Trout Fishing Ahh, yes. Trico time, the time of year accomplished fly fisherman throw down their rods in disgust. Take up the golf clubs, repaint the house, design the ninth wonder of the world. Anything but test their patience and skill against the dreaded Tricos and the super selective trout that feed on them. Called the ‘White Winged Devils' in the gentlest of circles, these tiny micro hatches can infuriate the most skilled of the fly fishing angler. Huge lunker trout hunker down in feeding lanes slurping up every Trico spinner except the pattern you are offering to them. And after several hundred tedious passes, after you have lightened your tippet, after you have changed your position after you have done everything but jump in the water and grab the fish with your bare hands, you give up in disgust, and wait for something larger and more tangible to come off the water. A nice Salmonfly hatch would be the ticket. But, alas there are ways to improve your catch rate during these prolific hatches. [Read More]

Choosing The Proper Fly Fishing Leader and Tippet Leader and tippet is the final connection between the fly fisher and their fly. It is the section of line after the fly line and before the fly. It's purpose is to transfer energy from the fly line down to the fly, allow for natural presentation of the fly, and then be strong enough for the fly fisher to retrieve any fish that might strike at the naturally presented fly. Sounds simple enough, but this is fly fishing, and fly fishers have been around a long time. And as a group we seem to think about everything related to our sport a lot, and therefore probably have over complicated things a tad. The leader in fly fishing is tapered. It is thicker at the butt section, then at the tippet section. It is usually divided into three sections, the butt is tied directly to the fly line, and is the longest portion of the leader, about 60%. The mid-section is next and its purpose is to taper down to the tippet without losing a lot of strength. The final section is the tippet, it is the actual section that is tied to the fly. It is the thinnest section, it needs to be strong, yet allow for a natural drift, without alarming the fish that your offering is connected to a person that will pull back. [Read More]

Information on Spinner Fishing If you plan to take a fishing trip to a location you are not familiar with or if you plan to fish for a specific fish you have not fished before, it is wise to consult someone who does know. In some cases, you can take a spinner fishing trip with a guide in an area in which you have not been. They can teach you what type of fish are available in that area as well as what type of spinner fishing lure has worked for them in the past. This way, you will know just what type of spinner fishing lure is the right one. Spinner fishing can be a great way to lure in the prized fish you have been waiting for. You can learn just what type of spinner fishing lure to use when you ask questions to experienced local fisherman as well as if you take the time to look up your options online. With so many choices in spinner fishing lures, you are sure to find a suitable choice for your fish. [Read More]

Upper Midwest’s Best Amateur Bass Anglers Set to Tackle the Alexandria Chain September 13-15th.
96 anglers will arrive in the Alexandria, MN area on September 10th to practice and prepare for the ESPN Federation Nation Northern Divisional Tournament. The actual competition occurs over a three day period of September 13-15. Weigh-ins for the event will be hosted by Bug-A-Boo Bay Restaurant on Lake Le Homme Dieu starting at 3:0.