10 Best Trout Flies

Most fly fishers carry a variety of flies with them when fishing for trout. Season, weather, and availability of natural food sources play a role in fly selection on any given day.

But every angler has a few favorites that have proven successful over the years. Game and Fish Magazine has a great article listing 10 of the best trout fishing flies.

According to the article, the best flies that no trout angler should be without include:

• Adams (dry fly)
• Elk Hair Caddis (dry fly)
• Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear (nymph)
• Pheasant Tail
• Muddler Minnow (streamer)
• Clouser Minnow (streamer)
• Griffith's Gnat
• Woolly Bugger
• Partridge Soft Hackles
• Midges and Chironomids

Keep in mind that all these files come in different sizes and colors which you'll want to have on hand for different fishing conditions.

You can read more these flies as well as when and how best to use them by reading the article, "10 Indispensable Trout Flies".

Shop at Bass Pro Trout Flies. 

How to Check if Your Catch is a New Record

Yesterday I received an email from one of our readers wanting to know how to check if his son's catch was a new line class state record. My attempts to reply to the message failed, so I thought I would post the answer here for everybody to read.

But first, let me share the details of the catch. This man and his son were fishing on the Little Red River when they caught a 12 lb (28.25 inch) rainbow trout. The fish was caught on an ultra-light rod rigged with 4 lb test.

While this is a great catch, these folks wanted to know how to tell if this was new line class state record for rainbow trout.

While the IGFA keeps line class records, not all states do. So the first place to check is with your state's fish and game department. If you don't see what you're looking for on their web page, you can call them and ask if they keep line class records.

The other thing to keep in mind is that when you think you might have a potential new record, you'll want to take the fish to the nearest certified weigh station in your area. It's important to have the right folks certify your catch. Otherwise there's no way to really prove that you caught the fish or verify the equipment you were using.

Remember that fish also shrink a bit after they've been out of water and loose weight. This is another good reason to rush to the nearest certified weigh station if you think you have a record catch. You don't want to lose precious ounces!

Free Trout Fishing on Saturday in Reno

If you've ever been wondering how to catch trout, here's your chance to get some free lessons. On Saturday, July 26th , 2008 the Division of Wildlife will be offering a free trout fishing clinic at Mayberry Park in Reno, Nevada. The clinic will start at 8 am and run til noon.

The minimum age to participate is age 10 and pre-registration is required. All anglers age 12 and older will also need to have a valid Nevada Fishing License. Kids under the age 16 will need to have a parent or guardian present.

The clinic is limited to 20 people so be sure to register soon if you're interested. Folks are encouraged to bring their own tackle

For more information about the clinic, you can call the Division of Wildlife at (775) 688-1622.

Also, the Division of Wildlife just released a book called, "How to Fish in Nevada" which covers everything about fishing in Nevada. You pick up a copy for free at any Division of Wildlife office.
While you're there, be sure to also pick up a copy of the book containing fishable water maps.

An Angler's Legacy Lives On

I just wanted to take a moment and apologize for not having posted any new trout fishing tips or information the past few weeks. I've been very busy for caring family members with health issues, one of which recently died.

My grandfather was more like a dad to me than my own dad was (who was distant most of the time). He had been battling lung cancer and heart disease the last couple of years and that battle finally ended two weeks ago. Losing him has been difficult and I've been busy since helping the family stumble through the business side of things and making sure my grandma was cared for.

I was honored with the privilege of writing his obituary and I found that when talking to others about my grandpa, fishing adventures were often remembered. My grandpa was a great fisherman and one of the anglers I learned the most from. Because of his interest in fishing, I was fortunate to have had as many different angling experiences as I did.

Even before Angler's Legacy existed, my grandpa was living the pledge. While many adults get frustrated fishing with kids, my grandpa loved it. There was nothing better to him than helping a kid experience the joy and excitement of catching fish. He loved it so much that it was not uncommon for him to remove a fish he caught from his own hook and put it on one of our poles (after sending us on a quick errand) so we would think we caught it.

Last year I took all of our old fishing photos and put them into a scrapbook. I'm grateful that I was able to share those memories with my grandpa before he died.

I'll never forget those deep sea fishing expeditions on the coast of California nor all of the freshwater fishing we did together. Because of him, I have taught others to fish and continue to do so .... so his legacy lives on.