Tying flies has long been one of my favorite winter activities. I derive much pleasure from crafting a supply of the many fly patterns needed to restock my fly boxes for the upcoming trout season.

In theory, fly-fishing is a simple sport: Pick a body of water, choose a fly-fishing rod, select your “fly” (or bait), tie a secure knot, cast your line and, hopefully, land a fish on the other end.

You’re casting to a trout – or a spot where you think there should be a trout – and you can’t seem to get the drift right. Nine times out of ten, you can solve this problem by repositioning yourself.

Fly fishing at its most basic level is just another technique for catching fish. On a deeper level, it’s both a blood sport and an art form that is partly based around making the act of fishing more ...

When I first started trout fishing, I was given an invaluable piece of advice: start with dry flies. Talk to any trout angler ...