Big Y Fly Fishing Blog

For decades, when fly anglers dreamed about international travel, the same destinations dominated the conversation. Alaska. Patagonia. Belize. The Bahamas. Christmas Island. Meanwhile, Colombia sat largely outside the fly fishing spotlight. That is changing. Over the last several years, Colombia has quietly emerged as one of the most exciting frontiers...

The fly fishing world has no shortage of famous destinations. Alaska. Christmas Island. Patagonia. The Bahamas. Mention those names to a room full of anglers and everyone immediately knows what you're talking about. Akuani River Lodge isn't one of those places. At least not yet. Tucked into the remote dry...

It is a humble reminder that you can find comfort in the most basic of conditions. You can appreciate that they once tried to add hot water heaters to the showers, wired directly into the shower head (glad they did not work). You can appreciate that a large, ill-tempered crab lives under the stairs to your room. You can appreciate that the meals are made with love, and the best food that they can get, which you just have to be there for that one. You can appreciate that everyone here is either going with the flow or struggling to swim against it.

The salmonfly hatch is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Big bugs, aggressive eats, and fish looking up all day—it’s what many anglers wait for all winter. But the anglers who consistently do well aren’t just showing up when the hatch starts. They’re prepared well before the first bug crawls out.

Spring is one of the most productive—and often overlooked—times to fish stillwaters. As ice comes off and water temps begin to rise, trout transition from winter lethargy into active feeding modes. The key is understanding where they are in the water column and how they’re feeding.

Here are three techniques that consistently produce in spring.

5 Best Spring Trout Flies Every Angler Should Carry Spring is one of the most productive seasons for trout fishing. As rivers warm and flows rise from snowmelt, trout shift out of their winter lethargy and begin feeding more aggressively. While dry fly action eventually shows up with spring hatches,...

The Top 3 Fly Combinations for Spring Trout Fishing Spring is one of the most exciting seasons for trout anglers. Snowmelt raises water levels, aquatic insects begin to hatch, and trout shift into aggressive feeding mode after a long winter. During this time, the most consistent tactic is nymph fishing,...

Winter trout fishing gets a reputation for being “hard,” but the truth is a little more nuanced. The fish don’t become smarter, trickier, or impossible—they just feed less often and in shorter windows. Once you understand why and adjust your tactics, winter can be one of the most peaceful, rewarding times to be on the water.

Below is a friendly, practical guide to getting started (or motivated) for winter trout fishing

Fly fishing pliers might not be the flashiest tool in your kit, but they quietly handle some of the most important jobs on the water—cutting line, crushing barbs, freeing hooks, sealing knots, and protecting your hands from angry fish with teeth. Whether you're chasing trout, saltwater predators, or something in between, the right plier makes a huge difference in efficiency, safety, and comfort.

When you shop for a fly line, you’ll immediately see terms like Weight Forward, Double Taper, and Sinking Line. For beginners, these can feel confusing — especially when all you want to know is:

Do I need special lines for dry flies or streamers?

Short answer: No.
You can fish both with a single fly line, the workhorse of trout fly lines:

• A Weight Forward Floating Line

But to understand why, it helps to know what these line types mean.

Fly fishing knots can feel overwhelming. Every book, blog, or YouTube video seems to recommend something different, and many beginners assume they need to memorize a dozen knots just to get started.  Fly fishermen LOVE to overthink fly fishing.  In reality, fly fishing is pretty simple and pretty easy.

Here is a quick packing list for a week at Christmas Island.  This is also very relevant for Anaa Atoll, the Seychelles or anywhere else that you will be flats fishing on foot for a week.