I’m a big fan of sink tip lines because I fish on the White River, where there is sometimes deep and fast water. Surprisingly, I know of a few other people, or fellow guides, who use sink tip lines. Most people are happy with their floating lines, and they either throw heavy flies or use a strike indicator above a couple of weighted nymphs. I am writing to encourage you to consider a sink tip line as part of your arsenal for appropriate situations. There is no question that a

The Driftless trout fishery is more than one hatchery or one stream. By Gary Ronzheimer Upper Iowa, "The Driftless" courtesy of Jolisa Ronzheimer Understanding the Driftless Trout System If you spend time fishing the Driftless, you’ll hear strong opinions about where trout come from, how streams are managed, and which towns run the show. The reality is more nuanced and far more important to understand if you want to become a better angler. Northeast Iowa’s trout fisheries ope

Wadeable water on the White River is opening up, offering a rare opportunity for anglers who prefer to fish on foot. Even a single generator at Bull Shoals Dam can significantly limit wading access, so these conditions are worth taking advantage of. With strong caddis activity, nymphing under a strike indicator, especially with patterns like the Sunday Special, remains the most consistent way to find fish. While more traditional approaches offer a deeper connection to the wat

Dr. Keith Campbell The White River can be a big brawling mass of speeding water or a gentle flow. It can be stingy with its treasures, or it can be kind to us fly fishers. It is my river, my home water, and regardless of its moods, I find it to be a magical place. I am Keith Campbell, and I will be providing reports on what is happening here, as well as commentary on important fly-fishing issues. It is an honor to work with Gary and be a part of this website. In this fi

Fly fishing is often described as a game of imitation — matching insects, tying the right fly, or choosing the perfect presentation. But before any of that matters, one skill determines success more than anything else: Reading water. Trout do not randomly scatter throughout a river. They position themselves with purpose, using current, structure, and depth to maximize feeding opportunities while minimizing energy. When you learn to read water, you stop casting blindly and sta

Fly fishing gear can seem complicated at first. Rod weights, fly lines, knots, insects, currents—there’s a lot happening. But one of the most important parts of the system is actually the simplest section of line between your fly line and the fly itself . That section is made up of leaders and tippet . Understanding how they work will improve your fly presentation, help you adapt to different conditions on the water, and ultimately help you catch more fish. The Fly Fishing Sy

Swinging soft hackles, picture brought to you by AI, the experience we wish we could see. Swinging Soft Hackles A Modern, Effective Technique for Spring Creeks and Big Tailwaters Swinging soft hackles is a time-tested method that can boost your confidence and success, making it highly relevant for modern anglers. This article breaks down what swinging soft hackles is , how to adapt it using intermediate lines or split shot , and how the technique performs differently on sprin

Today's blogs going to be about Fly lines: what weight-forward means, how they affect the rod, and why certain fly lines are different. We will summarize a good line for the new fly fisher. No company sponsors this blog and you will see that I am using Cortland pictures, lot's of good fly lines out there. 1. What Fly Line “Weight” Really Means When you see: 3 wt 4 wt 5 wt 6 wt That refers to the weight of the line — not the rod itself. A 5 weight rod is designed to properly c

Learn how fly rods work, what rod weight means, and how to choose the right trout rod for the Driftless Area and White River, Arkansas.

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