Trident Fly Fishing

It’s always a cringe-worthy moment when a trophy fish runs you into your backing. Maybe you’re worried about your fly line to backing connection, maybe you’re worried about backing strength or abrasion resistance. Whatever the case may be, most anglers don’t spend a ton of time thinking about backing until it’s too late. We’re writing this shootout to provide backing information so you can think about backing before your trip to the Seychelles or South America. Different types of backing have different applications and some are clearly stronger than others. Which backing is the best? Read on to find out.

Fish will see this fly from a mile away... I promise. The Midnight Mullet combines bright flash and catchy colors to draw in the big-mouthed predators. Seriously, this fly is made to be fished aggressively and to trigger some hardcore strikes. Snook and Tarpon charge at the Midnight Mullet Streamer because of its visible lateral line, striking profile, and eye-catching aesthetics. If you're a serious warmwater saltwater angler this pattern gets the job done when nothing else can. Learn how to tie it right now as Jared gives step-by-step instructions.

The EP Baitfish is an insanely versatile minnow pattern. This fly can be used in freshwater and in saltwater, for Bass, Pike, Stripers, Tarpon, and just about any predatory fish that swims. The pattern is easy to tie because it's repetitive and uses only a few materials. The EP Baitfish can also be tied in a variety of color schemes to imitate just about any kind of bait. If you're a streamer angler and you prefer targeting predatory fish, keep a few of these in your box for the next time you're out on the water.

Steelhead season is here. Well, almost. It's definitely time to start thinking about long, fishless days and fooling the fish of a thousand casts. Bright chrome, screaming runs, acrobatic jumps. It's all within reach. Steelhead are difficult to catch and require persistence, dedication, and skill, however. They're not for the faint of heart. When you finally hook one, the right gear will improve your chances of landing it. Read on to find out how choosing the right fly reel affects your chances.

The Borski Slider was originally invented for Bonefish but has quickly morphed into a fly that's well-known for its ability to fool picky redfish. Thi baitfish imitation works well in shallow water marshes and sandy flats when targeting fish with a large appetite. The fly is relatively easy to tie, especially the back half, but does involve spinning some Deer Hair. The Deer Hair acts as a natural weed guard on the hook and makes it an even better pattern for areas with grassy bottoms. If you're headed to the southeastern US this winter to chase Redfish (like we are), don't go without a few of these flies.

The Spawning Mantis is a stellar pattern for the Bahamas and particularly South Andros. The orange color in the fly attracts the attention of Bonefish on the flats and fishes well in shallow water. The fly's extra weight helps it drop quickly to land in the feeding zone every cast. This pattern can, of course, be used almost anywhere there are shrimp and is a phenomenal pattern on sandy flats. It's also pretty simple to tie with multiple repeating steps so it's a great pattern for novice saltwater tyers and anglers. Read on for detailed step-by-step instructions.

Pack your tropical gear we're going on a Permit trip! Kidding... kind of. If you do find yourself preparing for a trip to the tropics this winter, however, the Chernobyl Crab is one of the best patterns to bring with you. Why? Because it's simple to tie, highly effective, and is tied on one of the sharpest saltwater hooks that exists. Whether you're headed south this winter or you're bored tying lame trout flies, take the time to tie this one. You'll be glad you did.

There are a ton of options when choosing a fly reel for Bonefish. Saltwater fly reel innovation has made manufacturing techniques and materials incredibly affordable. That means you no longer have to spend $700 for a saltwater-safe fly reel (though you still can... and in some instances, you should). Quality saltwater fly reels in the $200-$400 price range do exist and feature drag systems and reel designs that are capable of handling Bonefish. But Bonefish are deceptively spunky. It's intuitive that you need a reel with a strong drag system to fight a Tarpon (read our post about fly reels for Tarpon here). Tarpon are massive. But Bonefish are small... a trophy fish is 10-12lbs. So do you really need the best saltwater fly reel on the market with the strongest drag system in the universe? You'd be surprised by the answer. Read on to find out.

The Gotcha Shrimp may be one of the most popular Bonefish flies on the planet. Not only is it one of the most effective saltwater fly patterns that exists but it's also pretty simple to tie. This pattern is popular for Permit and Bonefish feeding on the flats and this rubber leg variation creates an irresistible profile in the water. If you're traveling south this winter to fish the flats, you're going to want to tune in as Jared ties this popular pattern.

The Feather Game Changer is one of our favorite freshwater streamer patterns here at Trident. This fly works well when tied with a stinger hook or without for bass, trout, and pretty much any freshwater fish. Here Jared ties the streamer in a Crayfish Orange color to imitate a sculpin or any other small freshwater baitfish. This pattern moves incredibly well in the water and is sure to grab the attention of a brown trout lurking in the shadows. Read on for step-by-step fly tying instructions.