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
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
“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
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
Mice may seem too large a meal for trout, indeed many anglers think of them more as bass prey than trout food. Many trout populations do indeed feed heavily on mice and other small rodents though. Despite trout’s reputation for being picket eaters, they are often quite opportunistic. Large trout occupy a spot relatively high … Read more
Adult dragonflies are an interesting prey species. It’s one of those prey items that many trout anglers think are too big, and bass anglers think are too small. As an angler that targets both fish, I’ve found that both trout and bass will eat dragonflies (and damselflies). I’ve personally caught both sea-run brook trout and … Read more
Few anglers seem to have witnessed trout feeding on trout or tadpoles, yet they seem like such an easy meal. Tadpoles, in particular, seem far too slow and calorie dense to be ignored by a large predatory trout. If you’re a bass or pike angler new to trout fishing, I’m sure you’ve asked yourself why … Read more
When is the best time to fish for trout? That depends, are you wondering what season is best, or what time of day is best? Trout can be consistently caught year-round, and the best time of day varies depending on the season. The best time to catch trout is when they are most active. Well, when … Read more
Learning how to tie flys can be intimidating. There’s a large number of tools, materials, and fly patterns available, where to start? I recommend picking two or three flies and going from there. These flies will vary based on what species you plan on targeting. I’ve listed some easy fly tying patterns here. The flies below are all effective … Read more
It’s well known how effective soft plastic lures are for fishing bass and saltwater species, but trout anglers unfortunately often overlook soft plastic baits. This is a shame, as soft plastics are some of the most effective lures to fish for trout. This is true whether your retrieving them like a swimbait, or if you’re using … Read more