tried fly fishing at night? If not, you may be missing out on some of the very BEST action. From limited visibility to encountering snakes and other critters you'd probably prefer to avoid, being out in the dark brings its own set of unique challenges—but it can all be well worth it. While daytime anglers are getting their shut eye, you can be out sticking more and BIGGER fish than them! Here are 8 great reasons why you should try fly fishing at night: Bigger Fi

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship It's an especially great time to be a fly angler. Not only do we have access to some outstanding top-tier gear these days, but the amount of high-quality products at very fair prices has never been better. Speaking of which, the Orvis Hydros SL series of reels looks to fit right into that category. Though not exactly a brand-new offering, I hadn't yet fished a Hydros SL reel before this test. Actually, it's been awhile since I last fished an Orvis re

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Comprised of the SPECTRUM, SPECTRUM LT, and the top-tier SPECTRUM MAX, Sage's three new reel families deliver good looks and the promise of high performance. While I would've been happy to review any model, I was especially pleased to receive a 5/6 tester from the standard SPECTRUM series. Why? I've been particularly interested in testing some lower-cost tackle lately, so this reel was a perfect fit being from the most cost-effective series of the th

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Somehow, the new Orvis Helios 3 kind of snuck up on me last year. When a major product unveiling like this is planned, I typically hear some rumblings of it well in advance. That was not the case with the Helios 3. When covering the IFTD show last year in Orlando, I don't think I even knew about these sticks until I personally visited the Orvis booth on day one. I'm glad I did because that post quickly shot to the top and easily became our most-viewe

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship What's an "affordable" fly reel to you? $100? $300? As prices of the most premium offerings nudges close to and even exceeds a thousand bucks in some cases, we fly anglers are fortunate that some very nice options can be had at much friendlier prices. Case in point: Cheeky Fishing's new TYRO series. With all models running under $150, these reels are said to deliver some strong performance and value. While I never expect too much out of a value-drive

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Fishing with a high-end rod is typically pretty awesome, but I've always felt a different kind of satisfaction from fishing those rods that deliver excellent performance and quality at more affordable prices. First shown off at IFTD 2017, Sage's latest entry into what I'd call the "modest" price point category comes in the form of the new FOUNDATION fly rods. A couple months after the show, Sage was kind enough to ship me a 5-weight FOUNDATION outfit

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Similar to fly rods, fly reels don't have to be expensive to catch fish. There's no denying that fishing with a high-end reel is especially pleasing from both an aesthetic and performance point of view, but in many cases a much more affordable reel will get the job done just fine. In addition, you can't ignore the fact that not everyone has $600+ laying around to blow on an ultra-precision reel. To accommodate fly anglers with varying needs and budge

The back of the boat can be a whole other world. Sure, you're likely out with a good friend or two on a beautiful body of water, but fishing back there can often be a frustrating experience. Whether you're in a drift boat, a bass boat, or a skiff of some sort, the angler in the front usually has first crack at most of the good water and may often enjoy the most success. Like many anglers, I've been there and it can really be a blow to the fishing ego! You may not always be at

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Flats fishing and just sight-fishing in general are games of stealth. The water is shallow, typically clear, and the fish don't often come easily. Because of this, everything from flats skiffs to clothing are designed to be subtle so you remain undetected. By the same token, fly lines for tropical flats fishing conditions are often designed with muted, natural colors to help them blend-in to the surrounding water. This is great from a stealthy perspe

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship In saltwater fly fishing, long-distance presentations are often not the norm. Being able to double-haul a streamer a country mile is undoubtedly a great and very useful skill to have, but possessing a solid short game is equally as important. Especially true when flats fishing, being both accurate and quick at short range can pay huge dividends when chasing species like bonefish, tarpon, and redfish. Speaking of the latter, I can remember catching a

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship In covering the IFTD show each year, I come across a huge variety of new rods. One thing the sales reps and pros always tell me is to head over to the casting pond and cast their latest and greatest offerings. I always say that I'll be back later, but typically never have the time. The show is a busy, busy time for me and I always work each day until my back and brain call it quits. Unlike last year, this year I DID break away to the casting pond for

From diminutive 5-footers to lengthy spey models, fly rods come in many sizes. With all the available options, the 9-footer remains the undisputed king. The reasoning behind this is pretty straightforward; 9-foot rods offer the perfect blend of casting ease, line control, distance, and portability when broken down. If that's the case, then why even bother making so many rods that are shorter? Personal definitions may vary, but for this article I'm classifying "short" fly rods

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Are any of you dismayed by the current crop of fast, stiff fly rods? In the right hands and with the right lines, these rods can certainly be extraordinary in some circumstances. The problem is, some folks simply don't need or just aren't into this era of ultra-fast, powerful rods. It is also occasionally argued that some of these rods should really be labeled one line weight higher than what they're rated for. After all, if you have a 5-weight that