DEMYSTIFLY

Fly fishing in high water can be intimidating. High water usually means you'll encounter things like swifter current, poor water clarity, and added debris. Despite these negatives, one positive is that high water also makes even more food sources available for the fish to munch on. Fish can and definitely still do feed in some pretty nasty conditions, which means you can catch them with a few tweaks in tactics and tackle along with some added patience. Keep these 5 quick tips

What fly rod length should I get? There is a lot that goes into choosing a proper fly rod. Line weight, rod action, components, aesthetics, and of course length are all key points that a consumer must make note of. As far as length goes, the 9 foot fly rod is the most common and widely-available on the market. This size offers the angler ample distance, line control, and castability while still being able to pack down into a tube that allows for easy transport. Although it's

I've always been a staunch catch and release angler. In fact, I have only kept somewhere between 20–30 fish in my nearly 30 years of fishing, and most of those were somewhat "forced" because I was fishing on party boats. I don't like to kill anything besides mosquitoes and no-see-ums (Florida anglers will understand that one), so my enjoyment comes from the fight and documenting my experiences with pictures. Being a no-kill angler means I take safe fish handling seriously. Un

From float tubes and canoes to tricked-out skiffs, fly fishers take to the water in a variety of craft. Fishing from one of these is undoubtedly fun and can be extremely productive, but is being on the water always the most productive way to fish? Typically, I would say that yes, you'll get into better action much of the time, but in some instances wading or fishing from shore can be just about as good — or even better! There's also something just plain neat about fishing whi

When people think of cities with great urban fishing opportunities, Phoenix, Arizona is probably not high on the list. After all, it's absolutely huge, bursting with people, in the desert, and is ridiculously hot in the summer. I always knew there were some large lakes outside of town where you could launch a boat and target fish like bass and stripers, but in the urban zones I never thought much was going on. Then I visited back in 2013 and it opened my eyes. I was heading t

Dirty water can be a deterrent at first, but it doesn't have to be. Sure, there's a point where the water might get just too muddy to fly fish effectively, yet in all but those toughest conditions success can still be had. The trick is to not just be prepared gear-wise, but to also know how to handle these demanding conditions. Here's a few tips I use when fishing in dingy water: Fly Size/Bulk: The dirtier the water, the more attention the fly needs to attract. This can be ac

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship The 5-weight is likely the most popular fly rod size on planet earth. From bluegill to small bonefish and everything in between, it's incredibly versatile throughout the spectrum of smaller species. While most single-handed 5-weights are packaged with about the same general style, the new EDGE Gamma Beta 5-weight strays a bit from the norm by offering a design that lends itself well to slightly more demanding applications. Designed by the legendary G

At this year's IFTD show in Orlando there were a lot of great products. Rods. Reels. Clothing. Various other gadgets. A lot of the new stuff on hand was very impressive to say the least, but as I noted before what excited me the most was the surprising number of 5-weight rods now equipped with fighting butts. Granted, the number of them is still not that big, but I was thrilled to see manufacturers starting to build these kinds of rods. For chasing carp, hefty trout, light sa

As fly anglers, we are beyond fortunate to have access to a plethora of outstanding products these days. It doesn't really matter what's in your wallet—there's cool stuff for every angler and budget. While they're not the more versatile, I'm a big fan of certain types of niche products. Although a few of these offerings may not offer up a huge performance advantage, some definitely can. RIO's WF5F Bonefish line is a great example of one of these specialized items that I've co

Like most kids who love to fish, I grew up mainly fishing places that were close to home. From public saltwater fishing piers to stocked city lakes, I made the best of what I had and developed a solid foundation of skills during the many, many hours I spent at these places. Although there was the occasional opportunity to hop on a friend's boat or go fish at a more distant body of water, I was quite content on my "home waters" and discovered some really surprising fishing the

I'm a HUGE fan of sun-protective clothing, so my Columbia Zero Rules long sleeve shirts have spent a lot of time off their coat hangers. I purchased both of mine over a year ago and have worn them from the extreme humidity here in Florida to oven-like 114-degree temps while carp fishing in Arizona. Not only have they done their jobs well, but they've held up great through fishing, hiking, and many wash cycles. What are the various features of these shirts? Constructed with 10

They say time speeds up as you age. I can't believe it's been just a hair over four years since I bought my Sage ONE 590-4. The ONE caught my eye because the series blends together a lot of what I like in a fly rod—great components, excellent build quality, fast action, and a light weight. The fact that it's a Sage doesn't hurt either! Has this 9-foot 5-weight disappointed me at all? Nope! I haven't exactly beat on this rod, but it's seen its fair share of time on the water a

I recently blogged regarding the importance of how accuracy is often more important than distance. In a closely-related subject, many anglers instantly set their sites on fishing further out than they need to. You may literally be standing over the fish and not even know it until it's too late! Often, the best thing to do when approaching the bank is to just stand back for a moment and observe. Many anglers have the tendency to just rush down to the shore and either wade in o