tuesday tips Archives - Page 17 of 19

Tuesday Tip: Cleaning and storing your gear for the off-season

October 11, 2011

Always make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and lubing your reels.

While the fishing season is by no means over, it may be time to start thinking about putting away some of your equipment—dry-fly rods, the 2-weight you use for native brookies, etc.—for the long winter. Although most fishing gear will last for years if you treat it right, incorrect storage can shorten that life span or ruin the aesthetics of a fine rod or reel. For instance, C. Boyd Pfeiffer, the godfather of tackle craft, tells of how he put a fly rod away wet, and when he retrieved it in the spring it was covered by tiny white blisters under the finish. Here are some tips to help you avoid such an unwelcome surprise. . . .

Tuesday Tip: Untangling Leader Knots

October 04, 2011

Fly fishermen are masters of euphemism when it comes to tangled leaders. “Oh, look. I’ve got a wind knot,” an angler will say on the even the most flat-calm day. Sorry, my friend, but the wind had nothing to do with that knot, which was surely caused by a flaw in your casting motion. Such knots are usually caused by tailing loops (an easy-to-fix problem) or an overly violent. . .

Tuesday Tip: Don’t be a Creep

September 13, 2011

Welcome to our twelfth installment of “Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor,” in which we answer readers’ questions about their biggest fly-casting problems. Reader Marc asked for help with this: I have been told my casting has a fault that’s called “creep.” I was at an Orvis-dealer fly shop called Bob Marriott’s in Fullerton, California, and was was casting one of their rods. The sales person. . .

Tuesday Tip: How to Avoid Hitting Your Rod with Your Fly

September 06, 2011

Welcome to our eleventh installment of “Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor,” in which we answer readers’ questions about their biggest fly-casting problems. Reader Larry asked for help with this: Sometimes my fly hits the rod on the forward or backcast. How can I avoid that? In this lesson, I’ll explain why a smooth acceleration is so important to a proper casting motion. If you start a forward or backcast. . .

Tuesday Tip: The Steeple Cast

August 29, 2011

Welcome to our tenth installment of “Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor,” in which we answer readers’ questions about their biggest fly-casting problems. Several readers have asked variations of a common fly-fishing question: What do I do if I don’t have room for a back cast, and my roll cast isn’t doing the trick?

Tuesday Tip: How to Make Delicate Presentations

August 23, 2011

Welcome to our ninth installment of “Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor,” in which we answer readers’ questions about their biggest fly-casting problems. A few weeks ago, reader “Steve” wrote, Thanks for the great tips. My problem is with presentation. Usually my flies land with a splat. What would help achieve a more delicate presentation?

Tuesday Tip: Fixing Tailing Loops

August 16, 2011

Welcome to our eighth installment of “Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor,” starring our own Peter Kutzer, who works at the Manchester, Vermont, Fly Fishing School. A couple months ago, we asked you to post some questions about your biggest fly-casting problems. Reader “Phil A.” wrote, “I have a problem with power casting and a tangled mess of leader/flies. . .”

Tuesday Tip: Dam Streamers

August 09, 2011

Fly fishers spend a lot of time trying to achieve the perfect presentation—the right dead drift or swing or retrieve. But there are times when an ugly presentation is actually more “natural” and will catch more fish. A good example is when you’re fishing at the base of a dam or a waterfall. One of my favorite tactics for this angling situation requires virtually no casting or . . .

Tuesday Tip: How to Double-Haul

August 02, 2011

Welcome to our seventh installment of “Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor,” starring our own Peter Kutzer, who works at the Manchester, Vermont, Fly Fishing School. A couple months ago, we asked you to
post some questions about your biggest casting problems. Reader “Bill E.” wrote,

How about some help with hauling and double hauling?. . .

Tuesday Tip: Casting Angles

July 26, 2011

Welcome to our sixth installment of “Ask a Fly-Fishing Instructor,” starring our own Peter Kutzer, who works at the Manchester, Vermont, Fly Fishing School. A couple months ago, we asked you to
post some questions about your biggest casting problems. Reader “griffjc” wrote,

From all the advice I’ve gotten on casting, the rod has only ever been described in a forward-and-back motion. Is there ever a reason to cast slightly to the side or even at an extreme angle, . . .