Fly Tying and Fishing Articles, Videos and Podcasts from Fly Fish Ohio

Article Index

	"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." ─ Henry David Thoreau Click on the links below for a variety of great articles! Species and Techniques Fly Tying and Lure Making Tackle and Gear Fly Box Porn Book and Media Reviews Where To Go The Many Faces of Our Sport

	Species and Techniques Alternative Fly Rod Tactics - There are things you may not consider throwing with a fly rod. The kick is that many of these alternative fly rod baits are far more "traditional" than you thought! A fly rod is a versatile tool, explore the alternatives! (Will open in a new window, this article resides on a different site.) Big Hare Tactics for Autumn Bronze - Late in the year, and then again early in the year, nothing produces like big baits. The Double Bunny is a great solution Bigmouth - The 35th Anniversary Edition - The greatest film documentary of the natural history of the largemouth bass ever created. A must see! It's a Buggy World! - Bass Bugging is closer than you think. Once a big black bass explodes on your topwater, you'll be hooked deeper than the fish! Catch & Release - What have we learned and where are we going? What does catch-and-release mean in today's sport and who practices it, really? Dave Votaw brings us up-to-date on an ethos that is at the core of sport fishing. In the words of Lee Wulff, a gamefish is too valuable to be caught only once! A Calico Time of Year - A primer and a place to begin consideration of serious systems for sac-a-lait. The crappie is certainly one of the most popular fish in this country. Papermouth... meet the fly rod! The Crayfish of Ohio - Dave Votaw contributes yet another important article that gives us insight and understanding of the natural world around us. Think you know what you need to know about crayfish? Read this article and you'll think again! Creek Smallies Year Round - Dave Votaw shares a full year's worth of smallmouth wisdom and three generation's of passionate black bass pursuit. Cyprinus carpio – Invasive species? - Dave Votaw tells the tale of the carp's amazing journey and its fascinating survival in North America! Fish On! - Steve Waak of A&N Outfitters shares a great first article with the Fly Fish Ohio team! You may have heard of the syndrome called "buck fever"? When it happens it's always seared into your memory. What do you do when the fish takes control? Fishing the Well Curve - What could statistical distribution, bell curves and inverse bell curves possibly have to do with improving one's fishing skills? Here is a new way of thinking about fly size and prey imitation. Fly Rod Spoons, Spinners and Plugs - It's only heresy if you don't know the history of the sport! Take a look at what's hot in fly fishing today... and yesterday! (Will open in a new window, this article resides on a different site.) A Fool for Bluegill! - If bluegills lived in cold running water, Trout Unlimited would have 31 members! Make no mistake, bluegills can be tough, discriminating customers. Once every year they oblige, though. Hot Times are for Gar - Mark Blauvelt on Ohio's most under-rated game fish! They've been here for millions of years. Have you managed to land one? Fishing Low Head Dams - Mark Blauvelt guides us through the complexity of reading the water around and below the Midwest's ubiquitous low-head dams. The fishing can be fabulous, if you know what to look for! You'll want to print this one out to take with you! Gizzard Shad - Dave Votaw examines one of the most important bait species you can encounter in the Mid West. The Gizzard Shad is ubiquitous in lakes and rivers and is an important prey species for just about everything you'd want to cast! Be Prepared this season! Name That Sunfish! - Dave Votaw introduces us to the dozen most likely species of sunfish we might encounter in our local flows. Ohio's Redfish - You do know the redfish of saltwater was considered a "trash" fish until an enterprising chef decided to blacken it? What reputation would the sheephead would have if it had been the main ingredient? Playing in the Minors - If you haven't tried for a Golden Bonefish on a fly, make this the season to give it a try. If you think of carp as a "warm up" for more glamorous species you might just be humbled to find that the minor league is every bit as tough as the big show! The Perfect Fish - Joe Cornwall shares his thoughts about the strongest, toughest, baddest fish in fresh water. Are you ready for the challenge? The McKinley Shad - Ohio's own tarpon! A few times a year I lose my mind and become completely obsessed with shad fishing. Piscatorial Opportunity - Fly fishing for "rough" fish? It's all good! Secondary Skills - Mark Blauvelt shares some secrets and sets us on the right path to learn the important things in angling! Steelhead Insomnia - "Finally I am here in front of a good steelhead pool; it's the reason I haven't been able to sleep at all the past few days." Caution, it's contagious! Stream Smallmouth Migratory Behavior - Dave Votaw answers a lot of questions about how smallmouth bass in different watersheds utilize the length of the river. Tailwater Catfish - Mark Blauvelt shares Ohio catfish-on-a-fly secrets! Technical Wading, Your Guide To Success - Mark Blauvelt is back with some hard-earned advice to get the most out of your time on, and in, the water!
		Fly Tying and Lure Making Adventures in Fly Tying - The Internet's First Fly Tying Video Podcast! - Featuring step-by-step photos with clear instructions, each monthly featured fly also offers a video in Windows Media or QuickTime that you can download! A Party of Blondes! The Most Detailed and In-Depth Look At Joe Brooks' Blonde Ever Published on the Internet. The Cat's Meow - Ron McAlpin fishes Guadalupe, Smallmouth and Largemouth in Texas. This is his "Go To" fly! Flies for the Philosophical Angler -"Irony is the hygiene of the mind." This Irony is a great fly for trout, bluegill, bass and panfish. And the irony of it is that you won't find the materials at any fly shop! Fly Tying Vise Shootout Review - Which fly tying vise under $150 is REALLY the hot deal? We'll let you know as we round up nearly two dozen contenders! This is the most comprehensive review of its type ever published! Hand Carving Plugs - Dick Dailey and the lost art of hand carving plugs! This makes tying flies look positively easy. Yet we're told it's not as hard as it looks. Learn tricks from a master! Hot Spot Nymphs - Jeremy Kurtz shares a fabulous pattern variation that needs to be in both your warm water and cold water nymph boxes. Heavy Metal Hairy Spyder - The Heavy Metal Hairy Spyder is a new take on an old friend. With this pattern in my trout fly box In three colors I could comfortably carry no other pattern. IcyHot - A contribution from reader David Clunk, this is a new emerger pattern that you'll definitely want in your kit this season! Joe's RootBeer Roundhead - A Fly Fish Ohio exclusive, this is a perfect jig to carry onto any Midwestern smallmouth stream. A Tribute to Mary Orvis Marbury *Classic Bass Flies of the 19th Century -* Tiers from around the country came together to submit examples of some of the most beautiful and uniquely American flies, the classic bass fly! Don't miss this introduction to some of the most productive flies in our arsenal! (Will open in a new window, this article resides on a different site.) The Orange Nymph - A fly from FFO member Joe Cornwall's misspent youth, this simple nymph pattern is sure to heat up an outing! Wonder-Ful Worms! - Rich McElligott shares a simple but deadly smallmouth fly.
	Tackle and Gear A Piece of the Action - Jim Stuard reviews a new TL Johnson 7-foot 4-wieght glass fly rod by one of the most innovative builders in the industry. A Question of Balance - In our tools, in our culture and in our spirituality (and even in our checkbooks) we are most comfortable when we’ve attained balance. A Question of Balance, Part 2 - If you want to get the most out of your tackle investment you need to assemble a rod, reel and line SYSTEM that is balanced for your needs. Amazing Glass! - A "new" glass rod that is four decades old! Don't miss this Fly Fish Ohio exclusive story! An Accomplished All-Arounder - Joe Cornwall reviews the classic Scott Fibertouch 754/3 7-foot 5-inch 4-weight Bass Rods, Four Hot New Designs - The Sage Smallmouth, Scott Warm Water Special and St. Croix Clouser Signature all get the Fly Fish Ohio once-over. Who's is the "real deal" - check out the article to see how they fared! Joe Cornwall examines these four hot, new fly rods designed to cause trouble for black bass everywhere! Bass Pro White River Classic UL Reel - Bass Pro Shops leverages the economy of scale by scaling down and delivering a delightful ultra-light click-pawl reel! Bulletproof Glass - Fiberglass Fly Rods meet the 21^stCentury! Did we move on too quickly? BUFF Headware - Jim Stuard reviews a product made for those days when no civilized person should really be out and about. Cabela's Czech Nymph Rod Line-Up - Jeremy Kurtz gives a new series of rods from super-outfitter Cabela's the once over and then some! Diamonds, Sylk & Satisfaction - The Diamondback Diamondglass 6' 6" 3 weight fly rod and Cortland Sylk fly line - a review Defying Gravity The Orvis Zero G - Joe Cornwall takes on the top rod from the biggest name in the industry. Is it all it's cracked up to be? Read the review! Eastern Philosophy - The McFarland Rod Co. - Mike McFarland is making some of the most unique rods on the market today. Join us as we get to know the gear and the man who creates it. Elkhorn EX 6/7 Fly Rod, A Versatile Tool - Jim Stuard reviews an Elkhorn middleweight that punches with heavyweight fervor. Fishing Glass - In this essay, Joe Cornwall shares his thoughts about the continuing place of fiberglass as a material for fly rod construction. Did we move away from this venerable material too soon? Is there still a reason to reach for fiberglass?. Furled Fluorocarbon -Yesterday meets today in a valuable new melding of technology and tradition! The Hardy Trout Fisher 8-Foot 5-Weight -In addition to their move into the USA under their own banner, the House of Hardy has moved boldly into fiberglass with a new offering of five rods. Is it jsut marketing of is there a new life for fiberglass? The Pflueger Medalist, My Lifelong Relationship - It's a reel you can really depend on. Malibu eXtreme - Joe Cornwall falls in love with a SoT. Could this be the perfect fishing machine? One Man's Boat Bag - A review of a high-quality, yet inexpensive, tackle solution. Pushing the Envelope - the Orvis Helios Fly Rod - Did Orvis really make "The World's Lightest and Finest Fly Rod"? The Fly Fish Ohio Team tells it like it is. Redington RS4 9054 - A fast action stick that won't break the bank and looks good on your arm, the RS4 has the horsepower to grab for big air Ross FlyStik - Ross Worldwide i known for such classics as The Colorado, Gunnison And Cimarron reels. Now they'll also be recognized as the manufacturer of one of the best warm water fly rod deals in the industry! Rio Gold Fly Line - Joe Cornwall reviews a hot new release from Rio, a company that refuses to sit still. It's a keeper! Saving Our History - Ed Vanover shares his thoughts about family, fly fishing, and an indefinable connection with the history of the sport Scientific Anglers Sharkskin Magnum - Joe Cornwall reviews the S.A. Sharkskin fly line, a radical departure from the ordinary! St. Croix Triumph TRS66MLF-4 - A spinning rod that might just be the least expensive insurance policy you've ever bought! The Great 2-wt Fly Rod Shoot-Out - 22 Fly Rods From 11 Manufacturers Are Fished By 4 Reviewers With 8 Different Reels and 10 Different Lines... And We Don't Pull Our Punches! Thinking Out of the Box - Joe Cornwall reviews the unique Readi-Lure tackle box from Tackle Tech. Understanding Leaders - Change your leader and you might just change your luck. That little bit of mono is more important than you think. (Will open in a new window, this article resides on a different site.) Wader Woes - Archy Wiseman delivers a very funny, but curiously accurate, assessment of the current state of wader dependability. If Archy's newest invention works we'll all be in for dry feet! Western Thinking - Fiberglass fly rods meet the 21st Century at the TL Johnson Rod Company. Join Joe Cornwall as he puts the new glass through its paces and interviews Terry Johnson for he inside scoop! A Fly Fish Ohio exclusive!
		Fly Box Porn Fly Box Porn 1 - Mike Schmidt's Smallie Box - No self-respecting fly fisher can resist a chance to poke around in someone else's fly boxes Fly Box Porn 2 - John Ridderbos' Popper Box - Fly fishing voyeurism at its best! Fly Box Porn 3 - Joe Cornwall's Smallie Dry Fly Box - When the weather warms use these flies for them ole brown fish Fly Box Porn 4 - Tom Gribble's Steelhead Fly Box - You'll need a chrome-plated heart to handle the excitement these big trout dish out! Fly Box Porn 5 - Cameron Sweats the Small Stuff - The world is a different place when you gaze at life in a macro mode. Cameron Mortenson knows this fact intimately. Cameron fishes for trout, sometimes very big trout, with flies that start at size 20 and go down from there. It's a rarified and specialized world! Fly Box Porn 6 - Bob Petti Shares Smallie Snacks - Smallmouth Bass are one of the most challenging and satisfying of all the warm water species. Bob Petti has collected a group of patterns guaranteed to increase our success! Fly Box Porn 7 - Day Tripper's Steelhead Selection - Alex Cervaniak is a fly fishing blogger, publisher of the Day Tripper blog. He is also one of the new generation of fanatics who've embraced technology to find out where the action is and where it isn't. A resident of "upstate" New York, the action is often closer to Alex than to most of us! Fly Box Porn 8 - The Nymph Box - Mike Schmidt of Angler's Choice Flies once again opens his fly vest to give us a guided tour through his well-stocked and very unique collection of nymphs. It's a Fly Fish Ohio exclusive!
	Where To Go Adirondack Treasure - Bill Rogers shares the colors of autumn, a collision of foliage and fat trout. Each season is only so long, so let's celebrate the coming of spring with memories of past delights and anticipation of coming wonders... Alcohol, Tobacco and Zen - Jim Stuard shows us that having friends is good, but having a friend with cabin on a world-class fishery is better. He's getting away from it all in Michigan. American Casting Association 99th Nationals - Join the Fly Fish Ohio team for a close look at tournament casting. It's the other side of the angling coin! The Best $20 I Ever Spent - Family vacations are just that; opportunities to get out and have fun with the wife and kids. On a vacation to St. Simons Island, GA, Jim Stuard didn’t expect to do a whole lot of fishing, but some very interesting opportunities arose that made the whole experience very enjoyable. Conneaut Steel - A Pictorial - Jim Stuard and Mark Blauvelt pursue Ohio chrome. 2006 Fly Fishing Retailer World Trade Show - Part One 2006 Fly Fishing Retailer World Trade Show - Part Two 2007 Fly Fishing Retailer Trade Show - Show Me The Glitter and Sing Me The Groove! A Bit of Paradise! A look at Florida's stunning Little Big Econ River! - Joe Cornwall meets up with Jerry Goldsmith for a unique Florida experience. Fun in Fergus Falls - Stories from the land of Lake Wobegon. Fergus Falls is a small "city" in north-central Minnesota. It is, without doubt, my "home away from home". Going ‘Grand’ (the river that is)...On the Cheap Lake Erie Steelheading - Chrome lunatic and all-around fishing fanatic Tom Gribble shares secrets for a home-made steelhead outing on Ohio's fabulous Grand River. Do it yourself takes on a new meaning! Getting There - Jim Stuard finds his way to Dix Creek, KY The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum - If you're in south Florida you need to take the time to stop by this impressive and important monument to a sport that means so much to so many. Little Three Mile Creek - An introduction to Ohio River winter fishing! Join us at the fabled "Warm Water Discharge." Miami Conservancy District Maps - Get a free waterproof map of the Great Miami River, Stillwater River and Mad River. The Meldahl Lock and Dam - The Ohio River? Undiscovered? Only by fly fishermen! One Brisk Day - Ohio steelhead; rejoicing in cold, dark mornings and reminders of the things that are important. Prowling the Everglades - Captain Bill knows there is something special about the 10,000 Islands in the Florida Everglades. The River Avon - Christopher Knox brings us this glimpse of the birthplace of the Pheasant Tail Nymph and adds fuel to the fire of this editor's angling dreams! Who Owns The River? - Joe Cornwall rails agains private water and explores the ramifications of the Conaster v Johnson Utah Court Decision
		Casting into the early morning fog of the Big O for wipers. Joe has a 1945 vintage cane and Tom casts with a new graphite cannon. At dawn the river can be surreal. Photo by Jim Stuard. Click for a larger view! Books and Media Kreh and Clouser, Fly Fishing For Bass - Reel Resources has produced a true classic of the genre. This 90 minute DVD might be the best treatment of fly fishing for bass available! Warmwater Fly-Fishing - Rob Streeter isn't new to fly fishing, but his book is new to the Fly Fish Ohio library! There's a lot of good stuff between the covers of this delightful little tome! Woolly Wisdom - Joe Cornwall decides the difference in flies is primarily how they dress for success in this review of Gary Soucie's book. The Storyteller’s Voice - Joe Cornwall finds much to enjoy in this review of William Tapply’s new book Trout Eyes Match The Hatch, For Real - The New Kaufman Guide To Insects of North America will make you a better fisherman. Remember the excitement of sixth grade science class? It's back! BASS! - Dave Votaw gives us the lowdown on a great book from Shady Oak Press that promises "Proven Strategies, Skills & Secrets for Catching More and Bigger Largemouth Bass." That sounds like secrets worth knowing! The Complete Book of Fishing Knots, Leaders and Lines - A handy, well-written, and nicely illustrated book that will really help your on-water skills to improve. Clouser's Flies - Joe Cornwall reviews a new book by Bob Clouser - It's a "Must Have!" Dapping, The Exciting Way of Fishing Flies that Fly, Quiver and Jump - Jim Stuard reviews a new book on an ancient technique. You probably haven't seen anyone fish this way before! Digital Nature Photography - Jim Stuard reviews a unique e-book that can take your photography to the next level. Are paper books going the way of silver nitrate? The Fishes of Ohio - Mark Blauvelt reviews Milton Trautman's magnum opus. You need this book in your library if you are serious about Midwestern warmwater angling! Fly Tying Made Clear And Simple II - Skip Morris follows up his best selling 1992 instruction manual with a fresh, new look at essential tying skills. Fishing Tandem Flies - Charlie Meck is a trout guru of the highest order and in this, his latest book, he shares some techniques that will improve your time on the water LaFontaine’s Legacy, The Last Flies From An American Master - Al and Gretchen Beatty bring us twenty-six previously unseen flies from fly fishing master and American icon Gary LaFontaine. Nymphs, Volume 1 - Earnest Schwiebert's chef d'oeuvre is reviewed by Dave Votaw River Wolf, Fish Bum I: Mongolia - In this, the newest of their productions, the AEG team heads to Mongolia in search of the elusive and endangered taimen. They are opening new doors to the world of adventure angling... Roland Martin's 101 Bass Catching Secrets - Roland Martin has won more B.A.S.S. events than any other angler. He's an all-star performer as extraordinary at catching bass as Tiger Woods is at playing golf. And he's a fly fisherman! Rotary Fly-Tying Techniques by Al and Gretchen Beatty - A top-notch how-to book that provides a great overview of the history of rotary fly tying and excellent instruction that will help make you a better tier. Streamer Fishing For Trophy Trout - Kelly Galloup shares his techniques for monster brown trout in this 2004 video release. What isn't said is how important these techniques are to the smallmouth fanatic! The New Scientific Angling - Reed Curry is really onto something with this new book. Trout, and by extension most predators, perceive the world very differently that do we. What if they can see things we can't? Trout Flies for the 21st Century - The first collaborative effort between Fly Tyer magazine and The Lyons Press turns out to be a dandy! Tying and Fishing Soft Hackle Nymphs - Allen McGee's latest book is a sure thing. If you're not tying and fishing soft hackle flies you're missing grand action. Refine your technique and learn the subtle secrets for successfully fishing spiders! Where Two? - Joe Cornwall reviews two important books for Buckeye State anglers - John Barbo's Cleveland Fishing Guide and Tom Cross' Fishing Ohio. These are two that belong on your shelf - or even better, in your car!
	The Many Faces of The Sport Al & Gretchen Beatty - An Adventures in Fly Fishing interview with an amazing husband and wife fly tying team. Chris Helm, Ultimate Fly Tyer - Chris Helm's name is synonymous with spun deer hair. His fly tying and fishing shop has built a reputation on providing the finest quality material, hand chosen for the application. Fly Fish Ohio brings you the portrait of the man who may be today's ultimate fly tyer! The Way Things Should Be - A new feature from the Fly Fish Ohio Curmudgeon-in-Residence. Everyone has opinions and sometimes they need to be corrected. The C-i-R is there to help! Steve Rajeff, Casting Terminator - Joe Cornwall interviews the biggest name in competition casting. Oh yeah, Steve's a heck of a fisherman, too. And when he isn't fishing or winning National and International competitions he designs rods for G. Loomis! Favorite Flies - An interview with Alec Stansell and a look at some of his "favorite flies" - classic bass and lake patterns that are mostly over 100 years old! A Labor of Love, Buckeye Bait's Matt Frondorf - Here's a fellow who is as dedicated as they come... and he can fish like nobody's business! The Quest - Mark Blauvelt dares us to take a journey that just might require more than a lifetime! Stuck Squarely In The Box - Joe Cornwall takes a look at current trends in the fly fishing industry. Are we ready to welcome warm water passions to an elite cold water sport? Dave Votaw Explains VHS - Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is a deadly infectious fish disease caused by the Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV, or VHSv). It afflicts over 50 species of freshwater and marine fish in several parts of the northern hemisphere

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