#TechnicalStrategies

Paul

Jun 21, 2021

Catch More Fish in Hot Weather

Summer is often a joyous time for many folks, but it can also be tough on the water. Unfortunately, without such luxuries as air conditioning and ice cream to help them stay comfortable, our finned friends must make do with whatever nature throws their way. Whether we're talking hot or cold, extreme temperatures not only alter the habits of us humans, but the fish must adapt, too. In the case of summer, when the sun is blazing, mercury is rising, and water temps are increasin

Increasing Leader Length for Sight-Fishing

Paul

May 31, 2021

Increasing Leader Length for Sight-Fishing

Freshwater or saltwater, sight-fishing is my favorite way to catch fish with a fly rod. I never get tired of the intrigue of the hunt and the excitement of a visual bite. Sight-fishing can demand more stealth overall because it's typically done in clear water that's quite shallow. Wearing colors that match the sky/background, keeping a low profile, and limiting false casting can make an angler more successful. Of course, slight tackle modifications can help as well. The fly l

5 Quick Tips for Fly Fishing in High Water

Paul

May 24, 2021

5 Quick Tips for Fly Fishing in High Water

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 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 quick tips in mind: Fly

Rio Products: How to Fish an Intermediate Line in a Lake

Paul

Apr 18, 2021

Rio Products: How to Fish an Intermediate Line in a Lake

From RIO Products: In this episode of RIO's "How To Fly Fish" series, RIO brand manager Simon Gawesworth talks about fishing intermediate lines in a lake. The intermediate line should be the second line density every lake angler should buy (after a floating line), but few anglers know how to fish them, or the nuances behind using them. Simon explains what an intermediate line is, talks about when to use a clear versus a "camo" intermediate line, as well as discussing the sink

Paul

Apr 12, 2021

Tips For Casting a Sinking Fly Line

For the angler that has thrown nothing but floating lines, moving to a sinking line can present new challenges. Due to the different design and heavy, dense configuration, these lines can be quite a bit more clunky and tougher to cast overall. You can't just show up and start casting a sinking line as you would a floater; some technique changes must be made. Casting these lines often isn't pretty or graceful, but in addition to keeping the fly down in the strike zone, they ca

RIO Products: How to Improve Your Double Spey

Paul

Feb 4, 2021

RIO Products: How to Improve Your Double Spey

Our friend Simon Gawesworth over at RIO recently made a video about something I know nothing about—improving your double spey. Check out the informative video below! Support Demystifly by Shopping at Trident Fly Fishing #TechnicalStrategies #RIO #FlyCasting

3 Times You Might Try Using a Heavier Tippet

Paul

Feb 1, 2021

3 Times You Might Try Using a Heavier Tippet

A typical fly fishing leader consists of three sections: the butt, midsection, and tippet. Other times, a much more simple leader can be used that may have less of a gradual taper or less pieces. Regardless of what the design is, the one section that is arguably of most concern to most anglers is the tippet. After all, this is the part that connects directly to the fly and will be most immediately in view of the fish. It is also the most prone to damage and break-offs. Beside

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

Dec 3, 2020

8 Tips for Easier and Safer Wading

I'll be the first to admit that I've never been the most aggressive wader. It's impressive to me whenever I see an angler crossing a waist-deep stream in swift current or pushing the limits when chasing stripers from the beach. I've always erred on the side of caution and like to keep myself out of trouble, even if that means maybe missing a great opportunity here and there. Regardless of your level of bravery while wading, there are some things that can be kept in mind for a

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

Nov 2, 2020

Don't Touch That Dial

Click-pawl fly reels are the ultimate in simplicity. These ultra-basic drag systems typically offer very little to no adjustment capabilities, thus putting much of the fight literally in the hands of the angler to apply more drag pressure manually on the spool rim. Most fly reels, however, feature a drag system that offers a range of adjustments. Click-pawl reels are loads of fun and all, but it sure is nice being able to tweak the drag based on different situations. Then, th

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 12, 2020

How to Cover Water Faster

When fly fishing, covering water can sometimes be critical. No, I'm not talking about merely picking apart a small zone, but rather moving quickly and firing off as many casts as possible over a vast region. In some areas it can simply be tough to know exactly where the fish will be holding. Whether it's a huge area of open water or a long shoreline where lots of places look juicy, presenting the fly rapidly and with a high rate of efficiency will get you into fish faster. Ho

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

Sep 10, 2020

Avoid High Sticking When Fighting Fish

Proper rod angle during the fight is always important, but it's even more crucial when fighting big fish from a boat. Not to be confused with the tactic of high-stick nymphing, high-sticking while fighting a fish is something I see pretty often, particularly when trying to lift up on a fish vertically. High-sticking happens when you lift your rod up too far. During the fight, ideally you never want the rod handle to go past about the 90 degree mark from the position of the fi

Fly Casting Tip: Don't Let Go of the Line

Paul

Aug 30, 2020

Fly Casting Tip: Don't Let Go of the Line

While casting and presenting your fly, accuracy and efficiency are often super important. Unfortunately, for some anglers these two key components of the presentation can suffer. Regardless of the distance that's trying to be reached, when many anglers shoot line at the end of a cast they let go of the line completely. Leaving the line totally free to zing out of the guides seems like it makes perfect sense — especially when trying to cast a longer distance — but there's an o

RIO Products Video: How to Find Rising Trout

Paul

Aug 20, 2020

RIO Products Video: How to Find Rising Trout

From RIO Products: In this episode of RIO's "How To" series, Chris Walker talks about finding rising trout for targeting with dry flies. For many, catching a free rising trout on a dry fly is the pinnacle of fly fishing excitement, skill and enjoyment, but knowing where to look in a river to have the best chance of finding a dry fly feeding trout is a skill in its own right. Chris highlights three different types of water that usually provide the best chance of finding a risi

8 Ways to More Effectively Fish a Fly in Deep Water

Paul

Aug 6, 2020

8 Ways to More Effectively Fish a Fly in Deep Water

Many years ago when we were kids, me and a buddy went on a bottom-fishing trip off the California coast where the day was spent doing drifts in about 300 feet of water. For some weird reason I was actually pretty hyped for that trip, but let me tell you...that feeling ended really quick. Turns out, reeling in 1-pound sinkers and sometimes multiple fish at once from those depths is not all that enjoyable, especially for a scrawny kid with twiggy arms. Us fly anglers are much m

7 Tips for Better Success While Fishing from Shore

Paul

Aug 3, 2020

7 Tips for Better Success While Fishing from Shore

Fishing from a boat is both fun and often hugely advantageous. A properly-outfitted boat will give you access to waters not accessible from shore and allow you to move around quickly. For years, I was fortunate to own a few boats ranging from a simplistic 14-foot skiff to a high-performance 18-foot bass boat. None were super pricey and all but one were purchased used, but those vessels allowed me to access and catch literally thousands of fish! For various reasons, I've been

Sight-Fishing Tips: Look For These 3 Things!

Paul

May 21, 2020

Sight-Fishing Tips: Look For These 3 Things!

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

DEMYSTIFLY

Demystifying the Gear and Art of Fly Fishing