An old adage says that lighter colored flies work best in the spring. Whether you call them “PMDs”, “PEDs”, or just plain “Sulphurs”, I think trout get keyed in on a lighter color during this time of year. This fly works well even though it doesn’t exactly “match the hatch” and is quick and easy…
DetailsThis contest has ended Spring is upon us and for many, that means the beginning of trout season. So to celebrate, I’m giving away a little swag. To enter all you have to do is leave a comment below with your #1 tenkara tip to share with others. Winners will be chosen at random but…
DetailsRecently, there’s been a lot of discussion online about using data to choose a tenkara rod. This is driven by the fact that someone new to tenkara can’t walk into their local fly shop and test cast a variety of brands like they can with conventional fly rods–they just don’t stock them. In fact, you’d…
DetailsAsking a fly angler to pick their favorite fly pattern is a little like asking a mother to name her favorite child. We love them all for different reasons. But if pressed, most anglers will be able to come up with at least a short list. So, I thought I should put together mine. These…
DetailsI’ve always had a fetish fro fly boxes–their design, their secret contents, the patina they eventually show from streamside adventures untold. Today’s modern fly boxes have no soul. They’re too practical and ugly–all plastic, foam, silicone, and gaudy graphics. I prefer a good wooden or aluminum box. One that would be fitting in the background…
DetailsAs a young fly fisher just starting out, it seems everyone wants to give you advice. Some of it is helpful but some of it is just downright absurd and you develop a sense of how to discern between the two the deeper you get into your fishing career. One tip though that was gifted…
DetailsIn 2014, I came up with a pattern that became my go-to fly for many years: the Japanese Lantern. It was just a simple sakasa kebari, but instead of thread for the head, I used pearlescent Mylar to give it a little flash. The fly performed swimmingly and I had the utmost confidence in it.…
DetailsPeople often share which kinds of music they listen to while they’re tying flies. Music and tying just seem to go hand-in-hand for many. For me though, it was always listening to A Prairie Home Companion on NPR. This is back when it was still hosted by Garrison Keillor who left the show in 2017…
DetailsIn my interview with Ruben Garza, the owner and founder of Wasatch Tenkara Rods, we discuss rod design theory, new products, tenkara flies, ice fishing (gasp), and more. I hope you find it as interesting as I did to get a little inside the mind behind one of tenkara’s most up-and-coming gear companies. Jason: …
DetailsYes, I know. The party line is that traditional tenkara flies are unweighted. Purists say that you’re supposed to use plunge pools or longer drifts to sink your flies. But this isn’t always possible (especially on my home waters). Most of my local streams are high-gradient with short, fast-running pockets. You might only get a…
DetailsThis is a boring fly. But there’s a reason for that. It’s my variation on one of my favorite all-time flies: René Harrop’s Hair Wing Dun. The Hair Wing Dun has proven itself on waters all over the world. It’s easy to tie, floats well, is durable, and versatile. Here’s my version and the theory…
DetailsI often see advertising for “hand-tied flies”. This makes me laugh because ALL FLIES ARE HAND TIED! As a marketer by trade and a fly tyer by passion, I find this deceptive and insulting. Who do they think they’re fooling with this messaging? In reality, the majority of commercially available flies are tied (by humans)…
DetailsThere’s a long running joke in tenkara about losing your rod plug or end cap. Most rod plugs are either black or wood colored making them the perfect chameleon when dropped on the forest floor or river bank. And it’s not always easy to find a replacement. But Minimalist Gear Co. has come up with…
DetailsI recently read an article by one of my favorite fly fishing authors, Dave Hughes, in which he wrote something that gave me pause for thought … Had I read this quote in my pre-tenkara days, I would have agreed 100%. “Match the hatch” was my mantra and I thought the essence of fly fishing…
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