Wipers—a hybrid fish between a male white bass and female striped bass—are quickly gaining a reputation as one of the hardest hitting, strongest-fighting warm-water game fish in the country. And it is now, from the end of April into mid-May and early June, that many wipers head to the creek inlets and points of our Heartland Lakes and reservoirs in order to feed on baitfish and shock anglers with their speed and power.

Wipers were first introduced into many parts of the country—Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska in particular—in the late 1970s. But it wasn’t until recent years that they’ve become the target of many flyfishers who’ve discovered the fish’s willingness to attack popular saltwater fly patterns like the …

Everybody knows how great the trout fishing can be out West in July and August. But many people miss that magic window of opportunity that

opens each April after the snow and ice come off the water but before the milky runoff happens in May and June. Not only can this be some of the clearest water to fish all season, but many trout are bigger and hungrier than those you’re casting to at the end of June. And if you’re lucky enough to hit it just right, and the weather cooperates, there are usually at least a few days of truly spectacular early-season fishing, when it’s warm enough to get some bugs hatching–usually blue wing olives …

One of the most common questions for flyfishers this time of year is whether or not it’s too early to hit the local lake for largemouth. Sure, some of you Southern boys have already been getting after it, but for those of us living north of the Mason-Dixon line, March still means near-frozen surface temps and super-sluggish fish.

Nevertheless, there are some ways to increase your odds of finding a few hungry ones.

Temperature is everything.

In the winter, the bottom of most bass lakes hovers around 39 degrees, while the surface–just below the ice–is around 33. But as the ice melts, winds start mixing the warmer water below with the colder water up top, and a magical sort …

Opening day of trout season often falls on the first Saturday of April for many states. And even if you are lucky enough to live in an area where trout fishing is available year-round, April often marks the symbolic beginning to trout-chasing, that glorious seven-month stretch from now til October, when you learn or re-learn the joys and frustrations of tossing tiny flies to feeding browns, rainbows or brookies.

If you’re new to the sport, or if your skill set became a little rusty over the winter, here’s five trouty tips for the opening-day onslaught.

1) Fish upstream, not downstream, to feeding trout.

Early April remains pre-runoff for most major trout fishing rivers, so the water is often …

Catching trophy sized bass on a fly rod can be the angling experience of a lifetime. While most fishermen choose to pursue these monsters with traditional spinning gear, catching a double digit largemouth on fly tackle can be a challenging and rewarding adventure. With just a little bit of know-how and the right gear, the hunt for a trophy bass will be much easier and enjoyable this season.

What You’ll Need
Chances are good that if you fly fish regularly, you already have a good bass setup in your arsenal. A quality 8 - 9 weight graphite rod will do the trick, and make sure your fly casting reel has a solid drag system to keep …

Of all the species of fish that the fly fisherman can pursue, the bonefish just may be the perfect adversary. Streamlined for speed and built like miniature rockets, these silver predators warily stalk the near-shore reefs and shallow warm water flats of the world.

Christmas Island. The atolls of Belize. The Florida Keys. The angler can only dream of hooking up with a trophy bone at one of these world renowned locations. But if a double digit bonefish is what you want, your best shot will come in the crystal clear waters off Oahu, Hawaii. Minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki lies a largely untouched bone fishery ripe for …

There is no pursuit quite so satisfying or productive for the off-season fly fisherman as the gentle art of fly tying. But getting started can be daunting, and the gravest mistake a beginner can make is to rush out and invest in the simplest solution: a massive tying kit. You’ve seen this kit before, the one with the cornucopic array of feathers, fur, and flies depicted on the cover and lists of the 500 wonderful items contained therein and the 27,000 distinct patterns they will allow you to tie. What you generally get, even from the most reputable companies, is a baffling assortment of third-rate materials that will oblige you to attempt to tie every fly known to man exactly …

Northern New Hampshire is an incredibly beautiful place for fly fishing. There are tall mountains and steep valleys with the runoff from the mountains flowing into clear and inviting streams and rivers.

However, this was not always the case. At one point, logging and related industries polluted the New Hampshire’s larger rivers to the
degree that they nearly killed off all of their native species. The most infamous of these rivers for its pollution was the Androscoggin.

But now, some 30 years later, it is a river redeemed. Since the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972 the Androscoggin continues to become more beautiful and more full of life each day- truly one of New England’s finest fisheries …

A guide can make or break any trip. And it certainly is not always easy to find one with the necessary patience and expertise to enhance your experience. However, good fortune has allowed me to learn from some of the best fly fishing guides in some of the world’s most dynamic places. From fishing for trout in Alaska to waiting for bonefish in Belize to tuning in to the surroundings with my father, what follows are the best tips I’ve ever received:

1. Don’t always cast.
Sometimes casting isn’t necessary. Making your line into a slingshot or tossing it may not be glamorous, but it sure does catch fish.
Guide: Dave Saurman …

In parts 1 and 2 of Tips for rod, reel and line care, readers learnt how to keep rods and reels in good shape and ensure many years of fly fishing enjoyment. Fly lines have a limited life span, but they are an essential piece of equipment in our sport, literally connecting the angler to the fish. Long, accurate casts with fast, narrow loops are proof of a well chosen, balanced, outfit-mastered technique. It offers the angler tremendous joy and satisfaction, but in order to achieve this, fly lines must be kept clean and slick at all times. Again, it takes less effort than you might think.

Fly line & backing care
Fly lines get damaged in various ways, but the …