FLY FISHING BLOG

When I was about 5 years old, I pulled a huge Northern Pike out through the ice and screamed to my dad that I caught an alligator….or so the family story goes. The point here is, Pike are not for the faint of heart, this isn’t your alpine trou … read more

Most of us that have bass fished started off using conventional gear.....as in spinning rods and bait casters. However, fly fishing for bass has some key advantages over conventional gear.  Advantages to Fly Fishing for Bass The bigges … read more

So, I took up playing fantasy football 5 seasons ago. I’ve been to the playoffs four out of five years and have won it all twice. Not too bad I think, especially since others have been doing it 15 years and only won once.So what’s the secret to m … read more

The question I’m often asked is what are the top trout flies?  At RiverBum, we have over 3,500 fly patterns. That’s a lot for sure. But wherever in the US you fish for trout, these trout flies are must haves for any flybox. 1. Adams It … read more

You know I’m a dry fly guy. But even a dry fly guy needs to go underwater from time to time. Truth be told, you will put far more fish to the net using a wet fly or nymph than you will a dry fly. Over 80% of a fish’s diet is eaten under wat … read more

If you’re like me, you love a dry fly bite, there’s nothing like seeing the take on the surface. It’s pure adrenaline. However, early and late in the year, insect hatches aren’t exactly prolific. So what’s a dry fly guy to do?  Temperat … read more

Many of us grew up gear fisherman going after bass. I know I did. Fly Fishing for bass takes bass fishing to a whole other level. Some say it is more difficult. There could be some truth to that. However, using a fly rod, you more delicate pre … read more

Beginners: Stick with the Essentials The pure variety of flies on the market today can be overwhelming, especially to the novice fisherman. At RiverBum, we have over 2,500 unique patterns!  The truth is, you don’t need all of them.& … read more

Which one of us doesn’t have fond memories of grabbing a spinning rod, bobber, hooks and some worms and hitting the ‘ole fishing hole? For many of us, that’s how we all got started. That little tug was the drug! Fly Fishing With Kids - Star … read more

Catching fish is all about presentation and the offering. You’ve got to have the combination of the right fly fishing fly, the right hook size, and a good drift. “Fly” is a pretty general term. The term generates from the original flies wer … read more

So much attention is given to casting distance when talking about fly fishing. Super stiff graphite rods, where a 5wt feels more like a 6wt or 7wt of years gone past. The truth is, casting distance is great for competition and showing off, bu … read more

We are coming upon one of my favorite hatches of the year. Eastern March Browns are found from the Eastern United States to the Upper Midwest. Western March Browns populate rivers and streams from the Pacific Coast to the Rocky Mountains. The … read more

To be an effective trout fisherman, it is necessary to know the life cycles of the aquatic insects in a trout’s diet.Trout are cold blooded. In kind, so is most of their forage aside from the odd mouse a big ole rainbow might take.  During … read more

There are volumes of books written on reading the water, and thousands upon thousands of illustrations. I really don’t think I need to cover that. However, what I don’t often see is a dialogue of the requirements of the water for the trout.&nb … read more

Oh baby, when you see or hear a fish rise, an active feeder - the first thing you think is "Let’s go get ‘em!"   We immediately swing our fly to right where we see ‘em rise or to the ripple rings……nothing. We throw again…..nothing. We’v … read more

Over the course of the next several weeks I’ll be writing about some tips and tricks I have learned over the years. I’m organizing a trip for the Salmonfly hatch with RiverBum pro Jim Mitchell, so some tips and tricks on a float trip seem to b … read more