#TechnicalStrategies

Paul

Apr 4, 2019

5 Tips for Streamer Fishing in Current

Whether you're fishing current caused by wind, tides, runoff, or just a stream's natural flow, it's essential to fish it properly. Fish use current and current breaks to their advantage, so you need to present the fly in a strategical way that will look attractive and (hopefully) elicit a strike. However, this can be tougher in moving water because unlike in still conditions, that water flow will obviously have an effect on your fly and fly line. Two fish I've spent a lot of

Two Knots for Attaching Fly Line to Leader: Nail or Albright?

Paul

Mar 7, 2019

Two Knots for Attaching Fly Line to Leader: Nail or Albright?

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

Paul

Jan 24, 2019

The Spot Within a Spot

The best anglers have not only impeccable mechanics, but they also have a supreme ability to read and pick apart productive water. In fact, I'd say that not thoroughly fishing productive water is one of the most common problems I've noticed over the years. It's great to have a wonderful presentation and to be using a highly-productive fly, but if that fly isn't visiting the very best nooks and crannies where the fish actually want to lay and feed, then that angler's success c

Are you SURE You're Getting Deep Enough?

Paul

Nov 29, 2018

Are you SURE You're Getting Deep Enough?

Many fish often feed on or near the bottom. That's just how it is. When those fish are totally keyed in to that particular zone, your fly had better be there or you may come up empty. That's one of the simplest mistakes anglers can make—not fishing deep enough. You might be in the right spot, using the right fly, and even using the right line/leader combination, but your presentation or simply your patience can keep the fly from reaching that critical strike zone. It's also a

Paul

Nov 8, 2018

Fly Fishing Around Bait Schools

You arrive at your spot, and are immediately greeted with large bait schools and predators cruising and slashing through them. It seems like the perfect setup for success, right? Only problem is, you start casting....and continue casting.....and casting.....then cast some more.....with little to nothing to show for it. How can this be with the bait so prevalent and the fish so fired up? The problem is the prevalent bait part. When fly fishing around thick wads of it—bait ball

Paul

Oct 11, 2018

BIGGER Flies for BIGGER Bass

Small flies certainly have their place. Whether imitating insects or other types of small forage, a downsized fly is often a great choice to "match the hatch" when it comes to accurately representing these little morsels. With that said, of course all fish don't always hunt for tiny food 100% of the time. Even fish like rainbow trout will munch on a pretty substantial meal from time to time. A prime example here are bass; in particular largemouth bass. With a mean attitude an

Paul

Sep 20, 2018

6 Tips When Fly Fishing Around Docks

See that pic? It’s from 18 years ago. I have spent A LOT of time fishing around docks for very good reason—they can be fish magnets! Whether fishing from the dock itself or casting from a boat, outstanding action for fish like bass, panfish, and snook awaits. You CAN just stroll right up, start casting, and have a good chance at catching something, but why not maximize your results? There's a method to picking docks apart, and here I'll go through some of the ways I do just t

Paul

Aug 27, 2018

Should You Fly Fish With Lighter Line?

Some fly anglers simply don't realize how much of an impact the wrong size fly line or leader can have on their fishing. In the most touchy, technical conditions, it can literally be the only thing that's hampering success. I've always loved fishing with tackle that's on the lighter side for two main reasons: it's more fun, and in many cases it most definitely helps me catch more fish. Here's just some of the reasons you might consider downsizing your line the next time you h

3 Tips When Building Fly Fishing Leaders

Paul

Aug 23, 2018

3 Tips When Building Fly Fishing Leaders

Whether buying a knotless leader off the shelf or tying together your own, you must consider things like the fly line you're using, style(s) of fly you plan on tossing, wind conditions, and water clarity. There's simply no single best leader for all situations. There are ones that are long, short, stiff, supple, section lengths can vary, etc......you get the picture! We already broke down some quick leader knowledge in our "Fly Fishing Basics Section" right here, but I wanted

Paul

Aug 5, 2018

Why Use an Intermediate Fly Line?

When do I use an intermediate fly line? Do I even need an intermediate fly line? Many times a floating line will get the job done in shallower waters, but fly fishing with an intermediate line can offer several advantages here as well. Intermediate lines are designed to sink very slowly, typically about 1–1.5 inches-per-second (ips) or so. Designed in two different styles, there's full intermediate where the entire line sinks, and intermediate sink tip where only a certain am

10 Tips for Fighting Big Fish on Light Tippet

Paul

Aug 2, 2018

10 Tips for Fighting Big Fish on Light Tippet

Catching big fish (unlike the one above!) can make even the most seasoned angler weak in the knees. There is, however, an even higher level of both apprehension and satisfaction associated with targeting trophy fish on light tippet. To tip the odds in your favor, I've compiled some helpful tips that you can apply whether you find yourself hooked up to a 20 inch rainbow or 100 pound tarpon! - Make sure knots are tied properly. Tie knots slowly and carefully, moisten them well

Paul

May 31, 2018

Fly Fishing for Bass: Popper or Diver?

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

Paul

Apr 12, 2018

8 Reasons to Try Fly Fishing at Night

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

Sinking Line Confusion: Grains, Density, and Sink Rate

Paul

Feb 26, 2018

Sinking Line Confusion: Grains, Density, and Sink Rate

How to choose a sinking fly line? Yikes! Sinking lines are not quite as widely-used as floating lines, but they can very often be a requirement. Whether fishing a river, lake, or the wide-open ocean, if you need to keep a fly down in the strike zone the most efficient way possible, there's often no better way to do it than with the right sinking line. Floating lines are pretty simplistic and easy to purchase, but the fact that sinking lines combine some additional factors and

Paul

Feb 5, 2018

The Power of (Streamer) Attraction

I was just clicking around online getting reacquainted with what's out there in the world of streamers. Most of my fly fishing here in South Florida is done with just a few different but very simple patterns, all of which produce very well for me. With that said, it's still fun to stay in-tune with the flies that far more creative minds are coming up with and even experiment with patterns I've never tried. Fly designs are all over the map, and of course so are sizes. With thi

Paul

Jan 18, 2018

How to Strip a Streamer....BETTER!

Once your streamer is in the water, retrieving it seems like a really simple and straightforward task. Grab the line, hook it under your finger, and just start stripping, right? The problem I often notice is that the stripping is done without any real strategy involved. After the fly touches down, the line is stripped at a pretty consistent rate that doesn't really change throughout the entire retrieve. Does this catch fish? It most certainly does. In many cases, is there a b

Paul

Nov 12, 2017

Tips For Fishing the Back of the Boat

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

Paul

Oct 22, 2017

3 Big Advantages of a Sink Tip Fly Line

Floating lines are easy to cast, easy to manage, and are the most commonly-used line types in fly fishing. Despite their popularity and effectiveness, sometimes they simply won't cut it. The reason for that is pretty straightforward—a floating line limits how deep you can fish your fly. There are things you can do to get down a little deeper with a floating line like using a longer and/or thinner-diameter leader, adding weight to the leader, and using a weighted fly, but that

Fly Casting Tips: Don't be a Line Ripper!

Paul

Jun 15, 2017

Fly Casting Tips: Don't be a Line Ripper!

When fly casting, being smoooooooth is the name of the game. Moving the fly rod back and forth fluidly along with good application of power and the right timing is what it takes to produce a pretty cast. Unfortunately, some folks—especially beginners—can have a tendency to rip the line off the water at the start of a cast. Even someone that has decent mechanics at shorter ranges may suffer from this problem when working with longer lengths of line. Mentally, it may seem like

Paul

Jun 9, 2017

4 Easy Tips For Fly Fishing Dirty Water

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

DEMYSTIFLY

Demystifying the Gear and Art of Fly Fishing