RiverBum

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...

The new Stealth is the perfect tool to   apply European, tight-line and high-stick nymphing method that each year is proving to be more and more popular.     These rods are a great tool to get drag-free, repetitive drifts.    The longer lengths help you cover a broad range of depth and distance. TFO Stealth fly rods come in two different models: 10’ 2-weight – Incredibly lightweight at just 2.8 ounces, but with ample backbone. 10’6” 3-weight – Exceptionally lightweight at 3 ounces for a 3 weight, with plenty of backbone for larger fish. It’s important to establish a good balance between the reel and a longer rod in European-style nymphing. If your rod is long and you lack an appropriate reel to balance it out around the butt section, your shoulder and arm could get fatigued. The TFO BVK SD 1 is a perfect match for both of these rods. RiverBum has come out with a whole range of flies for this style of fishing.   Our Euro Nymp...

Choosing the right fly reel depends greatly upon the fishing that you will do and how you will use it.   There are many different fly reels available today, so the challenge is knowing which one is best for your needs. 1. Cost – The price of a fly reel largely depends on its make, quality and drag system. If you are fishing small streams with a 2 weight or 3 weight rod, chances are, you’re not going to be playing fish on the reel. In this case, your drag system doesn’t matter. Less expensive in this case is the way to go. On the other hand, if you fishing bigger water or fly fishing the salt, you want a quality, maintenance free, sealed drag system.   Fly Reels should match the rod in most cases. 2. Material of Construction – Modern-day reels are manufactured out of machined bar-stock aluminum. That means a solid piece of aluminum was machined into the final product. The result is a high quality, strong, and durable fly reel. Alternatively, you can consider cast-alumin...

Fly fishing can be intimidating to the novice. There is an astonishing amount of gear out there. Choosing a fly line is no exception.   It can become complicated with the overwhelming selection of fly fishing lines.   You can find different types from different brands, including the  Scientific Anglers fly line, Teeny and Monic just to name a few. They come in various colors, weights, and sizes, and with different names like  sinking fly lines  and weight forward. So how do you know which one is right for you? Here are some factors to consider:   Line weight   Weights are indicated by numbers ranging from one to 14. The greater the number, the heavier the line is. The line weight is paired with the rod weight. Have a 4 weight rod, you’ll need 4 weight line. Throwing streamers with and 8 weight rod, an 8 weight  sinking fly line  is best for the situation.   Line tapers   You will find the Scientific Anglers fly line...

Whether you are new or seasoned to fly fishing, a high-quality reel can make all the difference in helping you catch that big fish. Modern fly fishing reels are not merely lined holders, as the correct product will ensure balance to the fly rod and keep it performing smoothly, so you can catch the big fish. If you are shopping for a new reel, here are five important things you must consider to make a great choice: 1. The fish you'll be fishing for: Fly reels are designed for specific kinds of fish in specific weight ranges.   The smaller the weight range, the smaller the fish.  The larger the weight range, the larger the fish.  If you are fishing in saltwater, you may want to consider something in the 8wt to 12 wt range.  Small brook trout, you want something in the 2wt-4wt range. Generally speaking, the smaller the reel, the less line capacity.  The larger, the greater the line capacity.   You’ll want to make sure you pair up your rod and reel i...

It’s easy to be confused when choosing fly  fishing rods , especially with the wide range of options available. So, we’ll share some tips and pointers to help you make an informed choice to make fly fishing more enjoyable and fun: Decide on a budget – From there, you can get the best rod that is affordable to you. It makes sense to spend around twice as much on the rod as the reel, as that’s what can help you build your fly-fishing skills. It depends on where you will fish – New to fly fishing? Consider  fishing rods  that are versatile and appropriate for where you want to fish often. A nine-foot rod for a five-weight line is usually a good, versatile rod for trout and fishing in a mix of rivers, creeks, and lakes. For smaller lakes, an eight-and-a-half, five-weight, or a 9-foot 4-weight should suffice. Consider a medium, medium-fast, or fast action rod – It’s neither too soft nor too stiff, and they’re ...