Should You Be Sharpening Your Hooks More?
Casting all day long, searching for that beast of a brown. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. I know that’s what it’s going to take if I want a decent shot at landing a big mature brown trout. I’m looking for a 20 plus-incher and they never come easy. And where I live, you’re lucky to get a few opportunities at legitimate wild brown trout of this caliber all year long. We’re approaching a bend that’s known for holding butter slabs and I present a perfect cast right against the deep undercut bank. The retrieve begins, strip strip, pause…, strip strip, pause. Without any warning my six-inch articulated sculpin gets slammed and my fly rod just about comes out of my hands. It’s just been devoured by something very big, and I think it’s what I’ve been looking for. I set the hook hard and my rod bends as the fish breaks the surface thrashing violently, shades of butter are spotted. “It’s a brown!” I yell, but two strips and two head shakes later my fly pulls loose and the beast swims away. My prized catch is lost.
Read More »Restock My Box Contest
By Bob Reece
As we near the weeks of late summer, fly boxes around the country are falling into disrepair. In an effort to remedy this situation for one lucky fly fisher, I’ve partnered up with Gink & Gasoline. I”ll be giving away one hundred twenty flies to the selected winner. That mixture of flies will include one dozen of each of the following patterns:
Size 6 Tan Beefcake Hopper
Size 8 Purple Beefcake Hopper
Size 10 Chartreuse Beefcake Hopper
Size 16 Amber/Peacock Fusion
Size 16 Chartreuse Fusion
Size 16 Yellow Fusion
Size 16 Brown Fusion
Size 16 Amber/Pink Fusion
Size 18 Red Fusion
Size 18 Purple Fusion
To enter yourself in the drawing, follow both Gink & Gasoline and Thin Air Angler on Instagram. Then post of picture of the inside of your favorite fly box with the hashtag #restockmybox The winner will be drawn on August 22nd. Thank you for taking part and giving us a chance to load you up with some late summer flies!
Sunday Classic / A Tight Line Presentation is Key in Saltwater Fly Fishing
SLACK IS NOT YOUR FRIEND.
When fly fishing in saltwater, keeping the slack out of the system is job one. Slack can cause missed fish, long distance release and even refusals. A tight line is key at every stage of the process, but many anglers overlook the initial presentation.
Triggering a fish’s instinct to strike relies on the fly having a lifelike action when the fish first catches sight of it. That means that the fly should move in the manner of the prey it represents from the instant it hits the water. In most cases that cannot be accomplished with slack in the system. Even, or maybe especially, when fishing crab patterns where the natural action is the fall to the bottom, slack kills. These flies are often eaten as soon as they hit the water and if the line has slack, you will never know it.
There is nothing more important to success in saltwater fly fishing than a tight line presentation, but it’s not an easy thing to pull off. Here are some tips and a video to help you get the slack out.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Your Dream Job Awaits
If you love trout, conservation, and live in the southeast, Have I got a job for you!
Trout unlimited is looking to seriously up their game here in the Southeast. In particular they are ramping up their efforts in brook trout conservation, which makes my heart swell. There is nothing more important, in my mind, than protecting our one native trout.
If you are passionate about cold water fisheries, work well with others and want to make a real difference, here is your chance. TU is hiring a full time Volunteer Coordinator for the Southeast. You can get al the details and apply for this important position at the link below. If you know the perfect person for this job, please forward this to them.
LET’S FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE REAL CHANGE FOR TROUT HERE IN THE SOUTHEAST!
Read More »Simms G4 Pro Shift Pack: Video
Here’s a fly fishing backpack with a hidden talent.
The new G4 Pro Shift Pack from Simms makes fishing remote, hike-in destinations a breeze.
It’s always a challenge to carry everything you need for a long day, or two, hiking and fishing backcountry locations. Changing weather and the rigors of hiking require a lot of food, water and gear. Managing it all in a pack that still allows you to fish efficiently is no easy task.
The new Simms Shift Pack is designed to do just that. It’s a fully functional day pack with tons of specialized storage for anglers, including a great fly fishing wast pack that slides easily out the side without removing the pack. It’s pretty cool and very thoughtfully designed.
Watch the video to see all the features of the new Simms G4 Pro Shift Pack.
Read More »Early Riser
By Justin Pickett
Many people respond with bewilderment and even cringe when they realize how early I’m willing to rise “just to go fishing.”
I smile and attempt to explain, but it just isn’t possible for those who have never experienced the predawn hours, like I have, to truly understand why. It’s for this moment….
When the first streaks of sunlight pierce through a dense canopy of ancient Hemlocks, casting a bluish glare on the water. The dark of night fades to a velvety purple before being overtaken by a deep, brilliant blue. Shadows recede to reveal a most brilliant palate of colors. Bluebirds and Swallows begin their morning songs as a gobbler sounds off in the distance. The once invisible babble of the creek comes to life as the first risers poke their noses through the foam. The scampering of squirrels bounding around the wispy fog on the forest floor. Everything around you springing to life as if the sun was the heart, and the flora and fauna the
Read More »Search out the Small Water in the Big Water
“Big water is much harder for us to dissect and visualize what we’re fishing. You can’t always see the fish you’re fishing to and it’s much harder for beginners to distinguish productive from unproductive water. When you find yourself in this situation and you’re overwhelmed, try searching out the small water amongst the big water.”
Read More »These Boots
By Justin Pickett
Tossed in the back of my truck for the ride home, they find their place amongst my gear.
Purchased for future fishy adventures, these boots will see their share of waterborne excursions.
They are made of synthetics; rubber, nylon, plastic, metal.
These boots wait for duty, standing out against the grimy gear strewn about.
Streamside. Strapped. Solid. Secure. My steps are confident.
These boots’ first strides along my home water’s banks are welcomed.
Lugging my heavy, clumsy feet without complaint, they do their damnedest to keep the rubber side down.
These boots have tread along the banks of waters big and small. The Piedmont. The Rockies. The Appalachians. Patagonia.
Freestone streams. Tailwaters. Wild. Not so wild. An impromptu, low country flood tide.
These boots have scaled waterfalls, hiked paths less traveled, and blazed a few of their own.
They have been there for the highest of highs, and my biggest of falls.
Read More »Sunday Classic / Too Much Mending Can Ruin Your Drift
One of the most critical techniques of fly fishing that anglers often lack knowledge in, is understanding how to properly mend fly line during the drift. If I tallied up all the time I spend each day instructing clients on various fly fishing techniques, teaching the art of mending fly line would easily rank number one on the list. I bet I say the word “mend” a thousand times a day. It’s not that difficult to mend fly line, all it takes is a little practice and time on the water to get the hang of it. In my opinion, it’s much easier to learn how to mend than the art of fly casting. The main reason mending takes so long for fly anglers to master is because the timing of the mend, the direction of the mend and the size of the mend can change from one presentation to the next. Two of the biggest mending problems I see on the water is bad technique and mending fly line too much during the drift. When mending is done correctly, you usually only need one or two mends per drift to get the job done.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Out of Office
The fly-fishing business is pretty unique. In most businesses, folks have their work, and then they have their passion. For folks in the fly fishing business, pretty much without exclusion, their work is their passion. It’s great to see companies put their work aside and just go fishing. In this video a group of hard working Orvis employees do just that. “Summer doesn’t last forever.” Ain’t that the truth. Out Of Office Louis Cahill Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter!
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