There are a lot of numbers in fly fishing, and some of the numbering may not make sense to the uninitiated—or to the initiated, for that matter. A higher number means a smaller hook, yet the opposite ...

The modern-day trout angler has a vast array of fly rods to choose from. As someone who’s spent far too much time in fly shops looking at and thinking about all these options, I understand how ...

Even in close quarters, the ability to cast far will serve you well. / photo by Jasper Taback When I started fly fishing for trout, I was told to focus on making short, accurate casts. I think it was ...

I'm guilty of overlooking my fly rod grips. What choice did I have unless I was building my own? I fished with the grip that came with the rod. Recently, I used the TFO BC Big Fly fly rod that has a ...

Fly reels used to play second fiddle to rods, at least in the fly-fishing world. Volumes have been written about the nuances of bamboo, fiberglass, and graphite fly rods. But the reel? “It’s just a ...

WHENEVER I TAKE the fly rod from its case, I’m struck by how pristine it still looks. The green blank catches light like the surface of a stream. The zebra-wood insert bears no chips or scratches. The ...

From left: Derrick Hicks, Mike Rotz and Johnathon White stand in the Boise River together, clad in fishing gear. The three men met after Hicks found a fly rod in the river days after Rotz lost it.