Drift Session with Derek Olthuis is LIVE on Fly Fusion Streaming
Fly Fusion’s Drift Sessions bridge the distance between author and reader. On October 23, Field Editor Derek Olthuis went live on Zoom to explore Mousing for Trophy Trout and Fishing Lakes.
In this Drift Session, Derek Olthuis took us on a small-lake fishing adventure for brookies, cutthroats, and cutbows, highlighting both the thrill of the catch and the deeper experience of being on the water with friends. The session covered a range of techniques, including careful observation, nymphing near logs, and mousing for big trout along the surface. Derek reflected on the balance between chasing the fish and enjoying the camaraderie, emphasizing that fishing is as much about the people and shared experience as it is about the catch.
Did you miss registering for this call? Well now you can watch the full session on flyfusionstreaming.com!
And keep an eye out for the next session which will be announced very soon. Drift Sessions are free and available exclusively to Fly Fusion subscribers. These calls are open to the first 100 registrants so don’t wait!
Why Join the Drift Session?
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Inside Access: Hear the stories behind the columns — what inspires them and the lessons learned.
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Ask Anything: Bring your questions and get real-time answers.
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Connect with Editors: Go beyond the pages and meet the minds shaping Fly Fusion.
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Exclusive Experience: Drift Sessions happen only a few times a year. This is your front-row seat.
Circus Peanut | Al Ritt
Throwback to the first season of the Fly Fusion Series with Al Ritt on the vise. Filmed on location at Island Lake Lodge, nestled in the heart of the Rockies in the Kootenay region of British Columbia.
Orvis' 50 Years of Graphite
Orvis is celebrating a golden anniversary with the Helios™ Limited Edition dry fly rod.
To commemorate the occasion, their rod designers built a rod that will pull at the heartstrings of the technical dry fly angler and showcase the accuracy, precision, and eye-catching look that their graphite rods are known for. They started out with a retro-inspired, unsanded 9’5″ 4-wt. Helios D blank, dressed it up with gold accents, black anodized reel seat hardware, and a hand-selected burl maple insert, and presented the whole package in a signature 50th Anniversary rod tube and sock. The length, line weight, and crisp D-series feel make this rod perfect for presenting tiny dries with laser precision, with that extra length you always want for mends and reach casts.
The Helios™ Limited Edition Fly Rod takes everything Orvis has learned in 50 years of graphite rod building and puts it in your hand. Limited run of 500 rods, so get one while you can.
Steelhead Season on the Skeena
A Midway Check-In with Brian Niska, Head Guide, Casting Instructor, and Manager of the Skeena Spey Lodge
By Will Rice
When the steelhead grabbed my fly, I was in a bit of a daze. I’d been methodically casting a twelve-and-a-half-foot spey rod with a Skagit line and sink tip for hours. At that precise moment, I was trying to self-diagnose how my casting and line management had so badly collapsed.
The Skeena River, located in the Western Canadian province of British Columbia, is massive and can make you feel insignificant even when you are casting well. And right then and there, I wasn’t casting well. I kept blowing my anchor, my sweep wasn’t at the right speed, and my casts were not performing like they had been just a few short hours before. My fly was still making it out into the run where I could make a big mend and fish it, but my casting had clearly turned to mush.
Turning Challenge Into Success: Deaf Guide’s Fly Design Goes Global
In today’s world, the news is often hard to look at. But every so often, a story comes along that feels like sunlight breaking through the clouds. The Silent Spotter, a new film making waves on the outdoor film festival circuit, is one of those.
The Silent Spotter, a new film making waves on the outdoor film festival circuit, tells one of those stories.
Tommy Batun, a young deaf fly-fishing guide from southern Mexico, has spent his life on the flats chasing permit—one of the most notoriously difficult fish in the world to catch. Working alongside his father Alejandro, Tommy has turned what some might see as a limitation into a superpower: his uncanny ability to spot fish where others can’t.
FFI's FlyFest in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Fly Fishers International (FFI) is back with FlyFest 2025, happening September 26–27 at the Sheraton Airport Conference Center in Grand Rapids, MI. This in-person event is your chance to reconnect with fellow anglers, learn from the best instructors, and immerse yourself in all things fly fishing. Grand Rapids is right in the heart of the Midwest, making it convenient for regional anglers and easy to reach by air for those coming from farther afield…
An Open Letter to Netflix
An Irish Mob Boss and a Presbyterian Minister Walk Into a River
Dear individual at Netflix whose job it is to acquire content,
Please buy the movie rights to A River Runs Through It. It’s my favorite movie, and I can’t seem to find it anywhere on your platform. Though I enjoy some of the other content, my favorite movie is nowhere to be found. When I search for the movie, you make other recommendations, some of which have nothing to do with my initial search. You’ll need to remedy this flaw if you want to keep me as a subscriber.
Another Option to Tying Balanced Flies
By Jeremy Davies
Most fly anglers are aware of balanced leeches and their effectiveness; however, many anglers have trouble balancing them and want another option. Tying a streamer as a straight jig, such as the Jailbreak Jig, has become much more popular over the last few years, as it doesn’t require the fly tier to balance the fly. I have spent a fair amount of time fishing these jig streamers on medium to large rivers in late spring/early summer when the water is a bit murky or stained. I have always had the best success fishing these streamers under an indicator within a couple of feet of the bank. The bright orange Antron stripe and orange bead seem to attract very large trout. I caught a 23-inch brown on this pattern just after runoff, about 8 inches off the bank on a larger river in the Rockies. I also recommend tying this streamer pattern in chartreuse, pink, and yellow.
The Jailbreak Jig
Hook: Ahrex 540 size 8-12 60-degree jig hook
Thread: Uni-Thread 8/0 or 6/0 black
Bead: Orange slotted bead
Body: Black Hareline Dubbing or black chenille
Sides: Fire Orange Antron yarn
Hackle: Black or grizzly saddle hackle
Rib: Gold or copper fine wire
Tail: Black and Fire Orange marabou with Krystal Flash
The Distance Cast
By Jeff Wagner, Field Editor, Fly Fusion
As many of you know, one of my favourite topics is distance casting, so it’s not by chance that one of my first casting videos was on, you guessed it – distance casting. It’s been a while since I’ve discussed that, and it’s always worth revisiting. This article is intended to provide more detail on the same topic.
Mastering the Art of Fly Casting: The Role of Wrist Movement
By Jeff Wagner
When it comes to fly casting, the use of the wrist is often a contentious topic. Many envision an angler using only their wrist to whip the rod back and forth, resulting in wide, ineffective loops. While this is certainly an extreme example of poor casting, it does highlight a common misconception: that wrist movement is inherently bad for fly casting. The wrist plays a crucial role when used correctly, allowing for efficient, effective casting.
Here we’ll explore the fundamentals of fly casting, how to harness wrist movement effectively, and the biomechanical principles that can enhance your casting technique. At its core, fly casting relies on the relationship between the rod tip’s path and the fly line’s movement. The substance or principle here is that the fly line follows the path of the rod tip. When the rod tip follows a mostly straight-line path, the fly line will mirror that path, producing a straight top leg of the loop. This alignment is essential for presenting the fly accurately and efficiently. © Photo Arian Stevens
On the Bighorn: A Season of Growth and Connection
By Amber Payliss
Excerpt from Fly Fusion, Volume 22, Issue 2
Fly fishing is all about timing. Aligning with the rhythms of the river, the seasons, and the subtle cues of the fish we pursue. Every fall, as the leaves turn gold and the air carries a crisp edge, a group of women gather on Montana’s Bighorn River for the Redington Rally Women’s Escape. Hosted at Kingfisher Lodge in Fort Smith, this trip offers more than fishing; it’s a space where friendships are forged, skills are honed, and memories are caught in every cast.
The Bighorn River, a tailwater fishery known for its abundant hatches and thriving brown and rainbow trout, offers anglers an ideal mix of technical challenge and rewarding opportunity. A cool, clear river which weaves through willow thickets and stands of cottonwood trees provides an immersive experience that blends scenery with sport. © Photo Amber Payliss
Articulated Flies | Frank Brassard
The SID (yes, it’s named after that sloth in the animated film Ice Age) and the Unholy Diver are meant to dive upon each strip. They are of course both articulated, so there is some great tail movement and the fly sway to one side or the other after each strip. The difference between both flies start at the base. The Unholy Diver is tied onto the multiple shank configuration displayed earlier, while the SID is on a double hook setup. The next, and most important difference is the use of materials and how this difference highlight how new synthetics have moved this style of fishing forward. The SID is tied using rabbit strips and arctic fox. The Unholy diver is tied using waterproof craft fur. Both flies do have a base of chenille, used to prop up the other materials and help provide the illusion of bulk.
