Fly Fishing Leader Construction

fly rods and reels

Be The Leader Did you know a well design fly fishing leader can take a mediocre cast and turn it into a cast that delivers the fly to the fishinstead of falling short, in a pile of spaghetti? A well constructed leader can make a good cast into a great one. A poorly designed leader on the other hand can exaggerate the effects of a faulty cast. So, aren't the leaders we purchase at our local fly shop quality leaders?  The answer is yes, however there is a way to improve upon the store bought … [Read more...]

Fly Pattern #7: The Woolly Bugger

The Black Woolly Bugger

This is the seventh installment of the Magnificent 7, a list of seven different fly patterns that I believe will keep your fly box organized and populated with proven patterns, ready to entice trout on practically any  stream or lake . Flies covered in this series are The Birds Nest,  Zebra Midge, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Super Floss Rubber Legs,  Elk Hair Caddis and The Adams. In this post in the series,  fly #7 is the Woolly Bugger. The last, but far from least relevant fly in the … [Read more...]

Fly Pattern #6: The Adams

Adams Dry Fly

This is the sixth installment of the Magnificent 7, a list of seven different fly patterns that I believe will keep your fly box organized and populated with proven patterns, ready to entice trout on practically any  stream or lake . Flies covered in this series to date are The Birds Nest,  Zebra Midge, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Super Floss Rubber Legs, and the Elk Hair Caddis. In this post, fly #6 is the Parachute Adams. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Fly Fishing Fly Selection Refined Fly … [Read more...]

Downtown Trout Town

fixing tangle on trinity river

Hatchoo! hatchooooo! Allergies are a big problem anytime of year, but especially now! I have been on the sneeze attack like a monkey with a fuzzy kiwi up his nose! So what do allergies have to do with fly fishing? Well my angling friends, all the sneezing, coughing and nose blowing brings hope, and it does, that the PMD hatches on the Lower Sacramento will peak, surrendering the day to the tan bodied Hydropsyche Caddis of summer who will flutter and spin to center stage, the next main attraction … [Read more...]

Fly Pattern #5: The Elk Hair Caddis

Elk Hair Caddis

This is the fifth installment of the Magnificent Seven, a list of seven different fly patterns that I believe will keep your fly box organized and populated with proven patterns, ready to entice trout on practically any  stream or lake . Flies covered in this series to date are The Birds Nest,  Zebra Midge, Pheasant Tail Nymph and Rubber Legs. In this post, the Elk Hair Caddis is added to the Magnificent Seven. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Fly Fishing Fly Selection Refined  #5 The … [Read more...]

Fly Pattern #4: Super Floss Rubber Legs

Pat's Rubber Legs

This is the fourth installment of the Magnificent 7, a list of seven different fly patterns that I believe will keep your fly box organized and populated with proven patterns, ready to entice trout on practically any  stream or lake . Flies covered in this series to date are The Birds Nest,  Zebra Midge and the Pheasant Tail Nymph. In this post, the Super Floss Rubber Legs is added to the Magnificent Seven. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Fly Fishing Fly Selection Refined  #4 The … [Read more...]

Fly Pattern #3: Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph

Pheasant Tail Nymph

This is the third installment of the Magnificent 7, a list of seven different flies that I believe will keep your fly box organized and populated with proven patterns, ready to entice trout on practically any  stream or lake . Flies covered so far are The Birds Nest and the Zebra Midge. In this post, the Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph is added to the Magnificent Seven. ____________________________________________________________ THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Fly Fishing Fly Selection … [Read more...]

Fly Pattern #2: The Zebra Midge

Big Fall River Rainbow Trout

This post is the second installment of seven where I share with you my list of the top seven trout flies. A list I call the Magnificent Seven! Including variations of each of the seven construct a well rounded selection of flies that will catch trout on any western stream or lake.                                                                                                       THE … [Read more...]

The Magnificent 7: Fly Fishing Fly Selection Refined

old messy fly box

Summertime 2011 in Northern California will be one to remember for the fly angler. A fly fishing trip to the McCloud, Upper Sacramento, Lower Sacramento, Fall River will coincide with some of the best water conditions we have experienced in 7 years. Good reports are coming out of most of our rivers, all within a two hour drive of Redding, CA. To review reports, click on the river links within this post, or just click here. This post is going to be the first of seven posts over the next ten days … [Read more...]

Hat Creek, Spring of 2011

Hat Creek is a river for the fly angler Early spring on Hat Creek is the "in between" season. A long winter has come to a close, leaves are appearing, snow is melting. Fly fishing anglers have something to look forward to. Every year in May, near Cassel, CA. Hat Creek invites all anglers of the fly rod to test their skill. As of the last Saturday in April, PMDs, Baetis, Caddis, Stoneflies, Green Drakes, Brown Drakes, billow across the glassy canvas of Hat. The smell of springtime flowers, … [Read more...]