Guide Gossip #8: Rod up or rod down?

The idea behind these Guide Gossip articles is to help you along your journey and allow you to understand your style and why you do what you do. Some anglers just fish a certain way because it feels good, or you have seen it before, maybe a guide told you to do so. This may help you expedite understanding of what fishing a “soft rod” means and or why you might choose to fish this way.

The Forbidden Fruit

Superstitions and fishing go hand and fin. Some anglers have a lucky fishing hat that has been worn for years; others never wash their lucky fishing socks afraid to fade the mojo clean off. A long-time guide on the Rogue once told me that he would grease up his gunnels on the ol’ woody for good luck – so the fish could just slide right in.

Paris in Summer

Over the years I have received pieces of fly fishing advice that seem to combine both time-tested truth and a devilish elusiveness. Near the top of this list is: “Always be ready for the moment when a fish takes your fly. It can happen any time your fly is in the water, even when you […]