Author: pmonahan

Written by: Kubie Brown When I first started tying flies, I thought I was a genius. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on individual flies, I was going to tie everything I could ever need without spending a single cent in a fly shop. I figured that with just a bag of basic materials and a few good hooks, I could set myself up with flies for life. Of...

George Daniel is known for his books about Euro-nymphing and streamer fishing, but he also loves to catch smallmouths. In this video, he shares his time-tested techniques for rigging, pattern selection, and presentation. Perhaps his most important point is that you shouldn’t overwork your flies on the water. A popper may beg to be popped, but George...

About 10 years ago, a young girl named Maxine McCormick shocked the fly-casting world by beating adults at competitions. (See the great video about her below.) Now, a youngster from Florida is making similar waves: [Elias is] even competed in casting games against adults, including a trip to California to compete with the American Casting Association. While...

In this great video from Avid Max, Colorado tier Mike Meyers (no, not him) walks us through the steps to tie his version of the Silver Bullet Baetis, a pattern developed by Lance Egan. The addition of a CDC collar not only makes the nymph a bit buggier and adds motion, but it also offers a bit of drag to help keep the nymph in place when the wind is blowing...

When it comes to fishing terrestrials, grasshoppers are the most popular kids in school. Anglers wait for months for these big bugs to appear and then fish hoppers with complete confidence throughout the entire summer. But if grasshopper patterns are the only terrestrials you’re fishing, you’re missing out on a lot of action. Both ants and beetles are...

On Monday, we posted about some dire predictions for summertime water conditions in Montana, and now Yellowstone National Park has announced afternoon closures for several of the rivers on the western side. The Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon rivers and all tributaries will close daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise: Water temperatures in select rivers and streams...

A full intermediate fly line is the most versatile tool you can have for streamer fishing in still water. It’s equally useful in moving water under the right conditions, but for crawling, stripping, twitching, or burning streamers across a lake, it can do it all. The Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan Full Intermediate has been my preferred choice for this...

Last week, we posted about how conservation organizations are raising alarm about Senate Republicans on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee releasing a proposal to sell between 2 million and 3 million acres of public land. A summary and analysis of the the bill by The Wilderness Society includes a map of lands that could be on the auction block, and...

Question: What is the best PFD that doesn’t get in the way until you need it?  I use a chest pack and so far, I have not been able to find one that doesn’t become unwieldy. —Bill McDonough, via email Answer: Anglers know the value of preparation: Good drifts don’t just happen, and neither does safety. Bill's question caused us to dig into one of...

I haven’t been to the West Branch of the Delaware River since last fall. The No-Kill Section of the tailwater—populated by large and wily brown trout and located below a large dam in the mountains—is more than two hours north of where we live. I rarely make the drive until July, when Bonnie Brook is too low to fish. By then, sulfurs and blue-winged...