Andrew 
Straight Up Giant! When I began replacing my ultralight spinning rod with a fiberglass two-piece fly rod, I was (and still often am) astounded at the quality and duration of the fight that even small fish provided. Fish that were at best a distraction from the aggressive, heavy brown trout I target, and at worst, …
Rods to Wrangle ‘The Big One’ It is often said that the two best rod weights for someone beginning their fly fishing journey, regardless of region, are a 5 wt and an 8 wt. The five is more than capable of light freshwater work and is effective on trout, smallmouth, panfish, and more. If you …
For those of us that do harvest our catches, a quality fillet knife can make the work of cleaning and preparing your catch that much easier. In this review, we’re going to take a look at various models of knives, their pros and cons, and more. Join me as we take a look at some …
A Bigger Bug Launcher The Summer heat will soon be on its way, and when water temperatures rise and the flow dials back, consider switching up your target species and giving the trout a much-needed break. Bass, both small and largemouth, are very sporting fish on a fly rod and can be found readily available …
Bigger Fish to Fry Trout may be my particular obsession but there is great sport and fun in pursuing bigger fish in bigger water. 8 weight reels are on the menu for this review, and I’m going to do a deep dive into both the highest-rated and the most economical reels on the market today. …
Staying Dry While on the Water While many of us love all things pertaining to water, undoubtedly, there are a host of items we don’t want to get wet while we enjoy our fly fishing from a boat. This article will cover: Best dry bags for boating (overall) Best dry bags for the money What …
Swing, Strip, Set! A streamer is a type of subsurface fly that is meant to be fished on the retrieve and most often imitates larger trout forage like baitfish, crayfish, tadpoles, and larger insects. The retrieve is what imparts these flies with an erratic, wounded, or fleeing action, often enticing trout to suddenly and quite …
Another Layer of Protection Let’s face it, waders are expensive. Taking proper care of your waders will prolong the amount of life that you get out of them. A bag designated to hold your waders both on the trek in and on the way out is a great way to further protect and ensure the …
Suitable Line for the Toughest Ditch Pickle Bass are big, heavy, predatory fish, and these qualities make them super fun to pursue on the fly. If you’re going after largemouths or smallmouths, there’s a fly line out there that is designed for the heavier rods and more air-resistant flies and streamers used when bass fishing. …
Puddle Clickers and Panfish Tamers | Sensitivity = 🐟 In fly fishing, there will always be a certain demographic that has a vested interest in pursuing small, wild fish with the lightest gear. Whether that means blue lines and brook trout or small ponds teeming with bluegill and chubs, a light reel paired with an equally …
Finding the Fit Fly fishing has, like many other outdoor endeavors, been a boy’s club for a long time. This is easy to see for yourself by cracking open any fly fishing magazine at the grocery store or perusing some of the free fly fishing publications online. I am going to include a sizing chart …
A Little More Than Standard 5 weight fly rods are generally agreed upon to be a balanced and introductory weight for the novice, as well as an effective choice for any and all species of trout. The “standard” fly rod if there is such a thing. However, I think the 5wt rod is sometimes forgotten …
Different Waders for Different Waters Stay cool, mobile, AND dry with the easy access –tried and true hip boot waders! Not every body of water calls for chest waders, and for those of you who (like myself) enjoy prospecting small mountain streams for native brook trout, ditching the chesties can mean more freedom of movement …
Something for the Long Haul A pontoon boat can provide the committed angler with a watercraft that is extremely sturdy, dependable, and able to withstand tougher water conditions than your standard kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Here at Anchor Fly, I’ve reviewed a lot of different boats to fish from, but pontoon boats stand out from …
What’s SUP? Every time I dive into watercraft, it amazes me how far the technology has come in terms of design, materials used, and overall portability. This review is no different, but this time, the point of focus will be on a relatively novel way to get around the larger creeks and rivers of your …
A New Look at the Old Standard I started fishing with a 5wt rod and a 5wt Martin reel, and it seems that the general consensus on that line weight is that it is introductory. While there is no right or wrong way to start fly fishing, the 5wt rod and reel combo does indeed …
A Little Salt, A Little Salmon 7wt fly rods have numerous applications, and this fact is what makes them so appealing to own. In freshwater, a 7wt can handle most any bass, big bruiser brown trout, and even pike and muskie. In this review I’m doing a deep dive into some fantastic brand’s best offerings …
Something With a Bit of Backbone Although the 5wt seems to be the universal standard for both an introductory and all-purpose fly rod, 6wt rods give the user a bit more power, accuracy, and control without departing too far from the fly fishing norm. Join me as I review some quality rods with a bit …
A Matter of Function and Taste Nymphing (euro and otherwise) has continued to grow in popularity for fly fishers worldwide in the past decades, and for good reason. Simply put, it’s deadly effective and can better your chances at an encounter with a fish when other methods aren’t working. This review is about 4wt fly …
A Whole Lot About Lines In this review, I’m going to dive right into a subject that was very perplexing for me when I first started fly fishing, and that subject is fly line. There are many different styles of fly line for different types of fly fishing, but the focus here will be mainly …
Our “Best Fishing Pliers” guide below will walk you through the top products on the market. Just as a carpenter wouldn’t build a house without a hammer– an angler shouldn’t be without a good pair of fishing pliers. In this new guide you’ll learn: Best saltwater fishing pliers Best fishing pliers overall Best stainless steel …
Shining Brightly Chances are you’ve heard of Moonshine Rod Co. They have an impressive social media presence, and I frequently see their home page in my ‘suggested’ section on more than one social media platform. There’s a lot of positive press around these rods, this company, and its business practices, and in this review, I’m …
Old Reliable! Frogg Togg waders are the most reliable waders out there for the money, period! This company has done a better job than any to make a quality product that is affordable. I’ve worn plenty of different waders during my fly fishing endeavors, and I’m hard on them. Typically I’m the first one through …
Recognizing the Take One of the most effective ways of catching fish on subsurface flies is, nymph fishing with an indicator or dry dropper. Your indicator is much more than a strike detector, perhaps even more importantly it is a drift detector. Having an indicator prominent and riding high gives you info on where your …
The snow and sleet is usually signal that it’s time to sit down at the vise and prepare boxes for the spring, patiently waiting for opening day and the trout that come with it. Personally, I will still occasionally return to the waters that are permitted for winter fishing, but I too use the winter …
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