Sickfoot Flies on the 6 Ranch Podcast

The Marvelous Mayfly - Part 1. of a series describing the creatures that trout eat, and how that translates into fly tying and fly fishing. I join my good friend James Nash of 6 Ranch Outfitters on his podcast where we discuss the mayfly, its life cycle, and habits. Late in the podcast we are also joined briefly by another good friend, Paul Pagano, owner of Flyside Angling. Both of these boys are extremely knowledgeable and some of my best friends.

The Cavalier Caddis - Part 2. The second bug fly fishermen need to know about is the caddis. Their life cycle differs greatly from mayflies and stoneflies and their behavior makes them especially important to new anglers. James and I dish on the gritty details of this impressive insect.

The Sensational Stonefly - Part 3. On this week's installment of the trout food series, we dive into the life history of the stonefly, an insect that every good fly fisherman should know and love. James, Myself, and Paul Pagano of Flyside Angling discuss fly fishing and tying tactics that will help you the next time you're stalking trout during stonefly season. This episode was recorded on the lake while kokanee fishing with two very good buddies, so inevitably, shenanigans ensued. 

Lake Flies for Trophy Trout - Part 4. You'll know you have tied into a truly big fish if you start talking to yourself part way through the fight. If you want that fish to be a trout on a fly, you need to turn your eye towards still water. Trout in lakes outgrow trout in rivers for two reasons: firstly they don't have to work as hard as trout in rivers who have to maintain their position in the current. Secondly, they have more food available. This episode is about the food they eat and the flies, lines and techniques you can employ to bring one of these fish to hand.

Check out the rest of the 6 ranch podcast for more from James with interviews about natural resources and their science, agriculture, blue collar, hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure.

Tying To The Bend: A Better Way

While we can argue the pros and cons of tying dry dropper and multi fly nymph rigs using the bend of the hook, there’s no doubt this setup has its place on the water. I think it’s the easiest way for beginners to start fishing multi fly rigs, and is a much less complicated setup than other methods.

In this video I demonstrate the method I use to tie off to the bend of the hook. It’s fast, simple, and stronger than using an improved clinch knot. I’ve caught thousands of fish on this knot including dozens of steelhead. Give it a shot. It’ll definitely make you more efficient on the water.