Fly Fishing for Steelhead
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Egg flies are an essential addit
The first time I used wading boots with felt soles it was like having my feet glued to slimy rocks that previously were indeed a slippery slope. During the next 30-plus years — with the exception of summertime wet wading — I've always used waders with felt soles.
Right about now, northern anglers like myself are scrambling. We're digging through bins in the basement, shed and garage. We're flipping through catalogues and browsing websites. We're trying to ensure that, when the time comes, we'll be ready for those first glorious days on the water.
Driving home from a meeting the other day I was pleasantly surprised to see most of Lake Superior's tributaries flowing in the big lake. The open water got me thinking about how many bugs I still have yet to tie in preparation for the upcoming season. This thought wasn't settling realizing how few hours I can put aside from marriage and work to get my fly box to a to a respectable state. Prioritizing patterns to be tied is a must at this point, starting with the most productive and versatile. With that thought in mind streamer patterns like the egg sucking leech, wooly bugger and the muddler minnow will be on top of my list.
With the early trout season opener only a week or so away refreshing casting techniques has to be on the minds of fly anglers everywhere. Nothing is worse than getting out to your favorite river or stream and watching your first cast hang up in an alder. Fine tuning your casting skills does not need to be a hard process. A few ten minute practice sessions and you should be ready to chase those elusive trout.
If you're of one of those fly fishers who packs away the gear at the first sign of snow, you're missing out on a very special type of fishing. Unknown to some fly anglers is the fact that, during the winter months, there is a secret hatch of tiny insects that can make the long winter loads of fun for fly anglers.
The other day I was talking to an old friend about fly fishing in general and flies in particular when we got around to the question that has plagued fly anglers ever since the second fly was plucked off the vise
That being: If you could use only use one fly, which would it be?
For many fly anglers, the winter season spells long hours behind the tying vice with little or no time spent fishing their favorite waters. This season transition away from fishing is primarily due to the fact that with the shorting of sunlight light hours comes chilling breezes, snow and ice. The idea of standing out in the middle of a river with snowflakes falling and ice chunks stacking up along the shores is unbearable even for the most stubborn of anglers.