Posted in Gear

Hazy August Line Testing

August is not always the best month for beach fishing on Puget Sound. The kelp and seaweed in the waters along the beach and near the shore cling to fly lines and flies, meaning many casts fling green stuff into…

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Posted in Environmental Gear

The Kelp of August

Fly fishing in Puget Sound in August often means high temperatures (as has been true the past weeks) and hazy skies from distant forest fires (as was true last year). But there is another consistent issue in parts of Puget…

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Posted in Gear

Choosing the Right Tippet

Rio has a new video on choosing tippet material. This is an interesting video in that it shows how different materials and stiffness affect breaking strength. In addition, Simon Gawesworth provides recommendations on which leader/tippet combination is best for which…

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Posted in Gear

Fly Line AFTMA Standard Explained

Fly lines are one of the biggest sources of confusion and debate in fly fishing. Confusion is not just limited to beginners. Walk into any fly shop and there can be a bewildering number of choices. Fly fishing forums often…

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Posted in Gear

Thomas and Thomas Avantt – Backyard Casting Review

As might have been expected from my last post on the Thomas and Thomas (T&T) Avantt, I ordered one in six-weight with fighting butt and aluminum reel seat. Once I got it from Emerald Water Anglers (EWA), I looked over…

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Posted in Technique and Tips

Backing Color and Line Weights

Have you ever had problems trying to identify what line size you have on a spool? You may know the situation. Over time you’ve collected fly lines you like in different weights and spooled them up. Then one day you…

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Posted in Gear

The Alchemy of Fly Rods and Fly Lines: Rethinking the BIII-SX

I’ve been out in my backyard over the last few days to do some practice casting and continue my evaluation of a few fly lines. It’s been sunny and relatively warm (high 50s), something that’s not going to last, with…

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Posted in Gear

Floating Fly Line Comparison: Ambush versus Outbound Short

I’m always looking for ways to reduce the amount of gear I have to take beach fishing.  I moved from a vest to a sling pack several years ago; take only a few flies in a small case; and carry…

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