RiverBum

  Caddisflies haven’t gotten the love historically that mayflies have gotten from anglers.     However, that seems to be changing.    One night at dinner with my friend Nino he was making fun of me on how many flies we carry at RiverBum.    Nino likes to get a good rise out of my wife and I, and this night was no exception.    He belts out “all I need are three flies.    Adams, Tan Caddis, and Pheasant tails, and I’ll out fish anyone”.    Of course, I shot back as to why he’s always panhandling for flies out of my fly boxes.    The point is, caddis have a very worthy place as a top insect to carry in your box, and know their behavior.     Where can you find them?   Caddis flies are found in ponds, streams, lakes, and rivers. Cased caddis surrounds themselves with debris to make their own cases so they can hide and grow while having protection as they move.   You can determin...

If you have ever tried dry fly fishing during a hatch, you already know that it can be equally exciting and frustrating at the same time. Understanding PMD mayfly behavior patterns will help you become more successful next time!   They are abundant, widespread in all types of rivers from small spring creeks to big tailwater rivers, emerge slowly enticing trout to feed on them, and their hatches are fairly consistent for three to six weeks, which means if you miss them one day you should find them still hatching the next.   Where and when The hatch of course varies, but start looking for bugs in early June.    During a PMD hatch, try fishing in the tail of a pool or a long run, particularly where the water shallows and nymphs are concentrated in the water column. Fish will tend to stack up in these areas to feed on drifting duns as well as emerging nymphs, cripples, and drowned adults.   Nymphs are restless a few hours before they emerge. At this...

  European nymphing sounds new to many American anglers, but its been around for long time.   It’s a great way to fish and can be very productive.      These techniques generally put emphasis on line control and quick sinking flies to directly connect to the fish. Moreover, it lets anglers detect the subtlest strikes.   RiverBum carries all the equipment and flies you will need to get started on Euro fishing, including long rods and long leaders.   Let’s talk about the basics of   European nymphing styles, as well as the flies that are appropriate for each of them.   We’ll also recommend some good Euro nymphing fly rods along the way, as well as some of our most productive patterns.   Czech nymphing   The technique: Czech nymphing is all about short distance casts with multiple weighted nymphs on leaders between two-thirds and three-fourths the length of the rod. You are essentially using a lob cast to propel fli...

  Springtime means warm weather, which is a perfect time for mayflies to emerge and for fish to feed. In many areas of the country, April and May start off trout season.    Emergence of this hatch is likely to occur in the midafternoon, and spinnerfalls occur in the evening. Around May, when temperatures are reaching the 70s in many areas of the country, sulfurs are likely to emerge in the middle of the month!   During this time, it may be time to shop for a sulfur dry fly here at RiverBum. We have all the popular patterns that will attract fish and help you bring fish to hand.   Not sure which sulfur dry fly to use? Knowing and understanding the sulfur hatch will help you make an informed choice. Read on to know more about it:   When and where   These mayflies are referred to as ‘sulfurs’ because of the color of their bodies: pale, yellow-bodied with gray wings.   Nymphs drift for some time just below the surface as they begin to eme...

  The skwala belongs to the family of stoneflies. Come spring, it is among the first ones to hatch. These bugs are known for their smaller, dark bodies and they crawl onto brushy areas and banks to hatch. All stoneflies go through incomplete metamorphosis, with three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. When the skwala stonefly starts moving, that’s your cue to use big dry flies. Fishing with a skwala dry fly can provide anglers lots of opportunities and a great experience, whether you’re looking into streamer fishing or nymphing.   Early spring is the best time to nymph a small olive nymph pattern when the skwala fly starts to hatch. When you start to see trout rising, nymphs crawling on rocks, or fresh empty shucks on banks, you may want to start using a good skwala dry fly pattern. At RiverBum , we carry a great selection of flies you can use, such as Britten Jay’s Skwala Stone, which is designed to attract trout. It’s a good high floating fly for a hopper dropper ri...

  Stoneflies pack a large protein punch for trout.    These large insects are an important part of a trout’s diet.    The prime habitat for these nymphs is at the rocky bottom of the faster-moving areas of a river, as they require well-oxygenated and clean water to thrive.    The presence of stoneflies is normally a good indication of water quality.   Stoneflies go through an incomplete metamorphosis; depending on their species, they can spend up to three years as nymphs before becoming an adult. When they hatch, mature nymphs crawl along the bottom of the river to the shore, then crawl out of the water to shoreline vegetation or exposed rocks. When they move to the shore, they easily get swept off the bottom where they become easy prey. Adult stoneflies emerge from their old nymphal shuck to fly off eventually, with the purpose of finding a mate.   When using stonefly nymphs, make sure that they resemble actual stoneflies in that sta...

  Fly lines are available in different weights.    Weight is indicated in grains, where there are 14 grains in a gram. Sounds confusing? Don’t worry, American manufacturers have provided a scale that is easier to remember so you can easily determine the weight for different lines. The fly line weight scale runs from 1 to 14, with 1 being the lightest and 14 being the heaviest fly lines.   Getting the wrong fly line weight can mean disaster in your casting.    It’s important to know what you’re fishing for and get the right fly line weight for the job. Here is a quick guide:   1-3 – Best for small fish, and in rare instances, large trout in small streams 4 – Versatile enough for panfish and large trout, suitable for small to mid-size streams 5 – An all-around line weight for most trout fishing situations 6 – Another all-around weight for larger trout and bass 7 – Ideal for catching powerful, bigger fish li...

  Trout loves blue winged olives.    BWOs thrive cooler temperatures and are likely to hatch throughout the colder months.     They are one of the first hatches in the spring, and one of the last in the fall. This is one of the most prolific genera of mayflies in North American trout streams. They are good dry-fly insects because they often hatch in impressive numbers and the duns ride the water for a long time before taking flight. The best patterns can help attract this fish. The ones we have at RiverBum are designed to resemble this prolific mayfly. Here are some of the patterns you can consider:   1. Blue winged olive Emerger   A blue winged olive pattern that is a proven fish catching machine.   Emergers and Cripples are easy pickings for trout.mayfly that can make fishing exciting. It features a baetis pattern is ideal for fishing in the spring and fall. Trout sometimes ignore all of the healthy mayflies during a hatch and only eat t...

  Old dudes like me curse a midge hatch.    The dominative little flies can be a bugger to tie on.   It’s well worth it though.    Trout love these guys.   Year-round food source   Midges are an essential food source for trout and many other species of fish.    The lifecycle of midges can be divided into four stages, egg, larva, pup, and adult.   There are three styles of flies that are of interest to the fly fisherman.    They are they nymph, emerger and adult.      Unlike many other aquatic insects, midges can complete an entire life cycle during the winter months. Many species can undergo a complete life cycle — egg to adult — in just a few weeks.          Locations across the country   There are over 10,000 species world wide.    There is absolutely no need to even try to begin to understand them all.    All we really need to know...

  When it is time to buy a new fly fishing reel, and honestly, when isn’t the time, you might have some questions in mind. You may be wondering which fly fishing reels are best for you and how much you will be spending for one. This guide will discuss five important things to consider helping you make an informed decision:   1. The type of fish you are targeting.   Every fly fishing reel comes with specific designs for particular types of fish. That’s why the selection comes in different profiles, drags and line capacities. For instance, Trout fishing reels design allows them to work with a 2 to a 6-weight line and backing line, while salmon are typically bigger because of the larger line weights and more backing line needed for the species.   2. The number of fly lines you use.   Today’s trout anglers have a range of fly lines to suit different fishing conditions. They typically have the multi cassette spool system, which lets them carry a range ...

Fly fishing in the winter sounds challenging, but it can also be exciting and fun. The quite and tranquility is second to none.  This guide can help you make the most out of your experience: • Choose the right venue – Look up places where you can do fly fishing in the winter. The South Platte, Gunnison, Madison, and the Snake River are just some suggestions. Going on a ski trip? See if there’s a river or lake where you can also enjoy fly fishing.  There are many fisheries that close in the winter, but sure to check the local regulations. • Dress for Success -  It’s winter, the water is cold.   Dress for it.   Make sure you have high quality thermal clothes and base layer.   Nothing is worse than cold feet and hands.   Prepare accordingly.   Have a hand towel to dry wet hands.   I’d also recommend a hand warmer.   Layer your socks.   I’m partial to merino wool. • Consider Euro Nymphing – Euro N...

Keeping your dry flies, well, dry, during your presentation is an essential element to the craft.  Floating high on the water on top of the meniscus is an important element in your presentation.   You can do that with a good fly fishing floatant, which comes in different options, such as gel, powder, and all-purpose liquid. There’s a nice variety out there.   Here is an overview of the best floatants for dry fly fishing to help you out with your decision: • Liquid or gel-based floatants – Floatant tend to be a preference item.   Many anglers like a liquid-based floatant for everything from small tricos, to big stimulators. I personally use the gel floatant on smaller offerings, say size 12 and small.  High N Dry offers great liquid and gel floatants that out perform all others on the market today. The liquid fly floatant comes in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle, which comes with a silicone seal in its cap to prevent leaks and mess.  G...