Streamer Fishing

Have you ever wondered which Trout Spey rod is the very best? Well, the wait is over. We’ve ranked the industry’s top 3wt Trout Spey rods based on a comprehensive criterion. Which rod took home the title as ‘Best Trout Spey Rod on the Market’? Read on to find out. Plus the Best Buy and fly line recommendations for every rod. Don’t buy a Trout Spey rod without reading this shootout.

TFO’s flagship saltwater fly rod series, the Axiom II, is all-new for the 2019 season and is a solid offering from a company focused on affordability and performance. Entering the market in the mid-$300 price range, the Axiom II definitely falls in line with TFO’s mission to create affordable rods. But what about the performance of the Axiom II? That’s one of the questions we set out to answer in this review. Whether you’re choosing a rod for Bass, Bonefish, Steelhead, or Salmon, the Axiom II has a lot to offer at an attractive price point. Read on to find out what we liked about the 8wt version of the Axiom II and some of the cool features on this rod.

Surprising accuracy at close range and stellar versatility overall make this rod a little more than just a streamer-only rod like we’ve seen from other fly rod manufacturers in the recent past. Functional componentry and a pretty cool lightning-blue blank color contribute to the rod’s aesthetic appeal and high performance. But who should fish this rod? What’s its flex profile and where does the rod cast best? What about power and weight and swing weight? We’ve answered all those questions and more, like we always do, after casting, examining, and experimenting in this fly rod review. Read on to find out how the Axiom II-X performed.

Fly fishing for Pike means big gear. These fish are large, strong, and aggressive. They eat big flies, often require sinking lines, and don’t turn over and come to the boat easily. That means a strong reel is a must. And a reel that picks up line quickly, has enough drag to stop a charging fish, and one that accommodates heavy sinking lines add to the angler’s chance of success. Here, we cover the must-haves for a Pike fly reel and how to choose the best one.

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.

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.

Ahhhh the famous Silver King. Similar to Permit, Tarpon drive anglers into a wild frenzy of frustration, anxiety, and exhaustion. Seriously, large Tarpon are incredibly difficult to wrangle on a fly rod. Tarpon have a way of humbling even the most experienced anglers with their 100+ lb size and their infamous leaping line rips. Even when all the variables are in the angler’s favor they’re still one of the toughest fish to catch on a fly rod. So it’s almost a necessity to have the very best gear if you want a chance at a 100+ lb Tarpon. Skills aside, the right gear and a bit of luck go a long way. If you hook up to a big Tarpon with an old reel that’s rusted and worn… good luck. I’d take the Tarpon over the fly reel every time. Here’s how to choose the right fly reel.

Most of you probably know Trident Fly Fishing is located in the picturesque state of Maine. Lobster, sailing, summer houses, beautiful coastline, tourism, and the largest forest coverage of any state in the US. ‘Vacation Land’, as it’s aptly referred to, weaves grand wilderness and close-knit coastal communities into a state quilt that’s pretty dynamic. And, as you may have also heard, Maine has fish. Lots of them. Once you’ve decided you’d rather put footprints on a riverbank than hoist sails on a mast, Maine’s 35,000 square miles can seem overwhelming. Where’s the best place to don a pair of waders and chase down weary salmonids? Like any type of fishing, it depends on the season, conditions, geography and more. Here are some recommendations to point you in the right direction.