Flymen Blog
It doesn't matter what happens in the fashion industry – when it comes to fly fishing, there's no new black.
We've all heard it!
"Orange is the new black," or "purple is the new black," or even that olive would be the new black.
Don't get me wrong – I know there are a lot of colors that are really effective in different types of flies. I love throwing white deceivers to snappers and other saltwater species, and big olive flies to pike, not to mention fishing a banana-colored zonker for salmon or a big gray articulated streamer for trout.
There are so many colors that are important when it comes to flies and fly tying, but none more important than black. Continue reading
by Ben Rogers
Winter can put a damper on even the most avid angler’s day. As a Caribbean guy, I know this better than anyone.
However, if you put in the little extra effort to get out of your cozy bed and head to your nearest trout stream, you could quite possibly have one of your best days on the water.
True, fish get sluggish with cold temperatures. The slowing of their metabolisms causes them to feed less than in the warmer months.
There's one exception to this rule: post-spawn trout expended a lot of calories when they were spawning, and, once rested, they put back on the feed bag they had in pre-spawn.
This time can vary based on your geographic area, so scout and keep notes of the spawn times. Usually within a few weeks these fish are well-rested and start to feed to retain a healthy weight through the rest of winter.
by Steve Dally
Big streamer fly fishing often gets labeled as a young person’s game – all brawn and no subtlety, just “banging the banks.”
Real streamer fishing is visual – from the dance of the fly to the buttery flash of a drive-by – and intellectual – requiring analysis of the flow of current around and over structure to find the honeypots.
Streamer fishing, particularly when the flies are 6” and bigger, is mentally and physically challenging, requiring fast-twitch decision-making and slow-twitch endurance.
Knowing your game, as well as the fish's, is way more important than a booming cast and no brains.
If you want to streamer fish longer and better, here's how.
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 Andrew Loffredo
Streamer fishing is one of the most visual and exciting ways to fish for trout!
As a former member of the U.S. Youth Fly Fishing Team, I picked up some streamer tricks that are useful for both new and experienced anglers.
Here are 3 tips to consider when you’re “hucking meat” this fall.