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The Latest from Sage...
Sage's new lineup is out and already we've had a chance to test out a few of their fly rods and reels. Whether you are looking for a premier dry fly rod, the Sage Circa, or one of the heavy-duty Sage 8000 Pro Series fly reels, there are new models for every style of angling. Browse the new gear here: Sage 2013 on sale now!
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Fall and winter fly fishing make for some of our best outings from the Leland Ranch in Sonoma. Whether we're heading to the Lower Sac or trekking all the way up to the Deschutes to chase chrome, dressing right is the first part of a great trip. A good layering system is the difference between focusing on your fishing and being distracted midday by cold fingers or sweaty clothes. Here's the simple formula for dressing the part:
Baselayer: Fast-wicking. Insulating. Comfortable.
Midlayer: Add loft and adapt with easy on and off.
Shell: Waterproof. Windproof. Breathable.
Our recent email lays out our pick for cold weather layering, and that means Simms. Simms has always been ahead of the curve for making the best fly fishing apparel, and it's our go-to here at the shop. Check out our picks here: Leland Layering System.
The rapidly spreading Bagley Wildfire is threatening the Lower McCloud. It's now at 30,000+ acres and growing. According to CalTrout, "Given the McCloud’s Blue-Ribbon status, we’re concerned about the long-term effects of a wildfire on the McCloud drainage; sedimentation due to vegetation loss can affect spawning habitat."
Call Trout Update
Trout Underground Update
Shasta Trout Blog
Check back for more updates as the situation continues.
Choosing a fly rod for trout
Which length and weight of trout fly rod is best for you and your fishing needs?
Selecting a trout fly rod is not as complex as it may seem. What follows is a generalized discussion that will help you make good choices when selecting fly rods for trout fishing.
The vast majority of time, trout anglers are fly fishing with rods in line weights 3 through 6. Though you might use a two weight on a small Appalachian creek, or a seven weight on a large Montana river, these situations are rarer and will be treated as outliers.
Based upon our decades of fly fishing retail experience, each rod weight has an ideal length and ideal application, more or less regardless of manufacturer or brand. Of course, some extremely specialized fly rods exist at every line weight, but we believe our clients are best served by this concise selection of trout fly rods.
The Three Weight Fly Rod
Three weights are the rods to choose for fishing spring creeks. For this application, a fly rod around 8ft 9in is ideal. It gives you the right balance of accuracy and control because it's a little shorter than the standard nine feet, but also has the length you'll need for precise mends and line control on the water.
You should buy an 8ft 9in three weight fly rod if:
1. You're targeting seriously educated trout, as you would find in spring creeks
2. Flies used are small, like size 14 and smaller
The Four Weight Fly Rod
To our thinking, there are two types of four weights. For fishing small water with a variety of flies, a four weight fly rod around 7ft 6in is ideal. This compact length allows you to work in tight amongst the brush that can line small streams, while a four weight line has the guts to carry some of the larger, bushier dry flies, like size 8 Stimmies, that are so fun to fish.
You should buy a 7ft 6in four weight fly rod if:
1. You're planning to fish small streams and creeks with a variety of flies
Meanwhile, for fishing dry flies on rivers, a four weight trout rod around 8ft 6in is ideal. Much like the spring creek 3 weight discussed above, this four weight has the right balance of accuracy and reach, and it's got a little more oomph for distance, larger flies, or a stiff breeze.
You should buy an 8ft 6in four weight fly rod if:
1. You're looking for a dry fly specialty rod
2. The dry flies you want to fish are normal-sized, ie size 6 to 18
The Five Weight Fly Rod
Five weights are arguably the most versatile trout fly rods. They can place small flies with delicacy, but have the guts to handle larger flies, and longer casts in wind. In our opinion, the 9ft five weight fly rod is the rod that will serve anglers well in the broadest range of angling situations.
1. You're looking for the all-around trout rod
2. You're not sure what trout rod you should get
The Six Weight Fly Rod
To us, six weights are streamer rods. They are more powerful than five weights and can better control bulky and/or heavy flies in the air. So if you love to fish streamers or out-sized dry flies like mouse patterns, reach for a six weight.
1. You're looking for a streamer specialty rod
So as you can see, the two primary factors that determine trout fly rod selection are: (1) type and size of fly you'll be using and (2) the type of water you'll be fishing.
Now, there are two other considerations that may push your choice up a line weight: (a) if the place you'll be fishing is known for consistently strong winds, you might consider going up a line weight; (b) likewise, if the trout you'll be fishing for are known for being consistently large or being very powerful fighters, you might consider going up a line weight. As an example, if you were looking for a dry fly specialty rod to use in a very windy place like Patagonia, you might be better served by a 9ft 5wt than an 8ft 6in 4wt.
Hopefully this helped resolve some of the uncertainty regarding fly rod selection. Based on our collective experience, these are the specific models of trout fly rods that serve our clients best. If you follow the guidelines laid out above, you can't go wrong, but if you have any questions at all, just give us a call or livechat us.
The Changing Face of Czech Fly Fishing
Go deep or go home! This is the concept that sent shockwaves through the world of competitive fly fishing and popularized the Czech nymphing or Czech fly fishing technique. The legacy that started with Slavoj Svoboda winning a gold medal at the 1986 World Championships at Belgium continued through the 1990 World Championships during which the Czechs turned heads by catching grayling from sites tagged as impossibly fast or deep! Today, Czech nymphing has not remained as a ‘Czech’ specialty. Instead, it has crossed national as well as continental boundaries to finally emerge as a universal concept among fly anglers.
Leveraging fast, turbulent water to “rush” the fish into a quick decision, Czech Nymphing provides a very effective option for those who fish pressured waters. Granted, this proven technique is not for every fly angler. If you prefer to fish upstream with a dry fly, then this approach is certainly not for you. However, if you like to put big numbers up on the board...this is a solid bet to out-fish your angling buddy.
The early Czech nymphs were made from interesting materials like kitchen sponges, horsehair, and salami casings. Again, tradition was tossed out the window from the get go. In fact, even the traditionally subdued colors of standard trout flies were ignored and replaced by brighter-colored flies. Attracting the fish's attention quickly in a fast run is very important. The essential technique is to get your fly deep quickly and match the current's pace with the use of your longer fly rod. You should definitely keep a deep stock of flies as you'll be fishing close to the rocks and snags are inevitable when properly fishing.
A lighter-weight fly rod and fly reel is recommended, as you'll find yourself with outstretched arms most of the day. The good news is your extra effort typically pays off with many fish to hand. As time progresses, the term “Czech” will probably be dropped from this named technique, but the approach will remain the same.
Get the Gear to GO DEEP! browse our gear list below...
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Sylvester Nemes’ Soft Hackle March Brown Spider is the tyer’s American take on a classic English North Country fly pattern tied in the drab brownish olive colors of a March brown emerger. |
Price:$1.99
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Mercer's Z-Wing Olive Caddis is an exceptional imitation of an olive caddis in the nymph life stage. Roll this fly along the bottom of a fast riffle or scoot it below the surface of a favorite current seam. You'll turn tough trout all day long. |
Price:$1.99
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Combining a narrow, responsive tip with a powerful butt section for sturdy hook sets, the Sage 4100-4 ESN Fly Rod is an unprecedented design that delivers total control. |
Price:$699.00
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Sage's most classic and durable model yet, the Sage 4230 Fly Fishing Reel, 3-4wt is ideal for rigging up your 3 and 4 weight fly lines to tease the wary trout of Montana's spring creeks.
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RIO’s new indicator line has been designed for the specific application of casting indicator rigs with ease - whether for trout or steelhead. |
Price:$74.95
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Rio Indicator Leaders are 10 ft tapered leaders featuring a short orange butt section for attaching an indicator to, followed by a very long, fine, fast-sinking level tippet section of about 7 ft. |
Price:$4.95
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Simple and functional, this long-lasting strike indicator is designed for people who like things that get the job done.
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1. Commission the build of your new custom Scott rod
bout a year ago, Scott Fly Rods released what we like to call the “Fly Rod Configuranator,” an online workshop that enables you to design your dream rod. Our staff spent so many hours trying to engineer the ultimate fly rod that we nearly had to block the site. If nothing else, there are worse ways to waste time on a computer. My top 3 recommendations are below:
- Do you need a new spring creek rod? Try Scott’s 883-4 G2. The matte finish blank and smooth action lends this rod perfectly to the challenges of spring creek fishing.
Maybe you are looking for a rod that that will effortlessly throw streamers inches from cut banks. Well, Scott’s S4S 690-4 is possibly the best 6 wt ever made. This rod has magic.
- If you have no idea why you are reading this because you're busy picturing the white sand of the flats, slap the titanium guide package on an 890-4 S4S and never think about rust again.
2. Organize your fishing gear.
We all know how important keeping your stuff organized is and the more you have the bigger issue it can be. If you're like me, you're always hunting for the perfect set up. It's time to pull out your gear and do an inventory. Yes, flies too! Here are some tried and true winners:
If world-class fly fishing guides have a nickname for Loon Top Ride, “Shake and Bake”, then you know it must be good.
$8.95
In our eyes, the best dry fly floatant on the market today.
$5.50
Permanently waterproofs new dry flies and yarn indicators. Soak for 5 minutes and dry overnight.
$7.50
Get your season started off right with the Loon Streamside Kit that has the essentials.
$70.95
- By George Revel
Pictured below is our "Leland Demo Reel/Line Bag," home to some of the world's nastiest fly lines. If you ever tried out a rod in the infamous alley behind our SF Store (
currently being relocated), you know it's grimier than any fishing environment and part of why I'm fanatical about clean lines.
Back to the topic at hand, how to clean your fly line....
Let's first start with the question, "When is it time to clean my fly line?"
Well, I clean mine any time my floating line starts sinking. If you want to be proactive, every 4-5 uses is a good rule of thumb. This will dramatically extend the life of your line if done properly.
Other signs your fly line needs cleaning:
- The line holds memory
- Small cracks begin to appear
For this Project you will need:
- Two buckets or a double basin sink
- Washcloth
- Soap
- Rio Line Cleaning Kit
Step One: Soak the Fly Line
I use a double basin sink (2 buckets or tubs also work). Fill one with 2-3 inches of warm soapy water (use a mild dish detergent) and the other with 2-3 inches of warm water. Strip the fly line off your reel into the soapy water using long pulls and deliberate placement of the line. Let soak for 25-30 minutes. You only need to clean the portion of line that you use...but I figure, why not the whole thing?
Step Two: Scrub and Rinse the Line
The next step is to run the fly line through a wash cloth, beginning with the line that is nearest your reel. Pinch the fly line with the wash cloth firmly in between your thumb and index finger. Apply good pressure and pull the line into the bucket of warm water. Empty the soapy water and dry that basin. Beginning with the front of your fly line (nearest the leader), dry the line with the washcloth while pulling it into the freshly dried basin.
Step Three: Remove the Tough Grit
Empty the freshwater basin and dry it out. Begin with the line closest to your reel and pull it through the doubled over Rio Wondercloth, applying pressure with your thumb and index finger. Repeat pulling the line in between the basins until no more dirt rubs off onto the Wondercloth.
Step Four: Condition Your Fly Line
Apply a dime-size dab of Rio Agent X to the Wondercloth. Double over the Wondercloth again and pull the line through, applying less pressure than before. Your goal is to coat the fly line in the conditioner. Let the fly line dry for 30-40 minutes (Rio recommends at least five minutes and up to 24 hours).
Step Five: The Buff
After letting the fly line dry for at least five minutes, use a clean Wondercloth to pull the line back through for a polished finish. Before you reel the fly line back on the reel make sure the leader end is at the bottom of the pile to avoid tangles.
Step Six: Get out fishing with your grime-free, like-new fly line...
Rio illustrates this process well in these videos:
Thank you...
I started getting back into Fly Fishing and your site and customer service has been second to none! I know just enough to be dangerous.....
I still have some older fly fishing gear dated back to the Gold Strike in them hills! I have an older Fenwick Fly Rod but I wanted a more up-dated and balanced version. I went all over the web and ended back with you guys!
To be honest here, I like the video's that accompany many of your products and that truly sold me on Leland tackle.
As I mentioned to Karl, I'm from Tahoe/Reno area and love to Trout fish!
Here in Tennessee you have to go to the East End to find trout and decent fishing. I never had the time until I retired a few weeks back and then I decided to get back into Fly Fishing!
I still have relatives in Northern California and Nevada. I'm hoping to visit this summer or Fall and I will plan a trip to come and see you guys.
Oh, do I get FIVE pounds of delicious crab meat from San Francisco on this purchase or the next? I miss the Pacific Coast seafood!
Take care and have a great day. Glen :-)