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Bobber-Down: A Complete Guide to Stillwater Nymphing

By
Harry Spampinato
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If you’re not utilizing an indicator while fishing lakes and ponds, chances are you’re missing out on a lot of action. While many of us die-hard fly fishermen try to avoid nymphing at all costs, there are several advantages to presenting bugs vertically in the water column rather than relying solely on dry flies and streamers. As with virtually all realms of fly fishing, you can make stillwater nymphing as complicated as you’d like, but with just a handful of patterns and a simple leader setup, you can quickly find success. Here are my favorite tips and tactics for stillwater nymphing to help give the bobber life another chance.

When To Utilize an Indicator While Fishing Lakes and Ponds

Time of year

While the prime season of every stillwater fishery is different due to a wide variety of influences, there are some overarching seasonal factors you should be thinking about.

Modifying your stillwater techniques to different seasons can be incredibly productive, like this trout caught during ice-off by the author.

If you’re fishing stillwater in a four-season climate with a significant temperature difference between summer and winter, then the lakes will undergo a water column turnover effect as the water warms in the spring and cools in the fall. Being based in Massachusetts, where lake turnover is a major factor, I’ve found that fishing around these turnover periods can be very productive. Fishing can be slow when my local lakes and ponds are actively turning over, and the water clarity is turbid, but as soon as things clear up, the fishing picks up. If a lake or pond freezes over in the wintertime, there’s potential for some excellent fishing when the ice melts off in early spring (known as ice-off), before the turnover effect even begins. Springtime typically brings fish closer to the surface, where insect and baitfish life is thriving, and oxygen is plentiful.

When the Fish Are Deep

Often, during the spring and fall months, there seems to be an optimal depth range where the fish are holding and feeding. When fish aren’t on the surface, utilize a nymph rig to pinpoint where they are in the water column. Sure, you can strip a streamer on a sinking line and cover a lot of the column, but nothing is as precise as adjusting your rig from 6 feet to 9, and then finding the bite. 

Targeting trout and even warm-water species such as bass in the summertime can be difficult because water temperatures increase while oxygen levels decrease. Fish are less likely to be actively feeding higher up in the water column, typically preferring the deeper, colder sections of the lake. During peak summer, I’ve had success fishing with particularly deep nymph rigs to get down to where the fish are comfortably holding. An eight to ten-foot rig has worked wonders for me when no other tactics seem to entice a bite, so don’t overlook a deep nymphing setup when the fish are seemingly inactive during peak summer. 

When its Windy

One of the best parts about stillwater indicator fishing is that the wind typically works in your favor. Sure, casting into heavy wind with a long nymph rig can be a drag, but once you’re out there, some heavy chop is your best friend when it comes to enticing a bite. Remember that your fly or flies are of course directly connected to your indicator, so when the wave action of the lake makes your indicator rise and fall, your flies are doing the same thing down below. Stillwater fisheries don’t enable your flies to be carried down current like they are in a stream, so getting some lifelike movement through wind energy can be super helpful.

Windy conditions can help animate your flies and improve the bite.

My opinion is that this goes double if you’re fishing larger patterns like balanced leeches and baitfish. Some of my very best days stillwater nymphing have been out in 20 knot conditions, fishing the lake when it looks like an ocean, so even more violent forecasts can be worth fishing. My buddies and I refer to nice and windy bobbering conditions as “chop-timum”, so if you’re struggling to present a dry fly or to consistently cast a streamer, remember that indicator fishing in the wind is quite user-friendly.

When You’re Experiencing Slow Fishing 

Similar to fishing a stream, it’s always worth considering switching to a nymph rig when other tactics aren’t producing eats. When I streamer fish shallow structure for largemouth bass in the summertime, I always rig an additional rod with an indicator setup in case the streamer fishing is slow. Sometimes the fish don’t want to run anything down and are more inclined to passively feed on a mostly stationary nymph, leech, or baitfish pattern presented below an indicator. By having a nymph rig at the ready, you can check all your boxes for feeding the fish the way they want to be fed.

Where Should You Stillwater Nymph?

Depth Changes

Abrupt changes in depth are a fantastic place to focus your stillwater nymphing efforts. Drop-offs make for excellent ambush territory, where predatory fish can target food sources in shallower water without straying too far from the depths. Big changes in bottom topography, where you go from shallow to deep water, also inherently promote greater bug and bait life, so it’s quite likely the drop-offs are holding some solid calories. You can think of it as a zone where two different habitat types collide, and therefore, a higher diversity of prey items theoretically occurs. 

Quick changes in depth create underwater shelves that fish cruise looking for food.

Hanging some bugs just out in front of a shelf is a great way to see your bobber go down. If I’m fishing from a boat, I like to get beyond the depth change and position myself more or less parallel to the drop-off, pointed towards shore. That way, I can fish the drop-off to both my left and my right, and then move along the shelf once I’ve thoroughly soaked some bugs in each zone. I do my best to imitate this same tactic while wade fishing, except I’m positioned on the shore-side of the shelf. I typically start with a shallow rig and then lengthen it until I find where the fish are holding. If I spend time soaking my fly or flies all the way through each section of the water column to the bottom without a bite, then I’ll switch up my bugs and start again.

Structure

We all know fish like structure, so don’t skip nymphing around any rock piles, fallen trees, mooring fields, docks, or other unique features. That being said, if you’re fishing a longer nymph rig around a bunch of dock pylons or sunken trees, be prepared to maneuver a fish out of there. I’ve lost countless flies by edging my nymph rig closer and closer to structure until my indicator finally plunges and gets pulled into the danger zone, so be mindful of your leader length and fly position when trying to present your bugs close to snaggy habitat. 

Mud Lines and Wind Lines

Moving sediment from tributaries flowing into or out of a lake system can create a turbid zone of water with a definitive edge, or “line” where it meets the clearer water of the lake. I’ve had particularly great luck targeting trout around mud lines, but it’s a feature most species seem to gravitate to. Because turbidity results from the bottom substrate being mixed into the water column, I imagine invertebrate life is more concentrated and/or more readily preyed upon in the muddy, clouded water. Based on that assumption, it makes sense that predatory fish would target the edges of these plumes because of the increased abundance of prey. 

Mud lines and other structures will attract all stillwater species, including smallmouth bass.

I’ve also seen plenty of mud lines form due to aggressive winds, so they’re not necessarily always a result of inlets/outlets. High winds can churn up shallower sections of a lake that then become turbid swaths of water, so keep an eye out for big mud plumes when the wind is blowing hard, especially around depth changes and shallower shelves. 

If I see a mudline virtually anywhere on the lake while nymphing (or streamer fishing for that matter), I almost always go running to it. I like to position my flies just outside the turbid water, hoping the fish pacing the edges find my rig. Alternatively, I’ve had great success fishing especially bright and flashy flies within the turbid zone. When foraging fish are moving through muddy water with poor visibility, they need all the help they can get finding your fly or flies, so consider tying on bigger and brighter bugs that are easier to root out.  

Fly Selection

Stillwater fly selection will force you to think about available food sources in your local lakes and ponds more than usual—and that’s a good thing. Similar to stream fishing, observe the environment you’re fishing in to discern what bugs are present. Scrutinize any flying insects you see and turn over some rocks to observe the active bug life to get an idea of what’s on the menu. If there are no bugs in the air or rocks to turn over, then at the very least, spend a bit of time observing aquatic vegetation and structure for invertebrate life and baitfish, and see what you discover. If you can match the hatch, fantastic. Having a basic pulse on what bugs and bait typically occur at which times of year is also a good starting point, so don’t overlook breaking out a field guide or simply chatting with your local fly shop.

Balanced Flies

Balanced leeches and baitfish patterns have changed stillwater fishing forever. The idea is that by tying your tippet to a more central eyelet that suspends, or “balances” your fly parallel to the bottom/surface rather than perpendicular, you’re left with a more realistic presentation. Leeches and baitfish don’t naturally point straight up towards the surface, so why would you attempt to imitate that positioning? By using blanched flies and even flies tied on jig-style hooks, your presentation will improve dramatically.

A largemouth bass caught on a balanced leech.

This goes double when you’re fishing with very little wind, and therefore a lack of natural fly movement. I’m a firm believer that a traditionally tied wooly bugger or thin mint will behave and fish very comparably to a similar size/color balanced leech as long as it’s getting substantially pulled up and down by the wave action on the surface. No movement due to a lack of chop equals a less lifelike presentation, so do what you can to best imitate whatever food source you’re attempting to mimic.

This tip is only really relevant when you’re fishing and finding success with larger patterns; I’ve never been all that concerned about how my teeny tiny zebra midge or itty-bitty scud is riding along down there.

One vs. Two Bug Rigs

Ahhh, the classic one vs. two bug conundrum. Simply put, more flies equals more problems. It can be difficult to distance cast long nymph rigs with cumbersome flies, so if you’re relatively confident that you’re fishing the right bug at the right depth, then leave it at that and avoid unnecessary tangles and re-rigging. On the other side of the coin, if you’re still trying to get your fly selection dialed in, having a few bugs in the water rather than one is definitely in your best interest.

Fishing with two flies can improve your odds when fishing new bodies of water.

I’d say my go-to stillwater nymph rig across all fisheries and target species is a small choronomid tied about 2 feet above a balanced leech. If I catch more than a few fish exclusively on the leech or the midge, I’ll lose the other fly and keep things easy-breezy.   

Indicator Selection

Whether you call it an indicator or a bobber is entirely up to you, but wise anglers will take a moment to briefly consider what style, size, and color is best for their nymphing needs.   

Size & Color

Do yourself a favor and pick up some indicators that you can comfortably keep an eye on without overstraining your eyes. I’ve found that orange is my favorite color to stare at without getting eye fatigue, but everyone has their preference. If you don’t know what your preference is, then buy a few different colored indicators and find out; it’s worth it. 

Try different indicator types and colors to find what you can see best on the water.

When it comes to size, go with the largest diameter indicator you can get away with. The main advantages are that bigger bobbers are easier to watch and can support heavier nymph rigs. I often fish a heavy, balanced leech with a smaller scud or midge pattern below it, so having an especially buoyant indicator is essential to maintain natural fly movement. I’m typically fishing nymph rigs that are at least five feet deep, so I don’t worry too much about my larger bobber size spooking the fish below.

Type of Indicator

Unless the fish you’re targeting are known to be impossibly spooky, you likely don’t need to overthink your choice of indicator style. Whatever you already have experience with will work just fine, so you can ignore this section if you already have a favorite indicator. 

I’ve always loved a simple cork bobber for its awesome sensitivity, but I’ve recently converted to Oros indicators, and I’ve been really loving them. It’s a brilliant design that pinches your leader between two smooth, dirt and water-repellent foam hemispheres. They float great, protect your tippet, and the pressure-fit lock ensures they stay put and don’t slide around. Having the ability to quickly and easily move my indicator to adjust the depth I’m fishing at is crucial.

If you’re targeting ultra-aware fish in shallow, gin-clear water, then chances are you’re not throwing a nymph rig. If nymphing is, in fact, the best way to feed those spooky fish, then consider switching to a more subtle indicator type, such as a New Zealand strike indicator.     

Leader and Tippet

Fluorocarbon is the best option for most effectively fishing a nymph rig. Fluoro sinks great, so it will enable your nymph rig to descend and straighten out better than more buoyant mono/nylon tippet. Fluoro also has a refractive index closer to water’s, so it reflects light at a similar angle, making it nearly invisible when submerged. A stealthy leader is especially important when stillwater nymphing because, unlike stream fishing, where they only get a quick glance, the fish are able to take a long, hard look at your fly or flies. Another benefit of utilizing fluorocarbon leader is that it has less stretch than mono/nylon, so you have a more sensitive connection to your flies when watching your indicator like a hawk. The most subtle of takes can very well go unnoticed when conditions are choppy or the lighting isn’t great, so any advantage to increase your indicator’s sensitivity is appreciated. Lastly, fluorocarbon has greater abrasion resistance, so if you’re fishing around structure (which is never a bad idea), you’re giving your leader the best chance of surviving any unwanted chafing.

In terms of tippet strength, it’s important to once again remember that the fish are getting a good, hard look at your flies, so you’ll likely have to utilize lighter tippet than you may be used to fishing in moving water. This is even more of a factor if the lake has good clarity, so don’t hang your nymphs from 3X if you’re fishing in gin-clear aquarium conditions.   

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, stillwater nymphing with an indicator is arguably one of the simplest and most effective fly fishing tactics. Once you learn and become comfortable with the mechanics of casting a few different weight and length nymph rigs, you’ll be off and running in no time. A user-friendly way to have fun and success on the water, especially in windy, cold, or turbid conditions, stillwater nymphing is a great way to add some extra days to your fishing season that you might otherwise pass up. While watching a bobber may seem boring, as soon as you begin to figure out your fishery and get some eats, you’ll very likely find that waiting for that next indicator twitch, stop, slide, or plunge is incredibly addicting and exhilarating. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

How to Tie: EP Crab Bodies

By
Greg Stohrer
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In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, InTheRiffle shows us an easy way to create crab bodies for your next in-shore or flats adventure using EP Fibers.

Learn How to Tie This Fly:

Difficulty: Easy

Crab flies have become essential patterns for anglers targeting flats species as they imitate some of the most common and calorie‑rich prey items available in shallow saltwater environments. Species like redfish, bonefish, and stripers instinctively hunt small crabs that scurry along sand and mud bottoms, and a well‑designed crab fly offering the right profile and sink rate will fool hungry prowling fish. The wide, compact shape of a crab silhouette triggers an immediate feeding response, especially when presented low and slow across the bottom. EP fibers are key for creating crab patterns with the profile and density that fish look for and is a material all tyers should be comfortable with.

Tying crab bodies with EP fibers is all about controlling bulk and layers. One gauge to determine if you are using the right number of fibers is by estimating to about half the diameter of a pencil, which creates a dense shell when repeated several times. Adding rubber legs will create movement and variation to your crab fly and can be a simple way to differentiate yourself from others on the water. EP material is forgiving, buoyant, and easy to sculpt, making it ideal for creating durable, semi-lifelike crab bodies that maintain their shape even after repeated casts and strikes.

Fishing this fly is all about subtlety and precision. Present it ahead of cruising fish, let it settle to the bottom, and use short, gentle strips to imitate a crab’s defensive scoot. When a fish approaches, stop the fly completely as many flats’ species will pin a motionless crab before eating it. Use long leaders, light fluorocarbon, and quiet casts to avoid spooking fish in shallow water. With the right presentation, an EP crab fly becomes one of the most reliable patterns on the flats, capable of turning wary tailers into confident eaters.

Ingredients:

Now you know how to tie EP Crab Bodies!

Video courtesy of InTheRiffle.

Catching a Redfish in a Puddle?

By
Tripp Nazziola
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Screenshot

A Note from @maketimeforfishing:

“I was kayaking a small creek in Charleston when it got too shallow, so I ditched the kayak and started wading.

Around the next bend, I found fish tailing, waking, and blowing up on bait everywhere. I threw a black and purple shrimp pattern into the mix and got an explosive swing and miss on the first cast, which is where the video starts. On the second cast, I hooked up.”

Angler Story of the Week from MakeTimeforFishing, be sure to check out his Instagram HERE!

How Much Does Fly Line Matter?

By
Spencer Durrant
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There’s a sentiment you’ll find on fishing forums, in club meetings, at fly shops—basically, anywhere that fly anglers gather. Some newcomers to the sport will ask questions about improving their fly rod setup, and at least one person will say, “Don’t worry about the rod, just buy good line. That makes all the difference.”

I bought into that theory wholeheartedly the first time I heard it. That I kept hearing it only reinforced its supposed veracity. Out went my cheap lines, in came the great ones, and so too, I thought, did some great fishing.

Now, I’m an unabashed proponent of matching your fly rod to the right fly line. Sticking a true-to-weight line on a fast-action rod designed for big flies and bigger fish won’t result in the best performance. And a half-weight heavy line on a delicate dry fly rod can make it tougher to land flies softly.

What doesn’t sit right with me anymore, though, is the idea that somehow “good” fly line is the make-or-break component in your setup. First off, who gets to define what a ” good ” fly line is, and does it really make more of a difference than the rod?

casting from the shore

Good vs Great Lines

The make-or-break point in fly line quality for me isn’t based on price. Instead, it’s based on the line’s taper. That’s the demarcation between “good” and “great” lines, in my experience.

I’ve long been a fan of Scientific Anglers’ Infinity taper, and it’s become my go-to for most of my 5 and 6-weight rods. Since I’m fortunate enough to be on the water fairly often, I opt for the Amplitude line. I want something that’ll last long enough to make the cost worth it, and that series has always been a decent bang for the buck.

A few months ago, though, I picked up that same taper in the Mastery Series, which is cheaper. So far, I haven’t noticed any real performance difference between the Mastery or Amplitude, especially since I bought the same taper in both.

The Infinity taper isn’t available in the Frequency lineup, but the company’s new Trout GP taper is.

RIO has a similar lineup, where some of its lines are available in Premier or Elite designations, with the more expensive lines boasting a slicker coating and less memory. Nice features, to be sure, but what you’re really paying for there is the taper itself.

Again, this is where fly lines really separate themselves from each other. The price of a line isn’t a guarantee you’re getting something “good.” The taper, how it matches to your rod, and how it suits your fishing style, is much more important.

What About The Rod?

What matters most, though, is the fly rod.

Bad fly rods don’t flex well. They’re stiff and unresponsive. They lack torsional stability. In short, they throw far too many variables into the casting equation, especially for a new angler. It’s tough enough to learn fly casting as it is. Why would you stick with a rod that doesn’t let you feel and experience the casting motion? That’s the best way to build a casting stroke that’s not just matched to a rod, but that transfers from fast-action sticks to slow ones.

Yes, a competent caster can make any rod work for them. But that’s only after they’ve learned all the important fly casting lessons. Doesn’t it make sense to use a rod that makes learning those lessons more enjoyable?

Notice that I didn’t say cheap or expensive. I’m not advocating for a certain price point here. I’ve cast more than a few expensive rods that I’d consider bad, because they offered so little feedback during the cast. Some of my favorite rods run less than $250 and flex and feel almost as great as my top-of-the-line stuff.

When you pair a good line with a good rod, that’s when you’ll notice a huge difference in the quality of your setup, and hopefully, your casting and catching as well. A rod designed for the job you’re doing, paired with a line to match, can be the difference in getting that great drift, or going home skunked.

Again, I’m not saying that you’ll see a massive jump in your abilities if you just buy the right gear. But I think there’s something to be said for the mindset you have when you make the upgrade.

When I bought my first nice fly rod, I was quickly and painfully aware of just how much I needed to improve. I thought the problem was my gear, but it turns out it was me. Thankfully, I had a dad who took pity on me, showed me what I was doing wrong, and with some hard work, I started to see some improvement.

I don’t think I would have paid as much attention to my lack of skills if it weren’t for upgrading my gear. I thought that was the magic bullet, the ticket to fly fishing nirvana. Of course, it wasn’t, but in hindsight, I appreciate the nudge it gave me to get serious about improving.

Art-Inspired Apparel: Everything You Need to Know About RepYourWater’s Newest Spring Collection

By
Max Inchausti
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Welcome back to “The Rundown,” an editorial series where we provide an all-encompassing look at the latest and greatest products from your favorite brands in the fly fishing and outdoor space. Here, we’ll run over high-level info, tech specs, and our opinions—all paired with a behind-the-scenes interview with product designers who have poured their hearts into bringing these creations from blueprints to the showroom floor.

In this installment of The Rundown, we take a look at RepYourWater, a fan favorite amongst the fly fishing community. Since its start in 2011, RepYourWater has redefined what it means to be an apparel brand in the fishing space, creating a line of gear that allows anglers to promote their favorite state, fisheries, and species, all while supporting conservation. This spring, they’ve launched their newest performance fishing apparel collection. So join us as we dive into the newest collection and sit down with Co-Founder Garrison Doctor.

Background:

In 2011, Garrison and Corinne Doctor started RepYourWater. It began as a lifestyle brand, inspired by their shared love of fly fishing and Garrison’s artistic talents. You may remember the early days of RepYourWater and their state and region-themed fishing apparel. The brand’s early success stemmed from these creative designs, which resonated with anglers and their local fisheries. Every angler cares about where and what they fish for, and RepYourWater gave them the gear to show that off.

Since the initial region-themed apparel, RepYourWater has continued to expand on its offerings to include socks, belts, and even drinkware. In addition to their success in the fishing space, they have also pushed into the hunt space with RepYourWild, bringing the same creative regional designs to the hunting world. As the brand continues to grow and expand its lines, it has never strayed from its core values of conservation. Today, a portion of every purchase is donated directly to conservation partners like Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, The Wild Steelhead Coalition, and Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, and the brand is an active member of 1% for the Planet.

What’s New:

In 2026, RepYourWater launched its spring collection, an entire lineup of performance-driven fishing apparel, designed to bridge the gap between on-the-water comfort and off-the-water style. The collection includes four new apparel pieces, including the Bitterroot Shorts, Deschutes Short Sleeve, Roaring Fork Pants, and Wellfleet Long Sleeve. Follow along as we break down what each piece of apparel has to offer.

Wet Wading Shorts and Pants

One of the many highlights of RepYourWater’s newest apparel line is its bottoms, designed with features made for anglers who love wet wading. While these pants and shorts can be worn for everyday use, features like drain holes in the pockets and DWR finishes are just a few key technical additions anglers will appreciate. Here’s everything you need to know about these pieces of gear.

The Bitterroot Shorts, inspired by the legendary Bitterroot River in Montana, are a lightweight fishing short for summer fishing and wet wading. The shorts feature a hybrid elastic waistband, a 7″ inseam, and tight weave construction paired with a DWR finish. In addition to premium material construction, the shorts have a well-laid-out pocket configuration with two main, draining pockets, a zippered side pocket, and a zippered rear pocket.

Along with the Bitterroot Shorts, the spring collection includes the Roaring Fork Pants, inspired by the river we at Flylords are fortunate enough to call home. These pants are designed with angling and wet wading in mind. For starters, it features a side-zip pocket, two zippered back pockets, and a side stash pocket for easy access. RepYourWater took the design one step further with cinchable ankles, doubling as a gravel guard when wet wading. The pants feature a durable weave for longevity and are available in two colors and a variety of sizes.

Button-Ups for the Water

RepYourWater introduced two new button-up fishing shirts as part of the spring collection. Designed to bridge the gap between style and technical performance, these two shirts are at home on the water and around town.

The first new button-up is the Deschutes Short Sleeve shirt. This button-up combines the fit and feel of a lifestyle shirt with the materials and features of a technical fishing shirt. RepYourWater constructed this shirt from a recycled polyester blend, minimizing weight while maximizing breathability. In addition, features like a zippered chest pocket, a built-in sunglass cleaning panel, and a vented back make it an excellent choice for anglers on hot summer days. It’s also UPF 50-rated and available in four color options.

Another new shirt offering in RepYourWater’s spring collection is the Wellfleet Long Sleeve Button Up. This shirt shares many similar features with the Deschutes, like the zippered pocket and sunglass cleaning panel, but in a long-sleeve configuration. If you find yourself fishing in the shoulder seasons or simply want more sun protection, the Wellfleet is the shirt of choice. It is also available in four unique color configurations.

The Wellfleet shirt comes packed with features like the built-in sunglass cleaning cloth.

Performance Fishing Hoodies

Lightweight fishing hoodies are one of the most popular and versatile pieces of apparel that anglers rely on. RepYourWater took this into consideration when designing its new collection, releasing two new lightweight hoodies—one for sun and the other a baselayer.

The Flolite Performance Hoody is RepYourWater’s answer to a lightweight sun hoody. It’s constructed from a polyester blend that wicks away moisture and has a lightweight feel, perfect for hot summer days. In addition, this hoody has micro-perforations that aid in moisture wicking while adding another layer of breathability. It’s rated UPF 35+ and has silver-free odor control for extended trips when doing the wash is not an option. Lastly, RepYourWater included several signature art-themed offerings depicting big brown trout or the mythical permit.

The last piece of gear in this collection is the Merino Breeze Performance Hoody. As its name implies, this hoody features a merino wool-polyester blend. This translates to a material that wicks away moisture, maintains a lightweight feel, and naturally controls odor. For Western trout anglers, this is a do-it-all piece made to bridge the gap from chilly mornings to sweltering afternoons.

Our Experience:

Prior to RepYourWater announcing the new apparel collection, we were able to get our hands on it for a recent trip south of the equator to one of our favorite angling destinations, Argentina. The trip was slated for the end of April, which for US anglers means warming temps and the beginning of trout season. However, in Argentina, the seasons are reversed, meaning we’d be heading into fall, with a mix of cooling weather and lingering summer-like days. For our review portion, we’ll focus on the two standout pieces of gear we used most—the Merino Breeze Performance Hoody and the Flolite Performance Hoody.

Shoulder season in Argentina can be particularly fickle; one moment it’s windy and blowing 30 miles an hour, the next it’s high sun and dry as can be. These ever-changing conditions require clothing that adapts to keep you comfortable in every scenario. For that, the Merino Breeze Performance Hoody was our go-to piece of gear. On cool mornings, we wore it as a base layer, wicking away moisture and regulating our body temperature when paired with an outer layer like a puffy jacket. It’s also worth noting that the blend RepYourWater uses is one of the more durable merino garments we’ve tested, preventing pilling when worn under waders or other layers. As the day went on, we’d shed our outer layers, relying on the Breeze Hoody as a standalone piece of gear to protect us from the sun.

In Argentina, we also covered a lot of ground. Hiking around remote lakes and walking the river banks searching for rising fish will work up a sweat fast. Do this over multiple days, and most standard apparel will start to smell ripe. However, the nature of merino wool, combined with RepYourWater’s Optimer Freshguard technology, excels at controlling odors. On a multi-day trip in the middle of nowhere, this is a great perk.

On days with a good forecast and high sun, we opted to wear the Flolite Performance Hoody. As its name implies, this hoodie is designed to be as light as possible. As a result, we were able to fish comfortably even with the hot sun and dry air of Patagonia. What we liked most about this hoodie is its comfortable fit. Although it’s a performance fishing shirt, it is not skin-tight, allowing room to move around and breathe. The same comfortable fit also translates to a great piece to wear off the water around the lodge and around town. While we used this hoodie exclusively in freshwater, the lightweight feel and impressive breathability would make Flolite right at home in the salt.

A Short Interview with RepYourWater:

After testing RepYourWater’s Spring Collection in Argentina, we sat down with co-founder Garrison Doctor to learn more about this lineup of technical fishing apparel and what’s next for the brand.

Flylords: Who are you?

I’m Garrison Doctor, Co-Founder, Creative Director, and Marketing Director for RepYourWater. I’m also a passionate fly tyer, traveler, bird watcher, and artist. Art and fly fishing have really been the two throughlines that shaped my life and career ever since I picked up a fly rod at 10 years old. The artist path was already there, and fly fishing just gave it another outlet and direction.

Flylords: What is RepYourWater?

RepYourWater is an apparel brand born from my passions for art, design, and fly fishing. In the early days, simple, iconic regional graphics helped carve out a space for us in the industry. We grew slowly, but with intention, always trying to support conservation and constantly pushing creatively with new artwork and product ideas.

Over time, those graphic-driven pieces evolved into a much broader apparel line. Today, alongside the artwork people know us for, we’ve become a trusted source for lightweight performance hoodies, merino wool socks, technical outerwear, and now shorts, pants, and button-ups!

Flylords: Can you tell us a little about this new line you’re launching?

The 2026 line is a massive accomplishment for us. Our team spent years developing and refining these products. While every piece is rooted in fly fishing and designed for time on the water, versatility was a huge focus from the beginning.

We wanted gear that works just as well hiking, mountain biking, traveling, or simply wearing around town as it does during a long day of fishing. These are pieces designed to become staples in your everyday rotation, not just something you wear a few weekends a year.

Flylords: What inspired this line?

This line was inspired by utility, passion, and versatility. We want RepYourWater to feel like a true head-to-toe apparel brand with products people genuinely reach for again and again.

A lot of thought went into creating pieces that are functional and technical without feeling overly specialized or restrictive. We wanted apparel that performs hard outside but still feels natural everywhere else life takes you.

Flylords: What sets this line apart from all the other apparel brands on the market? (Why should it exist?)

I think our perspective brings something unique to the industry. We’re rooted in the Mountain West, but we also design with a much broader perspective shaped by travel and time spent fishing all over the world.

Every product in this line went through extensive testing, revisions, and refinements. These pieces were shaped by real experiences in varied climates and conditions, from road trips and airports to rivers, saltwater flats, and backcountry camps. We wanted apparel that could truly hold up to all of it.

Flylords: What are some unique approaches you took when designing these pieces?

When designing the 2026 line, we wanted to bring all of our accumulated experience to the table. From wet wading the Bitterroot River in Montana, to camping along the Deschutes in Oregon, to floating the Roaring Fork in Colorado, to wading the flats of the Seychelles, we know what good apparel needs to endure.

One thing we really believe in is creating products that transition seamlessly beyond fishing. We want every piece to work just as well, grabbing a beer after being on the water, walking around town, traveling, or just hanging out. The best gear earns its place because you naturally keep reaching for it.

Flylords: Do you have a favorite piece? If so, why?

For me, it’s definitely the Bitterroot Shorts. They’re lightweight, quick drying, super durable, and incredibly comfortable. Honestly, they’re the only shorts you need for the whole weekend. Hell, maybe the whole summer.

I’m also a huge believer in thoughtful pocket utility and organization. The pocket layout on the Bitterroot Shorts is excellent. The front drop-in pockets are deep and easy to access, and the side pockets make for seamless organization. I’ve gotten to the point where I choose these shorts even when I’m not fishing because I know exactly where everything goes. Keys in the side drop-in, chapstick in the zip pocket, phone here, wallet there… Once you get used to that setup, it’s hard to go back.

Flylords: What kind of angler is this line designed for?

Honestly, just about any angler. And truthfully, even non-anglers.

These pieces are rooted in fly fishing performance, but they’re intentionally designed to work far beyond that. The shorts are great for hiking, the pants are ideal for travel, and the hoodies work for all kinds of outdoor pursuits. The goal was to create apparel that performs exceptionally well on the water without looking or feeling overly technical everywhere else.

Final Thoughts

RepYourWater’s newest spring collection marks a pivotal change in the brand, focusing more on technical fishing apparel than lifestyle tees. This lineup is designed with wet-wading anglers in mind and, in our testing, excelled at just that. All pieces of the collection are lightweight, packed with features anglers expect, and some they didn’t know they needed. For more information on the Spring Collection, check it out at RepYourWater.com.

The Drift: Saying Goodbye

By
Spencer Durrant
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There’s a creek about a half-hour from my house. It’s not the kind of fishery you’d ever plan a trip around, but it has tons of browns and rainbows that are happy to eat a well-presented fly. Most of the fish are 10-13 inches long, but the rainbows get deep bellies, and I’ve spooked a few nice browns. It’s the sort of creek that’s dependable, but not easy, so you never feel like you have it quite figured out. It’s probably the ideal fishery to have close to home, when you need to run to the river for an hour or two to clear your mind.

That creek was one of the main draws for moving to this corner of Wyoming. I loved the idea of a trout fishery so close, on top of the two tailwaters and half-dozen freestones within a two-hour radius. That’s not counting the lakes and streams in the high country, either. This hasn’t been the perfect place to live – almost every winter we’ve lived here has hit 30 below zero – but it’s hard to beat how centrally located it is for so many good fisheries.

Last week our house went under contract a lot quicker than we expected. We have to be out next week, which means my time to spend on the creek is quickly dwindling. I went up a couple days ago, mostly to see how bad runoff was. The day was crisp, cooler than normal, and the water was low and clear. I’m not sure we’ll see much, if any, runoff this year, but I always err on the side of caution.

I fished for a bit, hitting some of the usual spots where I’ve found nice fish before. The trout weren’t in the mood to play, though, and as I worked my way upriver, I couldn’t keep the melancholy at bay.

It’s just a little creek, and there’s more where you’re moving to. You’ll be fine, I tried to convince myself.

It’s true. We’re moving to a different part of the state, closer to family and my day job, and of course, I picked the fishiest area we could afford. The few houses we’ve offered on fell through, so we’re homeless and actively looking, which means I get to pit stop at my in-laws in Salt Lake City for a while before we find the right place.

And that’s probably what has me so sad and reflective. I’m leaving a county with two stoplights for a city full of more people than live in all of Wyoming. I know it’s only temporary, but it’s hard to give up such great creature comforts – like the creek. Sure, I’ll be close to a grocery store, the doctor, and my daughter will get more time with her grandparents. But that hasn’t quite taken the sting out of leaving the creek, and all the other spots I haven’t fully explored yet.

I finished up that recent day on the creek without catching anything, but if I’m honest, I didn’t try that hard. It’s tough enough to leave the creek right now; if I had a banner day, I don’t know if I’d be able to actually load the moving truck and drive away. This part of the state is isolated and lonely enough, I don’t know if I’ll ever get back here. Sure, I go to more out-of-the-way places to fish, but this creek isn’t the sort to build a trip around, remember?

Or maybe it is.

Fly Fishing For Deep Water Smallmouth

By
Rick Kustich
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Screenshot

My fascination with smallmouth began at a very young age, being the first game fish caught on my own. After 50-some years, the fascination hasn’t diminished. Many of the species I pursue entail an inherent challenge requiring near perfection or grinding through the harshest conditions. But smallmouth typically represent the opposite—fun fishing for a species that typically puts on the feed bag, attacks a properly presented fly, and often occurs during pleasant weather periods.

Smallmouth Biology and Habitat

Big smallmouth bass held up by angler.
The author, Rick Kustich, with a big deep water smallmouth, fooled on the fly.

Native to eastern and central North America, smallmouth bass live in a wide range of water types, from small creeks and rivers to the largest bodies of water in North America. Smallmouth have also been transplanted to rivers, lakes, and impoundments outside of their original range. The smallmouth, known for its energetic fighting style and aerial acrobatics, has been called the pound-for-pound hardest fighting fish in freshwater, and it works diligently to maintain this reputation.

Gear

Fishing deep water for smallmouth bass begins with equipment considerations. While some shoreline structure or break walls provide access to deep water holds, a watercraft opens the ability to cover a full range of water. And this doesn’t need to be a $100,000 plus bass boat rigged with all the bells and whistles. I depend on a 17-foot aluminum Lund for my big water fishing, and with the advancements in fishing kayaks and inflatables, there are options out there for nearly any budget.

A nine-foot 7- or 8-weight rod is a good match for big smallmouth. I typically choose an 8-weight for punching a cast into the wind and for extra backbone when fighting a five-to-six-pound bass. A smooth drag is always important, although sometimes a smallmouth is played simply by stripping in line without the use of the reel. The key piece to the deep-water approach is the fly line. For depths of ten to twenty feet, a fast-sinking shooting head style line, such as the RIO Outbound Short Shooting Head fast sink, with a sink rate of 6 to 7 inches per second, works very well. I also like the Outbound Custom with the T-11 tip. Both lines load quickly for the next cast after retrieving the fly to within a few feet of the rod tip and cast long distances with ease.

For covering depths up to 30 feet or when heavier winds push your watercraft at a steady pace, a full sink line like the RIO Premier Fathom in the 7-inch per second sink rate is my choice. The low diameter of this style of line, designed for lake fishing, slices through the wind as well as the water column, allowing greater depth in the presentation. My leader for fishing deep is generally six to eight feet in total length. The stealth gained with fluorocarbon for the leader and tippet seems to work best for fooling a smallmouth. I typically rig with 12-to-13-pound test and may go as light as 10-pound test in ultra clear water conditions. But with the superior strength-to-diameter ratio of the top tippet materials available, it’s best to fish with at least 12-pound test to have enough might to handle a trophy smallmouth when hooked.

Tips and Techniques For Deep Water Smallies

Big lakes and rivers rich with forage have the capacity to produce both impressive numbers and size smallmouth. But big water can be intimidating. Open expanses appear stark, featureless, and daunting. Add depth to the equation, and it becomes even more complex. While smallmouth in larger rivers and lakes can be found in the shallows early in the season, being able to work the fly deep into the water column allows for the ability to cover a range of holding structures and encounter top-end smallmouth throughout the year.

Understand Structure

Bait, structure, and spawning dictate smallmouth positioning and behavior in big water. Spawning is usually a small interruption in spring or early summer to an active pre-spawn and post-spawn period. Finding structure is the key to finding smallmouth in open water. Structure attracts bait, and in turn, attracts eating machines like smallmouth bass. Sometimes structural elements are obvious, such as break walls or known reefs that show as a disturbance on the surface of the water or are denoted by buoys or other types of markers.

Most structure requires further investigation. Enter modern electronics. From a sporting standpoint, I try to keep my electronics use to a minimum, but a sonar that shows bottom contour is an important, if not critical, piece of equipment when fishing deep water. Basic electronics can be rigged on kayaks and inflatables. I’m looking for drops and rises in the bottom. Reefs and bars that create significant depth changes are typically high percentage areas for locating bass. But even small changes of just a foot or two can attract fish as well. Some of my most productive waters are large areas where bait is present with an irregular and ever-changing depth or filled with big boulders.

Master the Drift

The basic presentation begins with the drift, either by river current or the push of the wind when fishing a lake. When fishing a river, the cast is made across the current, and when lake fishing, the cast is made into the wind. Make as long a cast as possible; the longer line allows for greater depth and maintains the fly in the deeper zone for a longer period. Count down the sink of the tip and fly based on the depth and sink rate of the line. A stiff breeze pushing the watercraft may require extra sink time to reach the desired depth. Placing some additional slack in the line beyond the tip also assists in getting the fly to sink. It may take some trial and error to arrive at the proper depth, and a bump or two of the fly touching bottom provides a key indicator. The fly does not need to ride the bottom through the presentation, but it is a good place to start.

Once the desired depth has been reached, retrieve the fly with a slow, irregular strip. Smallmouth seem to prefer this subtle retrieve that also allows the fly to maintain depth. But it should never be one size fits all. Experimenting with retrieve speed and cadence can make a positive difference on a slow day.

A slight breeze makes for excellent conditions for drifting.

When fishing lakes, I prefer a gentle breeze that pushes the watercraft at a slow pace. A 5 to 10 mile per hour wind seems to be perfect. And up to 15 mph usually still works. Winds above that level with gusts may require additional considerations. Safety first, particularly when in a small craft or kayak. Always be aware of the forecast and changing weather patterns. Also, a stiff breeze can push the boat or watercraft so fast that it is difficult to maintain the proper depth. A drift sock can be used to slow the drift and control speed. 

Fly Patterns

Simplicity describes my fly selection for deep water. Most of my flies incorporate weighted eyes to allow the fly to sink at the same rate as the tip. The Clouser Minnow may be the most effective smallmouth fly ever concocted and works extremely well with this technique. A gray over white version is a perfect imitation for the emerald shiner that is prevalent throughout the Great Lakes region. The color combinations can be adapted to represent other natural baitfish as well. As a modification to the original pattern tied with bucktail, I mainly use Steve Farrar’s SF Flash Blend for the wing material, along with a few strands of lateral line. The Flash Blend has a lifelike sheen in the water and is more durable than bucktail. 

Baitfish patterns that imitate emerald shiners are a go-to for smallmouth.
Every angler should have goby flies in the Great Lakes region.
Crawfish patterns are an essential fly for smallmouth bass.

 

Crayfish, sculpin, and round goby patterns complete my selection. I tie some patterns like the Getting Jiggy on a jig hook with dumbbell eyes tied on the top of the shaft. It incorporates a rabbit strip tail, rubber legs, and hackle and works well as a sculpin or goby imitation. A brown or olive Wooly Bugger on a jig hook, along with rubber legs and a little flash, is a very effective pattern representing a wide range of bass foods. Various Game Changer style flies in natural colors are also quite useful for the deep-water approach. 

Final Thoughts

Some of the largest smallmouth bass in North America live in the big open water of the Great Lakes, their connecting waterways, and other large lakes and impoundments. Working deep water structure in the pre-spawn and then post-spawn through fall provides the opportunity to catch the smallmouth of a lifetime.

5 Best Flies for Largemouth Bass
Beginners Guide to Fly Fishing for Bass

How to Tie: A Spent Caddis

By
Greg Stohrer
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In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, Hans Weilenmann ties a variation of AK Best’s Spent Caddis, a simple caddis dry that will trick picky trout during and after large hatches.

Learn How to Tie This Fly:

Difficulty: Easy

The spent caddis is one of the most overlooked but deadly dry flies in a trout angler’s box. When caddis return to the water to lay eggs or die off after a hatch, trout often feed with slow, deliberate confidence. This variation of AK Best’s Spent Caddis perfectly imitates this vulnerable stage with a slim profile, splayed wings, and a flush-floating posture that will fool even the pickiest fish this summer.

Focus on proportion and material control while tying this spent caddis. You’ll be rewarded for subtlety, so keeping the dubbed body slim and avoid over‑dressing the wing will produce an irresistible silhouette. Use light thread tension when securing the mallard feather to allow for adjustments of length, and for additional support you can trim the underside of the hackle to help the fly sit flush on the surface. Be patient while creating the profile as this is key to imitating these vulnerable caddis, but don’t overthink it as natural materials will often do much of the work for you on the water.

When fishing this spent caddis, think subtle, slow, and deliberate. This pattern shines during calm evening drifts when trout are sipping spent adults with barely a ripple, so focus on long leaders, fine tippet, and drag free drifts that let the fly land softly and sit motionless. Targeting soft seams, tailouts, and the edges of bubble lines where spent caddis naturally collect will produce fish and is very important for making the best use of your time. When fishing trout rivers and streams this summer, be sure to make some room in your dry fly box for this variation of AK Best’s Spent Caddis.

Ingredients:

Now you know how to tie a Spent Caddis!

Video courtesy of Hans Weilenmann.

Group Sues For Corner Crossing In Montana

By
Spencer Durrant
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Stream access varies widely across Western states.

Two conservation groups – Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) and Public Land & Water Access Association Partners (PLWA) – announced a lawsuit against Montana to legalize corner crossing in that state. If successful, the lawsuit would “cement the legality of corner crossing in Montana.”

Corner crossing is the act of moving from one corner of public land to another, while the land on the other sides of the corner is private. This was legalized thanks to a fight in Wyoming, but only for states in the 10th Circuit. Montana is not among them.

This lawsuit comes on the heels of Montana’s lieutenant governor telling the legislators that corner crossing is illegal.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Some reporting, and a press release from BHA, makes it seem like corner crossing in Montana has largely been something folks do. One press release said, in part, that wardens in Montana had actually been instructed not to issue trespass citations to anyone engaging in corner crossing. Recently, however, that guidance has changed, and wardens now have the authority to issue those citations.

“It doesn’t matter what side of the barbed wire, or political aisle you stand on, we are all public landowners with a vested interest in our public lands,” Ryan Callaghan, BHA President and CEO, told MeatEater. “Corner crossing while respecting private property is a practical ‘middle ground’ that the vast majority of Montanans support. Shutting the public out of 871,000 acres of public lands is not.”

Not Going Away

The corner crossing issue isn’t going away anytime soon. Legislators in Montana have recently announced their push to legalize it.

Writing in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Boldman and Seckinger said, “This bill does one simple thing. It clarifies in Montana law that corner crossing — when no private land is touched, and no property is damaged — is lawful. It protects private property rights while ensuring that public land remains accessible to the people who own it. Because public land only matters if the public can reach it.” 

Seckinger is a fly fishing guide in Bozeman, so he has a vested interest in moving this legislation forward.

“Access determines opportunity,” Seckinger and Boldman wrote. “Opportunity determines participation. Participation funds conservation. When access shrinks, everything downstream shrinks with it — from local businesses to wildlife funding.”

The Best Trout Streamer Rods Of 2026

By
Spencer Durrant
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a fat alaskan rainbow trout

All products featured on Flylords are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

I’m not the biggest streamer junkie out there, but it’s hard to beat a great day of slinging big bugs from the boat, especially if you’re doing it somewhere like the Green River in Utah, where the water’s clear enough to watch fish slam your streamers from 50 feet away.

But whether you’re a walk-and-wade streamer angler, like tossing them on lakes, or prefer chucking-and-ducking from boats, you’ll need a good rod to help you get these flies to the fish.

For years, I threw 6-weights for trout streamers, and that largely served me well. Then, I picked up a 7-weight on the cheap, and now I’m smitten with those rods. They might be a bit heavy for smaller streamers, but for sink-tips, full-sink lines, and larger flies, 7-weights seem to be my personal sweet spot.

So, this roundup will feature a mixture of 6 and 7-weight rods. These are all rods I’ve personally used and fished, and in some cases, bought for my own personal quiver. I’d have no hesitation recommending them to anyone looking for a dedicated streamer setup.

The author, with a healthy brown trout, fooled on a streamer during testing.

Favorite Trout Streamer Rods of 2026

Testing Process

As I said earlier, these are all rods I’ve used and enjoyed myself. There’s a bit of a bias towards Winston rods (which might surprise some, but read the reviews before leaving a comment), but that’s what I fish with a lot. I have been using another rod that’s not ready for publicity yet, but it’ll take the runner-up spot once it releases in July.

Anyways, I’ve used these rods both from a drift boat and while wading on lake shores, with both floating and sink-tip lines. I tried to use these in as many situations as possible to see where each stick shone.

Best Overall: Hardy Marksman 9′ 7-Weight

Best Overall

Hardy Marksman 9′ 7-Weight

Key Features
  • Smooth and effortless casting
  • Tons of power
  • MSRP: $995
Pros:
  • Outstandingly light
  • Extremely versatile
  • Easy to cast
Cons:
  • Price

The Hardy Marksman 9′ 7-weight is the most impressive freshwater fly rod I’ve fished since Winston dropped the Air 2 a few years back. The folks at Hardy have absolutely outdone themselves with this rod. It’s light, it’s smooth, it’s powerful, it’s easy to cast; it has this musical rhythm to its cadence, an effortlessness at shooting line that makes an adequate caster like me look like Lefty Kreh out there.

This rod is incredibly light, has little swing weight, but packs a punch in the wind, with sink-tip lines, and with bigger flies. I’ve used it for both bass and trout fishing, and the tip is soft enough I’d even consider using it for hopper-dropper rigs on really windy days here in Wyoming, too.

The only drawback to the Marksman is its price. These aren’t cheap rods, but they’re probably the best trout rods on the market right now.

Runner Up: Winston Air 2 9’6″ 7-Weight

Runner Up

Winston Air 2 9’6″ 7-Weight

Key Features
  • Smooth, relaxed action
  • Surprising backbone
  • MSRP: $1,195
Pros:
  • Winston’s excellent build quality
  • Extra reach
  • High line speed
Cons:
  • Price

My first experience with the 9’6″ 7-weight Air 2 was in Alaska, where I used a prototype model for sockeye and dolly varden on the Kenai. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to throw this Winston in a few other situations, and it’s shone in all of them. It misses out on the top spot only because it has slightly more swing weight (thanks to being a 9’6″ rod) than the Hardy. Even then, it’s not as noticeable as you’d expect.

Winston hasn’t been known for their streamer rods, but the Air 2 9’6″ 7-weight packs enough backbone into a fuller-flexing rod that some folks might really appreciate. It still generates high line speeds and delivers flies right on target. Built with the typical Winston flair, it’s a gorgeous piece that’s just flat-out fun to fish.

If you want a bit more bend in your streamer stick, and all sorts of feedback and feel, it’s hard to go wrong with what Winston has put together here.

I opted for the Air 2 instead of the newer Air 2 Max because, while those rods are excellent, they’re certainly tuned to more demanding streamer action, like pike or musky. And, I haven’t spent nearly as much time with the Air 2 Max as I have the regular Air 2.

Best Budget: Redington Wrangler 9′ 7-Weight

Best Budget

Redington Wrangler 9′ 7-Weight

Key Features
  • Quick, forgiving action
  • Surprisingly sensitive
  • MSRP: $199
Pros:
  • Medium-fast blank is great for big bugs
  • 7-weight version still has a hook keep
  • Affordable
Cons:
  • A bit heavy

The Redington Wrangler is surprising because I rarely fish $200 rods with this much feel and feedback. Redington did a great job of providing just enough that you can quickly dial in the casting rhythm, without slowing the rod down. It’s still a medium-fast rod, which I actually prefer for streamer fishing, but it’ll generate plenty of high line speeds with the right line pairing.

The only knock on the Wrangler is that it’s a bit heavy, which is a common trait across a lot of streamer rods. Especially when loaded up with sink-tip lines and heavy flies, these aren’t dainty trout sticks to toss 15 feet all day. So it’s hard for me to say the extra weight here is a dealbreaker, because for me, it isn’t.

The Wrangler tracks well, it feels plenty stable, and I love that Redington kept the hook keep, even on the 7-weight model. That’s a nice touch if you’re fishing on a shorter leader.

Best 6-Weight: Winston Air 2 9′ 6-Weight

Best 6-Weight

Winston Air 2 9′ 6-Weight

Key Features

  • Great for streamers or other large rigs
  • Strong
  • MSRP: $1,195

Pros:

  • Handles sink-tip lines well
  • Winston’s more relaxed casting action
  • Extremely accurate

Cons:

  • Price

There’s quite a difference between the 9’6″ 7-weight and this 9′ 6-weight Air 2. They’re similar in how they flex and feel, yes, but the 6-weight feels a bit lighter in-hand, and it’s great at pulling double-duty. If you want a streamer rod to have enough versatility to switch to a large nymph rig, or a hopper-dropper setup, and still cast well, the 9′ 6-weight Air 2 is your best bet. This rod really excels in all three departments, honestly.

I’ve used a variety of sink-tip lines on this rod, and it’s handled them all well. Some rods feel under-gunned with a heavier sink-tip, but lines up to 185 grains felt fine on the Air 2.

As with the other Winston on this list, this Air 2 is smooth, fun to cast, and extremely accurate. Winston does a great job of eliminating variables in the design and building phase, so that the accuracy largely depends on you. That’s both good and bad, but fishing this rod has also helped me dial in my casting, too.

Honorable Mention: Echo ION XL 10′ 6-Weight

Honorable Mention

Echo Ion XL 10′ 6-Weight

Key Features
  • Fantastic on lakes
  • Low swing weight
  • MSRP: $399
Pros:
  • Extra reach to help fight wind
  • Forgiving action
  • Extremely durable
Cons:
  • Slightly heavy

The first time I fished an Echo ION XL was out at Pyramid Lake, where the extra reach on this 10-foot rod helped turn over leaders, get my casts out just a bit further, and handle the wind, too. It certainly wasn’t the rod’s fault I got skunked on that first trip to Pyramid…

These rods are sneaky good. They’re not too expensive to break the bank, but they’re a step up from bargain finds. The ION XL isn’t the lightest rod on the market, but its weight isn’t a dealbreaker either. It makes up for that in how well it casts, how smooth and forgiving the action is, and how great it is to have that extra reach when making long casts on lakes.

These are also crazy durable. Even after fishing in Pyramid for a few seasons, and pulling duty as my truck rod (which tends to not get as well looked-after as the rods that stay inside the house) it’s still going strong. I know I’ve stepped on it at least once, and I didn’t know about the need to wash my gear after my first few Pyramid trips, either. The rod doesn’t care (or at least, hasn’t let me know yet).

Final Thoughts

I really enjoy a slower rod for streamer fishing, because I tend to hurry up and rush the casting process with these big flies. A slower rod reminds me that, especially with streamers, I need to slow down, let the loops open up, and let the rod do the job it was built for. Plus, these slower rods can generate plenty of high line speed to deliver flies quickly, fight the wind, or both.

Picking the best streamer rod for you really comes down to wiggling a few in the fly shop, throwing some casts, and finding the action you agree with the most. When I first cast that Hardy Marksman, I knew I’d be adding at least one to my collection.

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