Thomas Walsh Occasionally a trout will be caught that is much darker, almost black. Such a trout often differs significantly from the normal fish in the river. Why are some trout much darker than others, and what might be the cause? When I first started fly fishing, that was a common question on my mind. Trout can … Read more
This is a continuation of my series of articles covering some of the lesser known species of trout, and trout-like fish. This article is going to head back to East Asia to look at Oncorhynchus masou, a fish that seems to saddle the definition between a trout and salmons. What are they called? Cherry trout … Read more
When it comes to trout fishing, and trout habitat too much water can almost be as bad as too little. How trout respond to a flood largely depends on the size of the flood, and the trout’s ability to get out of the main current. A large flood roaring down a steep-sided canyon is a … Read more
The majority of large brown trout from North America are from the great lakes or the surrounding tributaries. There are also sizeable populations of large brown trout in tailwaters located throughout Arkansas. In this article, I will discuss what makes these fisheries special and will highlight some of the largest trout caught from them. The … Read more
What is the best diameter of braid to use on a spinning reel when trout fishing? there is so much conflicting information available online. Should you match the diameter of the braid with the diameter of the monofilament leader? In this article, I will answer these questions and more. But first, I will provide a … Read more
There is plenty of articles on how to wade and cross rivers safely. There is also plenty of advice that explains how to stay out of trouble. I have even written one such article here. But spend enough time wading, or floating down rivers, and sooner or later you will end up in the drink. … Read more
While it is possible to keep trout in an aquarium they are certainly a challenging fish to keep alive. Trout require large (200 gallons minimum), chilled tanks filled with clean, highly oxygenated water ideally with current. Trout are large fish that like to jump. They are not easy to keep in aquariums and beginners should … Read more
Late summer, during the hopper the afternoon is one of my favorite times to fly fish. There is little that is more exciting than watching the swirls and splash as a trout rises from the depths to consume a hopper fly. There are three main ways to fish a hopper. As a dry fly, targeting … Read more
Many fly fishermen struggle to cast. I am no exception, my casting is not always the best. Shorter casts, with light flies are fine, But my casts deteriorate rapidly at distances beyond about 40ft. I know what I do wrong, and if I concentrate I can even fix them. But bad habits are hard to … Read more
Pheasant tails are some of the most fished nymphs for trout. Initially designed to imitate mayfly nymphs of the baetis family it quickly become apparent that trout mistook them for a wide range of mayfly, caddis, and other aquatic species. Choosing which pheasant tail nymph (PTN) to fish can be difficult, simply because there are dozens if not hundreds of variations of pheasant tail nymphs. So, which … Read more