DEMYSTIFLY

For those readers that enjoy both fly fishing and conventional fishing as I do, the Rapala name is instantly recognizable. Famous for their absolutely huge lineup of hard baits, they actually offer a large array of other products ranging from fillet knives to rods. They also give us anglers something that is totally free―the Rapala Knot. The Rapala Knot seems to get absolutely no attention in the fly fishing sector. That's a real shame because I have used the knot for years a

There are so many fishing knots out there that it can seem confusing as to which one(s) to use. As a kid, the first knot I came across and became proficient at was the Trilene Knot. Named after Berkley Trilene fishing line, I was immediately drawn to the knot's extreme simplicity and advertised strength. Ever since I learned how to tie it over 25 years ago, the Trilene Knot has undoubtedly been one of my top 3 most-used knots. It seems like knots such as the Improved Clinch a

How do you connect your leader butt to the fly line? Luckily, many of today's fly lines have those handy welded loops built-in. This allows you to join your leader to the fly line via simple loop-to-loop connection. Unfortunately, some value-conscious fly lines do not come with these welded loops. If you have a line lacking loops or perhaps you had to cut a loop off because it became badly worn, you can either make a loop yourself, or use one of several knots. In this case I

Rigging for a day of fly fishing is a really crucial time that shouldn't be taken lightly. I consider myself a super careful and methodical person, but like any other human, I sometimes goof up or overlook something when I really shouldn't. This includes when preparing for a day on the water. The vast majority of the time, I rig carefully and triple check that everything is up to snuff. However, if for some reason I'm distracted, rushed, or just having one of those days where