I awoke at 4 a.m. on Black Friday in order to get to the Swift before dawn. The morning started with a bit of frustration, as I went one-for-seven with dry flies. Seven takes and one landed, with three fish popping off in the middle of the fight and three missed hook sets. When surface
Fiddling with Soft Hackles
Noted Swift regular Gary often fishes a soft hackle fly. So, that pattern intrigues me. Unfortunately, when I fished them, I was blanked. I’ve often scratched my head and have wondered why. Then, I recently started to tie some of my own. The good news is that those soft hackles are now among the most
UV Knot Sense Saves Time
Sometimes, a little technology has a big impact. I’ve been using Loon UV Knot Sense, which is a thin liquid adhesive that bonds when you shine upon it ultraviolet light. It is pretty cheap. I did so because sometimes a big fish breaks me off high up in the leader of my Euro-nymphing rig. It
Soft Hackles on the Swift
I fished a 1/2 day today on the Swift. With our freestones’ water temperatures plummeting, I didn’t feel like risking a long drive only to find catatonic trout. I hit the hatchery pipe area and got in before the crowds arrived. I also headed to the Y Pool area, and, then, drove home a little