Fly fishing for longnose gar not only offers an opportunity to target an oddball fish, but it’s also tons of fun! These prehistoric fish readily take most fly presentations and put up a good fight as well. I’m honestly surprised it’s not more popular. Most gar fly fishing is quite visual. You will often be … Read more
Is it your first time fly fishing for smallmouth bass? Perhaps you’ve been chasing smallies on the fly for a while, and are looking for new fly pattern ideas? Let’s look at some of the best flies for targeting smallmouth bass. Smallmouth bass are perhaps the perfect gamefish. Not only are they pound for pound … Read more
Turtles are not a prey item often considered by fly anglers. Even though adult turtles are mostly left alone, many fish will opportunistically feed on young turtles that they can swallow whole. As seen in the video below, perhaps we shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss turtles as prey items. Anyone make turtle flies?!?! from … Read more
Do trout bite at night? I can tell you definitively that yes, trout do feed in the dark. Not only can trout be caught at night, but it tends to be big trout that feed more heavily in the dark. Let’s talk a bit about nighttime trout feeding habits and go over some techniques for … Read more
With the increasing popularity of fly fishing, a larger variety of fish species are being targeted on the fly now. Many of them live in weed-heavy environments and require weed-resistant or weed-proof flies. The techniques for tying weedless flies are surprisingly varied, and I covered quite a few below. The bass and pike anglers reading … Read more
“Where can I go trout fishing in Ottawa?”, It’s a common question I hear from anglers new to the area. Unfortunately, most of the waterways in the Ottawa valley are better suited to warmer water species. One can actually find a few trout in Ottawa, although the waterways that hold them are far from prime. … Read more
What is a whip finish? A whip finish is the primary knot used by fly tiers to finish off a fly. It is an essential skill to learn for anyone learning how to tie flies. It is necessary to complete (most) every fly with this knot before cutting your tying thread free. Without using this … Read more
Fly anglers live for hatches, and cicada hatches are no different. When we get on the river and a large mayfly, caddisfly, or stonefly hatch is going on, we know we’re in for a good day of fishing. There’s some great cicada fly patterns listed further down and I touch on how to tie cicada … Read more
Choosing the right fly line can be a daunting task. Floating/sinking and weight are often the primary considerations in fly line selection and tend to get the most attention. Just as important, is using a fly line designed for the climate you’re fishing. So what is the difference between cold fly lines and tropical fly … Read more
Fly fishing for walleye. It’s not something you hear about that often, but it can be done! There are select few anglers that purposely target walleye while fly fishing (and even fewer that wade for walleye). This is a shame, as these fish (also known as pickerel in some areas) will readily take many fly … Read more