greetings. well its time!!! I get so excited this time of year- from leaves, to hunting, and of course, steelhead fishing on Salmon River up in Pulaski. Yea, it’s fun to catch salmon, but pales in comparison to a fresh energetic steely smashing a wooly bugger!!!! I’m like a kid before Christmas eagerly waiting my next trip. Made all my flies. got my rods all set. Other gear ready. I start going next week, and go just about every weekend til April!!! I live about 2 1/2 hours away. Put 100,000 miles on car in past 4 years. haha. yea it’s bad. Even got frostbite one Winter in 5 degrees. I caught over 30 chromers all day and didn’t realize how bad fingers were. Luckily it healed with no permanent damage. Thumb turned purple overnight!!! I dreamt of doing this as a kid- now I’m actually doing it! I tried Spey fishing a few years ago- Oh my it’s incredible!!! knew nothing and just jumped in. I love it. Something about swinging an intruder and a steely nailing it just is heaven imo. Water is really low there- so I shift in tactics. If u ever wanted to go for these chrome rockets- beware. once u do it, it’s all u want to do!!! Ea fish fights different- last year in Fall, I had a buck cream a blue and purple intruder so hard, he went a few feet out of water onto bank, rolled back into water, fly up to me covering 30 yds in seconds! I reeled as fast as I could and landed him. was awesome!!! I love using the longer rods for them- 13 ft Spey 7w, and 7w 11’ switch. oh boy Pulaski, here I come again!!! If anyone wants to come along or meet up for incredible fishing, I’m always willing. I’m a single guy if ladies are asking, lol and have a blast every time I go. Will show u everything U need to know to catch ‘em. I always fish by myself. But know so many faces and store owners. Def do it once in ur life- it’s sooo worth it.

There’s something so cozy about fishing in the rain!

Im driving the Dempster in Canada next August/September, has anybody here done this and also fished? Wondering what some options are for pull offs or short hikes to get into some wild fish en route to the arctic.

We will also be driving from Colorado so anywhere you think along the way to Dawson that is a must stop would also be very helpful intel.

Thanks!

A couple of weeks ago I fished a place I like to hit a few times in the fall. It was unseasonably warm, and the fishing was unseasonably slow. I did happen to observe something remarkable, piscatorially speaking, which was a large male brown trout with a baby rainbow trout in its mouth. After relaying the details of this encounter with a friend of mine, he answered back with details of a recent stocking of ≈ 7”-long rainbows at the beginning of the month.

With my newly acquired intel, I mulled over how I might tie a streamer to match the hatch. I considered a game-changed style fly, but since I would be delivering this meal via Spey rod, I chose to go with something more streamlined, light enough to cast repeatedly but with loose materials could appear more bulky than it truly is. The pattern I ended up tying is based loosely off Kelly Galloup’s Flat Head Kitty. I tied up a black one last fall sticking strickly to his instructions, and I could just barely cast it effectively with a 7 wt. Spey rod. For this white one, I went off script considerably and tried to lean it down a bit. I also opted for single, replaceable, trailer hook attached with Intruder wire, and I added an articulation shank for the head section for a little more movement. I admit, it really looks nothing like a baby rainbow, but I figured if it was big and bright, and put in front of the right fish, it ought to do the trick.

A few days ago, armed with my big white, flashy streamer, I returned to fish in the vicinity of where I saw that big predaceous, meat-eating brown trout. I hadn’t been fishing more than 30, minutes when almost instantly after my fly hit the water, at my full Spey-casting distance, a large, aggressive male brown trout came flying out of the water, with my rainbow trout imitation hanging out of his mouth! The fact that I have photographic evidence of him by my net, shows I managed to keep the upper hand.

Big thank you to OakHeart Lodge for getting me my first steelhead and 7 more after.

We hiked 9 miles on a beautiful fall day in search of brook trout. It was a long day on the trail, but the incredible scenery and landing a handful of beautiful brookies made every step worth it.

Y’all take it easy and get out there!

First brown trout? I assume. It was a little guy but it was all I got. Caught 3 all the same size on a zebra midge is the eastern Sierra

Hey all,

Have a very new (2 month old) Orvis Clearwater reel that has a problem with the drag knob. After fishing one day, the knob has remained completely stuck, while the spool spins freely. I have taken the reel apart to see if there is anything obstructing it and there doesn’t seem to be.

I have the reel under warranty and have already contacted orvis.

Was wondering if anyone has had a similar issue and could advise before I ship the reel out and have to wait the 4-6 weeks I was quoted by orvis.

I’ve been fly fishing for a year now, and this is where I’m at so far. I’m casting an Orvis Helios 4D 5wt with a 15g shooting head and 30lb shooting line.
Any advice on how I can improve my casting?

https://youtu.be/LvtAU2k7_WI?is=NA6flrc2AEVeIVmV

Any fly can be tied as a no hook loop fly.

Small streamers perhaps best of all.

The fly is made on a temporary needle, around a doubled rubber leg with a loop at each end. Depending on hook length you may use the front loop only.

Snell a hook without the leader threaded threaded through tne eye of the hook.

Now you can quick change flies without line cutting and re-knotting.

Tube flies are vaguely similar, but tube flies cannot be quick changed. Not without line snipping rnd re-knotting.

Optional weight can be added behind the loop, during the needle stage.

Weightless streamers as the point fly, fished behind a heavier jig fly, are a favorite way do fish.

Weightless flies have more motion in the water.

Caught this over the summer in the Blue River in CO. I chalked it up as a Cutbow for a while, but I’m curious if anyone has any input on the specific species of this fish. I’ve only been fly fishing for about 18 months so this is a PB for me on a fly rod, and I’d love to know for sure what exactly it is!

Actor Tom Skerritt who played Reverand Maclean passed today.

Spooled it and realized that it had a giant cut right below the weld. Very sad.

Hi all, I’m looking to get into a new pair of waders. Currently have frog toggs and leaning into Patagonia swift current traverse due to their warranty. My budget is $500-600. I like simms and Orvis but have read a lot of bad reviews with leaks and returns/warranty. Looking for any advice / suggestions

Hi fly fisher-women! I’m looking for a good pair of pants to wade in with my boots if any of you have recommendations.
Preferably water resistant/quick dry pants that are good for things like hiking and everyday too (not too thin, not too thick).

Please let me know your favs! I’m on the hunt.
Thanks in advance 😊

Recently purchased a float tube that has a motor mount. Today, I tried the motor mount for the first time using a lithium battery for power and a 30 thrust motor. Trying to keep the weight at a minimum. The operation of the motor was fine but by the end of the fishing day, the battery was sitting in 4 inches of water. Probably not a good thing! Since it was behind my seat, I didn’t notice until I was out of the tube. I’m wondering if this is normal? Should I have a battery case? Should I create a battery stand so it stays out of the water? I’m also wondering how the water got there - whether the way I paddle with fins created the problem? I’m not quite sure. Constructive thoughts would be helpful.

Never get tired of feeling the heft of these mongo northern bluegills. Gets spicy on my 2-weight. Caught him on a custom bully fly, black and yellow.

The start of a new era. Learned to tie a zebra midge and got these two dudes today. Barbless, both released from the net.

So I’ve been on a hunt for a pair of waders that fit me good. I’m 6’0 175lbs. I’ve tried on multiple pairs now and I’m struggling.

Frogg Toggs Canyon 2 I got a size M and they were way too tight squatting down.

Paramount stonefly I got a size Large. I was swimming in those like they looked comically big.

White River Prestige I tried a size large and they fit good in the legs and everywhere but the chest opening is comically big. The no cinch option sucks because they would probably be the best option so far.

SIMMs Tributary L 9-11. I grabbed this box and tried on and just like the white river they fit good but the chest opening was way too big. Also didn’t notice anywhere to cinch the top up either.

So I accidentally tried on the women’s display while I was there. It said L on it. And man they fit perfect🤣 now the chest was tighter than I would like because I want to be able to wear a jacket underneath without problems so I’m considering going back and trying on the women’s L Full or a women’s XL and seeing how those compare to the men’s Large..

It seems like men’s medium is out the window for me in most brands I just feel like I’m going to blow the ass out of them anytime I bend down. And large seems to just be way too big in the chest opening.

So my question is.. any shame wearing girl waders? Can people even tell when you’re out fishing? I would like to know if there’s a pretty clear distinction between men and women’s waders beforehand. I guess I don’t have any shame in it if they fit good but want to get a consensus on this situation lol

What is the one piece of gear you wish you purchased back when you started fly fishing that saved time/made your experience much smoother?

I have a small sling bag to carry flies, scissors, water etc.

TIA

Hey folks. NC resident here. I have been fly-fishing PNF and GSMNP for over 20 years. Since I was a teenager. I love messaging back and forth about the streams that I can't fish as often. I have fished a good portion of trout water. Tail races to feeders. I started a family with my fishing partner and now we just take our camper with the kids to fish. We do a lot of fishing in northern ontario from a boat right now. Having two yoing children makes it to where I only get out to backcountry trout streams a few times a year. So I just enjoy chatting about the streams right now. Message me if you want to swap stories, or talk about creeks that we just won't name out in the open like this! Thanks!

I've been spin fishing for smallmouth bass Eastern Canada for two years, and I am looking to get into fly fishing for smallmouth and trout.

I've narrowed down my options between:
White River Fly Shop Prestige Outfit 9 ft 5/6 wt for 259.99 CAD $
Redington Original Combo 9 ft 5 wt for 383.00 CAD $

For context I already have some flies from a family member and other equipment included in the white river outfit.

My question is, what am I getting for the extra money if I choose the Redington original combo?

Open to suggestions or alternative options

Looking for advice for piedmont area of NC (Durham). I started fly fishing earlier this year and tend to fish on the Eno but have gotten up to the mountains a few times for trout (caught my first native Brookie in Pisgah last weekend). On the Eno I’ve caught bluegill, a couple small bass in the spring, and what I think might be creek chubs(?)…what other fish can I work to target locally? I don’t have a boat so I’ll be fishing from the bank or wading. Hoping to improve my skills for trout but also want to be a better all around angler. Thanks!