This week’s picture is brought to you by Casey.
Casey pulled this large brown out of the Colorado River. It’s tough to beat a fight with a big brown in big water.

Submit pic here

The dry-dropper rig is one of the most useful and versatile set ups in fly fishing. This rig, when fished correctly, can be especially effective in short drift situations like you find in rocky steep-gradient streams.

A challenge in fishing a nymph in fast pocket water is that currents are unpredictable and even swell upward at times. Fish moving with the current can take, and often drop, the nymph quickly without even budging a drifting dry fly or strike indicator. To catch more of these fish it is best to use a heavy nymph like a Tung-teaser or other heavy bead head nymph dropped 12 to 48 inches from the bend of the dry fly hook.

The length of drop depends on water depth and current speed you encounter. Use your visible, size 14-10 dry fly (I like PMX’s) mostly as a depth indicator and visual aid. Cast into the top of the pocket or run, give the flies one or two seconds to sink, then lift enough line to very slightly pull the dry fly along the surface or even just up off the surface. A tight line makes sure you are in contact with the nymph and you will often simply feel the strikes or feel and see them simultaneously.

This takes practice - mostly to learn to tighten up the line fast after the cast and to figure out how fast to pull the flies. Once you get it dialed in you’ll be amazed how many more fish are on the take.

This week’s picture is brought to you by Jonas.
All we know is this beast came out of waters located in Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Submit pic here

I try to get out on the river regularly, even in the winter, but sometimes the cold makes fishing unproductive, painful, and/or just ridiculous. On those days when fishing is just not going to happen without putting digits and even entire limbs in jeopardy it’s good to have a few winter projects set aside. A few of these that I usually benefit from include organizing my bags and vest, organizing fly boxes, and cleaning up neglected gear like fly lines and waders.

Winter is also a great time to wrap rods, build such handicrafts as leaders, nets, or even boats and of course there is always fly tying. I like to put together a simple list of stuff that I’ll get done when it’s too cold to fish and when it warms I’m usually glad I did at least some of the stuff on the list. Hopefully this never happens for most of us but in the unhappy event that we get stuck inside instead of playing fish we might as well play with our fishing stuff.

This week’s picture is brought to you by Jerry.
He caught this beauty on a articulated flesh fly in August on the Middle Kenai River.

Submit pic here

One day at lunch on a guided trip a client, who happens to be a writer, made a simple but profound comment that I think about often. Sloppily paraphrasing, he basically said that to him fly fishing is so appealing because there are so many different things about it from which you might derive enjoyment. I am repeatedly and pleasantly surprised to find this true in different places and situations.

I seem to enjoy hitting pockets on freestones for small mountain trout as much as stalking and sight fishing to big browns. I like figuring out a hatch, finding the best depth to fish a chironomid, plying the depths with buggers, swinging streamers, drifting nymphs, heaving deceivers, plopping poppers into the reeds, or even slowly sneaking flats for carp. It’s amazing to be able to watch ospreys, otters, ouzels, deer, eagles, weasels, and all the other wild things. And, though its a cliche, it actually is great to just be out in nature with fishing buddies, whoever they might be.

This thought isn’t new to most of us that enjoy this sport, and my apologies to Thoreau, but I thought it a good time to remind us all to fish deliberately. Wherever and however we find ourselves flipping our finely feathered inventions we’ll undoubtedly be rewarded by even just the hope of a fish.

This week’s picture is brought to you by Brandon.
This was the final trip of the year before the lakes freeze over in Northern Manitoba.

Submit pic here

With the North country getting cold it’s time to think about hitting points South for some saltwater action. Most people think of destination saltwater fishing as an expensive trip but that doesn’t always have to be the case.

There are just as many, if not more, undiscovered and underutilized saltwater fishing locales as there are hidden or secret trout streams. Do a little research and take a few chances on exploring some places that aren’t on all the fishing shows and you can be rewarded with some killer experiences.

I’m not going to get into specifics here because I’m going this winter and don’t really want everyone showing up on my flat or beach but be assured that there are great fish to be caught all over in the tropics and good deals to be had on places to stay. Get the passport and the Immodium and go for it!

This week’s picture is brought to you by John from New Jersey.
A magestic morning unfolds on Tully Creek in Pennsylvania.

Submit pic here

There’s a chill in the air. Winter is almost here. Don’t put away the fly rod just yet though. Some of the best fishing, uncrowded water, hungry fish, and natural beauty happens to be found out on the rivers in the winter time.

Look for tailwaters with a water release from the bottom of the dam and you’ll find water temperatures perfect for fishing. Scout your area for productive tailwaters and check the regulations.

Go down in fly size as well. My favorite winter flies are ghost midges, RS2s, griffith’s gnats, and other midges. I like to fish in the warmest parts of the day, both so I don’t completely freeze and because midges will hatch and fish will feed better as the water warms. Make sure you go with good waders, layers underneath, good socks, and gloves. Give it a few casts, that first winter fish of the day always makes you forget about the shivers and makes you glad you’re there.