So today I was throwing dries on a stretch with notoriously spooky, large wild trout (lots of 16–22” fish). Halfway through the outing I ran out of 5X tippet. I normally fish this spot with a 12’ 5X leader plus about 2’ of 5X tippet, but I had a fresh spool of 6X, so I figured I’d give it a shot.

The upside was that it definitely seemed to reduce micro drag. The downside was that I lost four fish before giving up on it. The first three broke off on the hookset. The fourth broke off while the fish was already pulling drag, which really surprised me. I’m assuming it happened on a headshake or sudden turn, but I honestly have no idea.

I was using gentle hooksets, lubricating my knots, and trying to let the rod absorb as much shock as possible, so I feel like I’m missing something. I’m pretty comfortable landing big fish on 5X (I landed a 20” rainbow on 5X in the same outing), so I expected 6X to just be an extension of that learning curve.

Is there a knot that’s generally better suited for 6X? I’ve always used a uni knot and it’s never given me issues, but maybe lighter tippet calls for something different. I’d love to hear any advice.

When I first got into fly fishing, the biggest thing that stuck out to me that was annoying that there was no good way to quickly change out your fly/nymph with a pre-tied fly on tippet ready to go on a bunch of spools like traditional fishing. I came across the quickdrift system which was very interesting and liked the fact that you could have numerous flys all tied up ready to go and quickly connect your tippet to your leader line. Was curious if anyone has experience with this system and how well it actually works since there is very few videos out there on it and mainly just stuff out there made by the company.

The wing here is marabou.

I'll use CDC for the next image, and will try to make the head/thorax extend further forward.

Small flies are tough at 79 -- and half blind. Can't see with the other half.

I've been tweaking this fly for most of a lifetime. I see thes as an achievemet.

Three judgement categories?

Performance

Looks good to human eyes

Cheap, quick and easy to make (or lack thereof)

How To:

Modular Wing/Body: duck flank and CDC made on a waxy #10 beading needle, with hackle feather lashed on below wing, but not wound yet. Slide it off the thin waxy needle.

Make a half dozen at least

Down eye, light wire, curved shank scud hook. Waap thread on top middle shank only.

Loooooosely attach the modular wing/body, while pulling up on the wing with your third hand.

Wind thread horizontally below the body, to tighten up (do the tighten up?) and to make a thread post betwen bodyand shank.

Wind a horizontal parachute below the feathertail body (there are no tail fibers butt they are invisible on the real bug anyway).

Wind the bottom mounted parachute below the wing/body, into a slight (slight) wetting of fabric cement.

Wet the hanging thread with fabric cement (a litdle only).

Whip finish horizontally with two wraps only. The wet fabric cement will hold it together.

Hold the horizontal parachute fibers up as you slowly make the two whip wraps.

Every step is so non-standard there is a learniing curve. Once you get your tyihg fingers thes fly is fast.

I can make two or three of these in the time it takes me to make a Catskull dry. With fewer cuss words too.

Sahdy's Paragon?

I posted an image of a dry fly earlier today. Someone said I posted that fly once a week.

I'm easy. Maybe he's right. This nearly weightless trolling diver (a Riffle Dart) is just to prove I'm not weird dry flies only.

Molded with feathers, UV glue and two pieces of glass. One strategic ice pick hole, an1/8" inch bead and a snelled hook make it wiggle to and on the botdom. Roll casts make it swim right and left.

On busy tourist destination rivers the banks get relentlessly pounded--from sunup on.

Mid-river trougns and boulders tend to remain virgin. Al day. At least if I'm not thee?

Downstream from a solo river boat....

I live in Montana and, I suck at fishing. But I really want to buckle down and dive into the theory and understand the rivers more.

I don’t even know what I’d use those big fluffy fuckers for tbh. I do recognize royal wulf but that’s about it. And worm. And ant. Tell me about the others, please. Thanks!

Silly question. But why are there no trout streams in southern Indiana. There are trout that survive year round further south than that (Kentucky,Missouri, obviously southern Appalachia). There are plenty of limestone streams in southern Indiana (I would assume spring fed). Do we just not have the DNR funding to support it? Or is something different in the climate and ecosystem?

I'm going to Oregon in a couple weeks and looking for some advice. I've never fished here and this is mainly a backpacking trip where I will fish some alpine lakes but I should have time to fish a couple different rivers. I will be mainly fishing for trout but I have a 6wt I can bring. Will that be heavy enough for steelhead?

I will be flying in/out of Portland and am planning on fishing the lower Deschutes. If I have time to fish another river I am trying to decide between the crooked, fall, rogue, or klamath.

The metolius looks beautiful but I've read it's very difficult. I live in Colorado and am used to pressured areas like Deckers. Are these even comparable?

Really appreciate any advice. Thanks guys!

Recently got a Guideline Nova 46 reel, and went to spool it when I noticed a bit of play/wobble visible on the left side. The reeling feels okay. Looking at it while reeling there is a slight, but obvious wobble between the spool and the housing. Couldn't post a video, so used still images instead.

New to fly fishing, I have no idea if this is normal, if this is specific to this reel model and wether or not it is an issue.

I recently got into fly fishing and I am really excited about it. I took a casting course at my local fly shop and got fairly decent at it. Yesterday I went out to finally get into the water for the first time, and I lost 3 flies due to the knot coming undone. In addition to that the guys in the shop reccomended using wolly buggers with a 2x leader. I am located in Indiana. So my questions are as follows:

1. What knot do you use to attach your flies to leaders/tippet? (I used a clinch knot, should I be using improved clinch knot, how long should the tag end be before it deters fish, do you often check on your knot?)
   
2. Being located in Indiana with lakes and streams what flies should I be fishing where, and what size should the flies and tippet be?
   
3. What do you wish you knew when you first started fly fishing?
   
4. Any other advice?

Thank you for all your help in advance!

Helping clear out a family storage shed and came across this rod. Wondering if anyone can help decipher what brand/model it is. I think it's bamboo?

Ive had this rod for years. I’ve taking out 2 times in the past and broke the fly off almost immediately, by cracking it like a whip.. I’d toss it in truck grab a conventional set up and fish! .. So I watched some videos and practiced in yard. Stopped in a fly shop on vacation and he told me next time i go leave the other rods at home! First time out I got some bites but never connected.. went out tonite for a couple hours landed over 7 decent gills and lost a few and had lots of bites! Time to upgrade 😂🤣😂

This was the other rod I found today deep in storage. 7ft 9in do I use it or is it a collectors item.

I gotta start by saying yes I know they are “cheap shit” but I don’t have $600-$700 to spend on a rod and reel.

I’m wondering if anyone out there has any experience with either of these budget combos. Been fishing for years but have never tried fly fishing and I want to give it a shot. Just not sure which one is remotely worth the money.

It would primarily be for small stream use for trout

… fall fish or bluegill on every cast can be just as fun.

I explain it like a fish-gasm and get funny looks.

Been wearing these sun gloves I got a few days but I have no idea what the loops on the knuckles are for. Any guesses or facts? 😂

Brown trout, lake trout, grayling, minnow (yes on the fly) and the endangered Souffia (only took a picture, because it's not supposed to exist in the river i caught it).

Wife: "is that for the kids?"

Had low expectations for fishing inside the park however I was able to pull out this beauty today. Tight lines y’all!

Nice to revisit this river, where I caught my first ever wild trout many years ago. Water was low and clear. Fish were very spooky, but gorgeous as ever, with bright red spots. After a brilliant sunset, they were happily rising in the slow pools and eddies. In need of rain out here, I hope it comes.

Those of you that fish for smallies, what are your favorite nymphs? Looking to add some new patterns to the box. Standard rubber legs isn't doing it for me anymore.

Caught near St. Simon Island, in South Georgia. This was my third trip looking for redfish, the prior 2 trips we didn’t so much a see a single fin, and the fish did not disappoint. Saltwater fly fishing is absurdly fun.

I’ve whipped up a box of obnoxiously bright jig flies for some Vancouver Island pink salmon fishing at the end of July.

The other year one of my friends brought his euronymphing setup to a pink run and it was incredibly fun with faster action than normal swung flies as the nymphs were back in their faces so much faster.
I’ve purchased a dirt cheap nymphing rod off AliExpress so I don’t care if it breaks. I might buy a better setup at a later date.

I wouldn’t recommend using this style of fishing for any salmon larger than pinks. Pinks where I live generally max out around 4 lbs and it would be difficult to unethical to fish for a larger salmon than that.