The title of most powerful drag found on a readily available, ‘small size’ spinning reel belongs to the Kastking Sharky III which offers 33lb of drag on a 1000 size reel that weighs just 7.6oz. While the Sharky III has a powerful drag. It is not a reel I usually recommend. It is slightly larger … Read more
Strike indicators serve two main purposes. To give a visual clue for when a fish takes the fly, and to control a fly’s maximum depth. To work best at giving a visual clue, they must be clearly visible. But does that visibility scare fish? Strike indicators can scare trout, but a well-presented one should not. … Read more
Here is a list of five weird items I have seen people take with them trout fishing. I even include a few in my vest. 1) Pantyhose I first learned about the versatility of pantihose from an old guy who was sharing the contents of his fly fishing vest. I personally do not bring them … Read more
Trout and all fish quickly deteriorate once out of the water. So to maintain eating quality, it is important to store any caught trout in a cold environment. For most of us, that is in a cooler or ice chest. This guide primarily looks at trout, but it basically applies to all fish of similar … Read more
This is a quick article, listing what I think are the best spinning rods and reels to carry in a backup when trout fishing. This is for anyone who wants to go hiking but wishes to carry a rod just in case they decide to go for a fish. I will first discuss rods, the … Read more
From a performance perspective there isn’t much that separates entry-level trout spinning rods from the best rods on the market. They all catch fish, and often I find myself thinking, with a few exceptions that rod choice, assuming it’s an ultralight does not really matter. Some $30 rods casts and fish just as well as … Read more
I love fishing braid on ultralight tackle, it is my go to line for trout and most other species. While many reels do a decent job when fishing monofilaments, fishing braid can put reels under a lot more pressure. The thin diameter of braid can also cut through unhardened areas and even damage any areas … Read more
When it comes to trout fishing with lures or spinners, the difference in catch rates between 2lb, 4lb, and 6lb lines is usually minimal. Even large and wary wild brown trout in clear water can be caught successfully with 6lb line. I have caught plenty on even 8lb breaking strain line. However, in fly fishing, … Read more
I learned to spin fish using kastmaster, or at least a very similar lure. I have caught hundreds of fish and spent nearly as many hours fishing them. If I have to describe a kastmaster, it would be as a simple metal lure that casts a mile. I consider the Kastmaster to be one of … Read more
Will, I needed some new tippet. So decided to give Maxcatch Phantom a try. I was interested to see how it compares with the much more established brands. Maxcatch is usually only sold online, through marketplaces such as Amazon. It retails at about a quarter the price of the main brands of tippet material. Lets … Read more
