If you follow our blog or are researching your next fly rod or fly reel for a specific species, you’ve probably seen our blog posts about choosing the right gear. Targeting different species on a fly rod can be difficult. Purchasing the right gear greatly increases an angler’s chances of success on the water. Especially when it comes to Permit. Read on to find out which fly line is best for targeting Permit in a variety of scenarios.
We receive a bunch of questions about when to use which fly line and how air and water temperature play into the performance of a fly line. These are all valid questions and fly line temperature ranges aren’t always talked about in a definitive way. This stuff can be confusing. We’re here to flesh it out with advice from experts at RIO and Scientific Anglers so you don’t have to guess next time you’re wondering if you can fish an SA MPX fly line in the Louisiana marsh or a tropical fly line for Bass in Texas. Read on to find out how to differentiate between tropical and cold water environments and when either line would work.
Chicone’s Midnight Special Fly is a stellar pattern for imitating small baitfish in a saltwater setting. This fly is great for Snook under dock lights and a host of other species. If you’re chasing Stripers, Redfish, Tarpon, and more, this fly is a great floating pattern to entice picky fish. Tune in as Jared provides step-by-step instructions to tie this simple pattern that should be in every saltwater angler’s fly box.
We get questions about specific rod models all the time. “How does the 3wt compare to the 4wt?” and “When should I use this rod?” and “What line works best on this rod?”. In an attempt to provide better info so you can make a more informed buying decision, we decided to start a ‘model-by-model’ blog series. We traveled to the Orvis headquarters in Manchester, VT this fall and had the chance to cast each and every rod in the 3D series. This article is designed to pass that info along to you. Of course, like our shootouts and other casting commentaries, these mini-reviews are based on our casting style and preferences. Your mileage may vary. Read on to see what we liked (and didn’t like) about the 3D rod series.
Maybe you’re an experienced Bass angler who’s looking to get into fly fishing. Maybe you’ve fly fished for Bass all your life. Whether you’re looking to put together a complete setup for Bass or you’re looking for the perfect fly line that fits your angling style, this article breaks down how to choose the best fly line for Bass. Learn when to use different types of lines and why. Read on to become a better Bass angler with a fly rod.
Bonefish are one of the most popular gamefish in tropical saltwater environments. These fish offer a challenging target to anglers who prefer sight fishing and careful wading. Bonefish have a mixed diet of crabs, shrimp, small baitfish, and more and are often found tailing on sandy flats. Because they’re found in tropical saltwater conditions, choose a tropical saltwater fly line. Seems intuitive, right? Want to learn more? Read on.
This versatile pattern moves water to attract Bull Redfish from a mile away… Well, almost. If you’re looking for a pattern that creates a commotion and pushes water, you’ve found it. The Grass Monkey is designed to sink and hover which makes it a great fly for fish feeding in shallow water or near the surface. The large head of the fly creates a big push of water to attract the big-mouthed predators on the block. Redfish will eat this fly as a baitfish, shrimp, and sometimes even a fleeing crab. Tune in as Jared teaches us how to tie the Grass Monkey with step-by-step instructions with photos, a video, and much more.
The Orvis Helios 3F Series (along with the Helios 3D Series) replaces the much-loved Orvis Helios 2 Rod Series as Orvis’ flagship fly rod. Orvis has packed a bunch of technological advancements into these rods and they’re lighter, more accurate, and more dynamic than ever before. If Orvis wasn’t at the top of the fly rod game before with the Helios 2, they are now with the Helios 3. What’s better? The team over at Orvis designed the 3F Series to include rods that are highly specialized, rods that are versatile, and rods that shocked us with their quirky ability to offer unexpected performance. After a visit to the Orvis headquarters and the thorough casting of each and every rod model, we’ve put together a detailed model-by-model review of one of the most popular freshwater fly rod series to date. Read on to find out more about every model of the Helios 3F.
Monster Redfish don’t come easy. We learned that the hard way during our 2020 New Years trip to New Orleans to fish for Redfish on the fly. Weather, water conditions, storms, and more required plan changes, city exploration, and tough fishing. That being said, we found some trophy fish that made the whole trip worthwhile. Read on to get the full report including advice, recommendations, tons of photos, and much more.
The Gurgler is a great pattern for aggressive fish in both freshwater and saltwater. This fly can imitate a frog, mouse, and more for Bass laid up on weed beds or Redfish in the marsh. This fly can either be stripped aggressively to fool ambush feeders or defensive fish like Pike or stripped slowly to imitate a baitfish. However you fish it, this is one of the most popular fly patterns for aggressive fish. It can be tied in a variety of styles and colors… here’s our take including videos, photos, step-by-step instructions, and much more.
