Big Y Fly Fishing Blog

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

Big Y Fly Co. vs Big Retail Brands: What You’re Really Paying For Ever wonder why you’re paying $2.00–$7.50 for a single fly at a big box retailer—but can get the same pattern from us for under a buck? We get asked that all the time. And here’s the short...

This started off as a review and comparison between the Sage R8 Salt and the Orvis Helios D.  I fished those two rods extensively for bonefish and triggerfish on a recent trip to Christmas Island.  They were both so nice, I needed to write a review or two. Back at...

Christmas Island is an intimidating place.  Its often the farthest, most remote place that most fly anglers have ever gone, and may be the only place like it that many anglers will ever go.  Its a gateway to extreme travel, and its a big trip to prepare for, especially if its your first time doing something like it.  We stayed at Sunset Horizon Lodge, which is booked through Fly Water Travel.  Even if you are staying at one of the other four outfits on the island, this should all be relevant and be useful in helping you prepare for this trip.

The Multi-Fly Rig for Stillwater Fly Fishing Lake fly fishing, or stillwater fly fishing, can be challenging for those accustomed to river fishing. Without the varying currents, it might seem slow and uninteresting, but lake fly fishing can enhance your enjoyment by adding new dimensions to your fly fishing passion....

Seattle is a beautiful city, renowned for its great coffee, progressive music scene, and as the headquarters of numerous high-tech companies. It’s also famous for its rain and being surrounded by water, which naturally attracts fly fishers.

While the steelhead runs on well-known rivers like the Skykomish are well-documented, there are many lesser-known opportunities close to Pike Place Market that are often overlooked. If you’re willing to explore beyond trout and steelhead, you can enjoy year-round fishing in this major metropolitan area—just don’t forget your raincoat!

Above the mighty and famous Snoqualmie Falls, the frantic fast-paced salmon fishery of the lower river slows to a halt and gives way to an easy-going set of trout streams.  The upper forks of the Snoqualmie River are intimate, fun little trout streams.  Most folks fish the Middle or South Forks, but...

In a state renowned for its steelhead and salmon, the Yakima River in Central Washington stands out as the state's premier (and only blue-ribbon) wild trout stream. Stretching 85 miles upstream of Roza Dam, it is home to native rainbow trout, thriving on abundant insect hatches. While the closest float...

Here in the Columbia River Gorge, we have a different scene. We get plenty of folks that walk into the shop and want a half-day of trout fishing, but its not that simple here.  It's extremely seasonal, and each season brings a different species that we can fish for.  Its a bit complicated, but variety is the spice of life.  

The John Day River is one of the longest undammed rivers in the US.  It flows out of the Strawberry Mountains in Southeast Oregon to meet the Columbia River about 30 miles east of where the Deschutes meets the Columbia.  It is more than an hour and a half drive from Hood River, but the popularity and unique fishery of the river leads us to include this as a local favorite.  

The North Fork of the Lewis River is becoming a very popular trout fishery.  This river starts on a plateau near Mt Adams, and flows south of Mt St Helens into Swift Reservoir near the town of Cougar, WA.  This is near Mt. St. Helens.  It is a big drive from Hood River, but it is popular enough that we need to include it in our series.