High Tech Sunglasses from Costa: Video
The new Diego fishing glasses from Costa are packed with features anglers will love.
Ventilation, glare protection and sweat control are just a few of the Cool tricks the new Diago glasses have up their sleeves. Learn all obit them and a whole lot about plastic.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ALL THE DETAILS ON THE NEW COSTA DIEGO FISHING GLASSES!
Read More »Choosing the Right Tippet Size
I’ve talked quite a bit about how important it is to correctly select the proper tippet size when your fly fishing for trout.
Most fly fisherman have no problem grasping this, after all, small fly patterns generally call for using smaller tippet and big fly patterns call for larger tippet, right? Well, that’s a general guideline most anglers fish by on the water, but it’s not the only factor fly fishermen should use when choosing what size tippet to fish with. Equally important in tippet choice by anglers is how clear or stained the water is that’s going to be fished, and also what level of fishing pressure the water sees (how educated the trout are).
Choosing the Right Tippet Size Guide
(This is your typical text book guide you would find for a beginner wanting to learn to match the appropriate tippet size with fly pattern size. For the most part it’s spot on, but I think it’s important to point out and understand you don’t always have to follow it exactly)
Tippet Size Hook Size
0X 2, 1/0
1X 4, 6, 8
2X 6, 8, 10
3X 8, 10, 12,
4X 10, 12, 14,
5X 12, 14, 16,
6X 16, 18, 20, 22
7X 18, 20, 22, 24
8X 20, 22, 24, 26, 28
Take for instance hopper fishing. Most anglers would say that 3X tippet is the appropriate size tippet to use if we’re talking about fishing with a good size foam hopper imitation. I would agree this is correct and it’s probably what I use most of the time for this type of fly fishing, however, I’ll never forget floating out west a few years back where my buddy opted instead to use 4X tippet and he dominated us and was the hot stick that morning. The point being, we as anglers shouldn’t always stick to the book when it comes to how we rig up and fish. That morning we were both fishing hoppers. I was in the bow of the boat with 3X and my buddy was in the stern with 4X. I had several refusals at the last second from trout, and on multiple occasions my buddy in the back of the boat caught those fish. It just goes to show, it might be worth putting
Postfly Expands Subscription Model to Fly Rods and Reels: Video
Postfly, the folks who put flies in your mailbox every month, now make it easier to buy fly rods and reels.
The development of rental fly gear and subscription based services is one of the more interesting developments in the fly fishing market. Postfly made it’s name from a subscription based fly service. They are now expanding that idea to renting and owning fly rods and reels, allowing buyers to try rods and pay off their purchases over time.
What’s really interesting is that it’s not simply a web based service. You can actually go into a local fly shop, try a rod and/or reel, then seal the deal at an online kiosk.
GET ALL THE INFO ON POSTFLY, WADE RODS AND PELICAN REELS IN THIS VIDEO.
Read More »Why Did I Lose That Fish?
By Kyle Wilkinson
Nobody likes to lose a fish.
’Tis the season that I’m spending a lot of time on the water guiding, and so far it’s been a great year. Whether it be the manageable flows through runoff, good customers, happy fish, good daily bug activity, good weather… everything has been shaping up very nicely and I can’t wait for these next few months with (hopefully) more of the same.
That said, one thing that never gets easier to swallow is when a customer loses a fish, particularly a big one you’ve been working hard to hook. I feel very confident in my ability to calmly coach people through fighting a fish, but the ultimate reality of this sport is that some of them are still just going to get away. This past week dealt me some of the tougher fishing conditions of the season and on top of it, we lost a couple of big fish. Not fun.
Just as most fly anglers seem to make many of the same mistakes when learning to cast a fly rod, the same is true when learning to fight fish. We’ve all heard the same old adages, “Don’t horse him in!”, “Let him run!”, “Just take your time!” (I could go one) but what happens when you’re doing those things and the fish still comes off?
HERE ARE THREE OF THE TOP REASONS I SEE MANY FISH LOST THAT COULD HAVE BEEN LANDED.
Don’t Touch The Reel Handle. This is easily the number one reason I see customers lose fish. It is always a goal of mine to get any fish of size on the reel when fighting it. That said, (and perhaps many of you can relate) having your hand on the reel at the time a fish decides to make a run is a recipe for disaster. When fighting a fish you must always anticipate another run is likely to happen, especially with the first attempt to net it. I see many customers get so caught up in the moment with the fact that they’re bringing the fish closer to the net that –even with my verbal reminding – they seem to forget this. My suggestion if you’ve ever found yourself in the above situation is to practice taking 3-5 quick turns of the reel and then take your hand off. If the fish still seems willing to come closer, grab a few more quick turns and then again… hand off. Work on gaining line back in shorter, more controlled bursts and you’ll be in business!
Use Your Rod Angles. Have you ever watched someone
The Andromeda Strain
I loved that movie when I was a kid, didn’t expect to live it.
If you haven’t seen the 1971 classic “The Andromeda Strain,” well, I guess this is a good time to catch up. The movie is about a deadly virus brought back from space. It’s a good bit deadlier than what we have now and ultimately easier to wrap up in just over two hours, and as far as I can tell they have toilet paper.
It’s a sign of the times, I suppose, that something as simple as a virus can be such a controversial thing. It seems that half of the country is convinced that Covid 19 is a giant hoax while the other half thinks it’s the end of the world. Here in Georgia a man was stabbed to death in the grocery store over a pack of toilet paper. I guess that is a step closer to the world ending. Not from Covid 19 but from mass stupidity.
I’m not going to preach to you. I honestly don’t care how you respond to this pandemic (or hoax if you like), just leave me out of it. As for me, social distancing has become a way of life this past year. I’ve been on lockdown like a New Yorker since last spring, with eye surgeries and the ensuing complications. I’m currently scheduled for surgery #7 on April first. Don’t know if it will happen or not at this point. It has been rescheduled several times due to a prolonged bout of Pneumonia, which I have just beaten.
The recent Pneumonia makes me one of those folks who supposedly die from this current bug, so I’m taking it seriously. I’m not interested in the argument over whether it’s a hoax, a conspiracy or a threat to our existence, I’m just tired of being sick. I’m staying away from people. I’m getting some shit done, trying to eat right and get some sleep. Hopefully soon, I’ll be waking my hands frequently in stream water. I still know a few spots that offer social distancing.
One thing I do know is not a hoax.
Read More »New Fly Rods foe Trout, From Sage: Video
Three new trout centered rods from Sage.
Sage is thinking specific on trout fishing. These three new offerings cover the gambit of trout fishing situation. The award winning Trout LL is a classic medium action fly rod with a focus on dry fly fishing, the Payload is a streamer throwing machine and the Trout Spey HD is an ultralight two hander. If you’re a trout fisher, one of these likely sounds good to you. Maybe all three!
GET THE DETAILS ON THE NEW TROUT RODS FROM SAGE IN THIS VIDEO.
Read More »New Leader and Tippet Material From Umpqua: Video
New nylon, fluorocarbon and fluorocarbon ultra material from Umpqua sports hidden tech.
Can fish see your leader? This new leader and tippet material has up to 5 different coatings to make it less visible in the water. Updated materials promise better knot strength and a handy size guide helps you choose the right tippet for your fly.
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO FOR ALL OF THE DETAILS.
Read More »2020 Bonefish School Update
By Louis Cahill
The most rewarding part of my job, by a measure, is working with anglers to help them become effective and self-reliant saltwater anglers.
It’s become a kind of calling and every year it gets better. I guess what I mean is, I get better at it. My Bonefish 101 presentation gets better every year and moving the school to Bair’s lodge has been a huge upgrade, but it also feels like I’m getting a little extra help. The fishing on South Andros has been the best I can remember for the last several years. That certainly makes my job better.
The icing on the cake is the amazing group of returning anglers. The trip is so much fun that folks just want to do it year after year. That makes the experience fantastic for everyone but it does leave me with fewer open spots to offer for new anglers. I’m doing my best to expand the program to accommodate everyone who wants to join, but I always seem to have to turn a few folks away.
So, here’s some good news.
Although this eye condition I’ve been fighting will be with me for some time, I’m back on my feet and feeling confident about the future. I had held back on summer dates for the Bonefish School in case I was not up to it. I’m now confident that I am, so it’s full steam ahead for this summer.
JUNE 6-13 2020 WILL BE THE SUMMER BONEFISH SCHOOL AT BAIR’S LODGE.
The full week trip cost you $4299. That’s a huge savings over the normal rate of $6395! It’s also the last I can offer that great price. Next years school goes up to $4495. Several anglers have already jumped on this deal so spaces are going quickly. Shoot me an email to hookups@ginkandgasoline.com if you are interested.
THE JANUARY 2021 BONEFISH SCHOOL IS ON THE BOOKS FOR JAN 9-16, 16-23 & 23-30.
Rebookings from this year were strong and several anglers have decided to do multiple weeks, so there are only a handful of spots available. I know that makes it tough and I apologize. This trip is just very popular. If you’re interested, get in touch and let’s get you in before it’s all gone.
Let me add a heart felt thank you to all of you who have made the Bonefish School such a huge success, and to each of you who have supported me and Gink and Gasoline through this extremely challenging year. I don’t know if I could have done it without you. I mean that.
I hope you can join me in the beautiful Bahamas this season!
Email hookups@ginkandgasoline.com for more info.
Read More »Don’t Get Mad, Get Even
Five long years had past since I’d last set foot on a flats boat in the Florida Keys.
My previous trip I had left the keys vowing to not return until I was a more capable saltwater fly fisher. A few things were in my favor this time around. The five years that elapsed, had allowed me to drastically increase my fly casting skills. I wasn’t worried anymore about making quick backhand casts to tarpon trying to slip out the backdoor. Targets at eighty feet no longer seemed an impossible distance to reach, and most importantly, I had permanently imprinted in my brain, “Thou shall never set thy hook like a trout fisherman”. There was no doubt I was going to be much more prepared this trip, but even with all the drastic improvements in my saltwater game, I’d still have to cope with being rusty as hell.
Don’t Get Mad, Get Even
I don’t recall whether it was Louis or I that came up with the saying, “Don’t get mad, get even”. What I do know is I started silently chanting those five words on the bow after both of us blew shots at high happy tarpon that first day of fishing. It had become
The Redesigned Lamson Guru Fly Reel
The New Lamson Guru fly reel is a complete redesign.
The new Guru is more than an update in looks. New design features reduce weight and enhance performance. Ported arbors, new drag and new sizes are on the list of updates, as well as new colors.
CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO FOR ALL THE DETAILS ON THE NEW LAMSON GURU FLY REELS.
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