I like expensive sunglasses, but there are certainly diminishing returns the more you spend. I nearly always lose sunglasses, before breaking them. So, it can be a bit tough spending several hundred dollars on a pair of shades only to drop them overboard. I personally feel the sweet spot is somewhere between $60-100. So, the following are the advantages of expensive glasses. Premium sunglasses have more durable and scratch-resistant coatings. The lenses used are more optically correct, with less distortion which can increase eye strain. Premium lenses offer better clarity, there is less cloud ..read more

There are two main reasons to wear sunglasses when trout fishing. Firstly, they make seeing through the glare significantly easier, which assists greatly in spotting trout or likely lays. Even more importantly, they protect the eyes, not only from the sun’s rays but also from wayward flies, hooks, and twigs. For both reasons, sunglasses are an important piece of a trout angler’s kit. Trout fishing glasses need to provide excellent eye protection. This is by far the main reason every fly fisherman should be wearing sunglasses. They provide excellent protection to the eye. Removing a badly cast ..read more

When fly fishing, it is best to select tippet based on its diameter, not on its breaking strain. The best diameter is based on the size of the fly you plan on casting, not on the weight of the fish you hope to land. It is also worth noting, that the tippet diameter must be close to, but not larger than the diameter at the end of the leader. There needs to be a smooth and fairly consistent transition from fly line to leader to tippet. The diameter of the tippet needs to be in balance with the fly you are wishing to cast. If you are fishing a size 10 dry fly, then you will want to be fishing a 3 ..read more

I was watching a YouTube video earlier today, and the host was promoting using 30lb braid for trout fishing. This is a bad idea, and I will explain why below. Using a braid allows for longer casts. That is because is has a much thinner diameter than monofilament. If I look at the advertised diameter of a typical 6lb nylon, Say Stern Original. It’s 0.22mm across, very thin. While 6lb fireline is 0.15mm, So about 30% thinner. But let’s compare 30lb fireline instead, which has a diameter of 0.38mm. Even wider than the nylon, that means 30lb braid would not offer any casting distance advantage ove ..read more

Braid is highly visible in the water, fishing straight braid will scare trout. So, to maximize the number of fish caught, a leader is essential. There are two main types of monofilament lines used for leaders, these are nylon and fluorocarbon. There are also various hybrid lines and copolymers which set somewhere in the middle, although copolymers do resemble nylon more than they do fluorocarbon. Basically, it does not matter what type of line you us as a leader. They all work and perform similarly. So if you already own some line of around 6lb it will be fine to use for trout fishing. But I w ..read more

For the past several years I use to recommend the St Croix Trout series as my top pick for a premium spinning rod for trout fishing. The reasons why were simple, it has the performance of a high-end rod, with good durability backed by an excellent warranty. In my guide on the best spinning rods for trout fishing guide the St Croix Trout Series has been replaced by the Temple Fork Outfitters Trout Panfish II Series of rods as my top recommendation. I do not believe either are the better rod, but there has been some concerns raised regarding the build quality and aftermarket care of the St Croix ..read more

Line cuts are painful, they are only made worse when time and time again the line finds the old wound slowing digging deeper. So, what is the best way to prevent line cuts from occurring? One of the easiest ways to prevent line cuts is to wear gloves, problem solved. But gloves make tying knots difficult and having wet fabric next to the skin can make hands feel over hydrated, and not only does that feel werid the skin becomes more susceptible to injuries. So, I prefer to use long leaders and band-aids. Keep reading for more details. Best ways to prevent line cuts when fishing. So, I have two ..read more

Introduction Trying to decide between getting a Yakima Flush Bar or a Thule Wingbar Evo but just cannot decide, Well hopefully I can help. I have had decades of experience with roof racks from both brands and have put thousands of miles of abuse on various sets of racks from both brands. For the most part, I use my roof racks for transporting kayaks and rooftop cargo boxes. I do not have any experience with using them with rooftop tents, but I suppose much of my experiences will be relevant. Firstly, both companies make great racks and they get the job done just fine. I normally recommend peop ..read more

When trying to fly fish I hate the wind, it roughs up the surface making spotting difficult, and the gusts adds quite a bit of complication to any cast. But a windy day does not have to ruin a fly-fishing trip, there are ways to negate the wind, and in some cases it can even be advantageous. When fishing on a windy day, it is much easier to cast if the wind is behind you. A backwind can even make casting slightly easier, but it is not that simple. Because wind often blows down river valleys, and us trout fishermen usually fish in the upstream direction. This forces us to cast into the wind, or ..read more

I want to jump directly to the point; it really does not matter. Both cork and foam are excellent materials for fishing rods handles, and both can put up with years of abuse. I have been fishing for nearly more years than I can remember, and the rod handle material was never the reason I lost the fish or was the cause of a rod failing. Both foam and cork work very well and really come down to personal preference. I like cork, it is natural, well mostly natural it is bind together with all types of epoxies and glue. but the cork itself comes from a tree and I personally prefer how it feels. Foa ..read more