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How to Tie: Del’s Merkin Crab

Greg Stohrer
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How to Tie: Del’s Merkin Crab

In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Charlie Craven ties one of the top producing saltwater crab patterns in history, Del’s Merkin Crab.

Learn About This Fly:

Difficulty: Intermediate

The Merkin Crab is one of the most notorious saltwater crab patterns in history. Traditionally, permit anglers swore by them and never went fishing without a wide variety in their fly boxes. In the most recent years, the Alphlexo Crab has gotten tons of attention for its productivity, but the history does not lie. Del’s Merkin Crab, or what many refer to simply as the Merkin Crab, is a pattern that every saltwater flats angler should carry with them.

When tying this pattern, it will be important to go slow when creating the body with EP fibers or yarn. Rushing this step may make the body either too sparse or too dense, and it is very important to find the middle ground. Follow the video instructions on segmentation of the strands, then after a few you will know exactly how much you will need. Adding a weed guard to Del’s Merkin is a personal choice, and one that may be smart if fishing for species such as striped bass in New England where there is a high quantity of aquatic vegetation.

Whether in the Florida Keys, Seychelles, or striped bass flats of Cape Cod, this pattern will entice fish. Before the Alphlexo Crab, Del’s Merkin was at the top of the food chain and for good reason. No matter the location, if your target species has a diet with crabs then this pattern will produce fish. Del’s Merkin Crab is a tried and true saltwater pattern and certainly one that no flats angler should be without on the water.

Ingredients:

  • Weedguard (Optional): 20 LB. MONO

 

Now you know how to tie Del’s Merkin Crab!

Video and ingredients courtesy of Charlie’s Fly Box.

Fishing Tips: Pre-Cast Pickup

Andrew Braker
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Fishing Tips: Pre-Cast Pickup

The pre-cast pickup is seldom talked about, but this is one tip all trout anglers should be thinking about. Check out this video from Troutbitten to learn how to master the this new technique.

Reel of the Week: Unexpected Jack Crevalle School

Nelson Oxley
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Reel of the Week: Unexpected Jack Crevalle School

A note from Nick Vlahos:

“My friend @ragincajunflyfishing and I were looking for Pompano and Redfish when we came across a large school of Jack Crevalle along the beach. A pod of Dolphins had pushed the Jack’s shallow, but that didn’t stop them from destroying our flies. We doubled up many times throughout the day and the fish seemed to be more aggressive towards larger flies. Be sure to tie them on strong hooks and a heavy bite tippet to prevent break-offs. Throw it in the middle of the school and strip fast!”

Check out Nick Vlahos and Captain Michael Leishman Jr., @sandbar_flies and @ragincajunflyfishing on Instagram. 

Check out the articles below:

When Jacks Attack with Capt. Jako Lucas

Video of the Week: Union Jacks

Angler Story of the Week: Fish of 10,000 Casts and Topwater Flies

Nelson Oxley
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Angler Story of the Week: Fish of 10,000 Casts and Topwater Flies

A note from Myles Barrett:

“A lot of the best days fly fishing are the ones that come together last minute with no real plan or expectations, this was no different.

Myself, and a few buddies set out after class to chase the elusive Esox Masquinongy, better known as the Muskie or “the fish of ten thousand casts.” Muskies may not be for the dry fly purist, but they should be. They truly live up to their nickname, and often make you put in well over 10,000 casts to even be rewarded with a sighting or a follow. This fish however was extremely eager to attack my fly.

Moments before I remarked to my buddy Evan that by using a top water fly I was making a difficult task even more challenging. Only a few casts later this fish exploded from the bank to absolutely inhaled my 9” top water fly.

With fall quickly approaching, I capitalized on one of the first cooler days of the summer after a heavy rain event which was the catalyst to the success on the water.

I usually use a 10wt rod for these fish, in this case it was a TFO BC Big Fly, paired with a Rio Predator Elite floating line, 4 feet of 80lb fluorocarbon attached to a multi shanked orange and black fly with a foam block on the head.

My buddy Evan knocked it out of the park for his first time netting a musky which is the most essential part of the whole operation, as well as having a jumbo net to safely handle these fish. Even though the Musky was average for this particular area, seeing this fish jump, and going through the process of getting it into the net keeps me chasing these fish. Something completely different than fly fishing for trout.”

Words from Myles Barrett and Flylords Intern Nelson Oxley. Big Help from Evan Holm with the net job. Follow his stories and his Musky endeavors @myles_barrett.

Check out the articles below:

How to Make Musky the Fish of Less Than a Thousand Casts

Fishing Tips: Pike and Musky

Swinging for King Salmon

Oliver Ancans
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Swinging for King Salmon

There is nothing quite like having your fly demolished by a King salmon still laden with sea lice. The takes often begin with a couple hard tugs followed by a long slow pull. Other times, the fish grab a fly so veraciously that your running line comes peeling off your reel faster than you can say “there’s one!”. King Salmon are a very fun sport fish but their populations have been on a steep decline in a majority of their historic range. Most of the rivers in Alaska have gear restrictions, some are limited to the retention of hatchery Kings only, and some even close completely if the run is too weak to sustain sportfishing. If regulations allow you to pursue these fish, I urge you to fish ethically and responsibly.

 

Rods and Skagit Heads:

For smaller rivers, a 9’ 8-10wt fly rod paired with a 250-350 grain short Skagit head like the AirFlo Scout will work well. For midsized rivers, an 11’ 8-10wt switch rod paired with a 350-500 grain Skagit head like the AirFlo F.I.S.T. will allow you to achieve some distance when casting without wielding the long rod. For the largest rivers, a 7-10wt full spey rod loaded up with anywhere between a 500-750 grain head will allow you to cover the maximum amount of water with minimal effort. Any of these combinations can be a useful weapon in the serious king salmon Fishermans arsenal.

Photo: Oliver Ancans

 

Running Lines:

It can be difficult to choose a running line as there are a lot of options on the market today. Mono running lines tend to shoot better but can coil and knot up if not properly taken care of and stretched before each use. Mono running lines can also be harder to mend as they do not have as much mass as a coated running line. Coated running lines tend to coil and knot less but you may sacrifice some casting distance. During the warmer months, I fish 40-50lb, stiff, and brightly colored mono running lines like Frog Hair or Berkely Big Game. In colder weather coated lines have the advantage as they are thicker and easier to handle when your dexterity has been compromised by fridged temperatures.

Airflo Superdri Ridge Floating Running Line

 

Sink Tip and Leader:

On the dangerous end of your Skagit head, will be the sink tip. I bring a tip wallet containing everything from full floating to T-20 sink tips. This is not an area to cheap out on as having the correct sink tip can make or break your day. When I first approach a run or hole, I will often make a cast or two with the tip that I already have on then adjust accordingly. While swinging flies for kings, I prefer a suspended swing roughly 6″-12″ from the bottom of the river. You do not want your fly to be skittering across the surface nor do you want to dredge the bottom of the river. Controlling your swing is very important and Kings tend to like a long straight presentation rather than a fast presentation ripping across the current.

Photo: Oliver Ancans

Off of the sink tip, I run an 18”-30” section of 15-20 pound pure fluorocarbon. Kings can take long runs, spin around on the bottom of the river, and roll up in your line after being hooked. The abrasion resistance and strength of fluorocarbon is key factor in landing and releasing the fish as quickly as possible.

 

Flies:

Fly selection, while generally confidence based, depends on water clarity, the depth, and speed of the run or hole to be fished. I lean toward smaller sleeker flies for their castability but tie them with various weight to achieve my desired depth. Some popular color combinations for King flies include Chartreuse and Blue, Black and Pink, Olive and Orange, and Purple and Black. If the fish are fresh out of the salt, a brightly colored fly typically works best. If the fish have been in a freshwater system for a while, darker flies tend to work best. A few flies to consider and that I always have in my King box are the Prom Dress, Polar Shrimp, a multitude of Intruder style flies in different sizes and color combinations.

 

A Few Words for Conservation:

When fishing for any species, please fish responsibly. Utilize a rubber landing net and keep the fish in the water if you intend on releasing them. Use barbless hooks, and do not over work the fish. While fishing for kings, do not be afraid to experiment with different techniques, fly patterns, and sink tips. It may surprise you on just how grabby the mighty King can be.

Photo: Gabrielle Mordini
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Gear Review: Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper Fly Line

Nelson Oxley
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Gear Review: Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper Fly Line

In our latest Gear Review, we had the chance to test out the new Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper Fly Line. Check out what we had to say below.

 

When anglers think of fly lines, there can be a lot of confusion about what type to get. Whether different sink tip lines, sinking fly lines, or floating fly lines, the Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper floating construction is unique and can turn over any fly of your choice with a range of weighted forward (WF) 3wt-9wt options. Airflo has a variety of fly lines designated and precise tapers to any specific water or species you’re targeting. 

Airflo has always lived up to its mission for environmentally friendly lines, meaning every fly line they produce is 100% PVC free.

Upon Opening:

Simultaneously, we were very excited to rig this line up that would be better for the environment, but also knowing that this is one the best fly lines on the market in 2022 with new Ridge 2.0 fly line technology. When receiving this line from Airflo, it was packaged very nicely, the lines shooting head is more of an “aquamarine” color with a vibrant orange running line.

When unboxing and holding the spool, Airflo is the first in the industry to recycle fly line spools.  I was surprised that they went the extra step using recycled materials for their new fly lines.

Field Testing:

Performance

Personally, I loved fishing this line because it was almost effortless to cast. The Superflo technology allowed me to move this line with less resistance and cast further. While understanding these new technologies, Airflo has also introduced Ridge 2.0, allowing greater flexibility, reduced stiffness, and less friction when it moves through the guides of your fly rod. To our surprise, the line was quiet. It didn’t make much noise when making big casts to rising fish or stripping it through the guides. Additionally, the power taper really gives the distance you want and need, even fishing big articulated streamers. Not only did this line cast delicately, stripping your line in felt very smooth, it didn’t burn your fingers when getting a good strip set. My favorite component of this line is when you release your line into the water it laid flat, not having any discrepancies after fishing weeks in terms of the line sinking.

Durability

The Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper has several assets for the construction of this line. Being 100% PVC free, this line has greater resistance to UV degradation, sunscreen, bug spray, and different floatants. This line also uses the Power Core technology Airflo incorporates, which makes the core low-stretch. Compared to other lines we have fished, we noticed this line didn’t stretch to other competing lines. This line also has been very durable for a long time. Some lines lose their power in a matter of weeks. The Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper has lasted and will last for years. The alternate reason I love the Ridge 2.0 is that it has less aggressive ridges, is non-textured, and doesn’t pick up any dirt or sand in rivers or stillwater, maximizing its durability. I have noticed that I don’t have to clean this line much, with the excellent coating and the durability to resist dirt and grime.

Comparison to Competitors

Comparing the Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Tapers to competing brands, I was very impressed with the accuracy and weight that the shooting head had. Precisely, Scientific Anglers has a lot of different options within textured lines. It might be for some people; however, this is where I see lines coated in dirt and grime and burned index fingers. Broadly, I believe this 5 weight Power Taper compares to the RIO Elite Grand, but the RIO Elite Grand line doesn’t have an aggressive shooting head on the line, and doesn’t have the weight like the Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper had. I was worried about the weight of this line from Airflo when fishing dry flies and delicate emerger patterns. Comparing this line to RIO or Scientific Anglers, it does look a little bigger in diameter than other competitors. Airflo does come up with unique colors to their lines, something that I was certainly worried about, line color, and the weight of the line spooking rising trout.

Overall Specs and Features:

  • Ridge 2.0 Tech makes it even easier to cast heavy loads
  • 100% PVC Free construction
  • Non-textured fly line
  • Power Core

Final Review:

Functionality:  

5 star rating

Durability: 

5 star rating 

Visual Appeal: 

4 star rating

Price: 

4 star rating (MSRP: $130)

Conclusion:

Click HERE to purchase Airflo Superflo Ridge 2.0 Power Taper Fly Line. 

Check out the articles below:

Airflo’s American Aspirations from Fly Fisherman Magazine

Airflo Releases First Fully Recycled Fly Line Spools

 

Final Opportunity to Improve Lake Okeechobee Operations-Comment for Clean Water Today

Will Poston
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Final Opportunity to Improve Lake Okeechobee Operations-Comment for Clean Water Today

It’s been quite the year for the fight for clean water in Florida. Whether it was the groundswell of public pressure to fight SB 2508, continued progress for key Everglades restoration projects, some serious state and federal dollars for those projects, a lot has happened–most of it positive and will move the proverbial ‘clean water needle.’ Today, we have the opportunity to influence water policy in Florida for the next decade. Captains for Clean Water is calling for help to advocate for the Army Corps of Engineers draft Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM).

This process is more than three years in the works, with some bumps along the way, but now the Corps has released a final plan. This highly-technical, 215 page document outlines how water will be dispersed out of Lake Okeechobee, which has significant ramifications for all of South Florida. Too much Lake Okeechobee water released to the coasts, and you’ve got devastating algal blooms and fish kills on your hands. Likewise, if not enough water is going south, then you’ve got hyper-salinity and seagrass die-offs. It’s a complex balancing act, but this LOSOM plan, “is the most equitable plan and it represents the favorable modeling they selected last fall,” according to Captains for Clean Water.

Dead fish washing ashore on Florida’s west coast after ra red tide bloom.

Last year, thousands of individuals and fishing businesses stood with Captains for Clean Water to advocate for a more equitable LOSOM Plan, which must’ve had an impact. Because, now an equitable LOSOM plan that will send more water south and avoid coastal discharges is nearing final approval.

“Thanks to your action, the Corps selected a numerical modeling alternative that was estimated to send 3x more beneficial water southand reduce harmful discharges to both coasts by about 37% as the foundation of the new plan. They’ve now wrapped the words around those numbers, and we’re confident this draft manual will be a significant improvement for our waters.

We’re so close to the finish line on this critical project, but we need you to use your voice one last time to ensure the final operations manual is good for our waters!”

The LOSOM comment deadline is September 12, but don’t wait until then–get your comments in today! Thankfully, Captains for Clean Water has developed an easy to use form to submit a comment advocating for the Corps’ draft plan, which is the most equitable and sends the most water south!

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Gear Review: Topo Designs X Redington Collab

Joseph Berney
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Gear Review: Topo Designs X Redington Collab

In this gear review, we will be taking a look at the latest Topo Designs and Redington collab. Topo Designs has been putting out some incredible collaborations since its inception. We were stoked when they told us a hip pack and rod combo was up next! We had the chance to test it out ourselves. Check out what we think below!

Biking with collab pack

Click Here to check out the final review stats.

Initial Impressions: 

I was immediately drawn to the white pack Topo designed for the collab. The white background allowed all the other colors on the pack to pop. From the teal drawstring and compression straps to the red highlighting the branding on the pack. Moving to the rod the same design elements existed with the white blank and grid design. 

Topo Designs and Redington Collab on someone fishing

Upon opening the pack, I was met with a spacious compartment perfect for fitting all the essentials. Inside, I found a reel already loaded with line, hemostats, tippet, and a small fly box. As I sat in the office the first thing that came to mind was the endless possibilities of mixing two of my favorite hobbies, fishing, and biking. 

The combination of the rod and pack were the perfect size for any hiking or biking adventure whether it is to a tucked away high alpine fishery or the local bass pond. It was time to give it a real test. 

Click Here to check out the final review stats.

Field Testing: 

I am lucky enough to be within biking distance of plenty of amazing fishing opportunities, similar to our friends at Topo Designs who are based out of Fort Collins, Colorado. After sliding the rod tube between the compression straps at the bottom of the bag and stuffing the pack with my other fishing essentials (mostly snacks) it was time to hop on my bike and head to the water. 

The pack and rod are big enough to take everything I need, but also small enough to not get in the way of my movement whether I’m biking or stalking along the bank. I also noticed the padding on the backside of the pack added some comfort when making long treks. When I got to my fishing spot, I assembled the rod, threw on the leader and tied on my flies, and was ready to roll. The rod itself was excellent for a compact style rod, it felt more like a traditional 4-piece rod. 

As I was fishing it was easy to access everything I needed in the pack. With the waist pack design, all I had to do was whip the pack around my waist and I had immediate access to everything I had stowed away in the pack.

Final Review:

Looks:

5 star rating

Comfort:

4 star rating

Practicality:

4 star rating

Storage:

3 stars

Durability:

5 star rating

Price:

4 star rating (MSRP: $450)

Conclusion: 

Overall, we are super impressed by the Topo Designs and Redington collaboration. If you are looking for a one-stop solution to have a smaller footprint on your next fishing mission we can’t recommend this kit more. With a long-standing history of making durable products, you can also count on the hip pack to be one you can expect to have for years to come.

What we appreciated the most about the kit was its compact nature and style. The ability to have all of your gear for a fishing adventure in such a small footprint is great for hiking or biking to your favorite spots. In conclusion, if you are looking for a great new lightweight kit this is an excellent option at an incredible price point. This kit truly lets you go fishing straight out of the box.

Click Here to check out the new Topo Designs and Redington Collab.

Topo Designs and Redington Collab

The New Outdoor – Urban Fishing with TOPO designs Co-Founder Jedd Rose

10 Tips for Trout Fishing

Fly Fishing the Spring Creeks of Chile

Dave Jensen
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Fly Fishing the Spring Creeks of Chile

There is a time to pipe up. As you advance in your fly fishing and your inner fly fishing algorithm begins to sort yourself to specific likes, desires, wants, and fetishes; other scenarios just won’t turn your crank as much. It’s not that you don’t like them, it’s that you connect with specific scenarios and locations more than others and hone in on those.

And so it was in Chile. We experienced a tidal wave of fly fishing scenarios in some of Earth’s most fantastical mountain trout fly fishing settings. If you follow us on social media you joined us in sharing these incredible experiences. But like grizzly bears at Alaska’s McNeil Falls, 2 months on being absolutely immersed in all wonderful things Chile, we were wanting to dig in, get gritty, dirty, mucky… we needed something to take on… our way. We wanted unpredictable fishing, tiny water fishing… we wanted uncertainty. 

And then we saw it. 

We were driving to another incredible experience – we’d have to ride a boat 16km across two large lakes through spectacular mountains lined with waterfalls before fishing a short reach of river connecting a third lake. It was chock-full of brown trout and we had an incredible experience. But as we drove there we looked at a tiny roadside spring creek and were instantly pricked by Cupid’s arrow. “We have to fish that!” Amelia and I both began insisting. A couple of days later, after perpetual insistence, our guide Guillermo took us. Niether he nor the guides at the lodge had walked the full length of the creek we were about to fish. He had enjoyed a short reach near the bridge and caught spectacular coloured and spotted browns, which is exactly how our day began. But as we continued upstream, falling into deep wells in the weed mats and off undercut banks, we found exactly what Amelia & I live for. Exploration and taking the time to take it on as we poke about the weeds and mud always holds magic. We added another point to the data set.

I was flying a drone above and saw a large brown button hook into the weed beds below. Being too far to yell, Amelia & Guillermo were going to have to find it on their own. Amelia’s second cast landed 18 perfect inches back of the weedbed, the brown turned down and rose to suck in her beetle. Excited chaos ensued. A fat 20” brown came to hand. 

Upstream, Amelia waddled through the mud and weeds, crossing the creek to fish a pocket in the top end of the now widening spring creek. A mixed sky and heavy glare kept her from seeing well but a flash at her beetle on her second cast hinted to lead the fish into the shallow corner pocket. BOOM. Another colorful brown to hand.

In an exciting vibe ringing the entire valley, we watched what appeared to be the largest brown surface. The first time it nosed up the dark back and dorsal slid through the oily slick, glare-filled water. 4 or 5 minutes later a bowling ball crash-landed in the back corner of a pocket as it aerial-assaulted a dragon fly. Amelia was across the flat from Guillermo and me, I was doing my best to sneak the drone overhead. She laid out the perfect cast just 18” our from the weedbed I’d last seen the brown overhead. That smack of the beetle drew that big brown out. It was on. 

You can be in perpetual Utopia on a fly fishing trip and still not feel completely connected to every water, every experience. The important thing is to pipe up and share what you connect to. If you see an experience that you know you’ll love, voice it to you, your friend, your host, and your guide. That doesn’t matter if it’s a tributary spring or backwater on a float trip or simply pulling over to hunt one rising trout instead of nymphing all day.

Maybe you want a chance at a large trout on a big streamer instead of smaller fish rising on dries. Whatever it is, say so, do so, try so. Take it on. Even if it means changing everything to connect and take on what you love. 

Above is the full video of this experience.

Article and photos from Dave Jensen, follow along with Dave and his wife Amelia on Instagram @jensenflyfishing.

Fly Fishing with Eels

Searching for Chilean Brown Trout

How to Tie: The Peeping October Caddis

Greg Stohrer
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How to Tie: The Peeping October Caddis

In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, AvidMax ties a nymph that will get any angler excited for fall fishing, the Peeping October Caddis.

Learn About This Fly:

Difficulty: Easy

For many anglers out there, the thought of fall fishing brings nearly a tear to the eye. After a hot and extremely dry summer in many places in the U.S., droughts have taken effect in nearly 50% of the country and are certainly impacting the fishing. Cooler temperatures in the near future will allow for the switch from warm water species to our cold water friends again. October is right around the corner and that should prick the ears of many anglers. The Peeping October Caddis will be one of your best friends as those bugs start to pop off in only a few weeks.

With euro-style nymphs, it is always ideal when they are simple to tie. Typically these flies are fished deep and getting snagged on branches, rocks, or other subsurface structures is common. Simplicity allows for large batches of flies on the vise in a reasonable period of time. Once practiced, the Peeping October Caddis will be an easy tie and one that produces fish consistently.

Trout will gorge themselves on these larger insects in preparation for winter ahead, and this is a key time to target large fish. Whether fished in European nymphing style or under an indicator, you cannot go wrong with this fly. A big stonefly or worm paired with the Peeping October Caddis will entice those larger fish when the dinner bell starts going off in October once again. The wait is almost over, stick it out and make sure the water you are fishing for trout is below 67 degrees Fahrenheit!

Ingredients:

Now you know how to tie the Peeping October Caddis!

Video and ingredients courtesy of AvidMax.

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