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.
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As I drifted over a deep grass flat in the shadow of John Ringling’s Ca’ d’Zan mansion on Sarasota Bay, I stripped my fly next to my flats skiff, mesmerized by the pattern’s wiggle. In an instant, there was a flash, as a fat 22-inch seatrout inhaled the fly and my fly line came tight. Not only did my new fly. . .
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I guide a lot of fly-fishing trips every year. But until a couple weeks ago, I’d never had clients ask the same question four times in three trips. Our Eastern Pennsylvania spring creeks can be some of the most difficult to fly fish, and they have a reputation for extra-wary trout. So, as we were gearing up, several different anglers asked trepidatiously, “Can I use strike indicators”? They seemed. . .
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We recently received a letter from Adam Cesal of Spokane, Washington, who had listened to Tom Rosenbauer’s podcast on pike fishing and then gone right out to put his newfound knowledge to work. From the pictures he sent, it looks like he had a pretty good time. Here’s Adam’s note to Tom:
Read MoreOrvis Rod & Tackle manager Steve Hemkens shared a boat with angler Fletcher White and Capt. Nick Varnberg during the annual Orvis Lodge Retreat in Key Largo over the weekend and managed to. . .
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April in Vermont is always a total crapshoot when it comes to fishing. The water is high and dirty from runoff, and depending on the year, it can be pretty unpleasant to be out there. In the past, I have mostly ignored opening day for those reasons, waiting for later in the month when the players would be out and about. But for the past couple of years the weather has been much more cooperative. Water levels have been good, and we have had some pretty spectacular days for the beginning of April. This year’s opening weekend ended up as one to go into the record books for me.
Read MoreThere is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreIn this week’s podcast, 12 Tips for Fishing the Spring Runoff, I give a number of valid excuses for getting skunked during spring runoff, and what you can do if faced with high, cold, muddy water.
In the Fly Box section, I talk about fly rod design, fishing pressured waters, and the reality of fly-fishing magazine articles and TV shows. Plus a great tip for threading flies from a listener who left a message on our Podcast Message Line.
Click the READE MORE button to listen.
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Welcome to another edition of the OrvisNews.com Friday Film Festival, in which we scour the Internets for the best fly-fishing footage available. This week is a bonanza of high-definition goodness, which means you should watch everything at full-screen, in full resolution, with the sound cranked. Co-workers be damned! There’s a little bit o’ steel, a tad of golden dorado, a smidgen of salmon, and even a bit of BWO. Enjoy!
Read MoreWelcome to our first “Trout Bum of the Week” post, in which we’ll highlight one of the guys living the good life…of a sort. Most of them are guides who have turned their passion into a vocation, spending their time in an outdoor “office” that may include a drift boat, gorgeous mountain scenery, and crystal clear water. Others do have day jobs but manage to spend every other available minute on the water with a fly rod in hand. Whether you aspire to one lifestyle of the other, it’s illuminating to explore the different paths these men and women have taken on their way to achieving “trout bum” status.
Read MoreThinking of Alaskan fishing brings to mind images of sockeye salmon jumping up Brooks Falls, the powerful brown bear, bald eagles, and snowcapped mountain ranges seemingly touching the skies. What I found on my adventure to Western Alaska near the Yukon River and the Bering Sea was quite different: the land was flat, water was muddy, and no bears were in sight. We landed at. . .
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