Stack Mending for Longer Fly-fishing Drifts

Fly Casting Tip

As long as your flies are floating naturally, and the drift is good, there’s no rule against making multiple mends to cover lots of water. In fact, in big rivers, like the Colorado at Lees Ferry in Arizona, and up on Oregon’s Deschutes, stack mending for long drifts is a smart way to fish.

Make your cast, let your flies settle, then make your mend. As the flies float downstream, make another mend, feeding more line as you go. Then another. And another. Mete out line gently by wiggling the rod tip to feed line through the guides; at the same time, don’t get caught with so much slack that you cannot set the hook when your indicator stalls 50 or 60 feet away from you. It can be tricky. The key is making many small, gentle mends as you feed your line through the run.

Product Buzz

Scott Fly Rods announces new fly rods to match your swinging passion. Patagonia introduces their lightweight Forra Wading Boots built by Fitwell. Simms releases its fall 2023 product collection. Big Sky Anglers 2023 trout spey review.

Fly-fishing News

The Fishing Club Journal takes you to the sun-drenched shores and big blue waters of Magdalena Bay. Follow Seth Blackamore as he takes a few new friends high into the Eastern Sierra in search of Golden Trout. Late season steelhead report from Copi Vojta and The Flyfish Journal.