DEMYSTIFLY

When it comes to optics for us fly anglers, Costa is undoubtedly a leader in the industry. Founded in 1983, they have forged a solid reputation for not just top-quality eyewear, but also for environmental consciousness and sustainability. Through partnerships, the use of eco-friendly materials and practices, and initiatives like Kick Plastic, it's obvious they care about much more than just their bottom line. Unfortunately, some people out there treat the environment like one

Well, it's not really that much of a secret anymore... I caught my first snook back around the early-mid 90's. Actually, I caught three that sweltering June afternoon, all on my spinning rod while tossing a Rapala jerkbait. They were all pretty small measuring maybe 18"–20" each, but for a teenage kid from California I was ecstatic. Being an avid bass fisherman I held those first snook and a fair number thereafter all by the lower lip. This seemed to work relatively well, but

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship It's no surprise that 4-piece fly rods are undoubtedly the most popular. A long fly rod isn't exactly easy to get around with, so chopping it up into several pieces sure makes portability less of a hassle. Although there are many awesome 4-piece rods out there, a rod with fewer pieces can offer some benefits. Less ferrules (joints) means less weight, fewer weak points, less pieces to keep track of, and possibly a little bit better casting performance

Don't you love those days when you can leave the waders home? Whether it's a mountain stream in the summer or saltwater flats just about any time of year, wet wading is refreshing and a lot of fun. With a little help from the Michelin Man, the new Orvis PRO Approach Wet Wading Shoes were specifically designed with a host of beneficial features for wet wading fresh and saltwater anglers. A few of the most prominent features include a breathable built-in Ariaprene sock to keep

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

The 7 weight fly rod is often overshadowed by its bigger and more popular sibling, the 8 weight. Why is this? That's because the 8 is largely regarded as the standard of versatility within the range of "heavier" fly rods. Ask a question like "what is the best all-around fly rod size for saltwater?" or "I already have a 5-weight, what other rod should I get?" and the 8 weight is often the go-to answer. There's absolutely no denying its usefulness, but it kind of bugs me when t

If you've been a follower of Demystifly for any length of time, you've likely seen one of my many pictures taken while fishing the Florida beaches for snook. Beach snook fishing is something I first discovered while vacationing in Southwest Florida with my family over 20 years ago, but now that I've lived here for awhile I get to do it all the time and have honed my skills big time. It can be fun, it can be frustrating, but it always keeps me coming back. The lore of trophy s

Gone are the days when simple cotton t-shirts were often my fishing tops of choice. Thanks to the explosion of "technical" shirts like the wildly-popular Simms Solarflex series, these types of garments quickly became my go-to picks for fishing and other outdoor activities. What's not to love? Yes, they often cost more, but they are comfortable as heck, offer great sun and bug protection, and dry quickly. They are absolutely ideal for us anglers! I owned three of the last-gene

The popularity of fly fishing videos has exploded in, say, the last 10 years or so. Considering the growth of social media and how easy it is to share content throughout the online world, that's no surprise. No doubt there are some amazing films being crafted these days, but there's something about a handful of those older videos that just deliver that special "magic" for me. Produced by the crew at World Angling, their film "High in the Lowlands" is easily one of my favorite

There's no question that sight-fishing is my favorite way to fly fish. The experience of stalking, making a perfect presentation, and ultimately watching the fish eat my fly provides the ultimate rush. I've caught a range of species from trout to tarpon while sight-fishing and it simply never, ever gets old no matter how many times I do it. At times, the targeted fish are super obvious to just about anyone with functioning eyes and a pair of gas station glasses, while other t

Perhaps no name is more recognizable in the sun protection accessory segment than BUFF. Although most people likely know them best for popularizing sun masks many years back, they've since grown to offer a broad range of sun-protective gear that's ideal for anyone who spends time outdoors. I prefer to cover up when spending any substantial time outdoors, so I can always appreciate more choices on the market. CoolNet UV+ Multifunction Headwear Each piece is crafted in part fro

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Delicate presentations. Tiny flies. Small fish. All things that the new R.L. Winston Alpha+ fly rods are NOT geared towards. Nope, these are made for those who love the more extreme side of fly fishing involving meaty flies, heavy lines, and big fish. As a big streamer angler, I can totally relate. This type of fishing puts extra demands on both the angler and tackle, so you had better be using a rod that's up to overcoming the added punishment. Does

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Abel has been busy. Their TR series was introduced not too long ago, they already have the revamped Super Series and SDS/SDF reels which are all still quite fresh, so what could there possibly be room for in the Abel product lineup? The new VAYA series, that's what! I have to admit, I was totally caught off-guard when seeing these reels on social media for the first time. I had zero intel on their arrival and wasn't expecting an all-new reel series t

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship When I first got wind of the coming Mirage LT, I immediately figured it was a replacement for the standard Mirage series. Wrong. The original series still exists, but the LT is a lighter, more streamlined option that borrows many of the original's features at a substantially cheaper cost. In fact, these new reels are up to 30% lighter and 30% narrower than the originals, making these perfect matches for lightweight rods and lighter applications. Avai

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Sage X fly rods are not exactly brand new, having filled the void leftover by the departure of the popular ONE series in 2016. With such big shoes to fill, it appears the X hasn't disappointed Sage fans in the least. Despite these rods being out for around three years now and receiving some serious praise, I had yet to fish one. While reviewing an X had always been in the back of my mind, it wasn't until I received word of a new Special Edition X ser

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Ever heard of Shadow Fly Fishing? I hadn't until I came across a picture of their Assassin reel on Instagram about two years ago. Besides the info given on their website, I couldn't exactly find a huge database of knowledge or reviews pertaining to these reels elsewhere on the web. That really piqued my curiosity. On top of that, I was in need of a new 9-weight reel and didn't want to spend a fortune since I don't fish that rod size as much as I did

Fishing in hot weather can be demanding. On top of that, it's important you choose wisely when picking out your clothing for the day. Some may prefer to wear as little as possible, but many of us want protection from the sun's harmful rays, so shorts and a simple t-shirt aren't good options. What to do? There's tons of lightweight "technical" fishing garments on the market today, but having worn various types over the years, I can say they most definitely aren't created equal

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Waterworks-Lamson has historically been known best for their popular fly reels, but did you know they now offer fly rods as well? To me, their most innovative and downright polarizing offerings undoubtedly come in the form of the Center-Axis rod/reel setups. Now, what if you like the looks of these rods but aren't necessarily keen to the whole integrated reel thing? The Center-Axis is personally not my cup of tea, but I was glad to see that Waterwork

Snook are one of the most popular inshore fish throughout South Florida. They swim on both the Gulf and Atlantic sides of the state, with most found on a line from about the middle of the state on south. Snook can literally be had just about anywhere in these zones including some freshwater golf course ponds, canals, bays, backwaters, and even open water offshore structure. While some snook fishing requires a boat of some sort, there are plenty of opportunities for shorebound

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Bonefish are widely-known as one of the spookiest fish on the flats. I've only been fortunate enough to specifically target bonefish a handful of times, but I can still attest to the fact that you need to be super quiet and super skilled in your presentations. While I rarely get to cast a line to those critters, I do have a ton of experience sight-fishing for snook on the beach. Although snook can occasionally be dumb as rocks, they are more often sk