Fly Fishing

Fast Track Your Fly Fishing

To the diehard, the tug is the drug. There is no ifs, ands or buts about it, we are always thinking about that next cast, that next fish and that next bite. As much of the country has fallen into snow covered landscapes, we thankfully do not have to wait for spring thaws to hit the water. Wintertime has no reason to stop us from getting on the water and catching fish. 

As a fly fisherman from the midwest myself, the driftless area remains a viable option in certain sections but, this time of year is the perfect time to be able to get a taste of a completely new variety of fishing. In the west, there are plenty of rivers where you could swing streamers, low and slow with much success. In the Great Lakes regions, there are always open rivers filled with Steelhead and Brown Trout. On the west coast there are famed winter Steelhead rivers, with countless options. But, those of us that have dreamt of long casts on the flats couldn’t think of a better time than now to head south and tie into a few new species. From redfish, to tarpon to bonefish with a few species in between you’ve got plenty of target species to chase depending on when you’ve got the time. With a few strokes of the keys, you’ve got a world full of research available to you, an absolutely overwhelming amount. From techniques, to locations, to weather patterns, to flies, to rods, to fish, how are you supposed to be able to digest it all and be successful? This is the time when finding a guide becomes imperative. 

Now I know that this leads some people to immediately think, “I don’t need to hire a guide, I know how to fish.” While that may be true, you’re probably very competent on your own home waters, this is a completely new ball game. Even the most proficient fisherman or woman has to learn somewhere and allowing yourself to find an expert to fast track your education is an enormous advantage. The tips, tricks and knowledge that you gain from just a few days spent in the boat from a guide will stick with you for the rest of your fishing life. Being able to learn the ways that the fish act, without having to spend seasons making mistakes to find out for yourself. Discover the presentations that work best with each weather pattern, time of year and situation in real time. Find out where, why and how to successfully land your target species. 

Now as you’ve finally realized that this is the way to success and you begin to look into what area, and what guide service you want to be your teacher, that same quick internet search that you used earlier now yields an overwhelming amount of outfitters to pick from. How do you begin to know which ones are what you’re looking for? How do you know if that outfitter is really good at fishing or just really good at marketing? Without insider knowledge or a reference from a friend how do you know what to trust? Sure, you could peruse countless forums, sites. You could comb through hours of Google searches until you find someone that sounds trustworthy on the phone, but that seems to be a bit extreme in today’s day and age. Why would you waste time you could spend fishing, when there is a collection of vetted, and trusted outfitters that come with a team of experts to be able to talk you through your next trip? Why would you choose another way without the help from a company like Mallard Bay? You look to experts in the field to guide your casts, what would stop you from utilizing experts on the experts?

Live Wild