Smallmouth Fly Box

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Hook Sharpening 101

I am not always the best when it comes to sharpening my hooks. I have promised myself that I am going to change my dull ways in 2012. Lefty shows how easy it can be to keep those hooks sharp!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

I try to keep this site focused on fly fishing, but sometimes I find spin fishing products or information that need to be passed on. If you haven't tried drop shotting for smallmouth yet you should give it a whirl. My boys drop shot on the river while I fly fish....a great way to fish!

Line twist was always a big problem with the drop shot technique. VMC has eliminated line twist and fancy knots with the Spinshot. This little hook is awesome, good and sharp and has a perfect gap.

These hooks are very popular and hard to find. If you run across a set, pick them up!

Kelly Galloup's - Butt Monkey

Fly Box Hero - Ward Bean and his Articulated Minnow

Pretty cool that Ward said this about the Smallmouth Fly Box! "Doug Rorer (Smallmouth Fly Box) of Stillwater, MN sent me an email telling me that he had substituted a fairly new material, Wapsi Palmer Chenille, for the hen feathers that were required to make the Articulated Streamer. He also sent me a photo and I liked what I saw even though he didn't trim or color his version." Always good to get props from a warmwater legend!

Wee Willie Wiggler

Craig Riendeau's Georgia Shrimp

I know this is a shrimp pattern, but I'm sure it will pass for a crayfish too. Craig has so many nice techniques....he is just a great tyer. Some people make remarks about how complicated this pattern is, but the end result is very cool. May not need to be so complicated, but it has nice details that can be used in other patterns.