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ALL ARTICLES
Nine Myths About Fly Choice (VIDEO)
Most anglers put a lot of focus on fly choice. And that makes sense, because we have to tie something to the end of the line, and we have to feed something to the trout. The fly is the quickest thing to change, and it’s the easiest thing to blame. Consequently, a lot of myths have grown around fly choice. Here are nine of those myths.
UPDATE ON EVENT: The Troutbitten Film Festival
Troutbitten is hosting a Film Festival at New Trail Brewing Company in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and we want you to be there. We’ll gather to share fishing stories, a few beers and good times. The event will feature door prizes with gear from many of the best companies in the fly fishing world, and we’ll have awards for some of the selected films.
The Troutbitten Film Festival features genuine experiences. It’s about the woods and the water. It’s about wild places. It’s about the friendships and stories we all collect from a life on the water. It’s not about exotic locations. It’s not a big fish contest or a big camera contest. If you’re resourceful, you can create something beautiful and endearing for the Troutbitten Film Festival with your iPhone.
Building the Troutbitten Mono Rig – Reels, Lines, Materials, Connections and Knots (VIDEO)
For over a decade, I’ve written and talked about fishing a Mono Rig for all underwater presentations — nymphs with and without an indicator, with and without split shot, dry dropper, streamers of all shapes and sizes and even pure dry flies.
I’ve detailed the formulas for my favorite leaders in many places, but I’ve never put everything together from the ground up. This video answers the most frequent questions about reels, fly lines, leader connections, materials and knots. No matter what tight line leader you choose to build, the principles shown here apply.
STORIES
Saltbitten: Thoughts and Lessons from the Summer Surf
I’ve lost good friends in the last year whom I know had plans that remain eternally unfilled. I used to think time was the enemy. I was wrong. The end is the enemy. And time is all I have to work with.
. . . I love the details of saltwater fishing. I love the sunrise and the sunset. I love the never-ending wash of good waves. I love having my bare feet in the ocean for hours at a time with nothing in front of me but the endless ocean until it meets the soft line of the horizon. I love the walk back, watching beachgoers enjoy their own moments, seeing their friendships and laughter. I love being by myself, and I love sharing the sand with my boys . . .
Fishing Tempo
Much like a musician might play the same song Largo or Allegro, an angler can fish methodically, even and calm, or he can fish the same meandering series of undercuts with earnest intensity, cutting through water at twice the pace and delivering the fly with acute precision.
Both have their beauty. Elegance is found in either approach, if an angler is on their mark.
Shirt Pocket Fishing
Get the cast perfect the first time, or the trout will pull themselves out of position to check your fly, then turn as it drags away. In these conditions you never get a second chance.
It’s technical, but fair. It’s unforgiving, but fun. It’s a new lesson at every undercut, and the whole thing’s over by 10:30 a.m
TACTICS
Nine Myths About Fly Choice (VIDEO)
Most anglers put a lot of focus on fly choice. And that makes sense, because we have to tie something to the end of the line, and we have to feed something to the trout. The fly is the quickest thing to change, and it’s the easiest thing to blame. Consequently, a lot of myths have grown around fly choice. Here are nine of those myths.
Building the Troutbitten Mono Rig – Reels, Lines, Materials, Connections and Knots (VIDEO)
For over a decade, I’ve written and talked about fishing a Mono Rig for all underwater presentations — nymphs with and without an indicator, with and without split shot, dry dropper, streamers of all shapes and sizes and even pure dry flies.
I’ve detailed the formulas for my favorite leaders in many places, but I’ve never put everything together from the ground up. This video answers the most frequent questions about reels, fly lines, leader connections, materials and knots. No matter what tight line leader you choose to build, the principles shown here apply.
Fishing With Visible Flies — Learning From What You Can See (VIDEO)
Seeing the fly is one of the most enjoyable aspects of fishing. But there’s a world of education inherent, too. Watch the fly dance and fall as it mixes with the currents. Notice how it responds to rod tip animation and line strips. Then see a trout materialize around the fly and judge its reaction. Visible flies are teachers. Whether dries, wets, nymphs or streamers, watching the fly helps us refine the techniques that catch fish.
NYMPHING
Building the Troutbitten Mono Rig – Reels, Lines, Materials, Connections and Knots (VIDEO)
For over a decade, I’ve written and talked about fishing a Mono Rig for all underwater presentations — nymphs with and without an indicator, with and without split shot, dry dropper, streamers of all shapes and sizes and even pure dry flies.
I’ve detailed the formulas for my favorite leaders in many places, but I’ve never put everything together from the ground up. This video answers the most frequent questions about reels, fly lines, leader connections, materials and knots. No matter what tight line leader you choose to build, the principles shown here apply.
Fishing With Visible Flies — Learning From What You Can See (VIDEO)
Seeing the fly is one of the most enjoyable aspects of fishing. But there’s a world of education inherent, too. Watch the fly dance and fall as it mixes with the currents. Notice how it responds to rod tip animation and line strips. Then see a trout materialize around the fly and judge its reaction. Visible flies are teachers. Whether dries, wets, nymphs or streamers, watching the fly helps us refine the techniques that catch fish.
Fishing the Edges (VIDEO)
Here are specific strategies for targeting edge water, with footage from two trips — one on small water and one on a larger river. I fish nymphs and streamers, changing frequently to suit the conditions.
STREAMERS
Building the Troutbitten Mono Rig – Reels, Lines, Materials, Connections and Knots (VIDEO)
For over a decade, I’ve written and talked about fishing a Mono Rig for all underwater presentations — nymphs with and without an indicator, with and without split shot, dry dropper, streamers of all shapes and sizes and even pure dry flies.
I’ve detailed the formulas for my favorite leaders in many places, but I’ve never put everything together from the ground up. This video answers the most frequent questions about reels, fly lines, leader connections, materials and knots. No matter what tight line leader you choose to build, the principles shown here apply.
Fishing With Visible Flies — Learning From What You Can See (VIDEO)
Seeing the fly is one of the most enjoyable aspects of fishing. But there’s a world of education inherent, too. Watch the fly dance and fall as it mixes with the currents. Notice how it responds to rod tip animation and line strips. Then see a trout materialize around the fly and judge its reaction. Visible flies are teachers. Whether dries, wets, nymphs or streamers, watching the fly helps us refine the techniques that catch fish.
Streamer Anglers — Be Like the Drift Boat
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 . . .
ANGLER TYPES IN PROFILE
Angler Types in Profile — The Traveller
Some anglers are built for travel. They’re addicted to the road. They’re inspired by the newness of another town and the next river. Traveling can become a passion equal to fishing, where the next fishing trip becomes the motivation to board a plane or turn the tires down a new path.
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 . . .
Angler Types in Profile — The Fly Tying Artist
It’s easy to understand how tying flies makes you a better angler. And many fly fishermen take their passion for the river directly over to the vise. With that passion follows artistry. And for that kind of artist, what is wound around wire and bound to a hook comes with beauty . . . or there is no point.
One of the best tyers I’ve ever known would tie a dozen of the same fly and keep only two or three, stripping the rest with a razor blade to the bare hook. Why? He said he only fished the ones that had a soul . . .
BIG TROUT
Can You Force-Feed Trout Big Dries? I Want to Believe
I’ve spent the better part of my summer testing a theory. Will the wild brown trout in my home waters eat a big dry fly? More specifically, will they eat it regularly? And for the trout that do fall for an extra-large fly, is their average size large to match?
PODCAST: The Spawning Process of Trout (S17, Ep5)
Where, when and how do trout spawn in a river? The spawning process is arguably the most important event of a trout’s life. As long term anglers, we should understand the process — not only because we then know how to give trout their space, but because the process is a fascinating look at a fish that we spend so much time chasing.
PODCAST: What Flies Catch Big Trout?(S17, Ep4)
Sometimes, the goal is to catch the biggest trout in the river. In those times, what’s the best fly to choose?
Size, shape, weight, color, flash — whether it’s a dry fly, nymph, wet fly or streamer, what are the qualities of a pattern that we have confidence will interest bigger fish?
NIGHT FISHING
Troutbitten Fly Box — The Harvey Pusher Night Fly (with VIDEO)
When you work the Pusher, imagine the wings flexing and pulsing as you hand twist retrieve and pulse the rod tip on a three count. See the fly in your mind’s eye and make it come alive in the dark. Then hold on tight . . .
Fish With Friends — Doc and Darling, Night Fishing and the Bad Mother Night Fly
The Fish With Friends series continues with Josh and Trevor on a night fishing trip, a few big wild trout and the Bad Mother Night Fly recipe . . .
Podcast: An Introduction to Night Fishing for Trout — S3-Ep14
Ambition is the fundamental characteristic of every good night fisher. We wade into the darkness for the experience. And we quickly realize that the night game is an unwritten book, with just a few clues and an infinite room for learning new things. Each exhilarating hit and every trout in the net is a unique reward, because night fishing requires that you assemble the puzzle yourself.
In this episode, I’m joined by my friends, Trevor Smith and Josh Darling, for an overview on night fishing for trout . . .
MORE
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