Posts by Luke Probasco
Last Cast
In the dying light of a summer evening, when the mountains seem to hold their breath and the river whispers its last secrets, there exists a moment that transcends the mere act of fly fishing. It is here, on the water’s edge, that the heart of an angler finds solace and communion with nature’s silent…
Read MoreThe Sage R8 Core 9′ 5wt: One Year Review
Arguably, trout anglers use a 5wt more than any other rod. Sure you may have a 4wt that is perfect for feeding dries to picky fish. Or a 6wt for chucking streamers. But the rod in your quiver that likely gets the most use is your trusty 5wt. Which is why, in my opinion, if…
Read MoreHow To Tie: Hex Girlfriend
The first time that I fished a Hex (Hexagenia) hatch it was insane. The water was literally boiling with fish. Good cast, shitty cast, it didn’t matter. The fish weren’t selective. We caught so many rainbows, cuts, and browns that we lost count. At the time, I was fishing an oversized yellow Parachute Adams tied…
Read MoreSmooth Move! RIO’s Elite Technical Trout Fly Line Review
A new rod is often the first thing an angler turns to when thinking about what they need to up their casting game. While I love a new rod just as much as the next guy (and am always trying to justify another purchase), the truth is, bigger gains can often be achieved by simply…
Read MoreHow To Tie: Night Leach
This fly, created by my dad, Steve Probasco, has become my “go to” leach pattern – especially in the evening hours. Not only is this fly good for trout, but when tied in a variety of colors; brown, blue, purple, red, etc., it is a great smallmouth bass fly too. As Steve writes in his…
Read MoreA Look Inside: Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Backpack
I’m trying something new for this upcoming salmon/steelhead season. (No, I am not fishing bait – I don’t want my subscription cost for The Drake to double.) After using a hip pack for the past several years, which too often came home soaked from winter rains or wading a little too deep, I have decided…
Read MoreLet’s Go with Plan D
Have you ever seen an up and coming band in concert and had them completely blow you away, leaving you wanting to tell all your friends about them? In the world of fly fishing gear, Plan D fly boxes are my Dave Matthews Band. (I first saw DMB in 1995 as the opening band in…
Read MoreThe Best Way to Connect Fly Line to Backing
For beginning fly fishermen, the number of knots can be overwhelming – especially when there are several knots that can be used to do the same thing. How do you choose which one to use? Considerations include: how easy is the knot to tie? What is the knot strength? How bulky is the knot? Are…
Read MoreChoosing the Perfect Steelhead Fly Reel
I love fly reels, so much so that I have several of them on display in my living room. It took a while, but I finally convinced my wife that fly reels pass for fine art. For some, a reel is just a line holder. But for me, when the perfect reel and rod come…
Read MoreHow To Tie: Night Terror
Don’t be fooled by this steelhead fly’s simplicity. Designed for movement, the Night Terror undulates and pulses in the current without losing bulk and profile – and to top it off, it is easy to cast! With the popular Nightmare jig as inspiration, I set out to create what I now call the Night Terror…
Read More