Fly Fishing

The Orvis Fly-Fishing Blog celebrates a rich angling heritage stretching beyond a century, with timely articles, tips, photos, videos, podcasts, and the latest fly-fishing news. We keep you informed about the things you want to know, from improving your casting technique to the art and science of tying flies.

Top 10 Flies for Winter in the Northeast

Written by: Joe Demalderis, Cross Current Guide Service and Outfitters
Capt. Joe Demalderis (left) and his fellow guides offer ten patterns for winter on their home waters. Photo via Facebook
Winter in the northeast and on the waters I call home, the Upper Delaware System, can vary greatly in conditions. Where you can legally fish is also a consideration, with many waters closed to fishing to protect spawning trout, so always be certain to . . .
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Take a Classic Phil Monahan Fly-Fishing Trivia Challenge 01.17.19

Welcome to another edition of our weekly trivia challenge, in which we test your knowledge of all things fly fishing and where you might learn a thing or two about this sport we love. This week, we've got a classic quiz, featuring 10 questions about famous . . .
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Tom Rosenbauer to Receive 2019 Izaak Walton Award

Clockwise from top right: Tom as a youngster in western New York, as part of the Orvis Fly Fishing School faculty, on the water in Vermont, and with a huge Labrador brook trout.
The American Museum of Fly Fishing--in Manchester, Vermont--has announced that the recipient of this year's Izaak Walton Award will be our own Tom Rosenbauer. The Izaak Walton Award was established in 2014 to honor and celebrate individuals . . .
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Wednesday Wake-Up Call

Florida’s new Governor, Ron DeSantis, made the environment a centerpiece of his campaign, but environmentalists wanted to see if he’d put his money where his mouth is. So far, the signs are promising, as Governor DeSantis . . .
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Photo of the Day: Perfect Timing

Roberts says he captured this image during a brief interlude between hookups on a banner day on the Green. Photo by Doug Roberts, Old Moe Guide Service
Utahn Doug Roberts--who runs Old Moe Guide Service, based in the town of Dutch John, sent in this killer photo of a big brown getting ready to send a blue-winged olive down the hatch. Huge . . .
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Video: Why Fish Will Hold in Front of Rocks

Anglers talk a lot about "the fish behind that rock," but too many of us overlook the trout lie in front of that rock. In this great video from The New Fly Fisher, Colin McKeown explains why fish will hold in the hydro cushion or . . .
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Video: How to Tie Landon Mayer’s Mini-Leech

Well known guide and author Landon Mayer's Mini Leech is a perfect expression of his theory about "non-escaping prey"--that is, trout food that can't swim or float away. There are times when trout are willing to chase down their . . .
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Tuesday Tips: The Basics of “Reading the Water”

The author casts to a spot that provides deep water, near cover, on the edge of good current. Photo by Sandy Hays
Conventional wisdom says that 10 percent of fishermen catch 90 percent of the fish. Most people assume that these elite “10 percenters” enjoy so much success because of their superior . . .
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