A while ago I was thinking about how widely used and effective Rapala’s are in spin fishing. Why not make a fly fishing equivalent of those jointed lures? The result of my efforts is the fly you see above. The lip is made of deer hair soaked with hard as nails nail polish. I think … Read more
You may be new to fly fishing, or perhaps you’re an experienced fly angler looking to try something new. At one point or another, many fly anglers ask themselves “I wonder if (insert species of fish here) could be caught fly fishing?”. The answer to this question is almost certainly “yes”. Salmonoids Some fish species are … Read more
Trying to catch a trout in clear shallow water can be a frustrating experience, one that requires stealth, persistence, and skill. The trout feel vulnerable and are understandably cautious about feeding. The strategies listed below should help convince one of these wary trout to strike your fly. If all goes well the trout won’t even know … Read more
As a fly angler, chances are you have invested a significant amount of either money or time (most likely both) into your fly collection. It would be nice to get as much use out of your invested time and money by having your flies last as long as possible. Here’s a few tips and tricks … Read more
This is a pattern that was initially intended to mimic a sand shrimp. Once I got out on the water and actually fished the pattern, found that it did a much better job of mimicking mummichogs and/or killifish. You can bounce it along the bottom like a sand shrimp, or swim it in the upper middle part … Read more
The gaspereau (or alewife as they are known elsewhere) run has been going on for a few weeks now. The run happens every spring when the gaspereau come up river to breed. The gaspereau have a reputation among local fishermen for creating poor fishing conditions for brook trout. I’m inclined to agree, as for the … Read more
I typically spin cast for mackerel, but there are actually many wharves around here where the mackerel come in range of a fly rod. Unfortunately there are only a few locations with room enough to cast a fly comfortably. When fishing these spots, it’s a blast to target mackerel on a fly, and this is my … Read more
The black Mohair leech is my go to streamer pattern for sea run brook trout and Steelhead. It’s a well known pattern, with many tying tutorials around the web. Pictured above is my variation on the mohair leech. I make a few additions in the tying process that really help improve durability as I feel that when … Read more
Shrimp are great because pretty much every fish that swims wants to eat them. This makes shrimp flies a good choice for multi species angling in salt water. There are also some types of fish that have a strong preference for shrimp, In Atlantic Canada these include sea run trout (either steelhead or brookies) and winter flounder, … Read more