The Yellow Humpy is a classic attractor dry fly initially tied by Jack Horner in the 40s. He needed a fly that would sit high and dry in the fast-moving streams he frequented in northern California. Word on the pattern’s attributes spread fast, Horner’s Humpy quickly made its way to the Yellowstone region, and the rest is history. The Yellow Humpy is a time-tested pattern that has filled up dry fly boxes worldwide. The deer hair and heavy hackles give the fly buoyancy, so don’t be afraid to run a dropper nymph off its bend. Trust us, this fly floats! Follow along as Karl provides a step-by-step breakdown of how to tie the Yellow Humpy!
The Hendrickson dry fly was first tied in 1916 by Roy Steenrod for a friend named Albert Hendrickson for fishing the Beaverkill River’s famed spring mayfly hatch. The Ephemerella subvaria mayfly and the Hendrickson dry fly eventually became synonymous, and anglers now refer to the insect by the pattern’s name. You do not have to be in the Catskills in May to fish the Hendrickson dry fly; the pattern fishes well as a general attractor in faster pocket water, thanks to a design that allows the fly to sit higher in the water column. Follow along as Karl gives step-by-step instructions on tying this essential Catskill-style dry fly.
Our summers in New England are often spent chasing brook trout on tiny blue line streams that seldom see pressure. Wet wading and casting dries to hungry native fish is a great way to beat both the heat and the crowds found on larger rivers. This is also the time to put away that longer 5-weight in favor of a shorter, lighter-lined rod that will make casting on smaller steams more manageable and six-inch brookies more enjoyable. Lucky for us, Orvis’ redesigned Superfine Glass has dropped just in time for summer’s festivities, and we were able to give the 3wt a test drive. If you are interested in picking up a new rod for creek fishing, you will not want to miss this review.
Big flies, shooting heads, and voracious predatory fish are all the rage in the world of fly fishing. The craze was popularized by anglers like Mike Schultz, Kelly Galloup, and Blane Chocklett, who are responsible for tying some of the meanest and ugliest streamers around. Although the ‘streamer junkie’ movement led to rapid advancements in fly design, the specialized equipment needed for this adrenaline-pumping action has failed to keep up. For years, streamer anglers have made do with salt sticks designed for flats fishing. Sight casting to bonefish with a size 6 Gotcha is vastly different from blind casting patterns that are nearly the size of a chicken to apex predators. If the flies, species, and techniques are different, shouldn’t the rods be too?
The Golden Retriever originated in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley in the ’90s. Since then, it has become so popular here in Maine that many anglers associate the fly with the state. Brook trout, smallies, and land-lock salmon all find it irresistible. Once more, the pattern can be fished in various ways: Swinging, stripping, or dead drifting, the Golden Retriever will put fish in the net. Jim Finn initially tied the Golden Retriever on a 3X long streamer hook, but today we will be tying it on a jig-style nymph hook with a tungsten bead.
Bloodworms are common in most bodies of water and are an important part of the diet of trout. They are excellent patterns for using as the dropper of a hopper dropper rig or as a double nymph rig. Don’t dismiss this simple-looking worm pattern because trout adore it. This is a fly you need in your box the next time you go after trout
One of those confidence patterns that you can bring almost anywhere you’re fishing and have success, the Bread and Butter Nymph is an effective jig-style nymph. While the Bread and Butter Nymph doesn’t look exactly like any one specific food source, it’s a reliable pattern whether you’re matching mayflies, caddis, crustaceans, or just want a solid attractor.
The Carpet Bug is a buggy fly that imitates scud and sowbugs. Taking inspiration from the popular Ray Charles pattern, the Carpet Bug is a great choice when fishing limestone and tailwater systems. Still, you can fish it successfully anywhere these freshwater crustaceans are found. This fly can be tied in almost any size or color to match what’s in your water.
A good fly rod doesn’t just cast well but is equally effective in real-world fishing scenarios. In theory, it seems like a simple concept, but rod designers have often struggled to find the right balance with fast-action rods. Sage designed the R8 Core series to tackle the shortcomings of high-performance fly rods, such as roll casting, loop control, technical mends, and delicate presentations.
The R8 Core is Sage’s latest all-water flagship series, which replaces the successful X series after over a half-decade on the market. The buzz around this rod has been HUGE, even by Sage’s standards. There are good reasons for this: Sage has constantly pushed the envelope regarding rod design and graphite technology. The R8 may be hotter than sliced bread but has Sage reinvented the wheel?
