Flymen Blog
by Brian Shumaker
Whether you're just starting out or are an experienced smallmouth fly angler, here are 3 things to think about to increase your odds if your success rate isn’t what you expect it to be.
by Tim O'Neill
Yogi Berra once famously said “90% of the game is half mental.”
Of course Mr. Berra was talking about the great game of baseball, but the thought process is spot on for fly fishing.
Fly fishing, like baseball, requires a level of mental involvement. You can have all the new gear, tons of flies, and fish the best waters in your area, but if your confidence level isn’t at its highest you may be in for a long day. The trick is how do you get and keep your confidence up as you go through a day or a week of fishing?
Here are a few tips that help me fish at my best and I hope they'll help you.
by Ben Rogers
“Oh, why didn't I think about that?”
I've heard it more times than I can count.
As a fly fishing guide, you become proficient in many aspects. The daily checklists that plague your morning routine become second nature. However, to some fly anglers that are fishing only a few times a month, these seemingly simple to-dos can slip the mind.
Here are five of the best ways to make your day more productive, all of which I've noticed many anglers overlook.
by Brandon Bailes
I often struggle with deciding on which type of water I want to fish, whether it's big water with big flies and sinking lines, or small streams with downsized offerings. Both can be very rewarding but there’s something special about small streams and exploring where smaller predatory fish can live.
My definition of a small stream, warmwater or coldwater, is a watershed that is at the max 25 feet wide and a deep pool from 4 to 5 feet deep. Where I live this even includes a few tailwaters, which when generating are not navigable by boat.
These types of waters contain more than just bugs for fish to feed on. After many years of exploring these little gems and talking with other small stream fanatics, I've come up with my own way to target the meat-eaters in these waters with downsized streamers.
by John Zimmerman
I think we often make fly fishing a whole lot harder than we need to. Maybe it’s good for our egos to pick off a fish eating at 70 feet away from us, but I prefer to catch fish than cast.
And fish are often right at our feet.
Here are six cumulative reasons to stop casting so dang far!