RiverBum

  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...

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...