Search Month: February 2023

15 Knot Tying Tips (with VIDEO)

Being a versatile angler comes down to changing things. And on the river, that means tying knots. Good anglers need the facility to tie knots, with ease. This is my best advice for tying quick, clean, strong knots.

PODCAST: Winter Skills Series, #7: Problems and Solutions — S6, Ep7

There are a host of reasons that anglers stay home in the winter. Some are legitimate — there’s no good solution for the problem, and you learn to deal with it the best you can. We talk about some of those. But other perceived problems really aren’t much of an issue at all, if you have a plan and a solution. We address a few of those too.

The Knot Strength Thing — Can knot strength be calculated? Does it matter?

Knots are personal. I don’t believe in any of the knot strength tests because there are too many variables. And what I know about the performance of my favorite Davy, for example, conflicts with the (I’ll say it) myth of its inferior breaking strength. My Davy’s are strong. But I don’t know about yours. That’s for you to find out . . .

Angler Types in Profile — The Fast Guy

The bad fast guy is hard to watch, because he blows up the river ahead of you. But the best fast guy makes you pause for a while, just to watch an artist at work . . .

Streamer Anglers — Be Like the Drift Boat

Feb 15, 2023 | Streamers, Tactics

Keep moving. That’s the key to streamer fishing. And moving downstream with the currents makes it possible for hours at a time. Wade down and fish up . . .

PODCAST: Winter Skills Series, #5: Streamers in the Winter — S6, Ep5

Feb 12, 2023 | Announcements, The Troutbitten Podcast, Winter Fly Fishing

A streamer is not only a great change-up in the winter, it can be the best fly in your box – if you fish it well. There are some changes to make for a wintertime streamer approach, versus the warmer seasons. And those nuances in presentation make all the difference . . .

Leaders and Hats are Back in the Troutbitten Shop

Feb 10, 2023 | Announcements, Nymphing, Streamers, Tactics, The Mono Rig

Troutbitten leaders are back in the Shop. There are some unique features to Troutbitten leaders that make a big difference. These are hand tied leaders in four varieties: Harvey Dry Leader, Standard Mono Rig, Thin Mono Rig, and Micro-Thin Mono Rig. Standard Sighters are also available, and they include a Backing Barrel. The Full Mono Rig Kit contains each of the three Mono Rig leaders, three foam spools and a twenty-inch Rio Bi-Color extension.

All Troutbitten leaders come on a three-inch spool, making long leader changes a breeze . . .

Troutbitten Fly Box — The Craft Fur Jig and The Craft Fur Streamer (with VIDEO)

Feb 7, 2023 | Nymphing, Troutbitten Fly Box, Videos

Some flies do one thing really well. Other flies are your workhorse on the water, lending solutions to river problems by being adaptable. These are the flies we reach for over and over. These are the flies we tie first and keep well stocked. This is the Craft Fur . . .

PODCAST: Winter Skills Series, #4: Nymphing in the Winter — S6, Ep4

Feb 5, 2023 | Announcements, The Troutbitten Podcast, Winter Fly Fishing

In this episode, we dive deep into winter nymphing strategies. Specifically, we highlight what is different and what is unique about nymphing in the winter versus other seasons.

Let’s Stop Kidding Ourselves — The Bead on a Hook Challenge

Feb 1, 2023 | Commentary, Nymphing, Tactics | 93 Comments

Testing rigs and flies on the water is fun. It provides the next reason to get back out there, and it center-focuses us on something new. Testing also takes the pressure off. You’re not out there to catch every trout. You’re out there to experiment — to investigate and assess results against a theory.

Do trout eat the bead-on-a-hook better than a nymph with dubbing or micro-tubing behind it? Maybe . . .