By Joe Cermele

Though I get all fuzzy inside when a trout sips a dry fly or slurps a nymph on the swing, I will take the crushing blow of a big brownie slamming a streamer over the more dainty stuff any day. And the bigger and uglier the streamer, the more pumped I am to throw it. That's why I'm really digging Thomas Harvey's Trophy Wife...which just so happens to be tied in this video by Brian Weiss with help from his real trophy wife. Granted, there's about $40 worth of material in this bug, but it's dead sexy and there will be some Trophy Wives in my flybox before my next visit to the river. I particularly like this tying video because of the clear, concise portrayal of each material and step. Yeah, that's it. Let's go with that. Have a great weekend.

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By Joe Cermele

Adding four big split shot ahead of a nymph takes the sexy out of fly casting real quick. But when you’re faced with a deep, dark hole that might be home to a massive brown trout or steelhead, sometimes you have to suck it up and dredge. The drift is no different than with any nymph rig, but getting that much lead to the top of the pool without smacking yourself in the back of the noggin takes some skill. Master the old chuck-and-duck cast, and you’ll score more fish and suffer fewer welts. Just make sure you have plenty of back-cast room, because this isn’t for tight quarters. 

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By Kirk Deeter

Please read the rest of what I have to say here before you rush to answer this question. This post isn’t meant to instigate an opinion poll and I’m not trying to trigger an impromptu website debate on semantics.   

I just want to tell you a story about how fishing with a young man named Joey Maxim and his father Joe on Montana's Blackfoot River has forever changed my own perceptions of fly fishing. [ Read Full Post ]

By Joe Cermele

There's nothing I love more than vintage tackle that proves a point: Back in the day, a fly rod was just another tool used to catch fish. No one cared if you were only a dry fly guy or thought you weren't the real deal if you used split shots or coneheads. Case in point, this Russelure Flyrod model submitted by Bill Harp. It's basically a metal spoon designed just for the long rod. Dr. Todd Larson of The Whitefish Press and "Fishing For History" blog is most familiar with the company, as they are still in business today.

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By Tim Romano

Last week's caption contest proved yet again what a witty bunch of folks you are. It was tough to make a final decision, but in the end quinnke6, got me with, "Biggest fish he's ever mounted." That is hilarious. [ Read Full Post ]

By Kirk Deeter

The other day I got a phone call from my credit card company asking for feedback on customer service. Thing is, it was an automated call, as in "press 1 if you are happy with our customer service." I'm not kidding, although at the time I thought, "you must be joking," and simply hung up. I don't think it takes an MBA to figure out that having customers talk to a recording is probably not the best way to assess customer service satisfaction, but I may be wrong.

I don't think I'm wrong, however, when I say that customer service is the key to a successful fly shop.  I've been covering the business of fly fishing for many years now, and during that time I've seen a number of fly shops close their doors throughout the country. [ Read Full Post ]