How do I carry a fishing net? This question can be one of the more puzzling aspects of a fly fishing setup. Where do you put it? How do you attach the net to the fly fishing vest? What mechanism will keep the net in place, and how easily can I access the net? Generally, … Read more
When Do Crappie Spawn? Crappie spawn in the spring. During the spring, crappie move from their deeper water lies to shallow breeding areas. Spawning activity starts when temperatures approach 10C (50F) – 15C (60F). Activity increases as the temperature does, with peak breeding activity around 20C (68F). The onset of ideal temperatures vary year to … Read more
Panfish are one of the most accessible types of fish in North America. Additionally, these fish are both eager to take flies and put up quite a fight for their size when hooked. This combination of traits makes sunfish the perfect fly fishing target not just for someone learning how to fly fish, but experienced … Read more
Crappie are an ideal fish species to target by fly fishing, and it’s honestly surprising you don’t see it more often. They are an extremely popular panfish, and are typically targeting on ultra-light spinning gear. The lures used for crappie fishing often look suspiciously like flies that we fly anglers use all the time. An … Read more
Braided line was a favourite of mine back in my spin fishing days. I loved the sensitivity it gave due to lack of stretch, especially when vertically jigging. Naturally, I wondered if braided fishing line had a place in fly fishing? Unfortunately, it doesn’t work very well as a leader or tippet material. You can … Read more
What is the difference between a leader and tippet in fly fishing? While they are quite similar, they are two distinct components of your fly fishing setup. Let’s clarify exactly what a leader is, what tippet is, and the difference between the two. What is a Leader in Fly Fishing? A leader is the section … Read more
Fly line selection is the most important part of any fly fishing setup. Fishing for smallmouth bass on the fly is not different. Smallmouth take a wide variety of flies in a wide variety of presentations, so you want a versatile line. Smallies are typically found in more temperate water than most trout water, so … Read more
Fly fishing video games are few and far in-between. Even though there are hundreds of fishing games on the market right now, very few have a fly fishing component. Games that are dedicated to fly fishing specifically are even less common. Luckily, we’re in a golden age of indie games and niche game development, so … Read more
Do Bass eat snakes? Turns out they do! Ever see a snake swimming across the water? Despite most snakes being accomplished swimmers, they look pretty vulnerable, don’t they? I’ve always thought there’s no way an opportunistic fish like a bass could pass up such an obvious meal. Yes, yes they do. There’s actually snake … Read more
What is a trout set? What is a strip set? Well, they’re both distinct techniques used to set the hook while fly fishing. Okay, but what is the difference between a trout set and strip set? Let’s go over these details, and also talk a bit about when to use each method. First, let’s look … Read more