What Did YOU Learn About Fly Fishing This Year?

I know we are all looking forward to what the New Year will bring but it's also a great time to be reflective.  I was thinking about this last night and put a post up on Instagram asking the question...

"What did you learn about fly fishing this year?"

Was it a new place?  Was it a skill?  Was it a casting technique?  Maybe you started fishing glass?  Was it new gear?  Was it a new mindset?  What was it?

 

The most significant fly fishing "skill" that I learned was in late January on the Rio Negro in the Amazon with Nomadic Waters with the guides showing me four or five different ways to get a fly unstuck from tree branches when constantly casting into structure looking for peacock bass.

The reality is that you’re going to get your fly stuck a lot when you're fishing in the Amazon.  The fish you are looking for live in downed trees that have fallen into the river.  You've got to get the fly to where they are at. 

Learning these new techniques made for more productive days since we weren’t stopping every couple of minutes to paddle or motor to the fly.  These newfound skills have proved handy in other places that I’ve fished this year, too.

Listen and watch your guides. They want to teach you and make you a better angler.

So, what did YOU learn this year?  Leave a comment here or better yet, on the Instagram post that I put up last night.  I am looking forward to reading the responses.

2025 FLY FISHING FILM TOUR

The 2025 Fly Fishing Film Tour teaser is live and it looks like the selected films are up on the website, too.  I'll start sharing the trailers here soon.  In the meantime, press PLAY...



There are over 300 shows planned in the 2025 program.  Where will you see the F3T?

A Day on the Kenai River with Outgoing Angling

When I knew for sure that I was going to be up in Alaska for a week of travel before bringing Hadley home after her year and a half living there, I messaged a guide friend who has spent a lot of time working up there asking for a guide recommendation, knowing that we'd be near the Kenai River during the trip.  He responded back to reach out to Captain Jordan Carter of Outgoing Angling. 

I sent Jordan a message on Instagram and he was honest up front that we'd be there at not really the best time as far as migratory fish in the river but Hadley and I still wanted to experience a float on the Kenai River.  Jordan was great to work with on planning for the day and it was a wonderful way to wrap up several days in Homer and Seward before heading back to Palmer to get her packed up.

We met Jordan early on Sunday morning and loaded everything into the boat.  I brought along an Epic 686 and Epic 888 that he set up with a small fry pattern and then a flesh fly.  We caught several rainbow trout and a Dolly Varden swinging and stripping flies near structure on the river edge but the main game was bumping flies near the bottom on indicator setups that Jordan had in the boat on Orvis Helios outfits. 

Since we were Jordan's only float for the day, we slowly worked our way down the river, pulling over for a bit at a creek where we caught a couple of rainbow trout that were stacked up at the mouth.  Hadley was still getting used to casting and it was fun seeing her get a line out, mend, and swing up a rainbow trout on a tiny fry pattern.  She was pretty proud of herself and this trip just might have sparked a real interest in fly fishing.

We pulled over for lunch on a long green blue run and used Hadley's camp stove to make noodle bowls that I tossed some chunks of smoked salmon in.  So good and a the perfect streamside lunch.

After lunch, we continued down the river and picked off a few more fish along the way.  Fishing wasn't lights out but was better than expected.  The trip was more about taking in the views and enjoying a day on the water.  Those boxes were checked off big time on this float with grand views, wildlife on the mountainside to spy with binoculars, music on the Turtlebox, and great conversations with Jordan on the fishery, conservation, the local guide scene, and we found out that he and I have a handful of mutual friends from Michigan and elsewhere.  All in all, a great day on the river.

We couldn't have had a better time with Captain Jordan Carter and if you're looking to experience the Kenai River, and other nearby fisheries, he'd be my first call.

Check out the Outgoing Angling website and follow along on Instagram.

WITHERNOT - Design-A-Rugby Contest

One of the favorite new brands that I came across this year was Withernot and after wearing a couple of their rugby shirts through the fall, I've been beyond impressed by the quality and fabric heft of these shirts.  You should have a couple of these in your closet in your favorite colors.

Instead of falling into post-Christmas doldrums, Withernot is asking everyone to get creative and kicked off their second annual Design-A-Rugby contest on their Instagram page this week.

To play, use the blank rugby shirt below to create your colorway design.  When finished, send a direct message to Withernot on Instagram.  Withernot followers will vote the best design and the winner will receive the shirt they designed along with $250 store credit, which is enough to purchase a couple more shirts.

Learn more on the Withernot website and Instagram page.  If you're placing an order, remember to use the T.F.M. code "FIBERGLASS" for 15-20% off when you spend at least $100. 

HOT STUFF TATTOO - Getting Inked By Danny Reed

You might have caught it mentioned in other posts through this year but in September, I turned 50 years old.  At the beginning of the year I made a mental list of things that I wanted to have happen and one of those things was being tattooed by Danny Reed of Hot Stuff Tattoo in Asheville, North Carolina.  He and I have talked about it for years and I'm really glad that we made it happen.

I always figured that a tattoo should tell a story or have a certain meaning to the artwork.  The more that I thought about it, I wanted to do something with our daughter and son in mind.  Their middle names of Wrynn and Finneus made it fitting to approach Danny with the idea and reference of a bird and a fish that would be inked on either side of my chest.  

In grade school, I was nose deep into a large format heavyweight edition of John James Audubon's Birds of America that followed me from classroom to classroom for the first six years of school.  I can remember sitting at my desk, flipping pages while gazing at the large prints instead of studying or being attentive in class.  I asked Danny if he'd create a piece for the right side of my chest of a marsh wren in somewhat of an Audubon-esque posture.  What he came up with was perfect. 

As the year is winding down, Danny reached out with a mid-week afternoon opening.  I left work early last Wednesday and made it up to the shop as he was finishing the artwork.  I as stoked that I'd be able to get both tattoos done before the year was over and appreciate Danny fitting me into his always busy schedule. 

Growing up, the first fish that I caught with my dad was a bluegill and the first fish caught with Hadley and Finn were bluegills on crickets in the family pond through the woods from our home.  It only made sense that the left side of my chest would be a colored up bluegill that I am so stoked about.

These sessions where split up between Danny's personal studio and at Hot Stuff Tattoo, which are each located on Haywood Road in downtown Asheville.  Both experiences were exceptional and if know you'll be in Asheville well enough in advance, book some time with Danny Reed.  Following him on Instagram is the best way to keep up with when he's accepting appointments and where he'll be a guest artist at next.

HOUSE OF FLY - R.L. Winston Rod Company Tour

The team from House of Fly recently made a shop visit to the R. L. Winston Rod Company and even though the it's heavy on graphite fly rod talk, I can't help but hope and think that a modern glass fly rod offering from them would be wonderful.  They are just a few years away from their 100th anniversary so maybe, fingers crossed, we'll see it.



Visit the House of Fly website and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.  They have a glass offering with the Fly Project Haka fly rod that I hope to demo and review soon. 

Give the Gift of Glass This Christmas

If you're feeling like me, Christmas and gift giving has completely snuck up and now it's just a couple of days before the holiday.  There are still ways through placing an order, being emailed a gift card, or getting on the list of a small shop builder, to give the gift of glass.  Or maybe, you've been good this year and it's time to gift yourself.  This is a no judgement zone...

The Fiberglass Fly Rod Makers list is a good place to start with a thorough list of all the builders, blank rollers, makers, and fly rod companies that are offering glass.  With a 100+ links, it can be a little overwhelming.  I'm always happy to help with suggestions through email.  I can also help with fly lines and fly reel suggestions, too.

From tiny full flexing trout weight fly rods to stout cannons for heavy warmwater and saltwater, along with everything in between, there is no better time to be a GLASS GEEK.  There are choices in so many line weights, tapers, colors and price points.

Again, if you have any questions, reach out with a note to thefiberglassmanifesto@gmail.com.

Who is Santa bringing a fiberglass fly rod to this Christmas?  Let me know.

EMERGER FLY FISHING - Notes On Designing and Refining Products

I often check in on gear makers and talked to Chris Freeman of Emerger Fly Fishing a few months ago where he told me about several changes that he had made to the Cameron Side Bag. As he was telling me, I couldn't believe that an inch in depth could make such a difference. He offered to send one to demo on a late summer trip to the Driftless (See those posts HERE, HERE, and HERE) and am now a firm believer. 

Chris took the last generation Cameron Side Bag, that was just a little too small for me to carry all the necessary gear and a DSLR camera, and created a bag that will hold all of that an more.  A second lens?  No problem.  More fly boxes or fly wallets?  Also, no problem.  The new leather shoulder pad is also a step forward in comfort to carry this bag all day on the water.

I asked Chris if he'd send an update to the three-part series of posts that we did in 2018, which highlighted all the steps in building one of these timeless waxed canvas side bags and this post talks about refining an already wonderful piece of kit to make it that much better.  You should re-visit the build posts HERE, HERE, and HERE as those posts really show the workmanship that goes into everything that leave's the Emerger Fly Fishing shop.

Chris wrote...  "Practically, Emerger Fly Fishing tends to be design-centric and not product-centric. I would rather have a few products that I believe hold up to our rigorous standards of form and function than have a lot of products. This means we constantly test our products to the limits, find out what works and what doesn’t, and then adjust accordingly. It also means listening to our customers. I love hearing from the guides who have our bags, those who put their gear through the paces on a daily basis — some easily logging 150 days on the water each year. They’re feedback is incredibly valuable to us.

When we first released the Cameron in 2016, I felt pretty good about it — better than I had about any product we had released up to that point. Over time, we heard from a few guides that they felt like they needed just a bit more room in their bags.

So we made it slightly bigger — I mean an inch overall in the depth of the bag. As it turns out, that made a huge difference. We also reworked the internal pockets of our main compartment in order for fly boxes to sit better in the bag and maintain good organization. We also added a big shoulder pad to our straps to help the bag sit more comfortably on the shoulder when spending long days on the water.

We also made some less obvious changes that we think have made a big difference, like moving to YKK #10 brass zippers because they are smoother and tougher than the smaller size we were using.

The end result is a bag that is bigger, tougher, and yet slightly lighter than the first generation Cameron. As a craftsman, it energizes me to focus more on making things better than just making more things. That doesn’t mean we won’t have new products (and there are some coming), but it does mean that the products we make will be thought out, purposeful and crafted to our extremely high standards with customers in mind.

As with honing any craft, it’s a journey — one that I am grateful to be on, with the folks who have chosen to travel along with us."

If you need a Cameron Side Bag, or anything else on the Emerger Fly Fishing website, place your order by December 16th, it'll make it in time for Christmas.  Use code "HOLIDAY2024" for 15% off.

P.S.  If you order a bag, a wallet or several are essential.  I am especially fond of the Hybrid Wallet.

CONNECT - A Confluence Film

Yellow Dog Flyfishing continues to unearth Confluence Film classics.  Press PLAY and enjoy...

Subscribe to the Yellow Dog Flyfishing YouTube channel for great films, travel dispatches, and more.

MOONLIT FLY FISHING - Buy One Glass Fly Rod, Get One 60% Off

I mentioned it the other day that Moonlit Fly Fishing had something in the works for the holidays and today through Monday, December 9th, when you buy one fiberglass fly rod, you can choose another for 60% off.  If you use THIS LINK, the discount code of "TFMGlass24" should automatically be applied in the cart.  This is a deal that should be hard to pass on.

 

I've written and highlighted both the NIRVANA PhoenixGlass and Lunar S-Glass fly rods on T.F.M. over the years and I continue to believe that they are some of the best values in contemporary fiberglass fly rods.  The NIRVANA PhoenixGlass rival the performance of fly rods that cost two and three times as much and the Lunar S-Glass are in a class of their own for sub-$200 fly rods.

Visit the Moonlit Fly Fishing website to shop the sale and if you have any questions, send me an email.  I'm always happy to hash out any "What should I get?" decisions.

6 Cool Things

As we are approaching Christmas, you might be looking for some neat or unusual gifting ideas to put under the tree and this post has some good ideas to consider across a mix of price points.

Happy shopping...

VINTAGE TROUTS - A NEW DAD CAP TO REP

WHISKEY LEATHERWORKS - THE PASSPORT WALLET

SMITHEY IRONWARE - NO. 11 YELLOWSTONE SKILLET FOR A CAUSE

NOSO PATCHES - A.D. MADDOX COLLECTION TO PATCH YOUR GEAR

TOM BECKBE - CANVAS TAILGATER BAG

E. HINKLEY - BEAVERKILL CREWNECK

What's on your Christmas list?  Let me know on the T.F.M. Instagram story post this weekend.

2025 FLY FISHING FILM TOUR

The Fly Fishing Film Tour is back for the coming year and the show schedule is being updated along with the films chosen for the new tour.  The sizzle reel and film trailers should be going up soon, too.

Where will you see the Fly Fishing Film Tour?  Visit the F3T website for the schedule and more information.  Follow along on Facebook and Instagram for the latest announcements.

FLYLIFE - Your Moment of Trout on Hoppers Zen

It's summertime on the other end of the world.  Here's a trout rising to hoppers fix if you need it.

Check out the Flylife YouTube channel for more goodness like this.

6 Good Reads

Need a reprieve?  Here's a six-pack of articles to get you through your day.  Scroll down and if you need more of Castworks, the book is a steal on Amazon right now.   

MIDCURRENT - CONGRATS TO PHIL MONAHAN

FIELD MAG - FLY FISHING FOR CARP IN NYC

BOB WHITE STUDIO - THE LATEST STORY FROM BOB

FLYLAB - SHARING CHAPTERS FROM CASTWORK

FISHPOND - GLOOM AND STEELHEAD

DUCK CAMP - DAVE FASON ON LOWCOUNTRY LIVING

What have you been reading online lately?  Let me know with an email.