Insights
Explore Your Curiousity
This is where I share the tips, techniques, and viewpoints that have led to my success on the water. I am not a guide or expert angler, though I believe this is a sport of lifetime learning where the most successful angler is the most curious one. I also believe teaching is the best way to learn and grow as an angler, so I hope sharing these insights benefits me as much as it does you. Not only do I share practical tips that will help you catch more fish, but I also share perspectives to ponder in fishing and life.
The Drakes
As the calendar turns to June, my favorite hatch of the year looms on the horizon. By this time, we have seen the start of the caddis, stoneflies, and PMDs. These hatches make for some epic fishing in their own right. But one hatch stands above the rest and is what we dream about all winter long. It’s the drake hatches of the Yellowstone Region. Brown, green, and gray drakes hatch throughout the Yellowstone
Grateful For The Fisherman’s Lifestyle
I’ve been on the road a lot this month for work and to see family. Specifically going to Las Vegas and Seattle, big cities with lots of people. These cities can be rather overwhelming for me and not my favorite, but traveling and seeing new things give me a wider perspective on the world. I appreciate travel for that, no matter where I go. A realization that occurred to me while on the road is how
The Importance Of Stonefly Hatches
There are many hatches on the rivers in the Greater Yellowstone that trout feed on. A plethora of stoneflies, mayflies, caddis, midges, and more. We are so very lucky to have a variety of hatches that bring trout to the surface. That said, I want to highlight the importance of stoneflies in this blog post, since stoneflies are so critical to us anglers and a trout’s diet. Unique to the West, stoneflies are one of the
Unlocking Big Trout On Dry Flies
Watching a big trout slowly rise to the surface and take a dry fly is one of the most surreal moments in fly fishing. It’s a moment many fly anglers dream about at night and spend their entire fishing season chasing. But it’s also a rare moment that few anglers today believe is possible. In a changing fly-fishing industry and community, the messaging tells anglers that streamers are the best way to target large trout. As
May Fishing In The Yellowstone Region
As we head into the month of May, we have a lot to look forward to as anglers in the Yellowstone Region. With many fisheries opening, greening landscapes, consistent hatches, and big trout on the horizon, May is one of the best months to fish in and around Yellowstone. To share my excitement for the coming month, I all the things we have to look forward to in May fishing. Yellowstone Opens Its Waters
Caddis Fly Patterns
It’s officially caddis season here in the Greater Yellowstone Region. While a few weeks earlier than usual, the epic Mother’s Day Caddis hatches are in full swing on many rivers, and dry fly fishing is hot. With caddis on the mind, I share a few Caddis fly patterns that have been catching fish for me. Mother’s Day Caddis Before I share a few caddis fly patterns, let’s hit on the Mothers day caddis hatch.The Mother’s
Six Tips For Spring Fly Fishing
With its fluctuating flows, thick insect hatches, aggressive brown trout, snow-capped peaks, thawing lakes, and anticipation for another fishing season, spring is an amazing month to be a fly fisherman. That being said, it also comes with many challenges. Fluctuating flows, gale force winds, muddy water, and unpredictable weather patterns, to name a few. Despite those challenges, spring has become one of my favorite times to fish in the Yellowstone Region. To share my excitement for spring
The Case For Stealth In Fly Fishing
I see it all the time. Fishermen causing a complete ruckus on the river. Splashing through the water, playing music in the boat, smacking their big bobbers on the surface, and casting shadows over feeding fish. In many cases, stealth feels like an afterthought in today’s fly-fishing environment. Wild trout are wary creatures. From the moment they are born, they live under constant threat from predators like larger fish, otters, birds of prey, and fishermen. And with
Why Tie Your Own Flies
As we head deep into fly-tying season here in the Yellowstone Region, fly-tying is at the forefront of my mind. With a variety of hatches in the region and many trips to prepare for in the upcoming season, there are a lot of flies to be tied in the winter months. I’ve grown to love fly tying just as much as fly fishing itself, and I look forward to winter days behind the vise. Tying your
When It All Comes Together
A lot goes into a fishing trip. Whether it’s hours of research, tying flies, traveling to the fishery, or developing the skills to succeed on the water, it takes time and effort. There is also a lot out of our control, with luck, weather, and conditions being major determinants in the success of a given day. With all that goes into a day of fishing, it’s inevitable that many of our fishing trips will not
To Learn A River
Every so often, you come across a fishery that touches you in a unique way. Something about it feels different. The river piques your curiosity, and you want to learn all its secrets. It’s hard to put into words why you are drawn to that fishery. It’s probably a mix of the scenery, fish, hatches, and when that fishery came into your life. Sometimes, you know it the first time you fish there; other times,
The Ideal Fall Weather
Weather is an important factor in trout fishing, and this is especially true in the fall. The Yellowstone Region experiences a mix of weather patterns from September to October, each bringing different fishing conditions. While a second stint of summer weather is always welcomed, what die-hard anglers look for is dark skies and inclement weather. The ideal weather for fall fishing. Just like hunters hope for stormy weather to move animals around, anglers call in sick