Fly Fishing

Fishing elegantly-dressed dry flies on the surface is the most glamorized way to take trout. But if you want a fish-catching machine, tie on a streamer.

Taking a slightly different approach to a familiar angling scenario often provides a fresh perspective and added challenges.

Pop, went the surface of the pond, as if I smacked my lips loudly. Simultaneously, the leader on my flyline raced perpendicular to my position, slicing through the water like a barracuda.

Being an avid fisherman in Wisconsin for the last 18-plus years I have heard many people gripe about the chaos of opening day. As sportsman and conservationists we are all a little inherently protective about what we feel are our local waters and seeing people crowd on honey holes or hot spots can be disheartening .

As your favorite rivers or streams start to clear after the spring runoff anglers have the chance to investigate what critters fish are going to be feeding on in the upcoming months. Sampling the aquatic invertebrates found in your area is a fun and educational way to becoming a better fly angler.

Suckers are a freshwater species of fish that are normally found in rivers but also can be found in lakes. Suckers, by almost anybody's standards, won't be the most spectacular fish they have ever caught, but pound for pound they are one of the toughest fighting fish.

Contrary to popular belief, when a fly fisherman talks about a fish lie, he isn't about to break into a fish story. Instead, he's referring to places where fish position themselves in the water.

Standing on the banks of the Brule River this weekend I noticed the first signs of life rising off the water.

It happens every year: An angler wades one step too far; makes one little mistake; and suddenly he or she is in a position never bargained for. I think we've all been there once or twice.

The single most important aspect to fly fishing is the ability to accurately present flies to feeding fish in a matter of a few second's time without spooking fish from repeated false casting or noisy splash-downs. Learning the fundamentals of a proper overhead cast is very important to beginning fly fisherman because these casting ground-rules are what fly anglers will need to accomplish more advanced casting presentations such as roll casting and shooting or hauling line.