One of the great things about fly fishing is all the cool stuff. However, many fly fishers seem to struggle with where to put it all and then struggle in finding and using it effectively.

Over the last few years I’ve tried to decide which organization system for all this stuff works best. Even though I’ve been teased for wearing a necklace, I absolutely love lanyards. They are perfect for storing the essentials like snips, hemostats, tippet, floatant, and even a few flies.

Even better, all of this stuff stays right at your fingertips for easy access. If you set your lanyard up right you can get enough on it that it becomes almost the only piece of equipment you need other than rod and reel and, if set up right, you can still keep it light and comfortable.

If you haven’t yet found that perfect spot for all your stuff, try a lanyard. It isn’t just a necklace.

It seems like every year you here of some tragedy associated with high water. Luckily, it isn’t usually fly anglers involved. However, it is always important to remember wading safety, especially when the rivers are roaring.

Always make sure to wear the appropriate footwear - preferably studded wading boots, make sure your waders fit properly and that you wear a snug wading belt, carry and use a wading staff, and possibly the best advice I can muster is just to stay out of the water all together as much as possible. Most fish will be pushed to the banks so they don’t have to fight the heavy currents anyway, so it is best to stay completely out of the water and fish in protected spots along the shore.

High water is powerful. It will often roll boulders the size of Volkswagons down stream. It is best to simply stay out of the water, but if you must, wade safe!

Most of the time when you think of nymph fishing in high water you think of using large dark nymphs like black stoneflies or prince nymphs in size 12, 10 or even 8. While these are tried and true flies for high water, sometimes they just aren’t what the fish are looking for.

Lots of tailwaters and other streams simply don’t have many large invertebrate food sources so fish won’t be likely to key on them even when the water is high and dirty.

In these situations or when the big stuff just isn’t working it is good to go to smaller flashy nymphs like the Batman Nymph, Rainbow Warriors, Lightning Bugs, Copper Johns, or a Hot Wire Prince Nymphs in size 18 to 14.

Keep these drifting deep in slower pockets near the bank where fish will go to escape the current. High water fish are often hungry and strong so be ready for hard takes and tough battles in the heavy currents.

For many anglers stillwater fly fishing is a kind of ugly cousin to river and stream fishing. I admittedly used to look at it a bit that way. However, this time of year I actually itch to get out on the lakes.

When the ice comes off the fish feed like crazy and these are often much bigger fish than you might find in your local streams (my 6 pound brown this week being an example).

Stillwater fly fishing presents it’s own challenges as well. Lake fish feed at different depths at different times and on different food items. Locating them is sometimes more challenging than it is on rivers that have clearly defined fishy water. If you’re hesitant to try stillwater fishing just get out and try it during the runnoff this year when you have nothing else going on, and say “hi” because that’s probably where I’ll be.

One often overlooked category of flies are the terrestrials, especially beetles and ants. Most of the time you don’t see them on the banks or in the stream-side vegetation in great numbers so you don’t really think about using beetle and ant patterns.

Trout, however, are almost certain to know what they are. Many times when things have been slow I’ve tied on a Foam Ant, a Hi-vis Beetle, or even a Chernobyl Ant and have had them inhaled by hungry day-saving fish.

Beetle and Ant patterns seem to work especially well between major hatches when fish aren’t seeing and keying in on any one particular food item. Be sure to have several beetle and ant patterns in your box; you’ll be glad you did; the fish won’t.

For those of us that live and breathe fly fishing it’s sometimes difficult to remember when it was all new and a little confusing. Fly fishing has so many different fly patterns, types of gear, gadgets, and such that it is easy to get overwhelmed. Like almost every other sport though it is best to first learn and focus on the basics. If you’re just getting started or if you know someone that is here are the most important and essential items to get you in the game:

Fly Rod - If you intend to fish for trout, panfish, or similar size fish a rod rated for a 5 weight line is a great start and is really versatile. I suggest an 8 1/2 foot or 9 foot “fast action” or stiff fly rod. Although many fast action rods cost a little more they are much easier for most beginners to cast. We could go into why but trust me here. The Sage Z-axis, Winston Boron IIx, or G. Loomis StreamDance GLX are all great options.

Reel - Simply buy a reel that accommodates a 5 weight line. I suggest a reel with a large arbor but it isn’t vital. There are lot’s of great options from Ross and Lamson. If money is a little tight or you’re not sure about it you can save a little money here and spend it on the rod. As you progress you will shortly appreciate a good smooth drag but it also isn’t necessarily essential.

Line - Start with a weight forward 5 weight floating fly line. Scientific Anglers and Rio make great lines. In general, the more you spend the better your durability and casting distance is likely to be.

Leaders - Start with a 9 foot tapered leaders. This is simplified a bit but basically 3x is a good size for Streamer Flies, 4x is a good size for nymphs, and 5x is a good size for dry flies.

Flies - If you need to fill your first basic fly box I would choose a few dry flies like Parachute Adams and Elk Hair Caddis in size 18, 16, and 14, a few nymphs like Bead Head Hares Ears and Pheasant Tails in 18, 16, and 14, and Some Black, Olive, and Brown Bead Head Wooly or Crystal Buggers in size 10, 8, and 6.

This is really all you need to get out and catch some fish and have tons of fun doing it. Hope to see you on the water for years to come.

With warmer Spring and early Summer weather comes high water in many rivers and streams. This definitely presents some difficulties but doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still get out and fish. Here are a few of my favorites and some techniques for fishing them in high water:

Tungsten Bead Hot Wired Prince Nymph - The added weight of wire and bead will help you to get this fly down in swift currents. I like to fish it both as a dropper and under an indicator in slower pockets along shorelines and behind boulders.

Olive and Orange Blossom Specials - This flashy streamer in both colors is a deadly pattern for high water. Fish it with or against the current in slower water where fish congregate to escape the heavy currents of runoff.

Peacock and Royal PMXs - As the high water of runoff begins to stabilize and clear sometimes you can entice a fish to rise. Whether it is because they are seeing occasional stoneflies or just out of curiousity this fly often brings them up. Because of its buoyancy, it is also a perfect dry fly to use with heavy tungsten bead droppers.

Try these patterns the next time you encounter high water on your favorite stream.

Everybody has heard of 10 and 2 o’clock as they relate to fly casting. Just as important, however, are the clock positions of 12 and 6 o’clock.

Picture yourself from immediately above standing on a clock face and facing 12 as you cast. A perfect cast from this aerial view will have the rod tip travelling forward and back in a straight path and stopping at 12 and 6. This is also referred to as tracking. Good and efficient casters exhibit good tracking. A common thing to avoid is casting around your body which for a right hander would look like 11 and 7 on the clock. The 7 o’clock back cast is a very commomon error, especially as casters try to cast long distances.

A good way to practice is to videotape yourself casting from exactly in front or behind and make sure that you rod tip travels forward and back in a straight line.

Concentrate on this aspect the next time you cast. Casting with perfect tracking will improve your efficiency, accuracy, and distance.

Sometimes you get in a situation where you just don’t have the right bug. However, there are some versatile patterns that might be close enough. Here are a few of my favorites:

Zebra Midges - Sounds funny but this bug works not only as a midge but as a mayfly, caddis nymph, and more. Carry it in a variety of sizes.

JRS Nymphs - This pattern can imitate both stonefly and mayfly nymphs and is a great attractor.

Parachute Adams - No surprise here. This fly is THE versatile dry fly. Works for almost all mayflies and midges.

Clouser Minnows - This is the do-it-all streamer. Works in fresh and salt water for almost every fish species, and with the several color options, it imitates a huge range of baitfish.

Try these in a similar size and color options as your local bugs the next time you’re in a pinch.

Many anglers take the Spring off because of high dirty water. Actually many of the biggest fish of the year are caught during runoff. High flows often force fish to move to the edges where they are more easily accessible.

Some good high water flies are large dark nymphs like stoneflies, dark streamers like black slumpbusters, zonkers, and wooly & krystal buggers. Focus on slower pockets against the shorelines and be willing to cover water. Many times you will find pockets that hold lots of fish in a small amount of available good water.