Have you ever had one of those days when you just felt like relaxing but wouldn’t mind fishing a bit. Now imagine that you could be able to sit in your easy chair and still be able to catch some of the nicest fish in the lake. Wouldn’t that be great! Funny thing is is that you already can do just that. All you need is a float tube and you can bob around and at the same time be in some of the most prime area for catching fish. Why can I say that? Because most lakes are very shallow at their banks. The feeding area for the fish tends to be at the banks were the water gets deeper, were the bigger fish after lurking in the deep come to feed because of the different flies and bugs that have landed in the shallows and are now poised to float towards the deeper water. A float tube can put you there without the fuss of bringing the boat. No hassles with fuel. No hassles with boat gear. Just the float tube, your fly fishing rod and your gear. I’ve had some people tell me that going out in one of these boat can be like sitting in your easy chair. That sounds nice to me, and everything is right there at your fingertips. Another nice thing about float tubes too is that they are easy to pack into lakes of rivers that may require a hike to get into. Plus they make them for all tastes just like easy chairs. If this sounds good to you, check out the ones I have listed on the float tubes page of my web site.

You know that when I first started fishing in the fly water, I always thought it wasn’t so necessary to get all this stuff but as I’ve grown older (and wiser I might add) I realize the need for some of these products. Take wading boots for instance. When I used to go wading, I thought a pair of shorts and some old tennis shoes would just do the job. But I noticed that, every time I would try to walk in the river, I’d be slipping all over the place because of the algae and slime on the rocks. It was hard even to stay upright. A good pair of wading boots can really make the difference however giving you some traction where there was none before. How do they work? The soles of most wading boots have either a felt sole or a corked sole. The felt sole ,instead of being hard like rubber, is soft and grips the rocks well. The corked sole (metal spikes on the bottom of the sole) grinds into the rock giving you pretty good traction as well. Now days most wading boots use either a nylon/pvc, canvas or synthetic leather upper to provide durability kicking up against the rocks all the time. All of these choices are good for the draining and drying of the wading boots after your adventure. Some models now days even have technology to be able to change the sole of the shoe to be able to hike on a regular lugged sole to your prime spot and then change over to another type once you arrive. Whatever model you choose, these wading boots can increase the overall fun of fishing tenfold. Check out our listing of some of the best models of wading boots to see if one might suit you. Enjoy!!!

Large arbor fly reels help to bring in the big fish.

Are there really any advantages to having a large arbor fly reel verses a traditional size reel? There sure are and the reasons are many. There really are 5 basic reason to use a large arbor fly reel:

1. Obviously, since these fly reels have a large arbor you get a faster retrieve which means when that fish is either tiring out or making a run toward you, you are able to retrieve the line faster.

2. This type of fly reel gives you faster retrieve without complicating things with gears and whatnot making maintenance easier.

3. As you use the large arbor fly reel, you will realize that your line doesn’t spool as bad making for easier casting and reeling. Its also easier not to get knots in you tippet and leader because of less spooling.

4. Being able to reel in the fish is a slower process which gives you more control of the fish, more power when palming the reel.

5. Generally speaking, the large arbor fly reels have better drag systems giving you a more consistent and greater drag pressure. This always helps to land the bigger fish.

I hope these 5 reasons have helped you to be able to make a wise choice in choosing your reel. I know this is why you primarily see the guides and pros using this type and if they choose large arbor fly reels, that should tell you what’s the best. Check out what we list on our fly fishing reels page.

Lets face it, there is a lot of fly fishing equipment out there with a lot of major brands vying for top sales of their equipment. More and more people are getting involved in the sport and with popularity comes more demand for the products that feed the sport. Most people just getting started will probably go down to their local box store and try and pick up a cheap deal on a combination package rod and reel, but are they really getting what they bargained for? I can’t tell you how many times I did just that and found myself at the river or lake with a fly rod that was busted in half or with the tip busted off and I was out of a fly rod because there was no kind of warranty to back the product. Has this ever happened to you? Why does this happen? Because the rod was made from inferior materials that not only break easily but work terrible to try to cast with. They are never made to a length that enables you to be able to cast at a distance. And as soon as they break you are out of a fly rod and reel. Why am I bringing this up? Well, the Sage company has been making great Sage fly rods that not only are made of great materials, but they are backed up with a great lifetime warranty. So although they may be a little bit more expensive than the other brands you get great performance as well as peace of mind that just in case it breaks your not out the money that you’ve invested. That’s why a Sage fly rod is one of the best you can get.

For many, picking the right fly rod can be a confusing task because there are so many choices out there to pick from. There are so many different weights, actions, styles and materials used in their manufacturing that is can be mind boggling to choose. All in all, it really boils down to three different factors that play a large part in choosing the right fly rod. First and foremost is what are you fishing for? The species of fish can determine a lot because of the average size of that species and really, depending on how skillful of a fishing enthusiast you really are, how large does this species actually get. The second factor really is determined by were you are planning to fish at. Do you predominately fish in small creeks and streams or do you find rivers, lakes or the ocean is were you spend your time? I ask this because generally speaking, the small creeks and streams have a lot of brush or overgrowth around them, so a smaller fly fishing rod generally will get you into smaller spaces were you may not need to cast as far. Whereas the longer fly fishing rods will reach out farther but may be harder to be as accurate. The third factor really is determined by the feel that a given enthusiast likes. Fly fishing rods may have an action from ultra-light to heavy and this may be influenced by the species but many times by the way the individual wants to be able to feel that fish on the end of their line. All in all, it really boils down to what the individual is looking for for their particular fishing excursion. What kind of fun do you like to have? Try out a new fly fishing rod and see for yourself.

I always had trouble when I was growing up fishing because there was always so much stuff to carry. I had my tackle box, any assorted items that I took with me because they would fit in my tackle box, food and of course my i.d. and various other items. I must have looked pretty funny trying to carry all that at one time. I remember many times that I would wade out in the river with one fly or whatever I was using only to return a few minutes later to change to another set up. Does this sound familiar? If so, a good fishing vest would help you greatly just like it did me. You can get organized and there’s no shuffling around scaring the fish with your movement. I have a few vests listed on my site you may be interested in that feature many good points that can help the avid fly fishing enthusiast greatly. On one of the vests, the Columbia Brule River(r), they have used a fabric know as Omnishade UPF ™ which can provide sun protection for your skin. It also features the Omnitech (r) system which is waterproof but breathable to allow perspiration to escape. This vest actually has a system within the garment to cushion and absorb shock and distribute weight evenly. The fabric is made of tear resistant nylon to keep it in good working order.

The Columbia Henry’s Fork Vest however is a cotton/polyester blend that sports a rod holder and a fly keeper. The Pflueger fishing vest is 100% cotton and of course all of these vests come with many different sized pockets to be able to accommodate all of your fishing gear. Any of these vests would be able to help any fishing enthusiast to enjoy the sport even more. If your interested just click on the vest above or click on the fishing vest category. Thanx and enjoy.

If there is something that I’ve noticed about fly fishing in south-western Oregon, it’s that there are many different ways of approaching the sport. Not only does it have to do with the species of fish that your fishing for, but people in general seem to have varying opinions about how to catch the fish. It seem that fly fishing gear has changed much over the years and right along with it have gone the methods. For instance, on the North Umpqua, there has come a raging debate about whether or not it should be lawful to use a weighted fly in the 33 miles of fly fishing only waters. This has become a heated debate, some vying for the traditionalist approach while others would like nothing better than to just catch fish without fishing for two months just for a strike. Many now days to have turned to using wet flies (nymphs and bead heads) when fishing for large trout in rivers or streams. This enables the fishing enthusiast to be able to reach the fish easier. When I was growing up, I didn’t even know about these types of flies. All I knew was the thrill of seeing a fish roll to take a hold on that fly on the end of your leader, and that seemed to suffice. However, it excites me to know about other avenues of being able to hook into a nice fish and also easier ways for our young anglers to be able to catch their first fish. I guess that in all these different methods, it really comes down to someone wanting that thrill of landing the big one, of seeing that fish rise out of the water with your hook in its mouth. Isn’t that really why we go fishing in the first place? If it takes a new fly rod to experience it or trying a float tube to reach the fish in hike only lakes, were going to try it and give it our best. Then maybe get a picture!!

Yep, its that time of year again. Time for the annual salmon fly hatch, one of my favorite times of the year. I have fond memories of fishing the river during this time and it seems like the bite is getting really strong to start the year. The fish tend to go nuts over these things. Now is a great time to get out the fly fishing gear and get started landing some fish. This picture here was taken on the Deschutes river in central Oregon. The hatch tends to start much earlier there, generally during May and early June. However, it seems that down in the valleys or just in the mountains the hatch really doesn’t get going until mid June. When you plan to go, take a look around at the trees and bushes and see if you cant tie a pattern to match these tasty fish morsels. I guarantee, if you can make a pattern that even comes close, you’ll catch some nice fish.

A lot of people have been talking about spey fly rods these days. They are a fly rod made to be able to access fish with a long cast giving you a better presentation to the fish as well. Usually a spey rod has much more length and can take more skill to be able to use well. Their lengths are usually between 11′ - 13′ and are usually used for larger fish although I don’t see why you couldn’t use them for smaller varieties (not as much action though). If you would like a rod to be able to reach out and touch the fish at farther distances, give them a try and add them to your quiver of fishing gear, many others have and have found great results.

The question of what to get has always been a problem for many trying to get into fly fishing. The rubber waders seem to be much less expensive than the neoprene waders, however the neoprene ones seem to be much lighter and fit better. Through personal experience, I can tell you that the neoprene are much better when you are planning to stand along a bank somewhere. You have more freedom of movement and are able to stay relatively dry without getting to cold. However, if you plan on using a float tube to fish with, the rubber ones might work pretty good, being that you don’t really need a lot of room to move your lower body. But the best buy for your buck, as far as I’m concerned is always the neoprene chest waders, because the advantages to having neoprene waders far outweigh their counterpart.