Fly Rod Sweet Spots

It’s All About the Sweet Spot

“Question: Why have ‘fast-action’ fly rods dominated the market for the past 30-plus years?

Answer: Because they help non-expert anglers make longer and more accurate casts.

That’s not a criticism or complaint. It’s just a fact. And fly fishing is far from the only sport where product design has largely evolved around helping amateurs perform like professionals.”

Read the entire article on Substack.

On the Value of Observation

“One of the most valuable but least practiced aspects of fly fishing is observation. Observation as in simply studying for a few minutes the water you’re about to fish to see what’s happening. It’s amazing the success to be had from this basic tactic, yet I almost never see anglers anywhere other than on the Henry’s Fork spend even a brief moment watching the water before they wade in and begin casting. (Who knows, maybe the anglers I watch are simply prescient. Oh, to be so lucky.)

Here’s a scenario common to the Madison River: visiting anglers drive to the river, string their rods in the parking lot, tie on flies suggested by the help at the fly shop, walk to a likely hole, wade in and begin casting. They cover the obvious water, move on to the next hole and repeat. An occasional change of fly is thrown in along the way, too.”

Read the entire article on Substack.

A River Engineered – Colorado’s Lower Blue River

“The prevailing Lower Blue River narrative, and one that’s being offered by the Friends Of The Lower Blue River (FOLBR), a non-profit organization focused on the Lower Blue River Valley, is that the river’s big fish are dying because there are too many anglers for this stretch of river to sustain, i.e. public fishing pressure is the main impact to the Lower Blue’s (modified) fish population.

But that story is misleading.

When trout are stocked and fed to reach sizes the natural food system cannot sustain, several things can occur...”

Read the entire article on Substack.

Why Your Casting Breaks Down on Bucket-List Trips

“Most destination fly-fishing trips aren’t ones that you can simply redo. They’re expensive, logistically complex and oftentimes many years in the making. You plan the flights, the gear, the flies and the guides, but many anglers arrive underprepared for one of the most demanding parts of the experience: sustainable, efficient, pain-free casting day after day.

Casting breakdown rarely shows up on Day One. It tends to creep in quietly: a shoulder with a nagging soreness, an elbow that feels tender, or a grip that fades much faster than expected. By the time these issues become noticeable, performance and overall energy have already dropped. On a once-in-a-lifetime trip, no one wants to be left in pain and unable to enjoy every minute to the fullest…”

Read the entire article on Substack.

2025 Year In Review: “Best of the Best”

The Epic Backcountry fly reel: We tested the Backcountry 7/8 – New Zealand ($500). “It’s light. It’s sturdy. The pickup is great (with a large arbor). It’s easy to pop the spool. Easy to switch from left- to right-hand retrieve. The drag knob (an X-shaped surface on a round knob) is easy to find as you play a fish if you do that sort of thing, but maybe a bit stiffer to adjust on the fly than some of the other saltwater reels I use–Hatch, Hardy, Abel, Tibor, Orvis, etc.–especially those with completely round, larger drag knobs…”

Read the entire list in the AT newsletter.

Photographing Fish

“Do not remove the fish from the water until the camera is ready. Limit the time the fish is out of water to 3-4 seconds. If you wish to reshoot, put the fish back in the water between pictures.

Holding a fish with the front hand facing palm out and the back hand facing palm in shows off the fish in an attractive manner. Whenever a fish is held with two palms out it’s awkward looking, for us and the fish. And invariably, too much of the fish gets covered over by hands…”

Read the entire article on Substack.

‍Fly Fishing Patagonia from Flylords. “You’ll get a glimpse of what makes Spring Creek Lodge in Neuquén, Argentina unique: legendary waters like the Chimehuín, Collón Curá, Alumine and Malleo Rivers…”